What is Adult Day Care?

An adult day care center is a facility that offers care for elderly recipients in a safe and friendly environment. Generally, adult day care centers are open during daytime business hours, five days per week. There are some care facilities, however, that do offer evening and weekend hours. Currently, there are over 4,000 adult day care centers in operation throughout the country.

Types of Adult Day Care Centers

There are three distinct types of adult day care centers. One type strictly focuses on social interaction, the other provides medical care, and the third type of adult day care center is solely dedicated to caring for patients with Alzheimer’s.

State Regulation

The National Adult Day Services Association (NADSA) does offer some general guidelines for adult day care centers to follow; however, the regulation of adult day care centers is strictly at the discretion of each individual state.

Pros & Cons

Many see adult day care as a fantastic resource for the elderly and their caregivers. On the other hand, some people refuse to ever give this option any consideration, while others have guilt for even considering leaving their loved one in the care of someone else. Then there are some caregivers that marvel at the idea of putting their loved one in adult day care, even for a few hours a day, but worry that their loved one will resent them for doing so.

Benefits of Adult Day Care

When used correctly, adult day care can be very beneficial for both the care recipient and the caregiver. Adult day care can benefit a caregiver by allowing them the opportunity to take a break from caring for their loved one. A care recipient can benefit greatly from participating in adult day care for a number of reasons:

1. It gives them a break from their caregiver
2. It provides social interaction with others their age or who have the same condition as they do
3. It brings structure to their daily activities

Adult Day Care Activities

While every adult day care facility will be structured differently and will offer their own home care services and activities, the following are common activities found in a typical facility that offers adult say care:

• Counseling
• Exercise programs
• Educational programs
• Simple health monitoring services (blood pressure, food intake, etc.)
• Meal and snack preparation
• Social activities such as crafts, gardening, music therapy, field trips, and more
• Therapy (physical, speech, occupational)
• Transportation services
• Assistance with activities while at the adult day care center such as eating, toileting, taking medication, walking, etc.

Paying for Adult Day Care

Although Medicare does not cover the cost of adult day care, Medicaid may cover some of the expenses if the care recipient can qualify for it and if the center providing the care is a licensed Alzheimer’s or medical facility. Also, if a care recipient has long-term care insurance, some of the costs may be covered if medical personnel are involved in the care. Still, at an average cost of $64 per day, adult day care is seen as the less expensive alternative to other options such as a nursing home or hiring a home health nurse.