Care and Community: The Garden of Life Adult Day Program

MOUNT MORRIS, N.Y., Oct. 27, 2026 — The Garden of Life Adult Day Program at the Livingston County Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation (CNR) reached a major milestone this month, enrolling 20 registrants into the outpatient program that provides daily assistance for those who require medical care but still live independently or with a full-time caregiver. Currently, Garden of life still has openings for part-time participants to enroll for 2, 3, or 4 days a week depending on individual circumstances.

Rebecca Sica coordinates the Garden of Life as the Charge Registered Nurse and says this program supports adult clients 18 and older who have a chronic illness or disability. Registrants can have community Medicaid, managed Medicaid or managed long-term Medicaid, as well as Veteran’s Affairs Community Care and private funds. 

“There's a common misconception that we're bringing people in because we want them to go to our long-term CNR care,” said Sica. “The day care is here to keep people at home while still providing them the services that they need to live safely therewith all their basic needs met.”

Sica worked for several years in Patient Family Services for Wyoming County, which helped her to understand the diverse needs of each patient. Her breadth of knowledge helps the Garden of Life in identifying community resources available to individuals 60 and older including those with disabilities or unable to afford care, and works to connect participants with essential services.

The Garden of Life provides personalized care plans specifically tailored to each participant along with a comprehensive range of services to meet the needs of each individual. The facility also offers:

Coordinating full-time medical care can present many challenges for families, sometimes causing a patient’s quality of life to suffer as caregivers struggle to balance conflicting schedules. Juggling work and family commitments alongside therapies, and nurse visits can quickly become overwhelming for everyone involved. 

“Many are frazzled and just don't know how they're going to take care of their life, their family, let alone take care of a parent who might have certain medical diagnoses that require extra assistance,” said Sica. “That’s where we can help.”

Knowing that a loved one is not only supervised, but having their lives enriched with daily activities that promote cognitive and therapeutic exercise in a nonclinical setting, can be a huge help in establishing a new normal in full-time care. 

“There are certain hidden theories in a lot of our activities,” said Sica. “Whether it's something physical, just to get their joints moving or to engage fine motor skills or just to work on different aspects of cognition and memory, we try to stimulate the mind and body.”

The care Garden of Life provides is not just limited to the activities at the CNR. Sica and her staff work to identify and remedy needs ranging from grocery and transportation access to procuring medical equipment, organizing medications, and coordinating assistance with bill paying and banking. While the Garden of Life ensures participants can access health care and enriching social connection, its overarching goal is to support them in living a full life within their home community.

To find out if Garden of Life is a viable option for someone with a managed long-term care plan, Sica recommends contacting the individual’s medical care team who can assess their situation including coordinating with insurance providers. For veterans, the Garden of Life is also available through Veteran’s Affairs Community Care. Caregivers with questions or needing help navigating enrollment can contact the Garden of Life directly for assistance.

One of the most comprehensive facilities in the area, the Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation provides various treatment methods and state-of-the-art healthcare options ranging from bariatric care, to pharmacological services, hair care, and more. 

Learn more about the CNR’s programs, support and outpatient services, along with career and volunteer opportunities, by visiting the Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation website. To schedule a tour or for questions, please contact Rebecca Sica, Garden of Life Adult Day Healthcare charge RN, at 585-243-7221. For admission information, please call 585-243-7209.

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About Livingston County:

Founded in 1821, Livingston County, N.Y., is home to more than 61,000 residents in 17 towns located across 631 square miles of the Finger Lakes region.

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