Older Adult Services

Quick links:

  1. Adult Day Services
  2. Friendly Visiting Program
  3. Without Walls WOW Program
  4. Older Adult Strategy
  5. Age-Friendly

The City of Cambridge offers a wide variety of programs for older adults and adults with disabilities who are looking to enhance their quality of life. We are committed helping older adults in our community remain healthy and age with dignity; participating in initiatives that aim to address all of the dimensions of wellness, as we continue our work toward ensuring social participation and inclusion. 

For information on the Cambridge 50+ Recreation Centres visit Activities Guide & Registration. 

The City of Cambridge is a member of the World Health Organization Global Network for Age-Friendly Cities and Communities. As such, we are focused on building a community where policies, services and spaces are designed to enable people of all ages to live in secure and accessible physical and social environments. Age-friendly communities contribute to good health and allow people to participate fully in society throughout their lifetime. Learn more about Age-Friendly initiatives in Cambridge. 

Supportive Programs

Adult Day Services

The City of Cambridge offers Adult Day Services for residents of Cambridge, the Township of North Dumfries and nearby areas. These programs provide social and health supports for adults who may be living with:

  • Mental-health or chronic illness
  • Physical, intellectual or cognitive impairments (e.g., early stroke, Parkinson’s disease, early-stage dementia)
  • General age-related frailty

Our goal is to help participants stay independent, active and socially connected.

  • Social & recreational activities that promote healthy living and overall well-being
  • Friendly, professional staff leading daily programs
  • Culturally inclusive: Francophone residents are welcome at all sessions, with French-speaking staff on site two days per week; Portuguese-speaking residents are welcome every day

  • Time to socialize and make new friends
  • Healthy snacks and a noon-hour meal
  • Arranged transportation (if required)
  • Medication reminders
  • Personal care assistance
  • Daily exercise programs
  • Arts and crafts, music and entertainment
  • Games and trivia to stimulate the mind
  • Special events, including an annual holiday party

Special activities may also include:

  • Indoor walking track at the William E. Pautler Centre
  • Aquafit classes in a warm-water therapy pool (Living Well program)
  • Access to a fully equipped, staffed fitness/conditioning centre (Living Well program)
  • Day trips to restaurants, museums, theatres and local attractions (Boost programs)

  • $23.59 – $30.88 per day (includes transportation if required)
  • Transportation assistance: additional $7.50
  • Financial assistance available for low-income residents (at or below the Federal Low Income Cut-Off)

Cancellation fees

  • $7.64 if notice is received before 8:30 a.m. on the day of attendance
  • $14.17 if notice is received after 8:30 a.m.

  • Monday to Saturday, 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
  • Offered at various locations across Cambridge

Contact Information:

English: 519-623-1340 ext. 4424
French: 519-623-1340 ext. 4737 or frenchservices@cambridge.ca

Friendly Visiting Program

Over time, individuals may begin to isolate themselves and become socially withdrawn as they find it more difficult to stay connected to friends, the community or to leave the safety and comfort of their homes. 

Friendly Visiting is funded by the Ministry of Health. The program matches a volunteer with a socially isolated older adult, or an adult with a physical disability for social and recreational in-person or phone visits for 1-2 hours per week. Activities can include conversing in and around the home, crafts, board and card games, outings, and more. 

Visiting Service is offered to those who: 

  • live in the Cambridge/North Dumfries area
  • 18+ adult living with a physical disability 
  • 50+ older adult who is socially isolated and/or experiencing mild memory loss
  • not require personal care during the visit
  • unable to attend social or recreation programs in community settings 

For referrals to this program, please contact the Friendly Visiting team at (519) 623-1340 ext. 4820 or email friendlyvisiting@cambridge.ca for more information.

The Friendly Visiting program does not provide the following services: 

  • personal and medical care
  • housekeeping
  • meal preparation
  • grocery shopping
  • provide personal, financial or medical advice 

By volunteering for the program, you can bring joy to an older adult in just a few hours a week.

Volunteer Benefits:

  • Support isolated community members by providing companionship and building meaningful relationships
  • Help build a more resilient and caring community
  • Participate in professional development training
  • Gain interpersonal skills that enhance personal growth
  • Obtain a reference letter for your service

Volunteers are required to:

  • Be a minimum age of 18
  • Meet screening requirements
  • Able to commit to at least 8 months of visits 
  • Able to commit 1-2 hours per week 
  • Complete visit journals  

Volunteers do not provide the following:

  • Personal and medical care
  • Housekeeping
  • Meal preparation
  • Grocery shopping
  • Provide personal, financial or medical advice 
  • Handling of client’s finances, cash or cards
  • Cover client’s expenses in the home or during outings 

Apply to be a volunteer by completing a volunteer application form. 

Funded by the Ministry of Health, the French Language Services program enables the City of Cambridge to support Francophone older adults across Waterloo Region and Wellington County in accessing and navigating Community Support Services.

The Francophone Support Worker provides system navigation assistance, facilitates the Without Walls French-language teleconference program twice weekly, and supports the Adult Day Programs three days per week. When there are sufficient Francophone participants, day program activities can also be delivered in French.

Call 519-623-1340 ext. 4737

Or Email FrenchServices@cambridge.ca

View the Current Volunteer Opportunities Listing for details and how to apply.

Interested in volunteering, please complete a volunteer application.

Without Walls (WOW Program)

Without Walls (WOW) is a free registered telephone program that offers small groups of older adults experiencing social isolation the opportunity to engage in conversation and recreation activities. All sessions are 30 to 45 minutes in length and are available in English and French. 

English sessions are offered on Mondays, Thursdays, and alternate Fridays at 1:00 p.m.

French sessions are offered Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m., Fridays at 1:00 p.m.

Participants are given monthly calendars that outline session plans. Activities can include:

  • musical entertainment
  • health and wellness speakers
  • education and information
  • BINGO and other fun games

Date Topic
April 2 Horticulture with Heidi
April 9 BINGO!
April 10 1940's Music Quiz
April 13 Famous Threesomes
April 16 Talks with Tigger
April 20 Earth Day Discussion
April 23 Balance, Vision & Hearing ft. CSC
April 24 BINGO!
April 27 Protect your money (OSC)
April 30 Finishing Lines

To register for English WOW sessions, please contact the Friendly Visiting team at (519) 513-6673 or friendlyvisiting@cambridge.ca

Programs are offered on Wednesday mornings at noon 10:30 and Friday afternoons at 1:30 in French. Please check back in April for an updated calendar.

To register for French WOW sessions, please contact the Francophone Services support worker at (519) 623-1340 ext.4737 or frenchservices@cambridge.ca

Older Adult Strategy

We are developing an Older Adult Strategy that will provide direction for Cambridge 50+ Recreation Community Support programs and service delivery over the next 5 years. This strategy will be completed considering input from residents and key community partners and through the lens of the World Health Organizations (WHO) Age- friendly cities framework.

Project primary stages

  • Fall 2022 - January 2023 - Data collection through internal/external boards, clubs, community partners and focus groups
  • February 6 - March 10, 2023 - Older Adult Engage Cambridge public survey 
  • May 2023 - 50+ Centre Boards and Clubs Focus Groups
  • June 2023 - Older Adult Town Hall Sessions
  • Spring/Summer 2023 - Assessment of all data collection and strategy development
  • 2026 - Final Older Adult Strategy report

Your voice matters! With gratitude we thank you for your interest and input into the City of Cambridge Older Adult Strategy.  

The consultant is continuing with analysis of the survey, focus groups and Town Hall sessions. We anticipate that the final report will be presented to Cambridge City Council in 2026. 

Once City Council has reviewed and approved the Older Adult Strategy report, the report will be shared with residents and the wider community. Keep connected through the Age-Friendly webpage and e-newsletter. 

The City of Cambridge is committed to helping older adults in our community remain healthy and age with dignity. We actively engage in initiatives that address all aspects of wellness as part of our ongoing effort to promote social participation and inclusion.

Age-Friendly

The City of Cambridge is a member of the World Health Organization Global Network for Age-Friendly Cities and Communities. As such, we are focused on building a community where policies, services and spaces are designed to enable people of all ages to live in secure and accessible physical and social environments.

Visit our Age-Friendly webpage for more information!