When many Americans hear the term “adult day care” they conjure up ideas of babysitting for the elderly. Adult day care is more than a glorified babysitting service. Many adult day care centers offer medication management and physical therapy, to nursing care, exercise and grooming. States generally require that adult day-care centers be registered or licensed in some fashion, though laws vary. Most centers will have a registered nurse available during the day, particularly at centers providing medical treatments.

Adult day care is custodial care for seniors who cannot care for themselves at home. Currently there are more than 3,500 day-care centers across the U.S., serving family caregivers who need some relief from the care they’re providing around the clock, while others want an option that lets them go to work but is more affordable, reliable and stimulating than hiring a home health-care aide. “I can’t afford to have someone come in and sit with my mother for all those hours,” Ms. Tatum says. Having her mother in a day-care facility also avoids security issues that might arise at home.

While the national data isn’t complete, some individual facilities around the country report that demand is growing from between 5% and 15% a year, depending on the location. The National Adult Day Services Association, a trade group, reports that these centers care for about 150,000 residents daily. This number is lower than the actual figures because not every person enrolled in a program attends every day. Some industry estimates that adult day care serves at least 400,000 people nationally.

And it doesn’t seem that the numbers will slow down. For the first time last fall, Metlife included adult day care as a distinct category in its annual report on costs in the long-term care industry. Adult day care “is becoming increasingly recognized within the long-term care community for the array of services available,” says Kathy O’Brien, senior gerontologist with MetLife’s Mature Market Institute.

Tips on finding a center:

Start with resources on-line, such as AGIS’s local service search. Also check local caregiving support groups, or state or local agencies on aging, for a list of facilities.

Visit: Make sure to check out the center before enrolling. Visit during different times of the day to see how a typical day runs. Taste the breakfast and lunch they provide. Ask a lot of questions about issues that are important to you. Use AGIS’ checklist to help you ask questions.

Visit more than one: “All centers are different, and different ones have different programs,” says Kathy O’Brien, senior gerontologist at MetLife. Make sure to write down your impressions and fill out a checklist.

Check licensing and registration: State laws and standards vary, but centers generally need to be licensed or registered with a state agency, typically one that manages elder affairs. Ensure that the center you choose meets standards and has no major violations. Ask if the staff receive training and have certifications.

Inquire about a discount: Some centers will cut the price if you prepay and register for multiple days per week.

Resources:

Wall Street Journal - Finding Day Care for Your Parents

Arch Respite - #54 Adult Daycare
Resources from AGIS.com

Search for Local Facilities and Services

Adult Day Care

Adult Day Care Center Checklist

Filed under: Adult Day Care, Care Facilities, Caregiving, Checklist, Eldercare, Working Caregivers