With the average life expectancy rising, Americans are faced with a new set of issues, such as what to do with elderly loved ones who need supervision while their caregivers work. Although many senior citizens are self-sufficient, many aren't due to dementia or other incapacitating health issues. In addition to offering a safe place for the elderly to stay during the day, adult day care centers provide socialization and services that are available through government grants and public and private donors. Approximately 4,000 adult day care centers can be found in cities and the suburbs across the country, according to the National Adult Day Services Association.
Purpose
Most adult day care centers operate during standard business hours, Monday through Friday, to accommodate the needs of the typical working family. The facilities allow senior citizens the opportunity to get out and to interact with their peers. The centers also enable the seniors' caregivers to hold jobs, to receive assistance with the care of their elderly loved ones, to prevent having to place their family members in nursing homes and to have a break from the day-to-day responsibilities of caring for a senior.
Services
Most adult day care centers provide a long list of services at their facilities. Some of these include recreational activities, meals (breakfast, lunch and snack), social interaction, discussion groups and other mental activities. According to Donna Albright, an adult day care aid, some of the helpful activities played at the Riverside Adult Day Care in Newport News, Virginia, include bingo, crafts and singalongs. Other services may include medical assistance, emotional support, exercise, occupational and physical therapy, personal care, transportation to and from the facility, and transportation to doctor appointments. Most adult day care centers also provide blood pressure monitoring, vision screening and hearing checks.
Considerations
Make a list of your specific needs in placing your elderly loved one in day care. Some factors to consider include transportation, recreational interests, hours of operation, nutritional needs and price. Ask about medical licensing, professional qualifications and certifications. Find out who owns or sponsors the center and how long it has been in operation. If you need help with other services, such as bathing and grooming, ask if the center provides assistance.
When your loved one isn't able to care for herself or to perform routine daily activities, she may need to be considered for an adult day care program, according to Daniel Kuhn, the author of "Alzheimer's Early Stages: First Steps in Caring and Treatment." Other reasons may include having a loved one who isn't able to be left home alone without safety concerns or the caregiver needing some time away.
Benefits
Other benefits of using the services of adult day care include avoiding institutionalization when it's not necessary and helping integrate senior citizens back into society after a long-term illness or hospitalization. The cost is much lower than nursing homes because of government funding and local support from other agencies.
Warnings and Risks
Before choosing an adult day care center for your loved one, visit it more than once and at different times of day. Avoid any center that doesn't show adequate respect for the elderly. Ask the director for certification of personnel, and find out whether the center offers ongoing education for the staff. If after placing your loved one in a center, be concerned if you see a negative change in behavior, because this could be a sign of physical or emotional abuse. Other signs of abuse include bruises, welts, broken eyeglasses, rope marks on the wrists or sudden changes in behavior.
