What are adult day care centers and who can they help?
When an older adult isn’t ready for a senior living community but needs a bit of supervision during the day, adult day care centers may be the answer, providing care for the senior and support for their caregivers.
Sue was having trouble getting around and had fallen multiple times. Plus, the 85-year-old had repeatedly left her stove burners on and forgotten to take her medications. After a few fender benders, she also wasn’t driving anymore. Sue’s daughter moved in with her to make her meals, provide her with transportation and ensure she was safe; however, Sue’s work schedule prevented her from being with her mother 24/7, and she wasn’t comfortable leaving her mom alone for more than a couple hours at a time.
That’s when her daughter learned about adult day care and how it could benefit not only her mom but also herself.
What is adult day care?
When caring for a loved one who is aging in place, you may need a break or a helping hand, so you may consider home care. However, that can be expensive, and you could end up paying for chunks of time, like when your mom or dad is napping or watching television, etc., when you don’t really need it. Adult day care can fill the gap in the care continuum, providing assistance and supervision as well as social engagement for older adults while you hold down a job, spend time with friends, or just get some rest.
According to the National Adult Day Services Association (NADSA), there are three types of adult day services:
- Social: Offers meals, recreation, and some health-related services
- Medical/health: Provides social activities as well as more intensive health and therapeutic services, including monitoring of chronic conditions and physical, occupational, and speech therapy (usually with nurses on staff)
- Specialized: Delivers services to specific types of clients, such as those with diagnosed dementias
The term “day care” is often used for these centers; however, this name can minimize or misconstrue their function. “Adult day care is not a term we like to use because it sounds like we are babysitters, but we do so much more,” said Merle Griff, a gerontologist and founder and CEO of a network of centers in Ohio. To differentiate these centers from children’s day care centers, some in the industry prefer “adult day services,” “adult day health care center,” or “adult day center.”
An adult day center is not the same as a senior center. The difference is the assistance needed. Those who attend a senior center usually live independently and are simply looking for recreation and social engagement, whereas adult day services provide not only socialization but also support and care. For this reason, day care centers will have staff trained to provide the additional services.
What can you expect?
At an adult day care center, staff assist older adults with tasks such as grooming, medications, and toileting (as needed), but seniors also gain mental, physical, and social stimulation through games, music, arts and crafts, and low-impact exercise. They also enjoy celebrating holidays, birthdays, and other events and going on outings such as museums and theaters.
A 2017 review of research on adult day care centers, published in “The Gerontologist” and reported by AARP, found that these centers deliver health-related, social, psychological, and behavioral benefits for older adults, especially those with cognitive impairments. In turn, these benefits can lead to an improved quality of life for these seniors – and their caregivers.
Most adult day care centers are open during business hours and allow for flexibility in the number of days per week and the hours per day that seniors spend there. While under the center’s care, your loved one will receive meals and snacks, with some also offering transportation to and from the center. In some cases, these centers even have offerings for caregivers, including counseling, education, and planning support.
“We think of our day centers as offering some of the best aspects of traditional senior assisted living or retirement communities without uprooting individuals from the homes and families they love,” said Sarah Milanowski, manager of enrollment and marketing at LifeCircles PACE, in Michigan.
What’s the cost of adult day care centers?
Costs vary based on locations and the range of services, with the median cost for centers across the U.S. at $100 per day, according to the 2024 Cost of Care survey. This price point makes these centers an affordable option to hiring a home care aide or moving to an assisted living community.
These services are not covered by original Medicare; however, some Medicare Advantage plans may offer these benefits. Seniors may also qualify for financial assistance through Medicaid, the Veterans Health Administration, or state agencies.
How do you find a center?
To find the right adult day care program for your mom or dad, ask their doctor or local Area Agency on Aging for referrals. Once you find centers that offer the services that your loved one needs, visit the center(s) and ask about licenses and certifications (requirements vary by state), the ratio of staff to clients, and training for staff. Pay attention to the cleanliness and comfort of the center and how the staff interacts with clients. If possible, talk to the clients themselves or their families about their experience there.
WHEN VISITING, USE THIS ADULT DAY CARE CENTER CHECKLIST FROM SENIORS GUIDE.
How do you make the transition?
Once you’ve done your due diligence, ask the center of your choice if you can bring your family member in for lunch or an activity. If things go well and your loved one is comfortable there, gradually transition them to longer periods of time on their own. Of course, your family member may be resistant at first, especially if they have dementia. But over time, they will probably look forward to seeing their new friends and taking part in the activities.
That was the case with Sue. The first time Sue’s daughter took her to an adult day care center, her mom didn’t want to go. She insisted that she was perfectly fine staying at home by herself. Her daughter left her sitting by herself, looking sad and abandoned, and she worried about her mom all day.
The next day, they repeated much the same routine, but on the third day, her daughter noticed that a lively, white-haired woman came to meet her mom when they arrived. The two women warmly chatted as they rolled their walkers into the recreation room together, with Sue barely turning to wave goodbye to her daughter. The staff told Sue’s daughter that the friendly woman was Irene; she had invited Sue to join her game of cards the day before. Afterward, they had had lunch together and, with several other ladies, enjoyed a performance from a choral group. From that point on, Sue couldn’t wait to go back!
