Kate Essary knows that adult day care services are a great help to family caregivers. Her mother, Jan, attends adult day care three days a week near their home. There are nearly 4,000 adult day care facilities throughout the United States serving the elderly and seniors with cognitive and other health conditions.
Adult day services are ideal for people who would otherwise sit at home alone in front of the TV and for people who can’t stay home by themselves. Adult day care provides them with meals, activities, and social interaction in a facility where they can be monitored by trained staff and licensed nurses.
At the end of the day, these seniors get to return to their homes and spend time with their families, delaying the need for more permanent solutions like assisted living and nursing facilities.
The average cost of this kind of programming is around $65 a day, but that is still much more affordable than in-home nursing care, nursing home placement or assisted living placement.
Significant Benefits
According to research, adult day programs can significantly reduce the stress placed on family caregivers. They face less depression and anger and report feeling an improved well-being. Adult care services also help the seniors who attend, but it is less clear how to measure and define these benefits. Doctors and family members note that their quality of life is improved appreciably.
The subject is a tricky one because it cannot be assumed that the elderly will experience improved health over time. Instead, the focus of the Penn State study was on how well the participants were able to cope and whether or not quality of life was able to improve despite their limitations.
For people enrolled in adult day care felt the impact of their limitations were lessened, whereas those who did not attend adult day care felt their problems were compounded.
The results of this study are well-timed, as lawmakers at every level consider funding vital adult day care programs.
Tags: Adult Day Care, Caregivers, Depression, Penn State, Senior Citizens, Stress
