SPECIAL SECTION: SENIOR LIVING
Services provided by adult day care centers
A well-run adult day care center’s goals will focus on enriching the
participants’ lives, building upon their skills, knowledge, and unique
abilities and strengths. Below are some of the activities that may be
available:
• Arts and crafts
• Musical entertainment and sing-a-longs
• Mental stimulation games such as bingo
• Stretching or other gentle exercise
• Discussion groups (books, films, current events)
• Holiday and birthday celebrations
• Local outings
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-the-clock 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)
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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
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, healthfocused, and Alzheimer’s/dementia oriented) will best serve you.
Where to locate adult day care centers
For assistance in finding a local center, 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