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.
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
26 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE | West Jefferson Hills
• 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)