Adult Day Care WHAT IS ADULT DAY CARE? (from US Dept of Health and Human Services)
Adult Day Care Centers are designed to provide
care
and companionship for seniors who need
assistance
or supervision during the day. The program
offers
relief to family members or caregivers and allows them the freedom to
go to
work, handle personal business or just relax while knowing their
relative is
well cared for and safe.
The goals of the programs are to delay or prevent institutionalization
by providing
alternative care, to enhance self-esteem and to encourage
socialization.
There are two types of adult day care: Adult social day care
provides social
activities, meals, recreation and some health-related services.
Adult day
health care offers more intensive health, therapeutic and social
services
for individuals with severe medical problems and those at risk of
requiring
nursing home care.
Seniors generally take part in the program on a scheduled basis and
the services
that are offered may include the following:
- Counseling
- Education
- Evening care
- Exercise
- Health screening
- Meals
- Medical care
- Physical therapy
- Recreation
- Respite care
- Socialization
- Supervision
- Transportation
- Medication Management
HOW DO ADULT DAY CARE CENTERS
OPERATE?
These centers are usually open during working hours and may stand alone
or be
located in senior centers, nursing facilities, churches or synagogues,
hospitals,
or schools. The staff may monitor medications, serve hot meals and
snacks,
perform physical or occupational therapy, and arrange social
activities. They
also may help to arrange transportation to and from the center itself.
WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM ADULT DAY CARE?
The following case study is an example of a senior who may need adult
day care
services, both for his own well being and that of his family caregivers:
Paul is 69 years old and recently suffered a stroke. He needs some care
and supervision
so he lives with his son and daughter-in-law, David and Kira. However,
because
David and Kira both work, they need help to care for Paul during the
day. They
found a solution to their problem by having Kira drop off Paul at the
local adult
day care center in the morning, and having David pick him up when he
gets off
work in the evening. The center monitors Paul’s medications and offers
him lunch, some physical therapy, and a chance to socialize with other
seniors.
WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR IN AN ADULT DAY CARE CENTER?
Not all states license and regulate adult day care centers, there may
be a great deal of difference between individual centers; therefore it
is important
to learn more about each of the centers near you. You will probably want
to visit
the centers closest to you, and to talk with the staff and other
families that
use the centers to determine if the facilities and programs available
meet your
individual needs. You may want to find out if your state has an Adult
Day Care
Association.
HOW DO I PAY FOR ADULT DAY SERVICES?
Costs vary among adult day centers. Costs range from $25 a day to over
$100 per
day depending on the services offered, type of reimbursement, and
geographic
region. While an adult day care center is not usually covered by
insurance of
Medicare, some financial assistance may be available through a federal
or state
program (e.g., Medicaid, Older Americans Act, Veterans Administration)
WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT LOCAL SERVICES?
To find out more about the specific adult day care centers where you
live, you
will want to contact your local aging information and assistance
provider or
area agency on aging (AAA). The Eldercare Locator, a public service of
the Administration
on Aging (at 1-800-677-1116 or www.eldercare.gov) can help connect you
to these
agencies.
The National Adult Day Services Association is a good source for general
information
about adult day care centers and programs. They can help you link to a
state
adult day care association. It can be reached by calling the toll-free
telephone
number 1-866-890-7357 or by going to http://www.nadsa.org.