Adult day services may be the perfect fit for families who wish to keep their aging loved ones at home, but their loved one needs additional socialization, support, and/or supervision during the day.  Most adult day care centers operate during standard business hours, Monday through Friday, to accommodate the needs of the typical working family.

What does Your Senior Need?

Before you can decide where to enroll your loved one in day care services, you need to take an honest assessment of what he or she needs.  The director of any center you are considering may be helpful in helping you determine your loved one’s needs.  However, you can begin the assessment yourself by considering what type of care is needed.  There are basically three different types of adult day care center specialties

• Socialization and basic support (most common)
• Alzheimer’s/Dementia support (a component of many programs)
• Medical support (may offer therapies, diabetes monitoring, etc.)

Day Care Services

Day care centers vary tremendously in terms of services offered, price, and types of clients accepted.  For example, adult day care programs may provide:

• social activities
• counseling
• meals
• transportation
• recreation
• medical help
• emotional support
• mental stimulation
• personal care such as bathing and shaving
• exercise
• education and
• therapies: occupational, physical and speech

Specialty Services

Depending on the philosophy and location of the day care center, additional services may be offered.  For example, adult day centers located in a nursing home or assisted living facility may have resources like a beauty parlor or barbershop.  For those centers that are a part of a religious organization, then spiritual care, religious education or worship services may be available as well.

Activities

 

The goal of adult day care is to provide for social and medical needs, but also to enrich participant’s lives through a variety of activities. Common scheduled programs include arts and crafts, exercise, musical entertainment, games, book clubs, movies and outings or field trips.

An increasing number of facilities also include children. Intergenerational programs are becoming very popular because the offer a safe environment and planned activities for seniors and children alike.

Adult day care creates a win-win situation for everyone. Families are able to be together in the evenings without someone needed to give up their full time job to make sure their loved one is cared for. Elderly loved ones receive more than adequate care and have the opportunity to socialize with peers and participate in activities outside the home.