WHAT
IS “ADULT DAY CARE”?
Adult day service
(day care) meets
the needs of frail and functionally impaired
adults of all ages by providing a supervised and secure setting.
Services include a wide range of options
such as stimulating recreational group activities to increase or maintain independent
living skills and overall self-sufficiency in a Social
Model Adult Day Care Program
to extensive assistance with activities of daily living and/or medical, therapeutic, or rehabilitation day treatment in a Medical Model Adult Day Care Program. The goal of both models
is to assist individuals, whether
older adults or those with chronic conditions, to remain as independent as possible, for as
long as possible. Nationally, almost
half of all adult
day service (day care)
participants have some form of dementia. The balance of participants has chronic diseases
such as hypertension, physical disability, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, a behavioral health
challenge or a developmental disability.
The National Adult Day Services
Association’s Institute on Adult Day Care defines
adult day services
(day care) as: “Adult day services
provide a coordinated program of professional and compassionate services
for adults in a community-based group setting. Services are designed to provide social
and some health
services to adults
who need supervised care in a safe place outside the home during
the day. They also afford
caregivers respite from the demanding
responsibilities of caregiving.”
An interdisciplinary team of both professionals and paraprofessionals deliver
health, social and supportive services
to meet the physical, cognitive or psychosocial needs of the participant in a secure
cost effective group setting in the community
allowing families to maintain relationships and lifestyles. The caregivers also benefit from these programs
as participation of a loved one will allow them to continue working and/or provide a needed break or “respite”
from the many caregiving responsibilities as well as offering emotional
support or counseling in the form of caregiver
support groups.
Despite the lack of stable public funding,
the number of centers continues to increase, reflecting the demand and public
awareness of adult day services
(day care) as an essential community based service
to prolong independence and delay institutional placement.
Adult day care centers can include many of the services listed
below:
• Social activities
• Therapeutic activities
• Nutrition (meals and snacks)
• Transportation
• Education
Adult day service
(day care) programs
can vary widely
from provider to provider. Most centers feature
several common elements:
• They are offered at a central program location.
• They are open several
hours per day.
• They provide
a midday meal and snacks.
• They have
no overnight stays.
• They offer
a set of core services, always including socialization, watchful oversight, supervision/monitoring and nutrition.
• They provide,
or arrange for, other services,
depending on the needs of the persons
served.
While most adult
day service (day care) centers
operate programs five days a week during
normal business hours,
some programs may offer evening
and weekend services.
Adult day service
(day care) centers
operate under a variety of auspices, and with varying
levels of professional services.