Although adult day care has seen a popularity boost, over the last decade, as more seniors and disabled people are striving for a more independent and full lifestyle, many people are not aware that the option exists. Some also harbor misconceptions about what adult day care really is although it has come to mean many things to many people. Adult day care is becoming the norm rather than the exception when it comes to social and rehabilitative care for seniors and the disabled, and with good reason.
Some people automatically think of screaming children running around using finger paint on furniture and each other when they hear the word day care, but what originally began as a way to give full time caregivers free time of their own has grown into a much anticipated daily or weekly social activity for many seniors and disabled people. Many adult day care programs are created by municipalities with careful planning from social services and medical consultants and include a wide variety of programs and services.
These services are often low cost, if not free for participants, and are sometimes subsidized by social welfare programs. Many adult day care programs also have access to transportation assistance, usually with companies who have para-transit services available to accommodate disabled participants. Some facilities even have alternative business hours, offering services on nights and weekends.
Though statistics show that around fifty percent of those who attend adult day care have some type of cognitive impairment, these facilities are often lively groups of people enjoying themselves and their time away from home. Activities at adult day care facilities include virtually everything under the sun, from games and crafts to book clubs and educational workshops. Dance classes, games, botany classes and even internet related educational activities are often on adult day care facilities’ lists of available activities. Some facilities even have ‘day trips’ much like school aged children’s field trips.
What many participants seem to enjoy the most is the ability to socialize and make friends. The daily or weekly trip to day care is always something to look forward to and breaks the monotony of everyday life, especially for those who live in nursing homes.
Participants in adult day care usually receive personalized attention which can include mental and physical health screenings as well as exercise programs and even music therapy. Social workers are often also available to help with any needs the participants may have.
