Adult Day Care

Adult day care centers are designed to provide care and companionship to seniors who need assistance or supervision during the day. Adult day care centers offer relief to family members and caregivers who work during the day, and allows them the freedom to handle personal affairs, or to simply relax while knowing that their loved one is safe. Most caregivers are loved ones-either spouses, children, perhaps grandchildren, etc, caring for an aging parent. Those who benefit the most are those who are not yet ready to enter an assisted living facility, but who require some care and supervision during the day, especially if the caregiver works. A good candidate is also the senior who would benefit from socialization among their peers, and recreational activities during the day.

Adult day care centers are a great alternative for older adults who are capable of benefiting from socialization among their peers. Adult day care services provide recreation activities and healthy meals in a supervised, safe, and social setting. Seniors are able to return home at night by attending the program during the day. The main goal of adult day care programs is to delay or prevent institutionalization in a nursing home or other assisted living facility by providing alternative care.

There are two types of adult day care: adult social day care and adult day health 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.

Most adult day care centers are usually open during working hours during the weekdays, and may or may not be located in senior centers, nursing facilities, churches or synagogues, hospitals, or schools. The staff monitor medications, serve hot meals and snacks, perform physical or occupational therapy if necessary, and arrange social activities.

Seniors generally take part in the program on a scheduled basis and the services that are offered may include the following: Counseling, Education, Exercise, Meals, Medical care, Physical therapy, Recreation, Respite care, Socialization, Supervision, Transportation, and Medication Management. Costs vary among adult day centers ranging from $25 a day to over $100 per day depending on the services offered and types of reimbursement. Private funds, Medicaid, Veterans Administration benefits, and special scholarships are sources of funding for the program.