We couldn't do this without you.
Friends rely on the generosity of the community to support the Center’s many efforts which would otherwise go unfunded.
About Friends of Adult Day Health Care
In the early 1970s, a group of Yolo County residents began looking for a better way to care for aging adults whose changing health status interfered with independent living. The goal was to help frail and disabled adults remain in the community, decrease hospital days, prevent deterioration of cognitive, functional and emotional health, and avoid unnecessary institutionalization. Aware of the sad state of US nursing homes, the group’s research soon became inspired by the geriatric day hospitals, an innovative model of community based health care widely used in England.
In 1983, the group formed a non-profit organization named Friends of Adult Day Health Care (FADHC) to begin serious planning. Their first order of business was to convince Yolo County officials and the community of the dire need for an alternative to nursing home care. After presenting the day health concept, the Yolo County Health Department, under the leadership of Dr. Phil Walker, fully embraced the project. Together, this new partnership embarked on an ambitious fundraising plan. It did not take long to raise enough money that allowed the County to successfully obtain a State grant which paved the way for the first built-to-purpose adult day health center in California.
As the Center was being built, Friends and Yolo County added a third partner to manage the program. They chose Eskaton, Inc, a long term care non-profit serving the Greater Sacramento region. Yolo Adult Day Health Center (YADHC) officially opened in 1984, and began providing community-based nursing home like services to frail and disabled adults in Yolo County.
In 1990, the Center obtained a grant from the California Department of Aging to operate an Alzheimer’s Day Care Resource Center. This program serves the specialized needs of those with Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementia-related conditions.
The three way community partnership that built the program still supports it today with Yolo County holding the license and maintaining the building, Friends remaining the primary fundraising entity and, replacing Eskaton, in 1998, Dignity Health/Woodland Healthcare assumed the clinical management role.
Now, 40 years later, we at FADHC continue to be true to our mission of raising funds and promoting community awareness to help YADHC continue to promote the health and well being of frail older and disabled adults in the Yolo County community. Today, the center operates at full capacity with a waiting list of over 60 individuals needing the service. To address this critical need, FADHC is currently working with
Dignity Health
and
Yolo County to create a site that will double the size of the program in the near future. Stay tuned!
Our Impact
With the generous support of our donors, Friends of Adult Day Health Care has:
- Funded a pilot RN nurse navigator position in 2018 to manage complex patients to improve health outcomes. The program was so successful in preventing hospitalization, nursing home placement, and improving health indicators, that Woodland Health Care fully funded the position in 2019.
- Purchased handicapped accessible van with the Woodland Health Foundation in 2019, the 4th vehicle paid for by FADHC over the years, to ensure safe, reliable transportation of participants
- Recipient of the 2019 Luna Vista Rotary Club Yolo Brewfest proceeds, which allowed us to purchase two recumbent exercise bicycles and $5,000 worth of supplies to help elders sheltering in place
- Three major renovations funded over the years including a new roof, patio enclosure and most recently a major remodel in 2015
- Annual Staff Appreciation Picnic (on hold with pandemic)
- Serve weekly lunches to FADHC staff during the pandemic
- Support Alzheimer’s disease research by participating in the annual “Walk to End Alzheimer’s Disease” fundraiser.
Meet the Board
Deborah Francis
President
I joined FriendsofADHC in 1998 as a Geriatric Clinical Nurse Specialist because of my passion to promote physical and cognitive function and prevent unnecessary institutionalization due to frailty and dependency. Too many older and dependent adults with inadequate caregiver support have no alternative, but to live in an institution. Adult day services provides that much needed community alternative. YoloADHC offers a skilled, safe, therapeutic and loving environment that promotes not only health, independence, dignity and quality of life, but also improves health outcomes and lowers caregiver stress and burden. Consider supporting this vital Yolo County treasure and the participants and caregivers who depend on it. Thank you.
Cass Sylvia
Vice President
She has lived in Yolo County for 33 years and was elected the Yolo County Public Guardian/ Public Administrator in 1998. Sylvia worked in this capacity for 20 years. As a court-ordered conservator for many seniors and adults with disabilities, Cass loved the services at YADHC and saw the personal difference it made with her clients. She knows the value of the care provided in this special program, one of the only medically modelled adult day care in California.
Jorge Preciado
Member
I joined the board as a way to give back to an incredible organization that provides critical services for our community. I love how our contributions that get transported from the bus to exercise bikes they use at the Centre, directly improve the participant’s lives. Join us at the next board meeting and learn how you can get involved!
Lorrie Irish
Member
Studying environmental design/psychology gave me an opportunity to understand how a "place" affects our lives and health and equipped me with the ability to appreciate both the efficiency and humanity the adult day health care model offers. I continue to support Friends of Adult Day Health Care because they work hard to ensure that model remains viable. Added incentive comes from witnessing the kindness and care bestowed by Yolo Adult Day Health Centre staff on participants.
Raylene Ewing
Member
She has been a Woodland resident for over 25 years and values how adult day health care supports the elderly and their caregivers. Ewing has been a board member of the Rotary Club of Woodland – Luna Vista and the Historic Train Depot of Woodland where she has provided organizational leadership, financial accountability and community awareness for over 10 years.
Raylene’s career includes leadership in agricultural research and education. She led the construction of and managed an agricultural research station for a multinational company in Fresno County. Raylene held teaching and administrative positions in public schools after moving to Woodland.
Cindi Unger
Member
A Davis resident for over 60 years, Unger found her true calling when she began working with seniors. From 1987-2005 she operated The Memory House, a board and care home for persons with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias. Since then she has served agencies/groups that support seniors including Yolo County Commission on Aging, Area Agency on Aging, Solano Senior Coalition, Yolo Health Aging Alliance, Del Oro Caregiver Resource Center, Yolo Cares and many more. Cindi was also instrumental in bringing “Brain Boosters” to the area. For her efforts she was recognized in 2019 by Congressman Garamendi as a District 4 Congressional Woman of the Year.
Patty Clark
Member
I am returning to Friends (a group near and dear to my heart) now having recently retired from CalSTRS (State Teachers Retirement System). While at ‘STRS’ my position as Ombudsman Coordinator gave me the opportunity to serve our amazing teachers as they prepared for or were already retired. Prior to that I worked for UCD in a variety of short assignments in the Temp Pool following a lengthy career as a registered dental assistant/ administrator. My life changed lanes when I felt a need to return to school, midlife, receiving a Paralegal certificate from UCD and a BS in Management from St. Mary’s in Moraga. Newly graduated, I held director positions in senior retirement communities in the fields of marketing and development. I am thrilled to be invited back to the board, having served for 12 years, long ago, and look forward to rolling up my sleeves to help grow and sustain Friends’ of Yolo County Adult Day Health Care.
Friends of Adult Day Health Care, Inc. (FADHC), a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization, was established in 1983 by community members who wanted to put their support for Yolo Adult Day Health Center on permanent footing.
