Adult day care is a service offered to adults typically 60 years of age and older who cannot be left home alone unattended. Generally they already have a caregiver in place who takes care of their around-the-clock needs. The day care gives caregivers some respite or the chance to work while trained professionals care for and oversee the care of mildly dependent patients.
Services Provided
Most adult day care centers provide musical entertainment, story time, bingo, card games, mild exercises, outdoor activities, holiday shopping and local outings to events such as craft shows or theater. Many day care programs offer meals that are tailored to the client's individual diets. Some day care centers also have a trained RN on staff to administer medication or care for patients who have medical needs. Some day care centers also provide wellness clinics for vision screening, blood glucose monitoring and blood pressure readings. They may also provide transportation to and from medical appointments.
Types of Clients
Most adult day care facilities will not take in a patient who is completely bedridden or unable to care for themselves. Some facilities provide up to a certain level of care such as clients who may have a catheter or wear a diaper. Many facilities will take patients who can't walk on their own as long as they are coherent. Many clients likely suffer from neurological disorders such as dementia, Alzheimer's or stroke recovery. They likely have some function but are unable to remain home alone. Some clients may be wheelchair-bound or suffer from crippling arthritis in which they cannot care for themselves independently. There are also clients who are younger but are wheelchair-bound or have special needs or disabilities.
Types of Services
Most adult day care centers are commercial centers that care for more than five patients. They have trained employees including certified nursing assistants and nurses who are on staff so that each client is medically cared for properly. Some day care centers travel to patients' homes and provide respite care while a caregiver runs errands or goes to a doctor's appointment. Occasionally an adult day care center may subcontract through a hospital or nursing home to offer their services.
Benefits
The benefits to utilizing an adult day care service is so that the caregiver can rest and get a break from caregiving. This also allows many working caregivers who may be taking care of their parents to continue their careers and family life while their aging patients are still being cared for. Another benefit is that day care provides social interactions among the disabled or elderly people. It gives them a chance to engage in certain group and peer activities such as games, crafts and learning skills they may not get at home.
Hours of Care
Most adult day care centers are open normal business hours, five days a week. Some facilities may charge extra for early-morning drop-offs or late evening hours. Some clients are seen daily, five days a week, for an ongoing length of time. Other clients may only attend day care while their caregivers are unavailable for a short period of time. Some clients may only utilize services for an hour a day while others may be seen over 40 hours a week.
