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What Is the Need for Adult Day Care?

As America ages, adult day care services--and respite for family caregivers--are becoming increasingly important. While less familiar than the local senior center, adult day care provides a vital community service. Such programs can be a tough sell for seniors accustomed to looking after themselves and for relatives wary of strangers caring for their loved ones. However, at its innovative best, adult day care is a win-win proposition: Older people who can no longer manage on their own receive care and services to break their isolation, while those normally help them get a break from that taxing duty.

  1. Function

    • Unlike nursing homes, which provide care around the clock, adult day care is a structured program for elderly people and for younger adults with disabilities. Services are typically offered weekdays, with activities and appropriate meals included as part of the program. Centers may be public or private, for-profit or nonprofit. The average daily fee ranges from $25 to $70, depending on the area and the services provided. Many centers offer a sliding scale based on income.

    Significance

    • Roughly 4,000 centers are operating within the United States, according to the National Adult Day Care Association. Many have opened within the last two decades to serve the expanding elder population. For caretakers, the respite service is one of the key advantages of adult day care. It gives them time to take care of their own affairs and provides a much-needed breather. If adult day care were not available, more seniors might end up in costlier nursing homes.

    Features

    • Adult day care programs vary greatly from region to region, but are distinguished by set schedules and programs. At the most basic level, they offer arts and crafts activities, hot meals and snacks, and recreational art and music therapy, along with birthday celebrations, film nights, and outings. Some centers provide transportation, as well as counseling and support groups for caregivers. The centers may also offer the community at large health services, such as blood pressure and vision screening.

    Considerations

    • When seniors can no longer structure their own daily activities or safely live at home without supervision, they become candidates for an adult day care program, according to ElderCare Online. Other relevant factors include the senior's degree of isolation and need for companionship, as well as whether the caretaker works outside the home or frequently travels.

    Types

    • When selecting an adult day care program, choose a facility that suits the needs of both the senior and the caretaker. A program that provides physical, occupational and speech therapy generally requires a doctor's assessment. Some programs are tailored for seniors with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. Check whether the program will take people who are incontinent and whether they place any restrictions on those with mobility issues.

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