What is Adult Day Care?
Adult day care centers offer support and relieve caregiver’s, while ensuring that the care recipient will receive the proper care in a safe and friendly environment.
There are two types of adult day facilities. First there are adult day care centers which focus primarily on social interaction with older persons and adults.
The second type is called adult day health care (ADHC) and focuses on providing services to older persons and adults with chronic medical, cognitive, or mental health conditions and/or disabilities that are at risk of needing institutional care.
Adult Day Care Center
Adult day care centers can be a great resource for the caregiver. When it works correctly adult day care can improve the care recipient’s overall behavior and provide the caregiver with much needed time off.
Adult day care centers provide supervision and a variety of services and activities, including assistance with eating, taking medicines, toileting, and/or walking, counseling, exercise programs, educational programs, mental stimulation, health monitoring such as blood pressure, food and liquid intake, and transportation. As well, there are social activities such as crafts, field trips, games, gardening, holiday parties, pet therapy and more.
Adult Day Health Care
Adult day health care programs provide support and stresses partnership with the participant, the family and/or caregiver, the primary care physician, and the community in working toward maintaining personal independence.
Services provided at the center include professional nursing services; physical, occupational and speech therapies, mental health services, therapeutic activities, social services, personal care, hot meals, nutritional counseling; and transportation to and from the participant's residence.
Cost of an Adult Day Care Center
The cost of an adult day care facility typically ranges from $40 to $60 per day, depending on where you live, and the services provided, and the care recipient generally is there from 8 to 12 hours. There are additional costs for services provided and you should ask for specific quotes.
Many seniors who use adult day care services pay out-of-pocket. There is also, (PACE) the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, a part of Medicare/Medicaid, provides financial support for qualified seniors in a limited number of states. The Veterans Administration provides support for veterans under their adult day health care program. Contact your local area agency on aging, as assistance varies from state to state.
