Snow rests firmly atop the once lovingly tended vegetable garden. But that doesn’t matter to these gardeners. They’re busy doing other things.

“It’s very active here,” said Debra Calderwood, registered nurse for the Senior Treatment and Respite Services program located at the Bangor Mental Health Institute. “There is always something going on. We don’t just sit around, and yet everything is done at a pace the clients can handle.”

STARS, which began in 1989, is a free day program for seniors with Alzheimer’s or other dementia-related illness. Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., clients may participate in activities that can help maintain cognitive and physical abilities. The program also provides some usually much-needed respite for the caregiver.

“A major focus for us is working with the families and helping them understand the disease,” said Calderwood. “We educate these caregivers about what is available in the community, and hold monthly support group meetings for them.”

The families can take comfort in the knowledge that their loved one is well cared for while at STARS. The program is staffed by a team of mental health professionals, including a psychiatric social worker, a registered nurse and therapeutic recreation specialists.

The cheery, sunlit room where the clients meet in the Pooler Pavilion on the BMHI campus is homey and inviting, with decorative wallpaper and flowered curtains. Artwork in various stages of completion is strewn around the tables along with a partially assembled puzzle.

“Some of the clients remember being here and look forward to coming, while for others every visit is a new experience,” Calderwood said. “And we listen to their ideas on things to do. Last year, we had a special lunch by cooking some of the vegetables that they grew in their garden.” Cookies are a big hit, she added. The clients cut out shapes with cookie cutters while the staff does the baking.

There are exercise classes to help maintain mobility and flexibility, arts and crafts time to encourage self-expression, senior trivia to share information about past events to trigger memories and community day trips to stimulate and increase mental alertness.

There is cultural stimulation for some clients as well. Germaine Cormier, who has been volunteering at BMHI for 18 years, converses with Martha, 96, in French.

“Sometimes on a bus trip Germaine and Martha will sit in the back and speak French. We just know they’re talking about all of us,” Nancy Averill, recreation therapy aid, said laughing. Martha and Germaine giggled along with her.

“I like it here,” Martha said of her time at STARS. “If I didn’t, I’d stay home.”

While enjoying themselves, the clients also can learn or relearn things. One woman is now folding laundry at home, which she was unable to do before. Another learned how to dial 9-1-1.

“The son of one of our clients said the program was the highlight of his mother’s week. He’s always saying to her, ‘Let’s go see the girls,'” laughed Calderwood.

The program has a two-fold benefit. The clients are in a safe, interactive place while the caregivers have a few hours to revitalize themselves physically and emotionally, said Steven Thebarge, program service director.

“We collaborate and work closely with the families,” he added. “That’s the key.” Philip Walton, social worker, nods in agreement.

“We had a family member say to us about the program, ‘This is a godsend. We couldn’t have made it without you,'” he said. “And staff dedication is wonderful. They really go above and beyond.”

For information about this program, call 941-4353.

Other day programs in the area include My Friend’s Place, Adult Day Service Program at Ross Manor, Westgate Adult Day Program at Westgate Manor in Bangor; Apple Orchard Senior Day Center in Hermon; and Golden Years Adult Day Break in Old Town.

Carol Higgins is director of communications at Eastern Agency on Aging. For information on EAA programs or services, call 941-2865 or log on to www.eaaa.org.