Adult Day Care: How and Why

adult day centers

An adult daycare center is typically a non-residential facility that supports the health, nutritional, social, and daily living needs of adults in a professionally staffed, group setting. The majority of centers provide meals, meaningful activities, and general supervision. The care provided is often a social model (focusing on socialization and prevention services) or a medical model (including skilled assessment, treatment and rehabilitation goals) provided in order to improve participants health and guide their progress in the right direction.

Adult day care centers primarily focus on providing care for people with a specific chronic condition, including: Alzheimer’s Disease and related forms of dementia; additionally, these services may be available for any adult with disabilities and also the elderly population. Numerous centers maintain a nurse on-site and devote a room for participants who require their vital signs to be checked and evaluated regularly; or needs other health services nurse during their visit. Facilities may also provide transportation and personal care including support groups for caregivers.

Attending an adult daycare center can prevent people from needing to be re-hospitalized and may delay their admission to residential long-term care. For participants, who would otherwise stay at home alone, social stimulation and recreational activities have been known to improve or maintain physical and cognitive functions. The more severe the disease is the greater the burden will be on the caregiver. Therefore, 19.1% of caregivers with clients made use these services. Adult daycare centers may be able to provide respite care, enabling caregivers to work or have a break from their caregiving responsibilities.

For participants, who would otherwise stay at home alone, social stimulation and recreational activities have been known to improve or maintain physical and cognitive functions.

These facilities are beneficial to many as, the activities accommodate stimulating interaction with other people which has been known to improve the participant’s health and emotional well-being. All certified adult daycare centers are monitored and staffed for the protection of participants as well as being a helping hand for new people having trouble connecting with others or do not feel comfortable in certain environments. This program aims to build up confidence and ability to maintain an independent lifestyle along with improving physical and mental health.

Another important aspect of an adult daycare center includes the information about healthy diet plans and exercise regimes which is suitable for certain people. This can help improve health as well as some people lose the ability to keep up a good, stable lifestyles and retain them. Especially after participants coming from rehabilitation or dementia wards, who may forget what they have or have not done a particular day. This introduces participants to new activities and may spark a new interest or hobby that they may like to pursue and discover more about.

Adult day care centers offer many distinct advantages and the most cost-effective option for long-term care. While costs differ based on care level and geographic region, nationwide averages show that the annual costs for adult day health services are significantly less than those for other long-term care options.

In many cases, our services may be paid in part or in full by Medicaid, Veterans Administration or private long-term care insurance, although coverage varies by state and policy. Keep in mind as well that out-of-pocket expenditures may qualify as a tax-deductible medical expense.