Choosing An Adult Day Center
What Are Adult Day Services?
Adult day services are community-based group programs designed to meet the needs of functionally and/or cognitively impaired adults through an individual plan of care. These structured, comprehensive programs provide a variety of health, social, and other related support services in a protective setting during any part of a day, but less than 24-hour care. Adult day centers generally operate programs during normal business hours five days a week. Some programs offer services in the evenings and on weekends.
Who Uses Adult Day Centers?
Adult day centers are designed to serve adults who are physically impaired or mentally confused and may require supervision, increased social opportunities, assistance with personal care or other daily living activities. A survey conducted of adult day centers nationwide, found that the average age of the adult day consumer was 76, and two-thirds of all participants were women. One quarter of the participants lived alone; three-quarters lived with a spouse, adult children, or other family and friends. One half of the participants of the centers surveyed had some cognitive impairment, and one third required nursing services at least weekly. Fifty-nine percent of the participants required assistance with two or more activities of daily living: eating, bathing,dressing, toileting or transferring; forty-one percent required assistance in three or more areas.
How Many Adult Day Centers Are Operating?
It is estimated that more than 4,000 adult day centers are currently operating in the United States. Most, ninety percent, are operated on a nonprofit or public basis, and many are affiliated with larger organizations such as home care, skilled nursing facilities, medical centers, or multi-purpose senior organizations. There are adult day centers in every state in the United States and the District of Columbia. Since the beginning of the adult day center movement in this country in the 1970s, the number of centers operating has rapidly increased. New centers are opening their doors every day.
What Kind of Services Are Provided by an Adult Day Center?
The "average" adult day center offers a wide range of services which typically include:
- Transportation
- Social Services
- Meals
- Nursing Care
- Personal Care
- Counseling
- Therapeutic Activities
- Rehabilitation Therapies
Are Adult Day Services Regulated?
Adult day service regulations differ from state to state and also by funding source. The Standards and Guidelines for Adult Day Care developed by the National Adult Day Services Association (NADSA), formerly the National Institute on Adult Daycare, of The National Council on the Aging provide important benchmarks for states that have elected to regulate adult day services. Funding sources also define the range of services for which they will pay while an eligible participant is at an adult day center.
Outside of the voluntary NADSA standards, there are no uniform national standards governing either the operation of centers or the qualifications of staff members. NADSA has a certification process for program assistants and is developing the same for administrators and directors.
What Are the Fees Associated with Adult Day Services?
The fees for adult day services vary, depending upon the region of the country and the range of available services provided by the center.
Funding for adult day services come from participant fees as well as public and philanthropic sources. The average cost of a day at an adult day center is a bargain--often much less than a visit from a home health nurse and about half the cost of skilled nursing facility care.
Choosing an Adult Day Center
Choosing an adult day center is a personal choice and should be undertaken with care. The National Adult Day Services Association offers a guide and search engine to find a center near you.
