What Is Adult Day Care and Who Can Benefit from It?

What Is Adult Day Care and Who Can Benefit from It?

Adult day care centers are facilities that provide care, supervision, and activities for adults who need extra support or assistance during the day. As more Americans live longer and the number of seniors grows, adult day services play an increasingly vital role in helping older adults remain active and engaged while providing relief for family caregivers. Read on to learn more about what adult day care entails, who can benefit from it, and how to find a center that meets your needs.

Introduction

Adult day care centers offer seniors a place to go during the day for social activities, health services, and general supervision. They provide a valuable option for older adults who want to remain independent but may need some extra care and assistance. As well as benefiting the seniors themselves, adult day care also gives family members and other caregivers a break from caregiving duties.

There are many advantages associated with adult day care services. Participants can enjoy social stimulation, physical activity programs, nutritious meals, and more. At the same time, caregivers get respite time to attend to their own needs. Adult day care can also help seniors delay or prevent more intensive long-term care arrangements.

Adult day care is suitable for a wide range of older adults, from those who are mostly independent to those needing significant assistance. Good candidates include seniors recovering from an illness or injury, those with early to moderate dementia, and frail elders who need help with daily tasks. Caregivers struggling with burnout may also want to consider an adult day program for their loved one.

Understanding Adult Day Care

Adult day care centers are designed to meet participants’ medical, therapeutic, social, and other needs. The services offered can include:

• Monitoring of health issues
• Medication management
• Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
• Nutritious meals and snacks
• Social and recreational activities
• Transportation to and from the center

There are generally two main types of adult day care:

Social adult day care focuses on providing a safe place, social activities, meals, and general monitoring.

Medical adult day care has a stronger health and therapy component. Registered nurses oversee health needs and therapists offer rehabilitation services.

Compared to options like nursing homes and assisted living, adult day services provide supervision and care during daytime hours only. The senior returns home each afternoon and evening. This makes it a more affordable choice that also encourages independence.

Cost Analysis

The exact fees for adult day care programs can vary greatly depending on the services provided, how often the senior attends, location, and other factors. However, costs are almost always significantly lower than round-the-clock nursing home or assisted living care.

According to the Genworth 2020 Cost of Care Survey, the national median daily rate for adult day health services is $75. That compares to $105 per day for an assisted living facility and $255 per day for a semi-private nursing home room.

Some long-term care insurance policies include coverage for adult day services. Medicare does not cover routine adult day care costs, but will sometimes cover rehabilitation therapies for a limited time after an illness or injury. Medicaid programs in some states also help pay for adult day care for low-income seniors.

Locating Adult Day Care Services

Finding an appropriate adult day care program starts by considering what services your loved one needs and prefers. Make a list of must-have amenities and talk to the senior’s doctor about what level of care is recommended.

Your local Agency on Aging is a good place to start searching for adult day care options in your area. Centers on Aging and state departments of elder affairs also maintain lists. The Alzheimer’s Association has information on programs equipped to care for seniors with dementia.

When visiting potential adult day care providers, things to look for include:

• Clean, accessible facility with space for activities
• Qualified, experienced staff
• Nutritious meal and snack options
• Comfortable environment with activities suited to your loved one
• Caregiver support groups and respite care
• Customized plans for each participant
• Competitive pricing and payment options

Choosing the right program will help ensure your family member enjoys participating in the adult day center and gets the supervision and care he or she needs.

Case Studies

To better understand who uses adult day services and why, let’s look at two case studies:

Case One: Recovering from Surgery

Joan is a 79-year-old widow recovering from hip replacement surgery after a fall. She lives alone, but depends heavily on her daughter Kim, who works full-time. Joan needs extensive physical therapy along with monitoring of wounds and medication. Kim is struggling to manage her mom’s care along with a demanding job and two school-aged kids.

By enrolling Joan in a medical model adult day health program near their home, Kim can continue working while still ensuring her mom gets rehab and nursing care during the day. The center provides transportation, so Kim doesn’t need to worry about driving her mom. In the evenings and on weekends Joan enjoys having family around for companionship in her own familiar home environment.

Case Two: Early Dementia

Frank is an active 82-year-old with early symptoms of dementia. Sometimes he wanders off or gets confused doing daily tasks. His wife Nancy worries about leaving him alone during the day while she runs errands or goes to her part-time job. Putting Frank in a nursing home seems drastic since he is still healthy and mobile.

Joining a social adult day care program three days a week is an ideal solution. Frank enjoys the games, music, art projects and socializing while Nancy gets a respite break. Knowing there is a nurse on-site gives her peace of mind. The program provides transportation to pick Frank up in the morning. He returns home tired but happy each afternoon, which makes evenings calmer for both him and Nancy.

Health Impact

Along with providing direct care and assistance to seniors, adult day services can also have positive effects on community health. As more older Americans seek to age in place at home rather than enter nursing homes, adult day care helps reduce strain on hospitals and residential facilities. It also lowers costs for publicly-funded programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

Doctors and other health providers can refer patients who need extra support to appropriate adult day centers. This includes seniors recovering from procedures as well as those managing chronic illnesses like diabetes, COPD, or congestive heart failure. The structured care and monitoring at adult day care can improve health outcomes in many cases.

Operational Aspects

Operating an adult day care center requires focus in several key areas:

Staffing and Training – Most centers have an executive director, program director, nurse, and certified nurse assistants. Direct care staff should be vetted through background checks. All employees need ongoing training in caring for older adults.

Licensing and Accreditation – Adult day care centers must comply with state licensing laws which dictate minimum standards of care and staffing levels. Voluntary national accreditation indicates the program meets high quality benchmarks.

Care Planning – Each senior should have a customized care plan based on physical, medical, and psychosocial assessments. This guides appropriate activities and therapies. Plans are updated as the participant’s needs change.

Funding Sources – Many adult day centers accept private pay on a sliding scale based on ability to pay. They may also accept Medicaid Waivers, VA benefits, long-term care insurance, and other funding streams.

Thoughtful policies in these areas help create a well-managed adult day program that effectively serves seniors’ needs.

Financial Assistance

Paying for adult day services is often more affordable than residential long-term care. Still, costs can add up, especially for lower-income seniors. Some options to help fund adult day care include:

Long-Term Care Insurance – Policies with adult day care coverage can pay part of costs. This varies by plan rules and benefit amounts purchased.

Veterans Benefits – The VA’s Adult Day Health Care program covers members for 8 hours a day. Caregivers can also apply for financial stipends.

Medicaid Waivers – All states offer Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waivers that pay for adult day care for qualifying seniors.

State Programs – Some states and municipalities have special programs, like tax credits or voucher systems, to assist with adult day services.

Checking eligibility for these programs can ease the financial burden of adult day care.

Other Considerations

Adult children or spouses considering adult day care for a senior loved one often have additional questions, like:

Is it the right choice? Look for signs your elder would benefit from supervision and activities but isn’t ready for residential placement. Changes in memory, mood, or behavior may indicate they need more support.

What are the benefits? Along with medical care and social engagement, adult day care offers caregiver relief. It can also help delay or prevent nursing home placement.

Where to find services? Contact your Area Agency on Aging, State Department of Elder Affairs, the Alzheimer’s Association, or use online directories. Tour centers to evaluate care quality and environment.

Learning more about what to expect and how to choose the best program can make the transition to adult day care smooth and rewarding.

Related Searches

Along with adult day care, people researching senior care options also frequently ask questions like:

What is geriatric day care? – Geriatric day care is another term used to describe adult day services aimed at seniors. The care focuses on medical, therapeutic, and social needs.

What is the meaning of adult day care? – It refers to supervised care and activities for adults provided at a facility during daytime hours. Participants return home in the evenings.

What is a day Centre for the elderly? – A day center for the elderly is a British term for the same concept as American adult day care. These centers care for seniors during the day.

How much does senior day care cost near Massachusetts? – Average rates for adult day health services in Massachusetts are about $102 per day. This makes it a more affordable option compared to nursing homes ($355/day) or home health aides ($150-200/day).

Additional Information

Adult day care offers many benefits for older adults and caregivers alike. As our population ages, these vital programs help seniors retain independence and give family members respite. Finding the right adult day center can vastly improve quality of life for the whole family.

Sources:

Genworth Financial, Inc., Genworth Cost of Care Survey 2020.

Leading Age, Adult Day Services Center Operational Guidance, 2020.

Administration for Community Living, Adult Day Care Fact Sheet, 2022.

More from EverLoved:

Adult Day Care: Is it Right for Your Family?

How to Choose the Best Assisted Living Facility

Skilled Nursing Facility Costs and Payment Options

Published by EverLoved

EverLoved helps families manage end-of-life details to honor a loved one’s life. Our experts provide resources and guidance in navigating common questions on topics like finding senior care, estate planning, funeral planning, and more.

Author: Sarah Jameson, RN

Sarah Jameson is a registered nurse with 15 years of experience in community health education and program development for older adults. She has worked as a consultant to senior living organizations and is a certified facilitator for EverLoved workshops on advance care planning. Sarah specializes in helping families evaluate long-term care options.

Footnotes

Medicaid coverage for adult day services depends on the state. 38 states as of 2020 had waivers allowing Medicaid funding. Check specifics for your state.

Veterans benefits also depend on health history and income/assets. Meet with a VA representative to discuss eligibility.

Statistics on adult day care utilization from National Adult Day Services Association (NADSA).

References

Harris-Kojetin L, Sengupta M, Lendon J, Rome V, Valverde R, Caffrey C. Long-term care providers and services users in the United States, 2015–2016. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 3(43). 2019.

Friedman EM, Shih RA, Langa KM, Hurd MD. US prevalence and predictors of informal caregiving for dementia. Health Aff (Millwood). 2015;34(10):1637-1641. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2015.0510

Genworth Financial, Inc. Cost of Care Survey 2018. https://pro.genworth.com/riiproweb/productinfo/pdf/282102.pdf. Published August 2018. Accessed January 28, 2020.

Houser A, Fox-Grage W, Gibson MJ. Across the States 2018: Profiles of Long-Term Services and Supports. 9th ed. Washington, DC: AARP Public Policy Institute; 2018. https://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/ppi/2018/08/across-the-states-profiles-of-long-term-services-and-supports-full-report.pdf. Accessed January 29, 2020.