As people age, their mental and physical health begins to falter and that means they’re no longer able to care for themselves.
This is something that affects almost everyone, particularly as our parents reach their elder years. This becomes frustrating when our parents are no longer able to be left alone, but aren’t quite so ill that they must move into an assisted living facility. A popular compromise is to consider adult day care.
In this article, we will cover what adult day care is, and when adults need day care services.
What is Adult Day Care?
This type of service, which is also known as senior day care, involves providing a place for seniors to go during the day. It’s similar to child day care in that it provides a supervised and structured environment, while family members or caregivers are unable to look after the individual. Although it may sound like a babysitting service for elder adults, this type of facility often does more than simply monitor their guests.
To begin, there are three primary types of supervision provided by these types of care facilities. Some facilities simply offer social interaction, giving seniors opportunities to interact with one another. Other day care services concentrate more on providing medical care for those individuals who may need to adhere to medication schedules, special dietary requirements, or who may require more direct supervision. Finally, some care centers specialize in caring for individuals with dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s disease.
In most cases, the facility is not run independently. They are affiliated with local healthcare organizations, such as home care agencies, senior service centers, and nursing facilities. While senior day care centers will usually take any elderly individual in need of care, the average patient is a 76-year-old woman. Patients normally live with a spouse, an adult child, or another family member. They’re commonly suffering from some kind of cognitive decline and may have physical difficulty in performing two or more daily activities.
What Kind of Seniors Need Day Care?
There are many reasons a senior adult may need daily living assistance outside of the home. Generally, any elderly adult who needs supervision or assistance may need day care services, while others in the household are otherwise obligated. While families do try to care for their elderly loved ones, they can’t set aside their careers, school, or other responsibilities to care for the senior in their home.
Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy, and Alzheimer’s disease are just a few of the conditions that may affect an elderly individual enough to require care. Additionally, frail elderly individuals may need help performing tasks that we take for granted. They may not be able to open food or medication containers by themselves, making it impossible for them to care for themselves.
Centers often operate five days a week and are open during normal business hours, though some may feature extended hours. This makes it convenient for families to drop the senior off early in the morning and pick the individual up after they finish work for the day. The family can rest assured that their elderly adult loved one is receiving the care he or she needs, while the rest of the family is occupied.
What Costs are Associated with Senior Day Care?
These types of services cost far less than those offered by long term care providers, because multiple families pay for the same service. This allows the costs of running the facility and the salaries of the social worker, activities director, and activity aides to be paid without forcing a single family to shoulder the burden. This makes it more affordable than confining the senior to a nursing home or hiring a home care aide.
In terms of numbers, day care for seniors is an affordable option, which costs between $40 and $100 per day. The broad price range accommodates facilities in different regions and those day care centers that provide more for their seniors. In addition to serving a nutritious meal to each individual and assisting with daily living activities, additional services will drive up the daily cost.
While Medicaid may cover other types of care, it won’t cover day care service, which means the cost will have to be paid out of pocket for families relying on that type of insurance. Government agencies, such as the Administration on Aging and the Veterans’ Administration may offer financial aid for qualifying families. Private insurance policies may provide more extensive coverage, so families should consult their insurance providers first.
What Do Seniors Do in Day Care?
Day care centers are similar to long term care providers in that they’re responsible for providing structured activities.
Physical and mental health can be strengthened through regular social activities, so caregivers arrange a number of different activities for each day. While a nutritious meal may break up the day between morning and afternoon activities, keeping the seniors active requires variety and creativity.
Some common activities offered may include:
- Day outings, such as shopping trips
- Arts and crafts
- Recreational games
- Educational activities, particularly those that explore diverse cultures
- Physical exercise
In addition, some facilities may offer physical therapy for frail elderly guests, as well as occupational therapy and speech and auditory therapy. Physical disabilities can also be evaluated and treated, depending upon the resources in the facility. Seniors may receive regular medical evaluations and receive assistance in taking prescribed medications. They may also participate in counseling sessions that help them cope with their declining health.
There are Many Benefits of Day Care
Essentially, a day care service for seniors provides activities and resources that help the seniors live fulfilling days. while they’re away from their loved ones, elder adults may begin to feel depressed or anxious, but providing them with social activities can keep their minds engaged. This type of socialization can stave off further cognitive decline and provide tasks that keep their minds focused on the present.
Another advantage is that adult day care gets the senior out of the house. Constant exposure to the same environment and the same people can create tension and a sense of confinement, so exposing your elder loved one to a new situation is healthy in itself. They will meet new people and learn about new things, which forces the mind to work. When they return home in the evening, this stimulation can give them something positive to discuss.
Physically, a variety of activities will also give your senior loved one opportunities to use muscle groups that would otherwise not be utilized. This can help them build up the strength in their arms and legs, helping to restore balance. Regular physical activity can keep the immune system strong and help other body functions remain healthy for longer, as well.
When it comes time to face the fact that your elder loved one can’t be left alone anymore, it becomes necessary to consider the options. Forcing the individual into an assisted living facility may be unnecessary and is often damaging to the senior’s emotional health, while in-home care may be too costly. A financially feasible compromise is to make use of day care options for senior adults. This option provides your loved one with the care they need without causing a significant financial burden to the family.