What Is Adult Day Care?

In the 21st century, as more and more couples are caring for their aging parents while both continue to work, adult day care is becoming more popular. While adult day care is something new to many people, it answers a distinct need for the elderly, the aging, and adults with medical conditions.

Adult Day Care Programs and Services

Depending on your specific needs, there are adult day cares that can help. If you need a few hours away from caregiving every week, you can drop off your loved one at an adult day care center to take care of them. If you need to drop your loved one off for a longer stretch of time if you are working full time, there are adult day cares that can handle that. If your loved one has specific dietary and medical needs that require additional help from staff, there are adult day cares that can handle that as well.  

Some adult day care centers are more structured than others with specific times assigned for activities. Other adult day cares are less structured and give their members more time to socialize. Choosing the right adult day care may take some time as each one is designed to fit different needs. Be selective when choosing the right adult day care that works for your loved one as it takes time to transition from one adult day care to another one.

A Day at Adult Day Care

Here’s an example of someone who decided to go to adult day care on her own. Mr. Smith, a social worker, had a client, Barbara, who lived on her own and was very depressed. Although she had a car and could still drive, she would not leave her house for days at a time. There was an adult day care center just a couple of miles from her home. Mr. Smith cajoled and finally convinced his client to try the adult day care just once provided that he would accompany her. He picked her up in his car the next morning and they headed off to the center. Once they went inside, Barbara was welcomed by both the staff and the other seniors. First she saw some people that she knew watching TV and went over to talk to them. Then Barbara spotted the dominoes game and played dominoes for the rest of the morning. Mr. Smith and Barbara had lunch at the center. Then Barbara had to decide between more dominoes, bridge and a board game that was starting. She opted for bridge and spent the afternoon happily playing cards.

Mr. Smith picked up Barbara the next day and they went to the center again. Barbara spent another happy day interacting with other people close to her age and received a nutritious lunch based on the dietary needs of older adults. The third day when Mr. Smith went to pick up Barbara, there was no one home and her car was gone. Mr. Smith drove to the adult day care center and discovered Barbara having fun. She needed no more convincing and her depression began to lift.

Adult day care can offer solutions for both seniors who live independently and for those living with family. It can be used two or three days per week or every weekday. Some centers offer late nights as well. Be sensitive in suggesting it, and offer to accompany the senior on the first day or two. You will both be glad that you found it.

Learn more about adult day care and download a checklist to take with you when you tour a facility near you.

SeniorAdvisor.com Staff

Senior Advisor's knowledgeable writers blog about senior care services, trends and more.