Compassionate & Affordable Dementia Day Care in Santa Barbara

Friendship Center Montecito: 89 Eucalyptus Ln, 93108

Monday-Thursday 9:00 AM- 5:00 PM

Friday 9:00 AM - 3:00PM

Our adult day program provides compassionate, engaging daytime care for adults living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Members enjoy meaningful activities, social connection, nutritious meals, and individualized support in a safe, welcoming environment, while caregivers gain reliable respite and peace of mind.

Sample Day Program Activities

• Live music, sing-alongs, and rhythm activities

• Gentle chair yoga, stretching, and balance exercises

• Guided walks and garden time

• Art projects (painting, collage, clay, and mixed media)

• Reminiscence groups using photos, music, and storytelling prompts

• Brain games, word play, trivia, and puzzles

• Cooking and baking activities with familiar recipes

• Group discussions and current-events conversations

• Intergenerational visits and community guests

• Pet therapy visits

• Dancing and movement to music

• Sensory activities (aromatherapy, tactile materials, nature-based experiences)

• Holiday and seasonal celebrations

• Movie clips and classic film discussions

• Games such as cards, bingo, dominoes, and adapted board games

• Small-group social time and one-on-one companionship

• Outdoor patio dining and picnics (weather permitting)

The Carpinteria Hub is Friendship Center’s newest community-based adult day program, designed specifically for Carpinteria residents. This program brings the same trusted care and engaging activities we are known for, but with a local twist—tailored to reflect Carpinteria’s unique culture and vibrant community. From locally inspired meals to partnerships with neighborhood businesses and artists, the program is built by and for Carpinteria.

Programs at the Hub take place on Tuesdays and Fridays from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM at the Lynda Fairly Carpinteria Arts Center. Our trained, non-clinical staff provides supervision throughout the day, ensuring each member is safe, respected, and engaged.

The Downtown SB Memory Café offers a welcoming, drop-in social space for older adults experiencing memory loss or cognitive change, along with their care partners, to enjoy engaging, meaningful activities in a relaxed, stigma-free environment. 

Un programa con calidez en español donde los adultos mayores pueden conectarse a través de la música, el movimiento, las conversaciónes, experiencias y las tradiciones culturales. Es un espacio alegre que honra la historia de cada persona y celebra la riqueza de la herencia latina en la vida cotidiana.

Las actividades incluyen, canto, arte, Gimnasia cerebral, cine, ejercicios de relajacion, zumba, comidas compartidas y salidas pedagogicas .

Los lunes y miercoles desde las 10:00am a las 2:00pm.

In partnership with Santa Barbara City College, this program brings older adults together for lifelong learning, creativity, and social engagement. Participants enjoy enriching classes and activities that support cognitive health, curiosity, and connection in an academic setting. 

Classes currently offered at Friendship Center:

• Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays @ 10:00am - Music of Our Lives and Times: For Older Adults with Carl Ann Manzi
  • This course is designed to promote the mental, emotional, and social well-being of older adults through the enjoyment, discussion and associations of music. Familiar music and stimuli encourage individual responses and reawaken neural connections, resulting in improved recall, sense of self-worth, and mental alertness.
• Tuesdays @ 12:25pm - World of Interest: For Older Adults with Patty Volner
  • Explore and discuss contemporary issues and events with other students, resulting in increased mental alertness and improved mood and attitude. The class explores mentally and emotionally stimulating topics related to international, national, state and local events.
• Tuesdays @ 2pm - Travels and Explorations: For Older Adults with Patty Volner
  • Virtually explore the history, culture, language, and cuisine of distant places without needing to leave the classroom. Older adults recall and share key memories evoked by discussions and presentations and so improve mental recall, retention of information, and self-expression. Students also develop an appreciation of the value of their role and contribution in the global community.
• Wednesdays @ 1pm - Art Experiences and Conversations: For Older Adults with Rachel Kauffman 
  • Older adult students practice self-expression while viewing images of a wide range of artworks. Discussion topics include art principles such as color, line, shape and form. Art history explored throughout the course. Students are encouraged to share their recollections and associations about art, history and life.

Through Cycling Without Age Santa Barbara, trained volunteer pilots take older adults on free trishaw rides, restoring access to the outdoors and the simple joy of the wind in your hair. These rides promote connection, dignity, and shared moments between participants, volunteers, and the community. 

Since 2018, Friendship Center has proudly partnered with the extraordinarily generous team at Richie’s Barbershop to offer free monthly haircuts for our members. This long-standing collaboration helps individuals living with dementia maintain personal style, dignity, and a sense of self—while enjoying the warmth and care of a community that shows up with heart.

(Check calendar for upcoming haircut days.)

Our program includes a very active pet therapy component in which thoroughly lovable and well trained pet therapy dogs visit our members on a daily basis.

We also have a small animals petting zoo group who visit our members, with a wide variety of rabbits, chinchillas, guinea pigs, turtles, iguanas, lizards and more.