Family Service Association is justifiably proud of its Adult Day Health (ADH) programs. Started initially in 1995 under an agreement with Peabody Properties, the agency began its first program in 1995 at Borden Place West. The goal was to provide both physical and mental stimulation in a medically-monitored program – one that promoted good health and independence while tapping hidden talents and abilities of its elderly and disabled participants.
Building on that success, a second Fall River ADH program was started by Family Service Association in 1997 at First Baptist Church in Fall River. This had been the site of a similar agency program called Geriatric Day Activity. Now under the Adult Day Health model, this program provided a greater menu of services to the participating clients.
The names provide the introduction to the important and essential services provided at the FSA Adult Day Health program sites
Two more programs would follow, including a third in Swansea (later moved to Fall River) and one in the beautiful, rural setting of nearby Assonet. This location, based at St. Bernard’s Church and dubbed Countryside Adult Day Health, not only continued the tradition of high quality Adult Day Health programs administered by Family Service Association, it started a new tradition. It was the first program with a specific name that described the site’s location. Prior to that time, the three existing sites were assigned the rather plain names Adult Day Health I, II and III.
Soon the remaining sites would follow Countryside’s lead. The first was the agency’s Bay Street location in Fall River. Chosen to promote intergenerational
activities between adults and children, a joint location for Adult Day Health III and After School Day Care was created. Thus, the GenCenter was born.
Not to be outdone, the staff and clients at Adult Day Health I and Adult Day Health II put on their thinking caps and thought hard about re-naming their sites. With its ornate brick façade and corner location at Bank and Purchase Streets in Fall River, Adult Day Health I became Cornerstone Adult Day Health Center. Keeping the creativity going, the clients at Adult Day Health II thought hard about their treasured program site. “It’s like our haven,” said one client at a brainstorming session. Recognizing the program’s entrance at the Pine Street side of Fall River’s First Baptist Church, the choice was obvious – Pine Haven Adult Day Health.
As with the people we meet, names may create a first impression. But it’s the person’s qualities that make the lasting impression. So too is it with the Adult Day Health programs at Family Service Association. Their names provide the introduction, but the high quality of the services provided and the dedication of the staff are what make these uniquely named locations truly special.
