Adult Day Services
Adult day services (Also known as adult day care) have achieved new popularity with the advent of home and community long-term care Medicare and Medicaid waiver programs which support alternatives to institutional long term care and rehabilitation. Adult day services provide respite to family caregivers as well as provide therapeutic care for cognitive and physically impaired older adults. The sites listed below representative of hundreds of sites available on the Internet, however statistical information on the number and characteristics of adult day service programs and numbers of individuals served is still extremely limited.
Who Uses Adult Day Care?
- Physically and cognitively impaired
- Socially isolated
- Persons needing assistance with personal care
- Persons needing assistance to function independently in the community, but not needing a 24-hour supervised living situation
Consider Using Adult Day Care if Your Elder Needs the Following:
- A safe, secure environment
- Social activities
- Assistance with eating, walking, toileting, medications
- Physical, speech, occupational group therapies
- Monitoring weight, blood pressure, food/liquid intake
- Nutritious meals, snacks or special diet
- Exercise
- Personal care, such as bathing, shampooing, shaving is an extra charge
- Mental stimulation
Before visiting an adult day care center, it may be helpful to call and ask for a brochure or other information.
Questions to Ask or Things to Look for in Adult Day Care:
WHO IS OWNER OR SPONSORING AGENCY, and how long has day care BEEN IN BUSINESS?
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What DAYS and HOURS is the center open?
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Is the day care LICENSED? Check with the state health department for any substantiated COMPLAINTS against the day care.
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Is TRANSPORTATION provided to/from home? Is there an extra charge?
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What is the COST? Hourly, daily or weekly? Is there financial assistance? Make sure you understand clearly what is and is not included in the cost.
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What specific CONDITIONS ARE ACCEPTED? Incontinence? Persons in wheelchairs? Persons with memory loss?
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What is the STAFF TO PARTICIPANT RATIO? How does it compare to state standards? What is the staff ratio to participants with dementia? What is the composition of professional and paraprofessional staff?
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What ACTIVITIES are provided? Are there individual and group activities? Are the activities stimulating?
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Are the MEALS WELL-BALANCED and tasty? You may want to eat a meal.
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Do you FEEL WELCOME? Are staff willing to spend time finding out what you want and need? Were the programs and activities explained?
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Is the day care center CLEAN, ODORLESS AND PLEASANT?
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How are the PARTICIPANTS TREATED? Are staff pleasant to the participants?
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Is the FURNITURE COMFORTABLE for the participants? Are there loungers for relaxation?
Source: U.S. Administration on Aging
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