Level of Care in Daycare Centers

While the word "daycare" often brings thoughts of young children to mind, the term can also refer to services for seniors. Senior daycare centers have answered the need for alternatives to expensive in-home health-care aids and full-time assisted-living or nursing home facilities. As the Dayscape Adult Care Center notes, seniors who are unable to live completely on their own or who live with a family caregiver have both a medical and social alternative to traditional assisted-living, nursing home or in-home health-care aids. The levels of care provided by the Daycare Centers vary based on the needs of the senior.

Social Care

• Game time, movie matinees and short field trips are scheduled at daycare centers.

  A very basic level of care at a senior daycare center can provide social interaction through group activities. Seniors choose the days and the specific hours during those days that they want to attend the facility and enjoy activities. Meals are available on-site for those seniors who are enjoying activities during meal times. Activities are routinely scheduled each month so seniors can sign up for what services they are interested in ahead of time. Payment differs depending upon the center and the level of social activity.

Therapeutic Care

• Daycare centers can make activities like yoga and tai-chi accessible to seniors.

  When a senior needs to increase their level of care to include specific kinds of physical, mental or psychological therapy, senior daycare centers can provide that next level of service. Many centers provide daily exercise programs or on-site physical therapists to meet the general or specialized needs of their senior attendants. Massage therapists provide additional physical therapy where needed. Psychologists, psychiatrists and counselors are available to provide mental and emotional therapy.

Supervision Care

• Seniors who are fully functional but need daily supervision to ensure safety can get that level of care at a daycare center. The senior's family caregivers can bring them to the center each day on their way to work or to their activities. Transportation to the center may also be arranged by the facility. The senior enjoys all-day supervision, social interaction, meals and therapies as needed. The senior returns to their home each evening.

Medical Care

• Basic blood pressure or glucose monitoring is accessible at a senior daycare center.

  The highest level of care at a senior daycare center would include medical supervision for functional clients. For seniors who need medication management services -- like monitoring of blood pressure, blood sugar and the correct dispensing of medication -- licensed professionals at the center provide them. If the senior needs assistance when going to the pharmacy or in organizing their medications and supplements, the center can facilitate those needs. If the senior has a treated and healing wound that needs periodic monitoring or maintenance, the center is equipped to provide those services.