SPECIAL SECTION:
SENIOR LIVING
Adult
Day Care
Services
Finding the best
center for your needs.
W
ith life expectancy rising, more and more of us find we need
assistance as we age. Adult day care centers are designed
for older adults who can no longer manage independently,
or who are isolated and lonely. They enable seniors to socialize with
others while still receiving needed care services. At the same time, they
offer caregivers a break from caregiving duties while knowing that their
loved one is in good hands.
What is an adult day care center?
Adult day care is a planned program of activities designed to
promote well-being through social and health-related services. Adult
day care centers operate during daytime hours, Monday through
Friday, in a safe, supportive, cheerful environment. Nutritious meals
that accommodate special diets are typically included, along with an
afternoon snack.
Adult day care centers can be public or private, nonprofit or for-profit.
The intent of an adult day care center is primarily two-fold:
• To provide older adults an opportunity to get out of the house and
receive both mental and social stimulation.
• To give caregivers a much-needed break in which to attend to
personal needs, or simply rest and relax.
Regulation of adult day care centers
According to the National Adult Day Services Association
(NADSA), there are currently more than 4,600 adult day care centers
in the United States. Each state provides different regulations for the
operation of adult day care centers, although NADSA offers some
overall guidelines in its Standards and Guidelines for Adult Day Care.
NADSA recommends a minimum staff-to-participant ratio of
one to six. This ratio can be even smaller, depending upon the level
of participant impairment. If a program serves a large proportion of
participants with dementia, for example, the ratio should be closer to
one to four.
Staffing of adult day care centers
Though each adult day care center is staffed according to the needs
of its participants, most programs operate with:
• Activity staff, usually an activity director and assistants
• Program assistants who aid with personal care
• A social worker
• A registered nurse or licensed practical nurse
• A center director
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• Centers that serve a large number of participants may also employ
a driver, secretary, and accountant.
Source: National Adult Day Services Association (NADSA)
Adult day care center vs. adult day health care
A social adult day care center differs from adult day health care,
which usually requires a health assessment by a physician before
someone is admitted into the program. Adult day health centers, which
typically use the term “Adult Day Health Care” (ADHC) in their
names, often provide physical, occupational, and speech therapy, and
are usually staffed with an RN and other health professionals. A third
type of day care provides social and health services specifically for
seniors with Alzheimer’s or a related type of dementia.
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