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Adult Day Care
WHAT
IS ADULT DAY CARE?
Adult Day Care Centers are designed to provide care and companionship for seniors
who need assistance or supervision during the day. The program offers relief
to family members or caregivers and allows them the freedom to go to work, handle
personal business or just relax while knowing their relative is well cared for
and safe.
The goals of the programs are to delay or prevent institutionalization by providing
alternative care, to enhance self-esteem and to encourage socialization. There
are two types of adult day care: Adult social day care provides social activities,
meals, recreation and some health-related services. Adult day health care offers
more intensive health, therapeutic and social services for individuals with severe
medical problems and those at risk of requiring nursing home care.
Seniors generally take part in the program on a scheduled basis and the services
that are offered may include the following:
- Counseling
- Education
- Evening care
- Exercise
- Health screening
- Meals
- Medical care
- Physical therapy
- Recreation
- Respite care
- Socialization
- Supervision
- Transportation
- Medication Management
HOW DO ADULT DAY CARE CENTERS OPERATE?
These centers are usually open during working hours and may stand alone or
be located in senior centers, nursing facilities, churches or synagogues,
hospitals, or schools. The staff may monitor medications, serve hot meals
and snacks, perform physical or occupational therapy, and arrange social
activities. They also may help to arrange transportation to and from the
center itself.
WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM ADULT DAY CARE?
The following case study is an example of a senior who may need adult day care
services, both for his own well being and that of his family caregivers:
Paul is 69 years old and recently suffered a stroke. He needs some care and
supervision so he lives with his son and daughter-in-law, David and Kira. However,
because David and Kira both work, they need help to care for Paul during the
day. They found a solution to their problem by having Kira drop off Paul at
the local adult day care center in the morning, and having David pick him up
when he gets off work in the evening. The center monitors Paul’s medications
and offers him lunch, some physical therapy, and a chance to socialize with
other seniors.
WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR IN AN ADULT DAY CARE CENTER?
Not all states license and regulate adult day care centers, there may be a
great deal of difference between individual centers; therefore it is important
to learn more about each of the centers near you. You will probably want to
visit the centers closest to you, and to talk with the staff and other families
that use the centers to determine if the facilities and programs available
meet your individual needs. You may want to find out if your state has an Adult
Day Care Association.
HOW DO I PAY FOR ADULT DAY SERVICES?
Costs vary among adult day centers. Costs range from $25 a day to over $100
per day depending on the services offered, type of reimbursement, and geographic
region. While an adult day care center is not usually covered by insurance
of Medicare, some financial assistance may be available through a federal or
state program (e.g., Medicaid, Older Americans Act, Veterans Administration)
WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT LOCAL SERVICES?
To find out more about the specific adult day care centers where you live,
you will want to contact your local aging information and assistance provider
or area agency on aging (AAA). The Eldercare Locator, a public service of the
Administration on Aging (at 1-800-677-1116 or www.eldercare.gov) can help connect
you to these agencies.
The National Adult Day Services Association is a good source for general information
about adult day care centers and programs. They can help you link to a state
adult day care association. It can be reached by calling the toll-free telephone
number 1-866-890-7357 or by going to http://www.nadsa.org.
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