Have-A-Heart Adult Day Care is a unique person-centered service provider located on a five-acre farm in River Falls, Wisconsin. Established in 2008, the day care center is dedicated to serving adults with disabilities in a comfortable, supportive, and engaging environment. Set amid a peaceful country landscape, the facility includes expansive areas for relaxation, inviting communal spaces, life skills training areas, a fully adaptive gym, and cooking and activity zones. The relaxing country surroundings are designed to promote well-being and foster a sense of community among clients, who also have access to private beds for rest when required.
One of the defining features of Have-A-Heart Adult Day Care is its commitment to personalized care, achieved through a favorable staff-to-client ratio that surpasses typical adult day service centers. The staff at Have-A-Heart are trained in First Aid and CPR and have backgrounds specifically focused on supporting individuals with disabilities. This expertise, combined with compassion and personal attention, ensures every client’s needs are understood and met throughout their daily experience.
Clients at Have-A-Heart participate in a rich program of activities that cater to a variety of interests and develop essential life skills. Daily and seasonal events are an important part of the center’s culture, including art activities, cooking life skills sessions, outdoor gardening, birthday celebrations, and themed days such as Doughnut Day and Luau Respite Saturday. Clients also enjoy creative opportunities like making bird feeders, engaging in music and dance, celebrating special occasions such as Halloween, and participating in group athletic activities in the adaptive gym, including parachute games and therapeutic swing sessions. Communal cooking and art projects help foster connection, independence, and creativity among clients.
Community engagement is a hallmark of the program, with at least two outings into the surrounding area each month. These excursions include visits to local attractions such as fire stations, theaters, sporting events like the Twins Game, and outdoor experiences such as safari-themed days, walks in River Falls, and camping trips. Special events, such as the Aladdin play at the theater or a party with Morgan and the Camel, provide memorable moments and enrich the daily routine.
The daily program at Have-A-Heart is thoughtfully structured but also flexible, allowing for free time when clients can relax or choose preferred activities. To keep guardians and families informed and reassured, the center uses Brightwheel, a digital platform that sends daily updates about each client’s participation and experiences.
Have-A-Heart offers services Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, with Saturday Respite Care available from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm when in session. In addition to regular adult day services, the center runs a popular Summer Camp called Camp Have A Heart. The facility’s welcoming atmosphere is further highlighted by visual touches such as a white picket fence and well-maintained gardens, contributing to the overall homelike, nurturing environment that clients and visitors cherish. The program’s range of enriching activities, commitment to individualized care, and supportive setting make Have-A-Heart Adult Day Care a standout provider in person-centered adult day services.