Open it, and they will come.

That's what the folks at Santa Clara Valley Hospice/Home Support Group Inc. hoped when they opened the River Valley Club senior day care center in October.

"This is an experiment. We're trying to see if the community will utilize it," said Santa Clara Valley Hospice President Dick Schmittou.

The River Valley Club is designed for seniors with some age-related disability such as dementia or physical incapacitation. Located inside the El Buen Pastor church in Santa Paula, the center offers a variety of supervised activities such as arts and crafts, bingo, chair exercises, walks and singalongs, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The service costs $25 a day, but if clients can't pay, they will not be turned away.

"It's a place to be with other people," Schmittou said. "There are trained personnel here to see that they are safe and happy. It gives the caregiver a break."

The problem is, few people are utilizing the center. Lots of people attended the grand opening, Schmittou said, but only seven or eight clients signed up, which he believes is a shame.

"The more people get engaged, the more we can offer," Schmittou said.

A safe place

"I can't give you anything but love, Baby."

Gale Graham's fingers glided over the keys on the upright piano in the recreation room of the River Valley Club.

About six seniors seated in a circle around him sang along.

"They may not be able to carry on a conversation, but they remember the tunes," said Graham, 84. "Music is a language by itself."

Among the seniors listening or singing along was Margaret Johnson, 72, of Santa Paula, who was diagnosed with dementia four years ago. Now and then, Johnson would stand up and wander over to a painting she did years ago. A River Valley staff person quietly followed her, then admired the painting.

"She never painted professionally. It was her hobby," said her husband of almost 50 years, Delton "Lee" Johnson, 76.

After seeing how talented she was, Delton said, he now wishes he had encouraged her to take art up professionally. But after the diagnosis, his concerns for her became much more basic. He wanted to make sure she was stimulated, yet safe. And he needed time during the week to do errands.

"It gives me respite. It gets Margaret involved in something other than just me," Delton said.

He thought about a care center in Oxnard but preferred something closer.

"She became so anxious when I would leave," Delton said. "If she were put on a bus, I think it might be overwhelming to Margaret."

Asked why so few people take advantage of the River Valley Club, Schmittou cited several possible reasons.

"Often, the client isn't willing to take that step," he said. "The person isn't willing to spend the day with strangers. They're confused. They know it. They're embarrassed. It's scary."

The problem is that a senior's world can get smaller and smaller, Schmittou said.

"It gets to the point where all they will do is watch television," he said.

It takes a village

Well-meaning families may think it's better to keep the senior at home, but that's not always the best alternative, he said.

"We know of a lot of families who give a lot of attention but not a lot of good care," Schmittou said. "They don't intentionally do harm, but harm happens."

Delton feels good about his choice for Margaret.

"Margaret and I are people who married for life to look after each other," he said, "and that's what we're doing."

For a senior to qualify for the River Valley Club, a medical professional needs to certify that the individual needs supervision or care and might benefit from human interaction and activities like those offered at the River Valley Club.

No medical treatments are done at the center, but family members can give the staff the client's medication and the staff will see that they get it. There are no physicians or nurses on the River Valley Club staff, but the staff is trained to provide basic care for frail seniors. And in case of an emergency, all of the caregivers are trained to call the family first, then dial 911.

Schmittou said the staff's devotion is what convinced him it was the best place for his wife.

"They care about people over there, and that's what really counts," he said. "You can have all the programs in the world, but if you don't have care and commitment to help people, you don't have anything."