Adult day care is a planned program of activities for adults who need supervision for part of the day. Adult day care centers can be public or private, non-profit, or for-profit and usually operate during daytime hours, Monday through Friday.[2] The following are good candidates for adult day care:[2]
- Can benefit from the friendship and functional assistance a day care center offers
- May be physically or cognitively challenged, but don't require 24-hour supervision
- Are in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease
- Are mobile, with the assistance of a cane, walker, or wheelchair
- Are continent (usually required)
Services provided by adult day care centers might include the following:[1][2]
- Arts and crafts
- Meals and snacks
- Therapeutic services
- Musical entertainment and sing-a-longs
- Mental stimulation games, such as bingo
- Stretching or other gentle exercise
- Discussion groups (e.g., books, films, current events)
- Holiday and birthday celebrations
- Local outings
- Activities involving children
Take note that a social adult day care setting is different from an adult day health care, which usually requires a health assessment by a physician before being admitted into the program.[2]
For More Information
Learn more about adult day programs at Emeritus.
1. National Adult Day Services Association (NADSA). (n.d.) Adult Day Services: Overview and Facts. Retrieved August 9, 2009, from http://www.nadsa.org/adsfacts/default.asp.
2. Helpguide.org (n.d.) Adult Day Care Centers: A Guide to Options and Selecting the Best Center for Your Needs. Retrieved July 1, 2009, from http://www.helpguide.org/elder/adult_day_care_centers.htm.
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