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Some centers offer programs that include
children. Besides recreational activities, some
adult day care centers provide transportation to
and from the center, social services including
counseling and support groups for caregivers,
and health support services such as blood
pressure monitoring and vision screening.
Benefits of adult day care
Almost Family, an adult day care center
provider in both the U.S. and Canada,
summarizes the benefits of adult day care well:
“Adult day care offers a win/win situation
for everyone in the family—not only the
client or member who attends the program,
but also for the family member who has
primary responsibility as caregiver. Adult day
care provides a much-needed respite for the
caregiver, affording a break from the physical
demands and stress of providing round-theclock care.”
For the participant, an adult day care center’s
benefits can be extensive:
• A safe, secure environment in which to
spend the day
• Enjoyable and educational activities
• Improvement in mental and physical
health
• Enhanced or maintained level of
independence
• Socialization and peer support
• Nutritious meals and snacks
Is an adult day care center right
for my loved one?
Good candidates for adult day care centers
are seniors who:
• Can benefit from the friendship and
functional assistance a day care center
offers
• May be physically or cognitively
challenged but do not require 24-hour
supervision
• Are in the early stages of Alzheimer’s
disease
• Are mobile, with the possible assistance
of a cane, walker, or wheelchair
• Are continent (in most cases)
When to opt for an adult day care
center
As a senior, it can be challenging to admit
that you need help, especially if you’ve been a
highly independent person used to caring for
others all your life. And if you’re the caregiver,
it may be equally difficult to consider allowing
“strangers” to care for your beloved family
member.
As with any service, the best time to start
exploring what’s available is before you actually
need it. According to ElderCare Online, you
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should seriously consider using adult day care
when a senior:
• Can no longer structure his or her own
daily activities
• Is isolated and desires companionship
• Can’t be safely left alone at home
• Lives with someone who works outside
the home or who is frequently away from
home for other reasons
Finding the right adult day care
center for your family’s needs
The National Adult Day Services Association
(NADSA) recommends you start by asking
yourself what specific services both the senior
adult and the caregiver need most. For the day
care participant, are social activities primary?
Assistance with walking, eating or medications?
Mental stimulation? Exercise? As a caregiver, is
support what you need most? Some free time?
Help with transportation? Answering these
questions will help you determine which of
the three main types of adult day care centers
(social, health-focused, and Alzheimer’s/
dementia oriented) will best serve you.
Where to locate adult day care
centers
For assistance in finding local centers, you
can try:
• Your family doctor
• Local social services or health department
• Mental health centers
• Local senior center
• Area Agency on Aging in the U.S. (Call
1.800.677.1116 for the AAA in your area.)
• Yellow Pages listings under Adult Day
Care, Aging Services, Senior Citizens’
Services, and similar categories
Questions to ask an adult day
care center provider
When you contact the adult day care
center(s) you’ve chosen to consider, NADSA
suggests asking the following questions:
• Who owns or sponsors the adult day care
center?
• How long has it been operating?
• Is it licensed or certified (if required in
your country or state)?
• What are the days and hours of operation?
• Is transportation to and from the adult
day care center provided?
• Which conditions are accepted (e.g.,
memory loss, limited mobility, incontinence)?
• What are the staff ’s credentials, and what
is the ratio of staff to participants?
• What activities are offered? Are there a
variety of individual and group programs?
• Are meals and snacks included? Are
special diets accommodated?