Adult Day Care
ADULT DAY CARE
The National Adult Day Services Association (NADSA) defines an adult day center in its Standards and Guidelines for Adult Day Services (revised 1997) thus:
An adult day center is a community-based group program designed to meet the needs of adults with functional impairments through an individual plan of care. This is a structured, comprehensive program that provides a variety of health, social and related support services in a protective setting during any part of a day, but less than 24-hour care.
Individuals participating in adult day centers attend on a planned basis during specified hours. Adult day centers assist. . .participants to remain in the community, and this enables families and other caregivers to continue caring at home for a family member with an impairment.
This community-based program meets the needs of participants and their caregivers in a congregate setting. Participants generally provide their own transportation, though many adult day care centers provide or arrange for transportation.
Though each adult day center is staffed according to the needs of its participants, most programs operate with an interdisciplinary team that consists of activity staff, usually an activity director and assistants; program assistants who aid with personal care; a social worker; a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse; and a center director. In small programs the center director often functions as both the director and the social worker or the director and the nurse. Centers that serve a large number of participants may also employ a driver, secretary, and accountant. The average adult day center has a daily census of twenty-five to thirty participants. NADSA recommends a minimum staff-to-participant ratio of one to six. This ratio can be even smaller, depending upon the level of participant impairment. For example, if a program serves a large proportion of participants with dementia, the ratio of staff to participants should be closer to one to four.
The typical adult day center operates for eight to twelve hours each day. Because of the changing needs of caregivers, many centers are open five to seven days per week. Participants experience a structured day that includes meals, activities, exercise, and opportunities for informal socialization, as well as assistance with personal care when needed.
Benefits of the center setting
Adult day centers offer a variety of health and social services for one-third to one-half the cost of home health or nursing home care. Home health care agencies and nursing homes nationwide are facing shortages in the paraprofessional work force. Adult day centers are able to provide services with adequate staffing because their staffs, by and large, are not required to work evening and weekend shifts. Desirable hours and the congregate setting contribute to the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of adult day programs.
Adult day services are commonly referred to as "the best kept secret in long-term care." This community-based group program offers participants and their caregivers a viable alternative to nursing home care. Experts agree that despite the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of adult day services, they remain underutilized due to consumers' lack of awareness and inadequate reimbursement.
The facility
Adult day programs are offered in a variety of settings: in a freestanding building; on the campus of a hospital, nursing home, or assisted living facility; or in conjunction with another program, such as a home health agency. Participants can expect centers to offer services in a building that is handicapped accessible. Every center, regardless of the setting, must have bathrooms (one toilet for every ten participants at minimum, according to NADSA), staff offices, and activity space. Additional space may include therapy rooms or offices, a bathtub and/or shower room, laundry area with washer and dryer, nursing clinic, large and small activity spaces, and a kitchen area (for snack preparation). NADSA recommends a minimum of sixty square feet of space per participant. This figure excludes staff offices, corridors, bathrooms, closets, and similar space that is not solely for participants' activities.
Goals of the adult day program
The adult day center setting offers stimulation and growth for participants with impairments while providing respite for families and caregivers. Based on these premises, the NADSA Standards (revised 1997) establish the following goals for adult day centers:
- Promote the individual's maximum level of independence.
- Maintain the individual's present level of functioning as long as possible, preventing or delaying further deterioration.
- Restore and rehabilitate the individual to the highest possible level of functioning.
- Provide support, respite, and education for families and other caregivers.
- Foster socialization and peer interaction.
- Serve as an integral part of the community service network and the long-term care continuum.
These overall goals are coupled with each participant's individual plan of care to maintain an optimal level of physical and mental health.
Care models
Adult day services are delivered, most generally, in one of two program types: the social model or the medical model. The primary focus of the social model is opportunities for socialization and recreation. Such programs typically offer limited health care and rehabilitative services. Participants who attend social model programs usually enjoy fair physical health, but would otherwise lack opportunities to socialize with peers. If participants require medication during their time at the center, it is usually self-administered.
The medical model program has intensive nursing and rehabilitative services as the primary focus. Participants who attend such programs usually have multiple chronic conditions that require monitoring and/or a nursing intervention, and medication administration at least once during the day.
Approximately thirty-five states license or accredit adult day programs. For example, a center may be licensed as a social and/or a medical model. Each program determines which level of licensure is most appropriate.
Services offered
The types of services offered in an adult day care center vary according to whether the program is medical or social. Medical model programs offer nursing care provided by a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse under a registered nurse's supervision. The nursing care can include medication administration, wound dressing changes, injections, and overall health monitoring. Medical programs also provide or arrange for physical, speech, and occupational therapy. Social model programs tend to be more limited in their scope of services. They emphasize opportunities for socialization, activities, and outings. Medical model programs offer similar social programming in addition to nursing care. Additional services that are offered in both types of programs are therapeutic activities; meals and snacks with special dietary accommodations (for example, diabetic or renal diet); door-to-door transportation; social services provided by a licensed social worker; shower or bath; toileting assistance; grooming; and caregiver support.
Participant profile
Each center's organizational leadership determines what level of participant impairment it can accommodate. This decision is based on the center's design, staffing complement, community demand, and, in some cases, available reimbursement. According to the NADSA, the average age of adult day participants is seventy-four years. Although the adult day center population is largely comprised of older adults, many centers across the country have developed programs to meet the needs of young, disabled adults. The majority of adult day participants are women. Common participant diagnoses include Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia, diabetes, stroke, Parkinson's disease, and cardiovascular disease. The primary reasons for attending an adult day center are the need for socialization, the need for caregiver respite, and the need for supervision or assistance with activities of daily living. Individuals attend adult day centers an average of three to four days per week.
Operating costs of adult day centers
The major costs of operating an adult day center are staffing, rent/mortgage, transportation (vehicle purchase, lease, or fee for service), food, and supplies (medical, activities, office). These costs help center directors determine the daily fee for participants. Though there are wide regional variations in the costs of operating an adult day program, the cost of hiring and maintaining a well-trained staff is frequently the single largest organizational expense.
Funding sources
Adult day services is one of the few industries that lacks uniform reimbursement. Every state has a different reimbursement mix, and within a state, funding can vary widely from county to county. Medicare does not reimburse for the cost of adult day services. Medicaid does reimburse the cost of such services, but not in every state. The states that have Medicaid reimbursement offer it through Medicaid waivers by reallocating funds that had previously been used for institutional long-term care to pay for communitybased programs, such as adult day services, intended to help adults remain independent in their own homes and communities.
Long-term care insurance policies that are purchased by individuals sometimes cover the costs associated with adult day but because policies differ greatly, individual policies must be inspected to determine if adult day care reimbursement is a benefit, and if it is, at what level.
The Veterans Administration funds adult day services with money that previously was earmarked solely for nursing home care. Veterans with a service-connected disability may qualify for funding. The local or regional veterans hospital determines the level of available funding, and should be contacted for further information regarding adult day funding.
Selecting an adult day center
According to the NADSA's publication Your Guide to Selecting an Adult Day Services Center, the first step in selecting a high-quality adult day center is to determine the needs of the program participant and the caregiver. The program participant may have the following needs: a safe, secure environment; social activities; assistance with eating, walking, toileting, and medicines; physical, speech, or occupational therapy; health monitoring; accommodations for special dietary requirements; personal care; and exercise. A caregiver's needs may differ considerably. The caregiver may require reliable coverage in order to work outside of the home; occasional respite; assistance with transportation; support and education; or assistance in planning for care. After the most critical needs are identified, the local Area Agency on Aging is an excellent resource in locating programs in the community that meet those needs.
Potential program participants or caregivers should telephone several adult day centers and inquire about eligibility criteria and application procedures, and request printed information about the program, such as newsletters, brochures, and activity calendars. The program materials should contain information regarding ownership, years of operation, license or certification, hours and days of operation; availability of transportation; fees; conditions accepted, such as memory impairment, limited mobility, or incontinence; staff credentials and training; staffing ratios; health services and activities provided; and menus.
A visit to the adult day center is one of the most reliable means to judge a program's level of quality. According to the NADSA, the following questions are important: Do visitors feel welcome at the center? Do staff members spend time finding out what a prospective participant wants and needs? Do staff members clearly explain the center's activities and services? Do staff members give information about staffing ratios and qualifications, program procedures, costs, and care-giver expectations? Is the center clean, pleasant, and odor-free? Is the center wheelchair accessible? Is the furniture sturdy, clean, and comfortable? Do staff, volunteers, and participants appear cheerful? Are participants encouraged to help plan activities or make suggestions for program improvement? Current and past caregivers and participants may provide valuable information regarding a center's level of quality.
Adult day centers are an integral part of the long-term care continuum. Caregivers and participants benefit from the health and social services that are provided in a group setting for costs that are significantly lower than those typical in nursing home and home health care. And perhaps most important to caregivers and participants, adult day participants are able to continue living in the community while delaying or preventing inappropriate institutionalization.
Dayna McCrary
See also Day Hospitals; Home Care and Home Services; Long-term Care; Social Services.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
National Adult Day Services Association. Your Guide to Selecting an Adult Day Services Center. Washington, D.C.: NADSA, 1995.
National Adult Day Services Association. Standards and Guidelines for Adult Day Services. Washington, D.C.: NADSA, 1997.
Adult Day Care
Adult Day Care
Definition
Purpose
Description
Results
Definition
Adult day care includes programs, services, and facilities designed to assist physically or mentally impaired adults remain in their homes and communities. These are persons who might otherwise require institutional or long-term care and rehabilitation.
Purpose
There are two general purposes for adult day-care. The first is to provide an alternative to placement in a residential institution. The second is to create a respite for care-givers, often the children of the persons for whom the care is being provided.
Description
There are two general types of adult day care programs. One is based on a medical model and the other on a social model. The medical model provides comprehensive medical, therapeutic, and rehabilitation treatment, usually during normal working hours. The social model offers supervised activities, peer support, companionship, and recreation. Both models assist older adults and those with chronic conditions to remain as independent as possible, for as long as possible.
Programs organized along medical model lines are often called adult day health care to distinguish them from social programs. Adult day health care programs offer health services such as physician visits, nursing care, and podiatry, as well as rehabilitation services such as physical, occupational, and speech therapy in a secure environment. This model of adult day care is offered to persons with a variety of chronic medical conditions including the following:
- adults with Alzheimer’s disease, other forms of dementia, or depression;
- persons recovering from strokes or head or spinal cord injuries;
- people with chronic conditions such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease;
- adults with developmental disabilities such as Down syndrome;
- adults suffering from mental illnesses; and
- weak or frail older adults requiring nursing care or assistance with daily living activities.
The social model of adult day care emphasizes supervised group activities such as crafts, gardening, music, and exercise. Participants in this model may require some assistance with the activities of daily
KEY TERMS
Alzheimer’s disease— Progressive dementia characterized by worsening memory and other cognitive impairment.
Geriatrician— Physician specializing in the care and treatment of older adults.
living (e.g., eating, bathing, dressing) but they generally do not require skilled nursing care. Like adult day health care facilities, these social programs generally provide transportation and a midday meal for participants, as well as caregiver support groups, information and referral services, and community outreach programs.
In 2008, an estimated 37 million Americans will be aged 65 or older. According to statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor, the fastest growing segment of older adults is the population aged 85 and older. Historically, approximately 80% of the frail elderly remain in their communities and are cared for by relatives, most commonly by adult daughters; however, as of the early twenty-first century, an increasing number of women aged 35-54 are in the workforce and unable to care for aging parents or disabled adult children living at home.
Although the participants of adult day care are adults who attend the programs daily or several times each week, adult day care also meets the needs of families and other caregivers. Before women entered the workforce, they were available to care for relatives at home. In the early 2000s, adult day care provides a secure, alternative source of care for women who work outside the home. It also offers respite, or much needed breaks, for caregivers. Older adults caring for spouses, or children caring for aging parents find that adult day care helps ease the burden of caring for ill, confused, or disabled family members.
The first adult day care centers opened in England during the 1940s and 1950s. Established by psychiatric hospitals, these centers were designed to reduce the frequency of hospital admissions. The first adult day care centers in the United States appeared during the early 1970s. Today, there are more than 4,500 services and centers. Most centers and programs operate during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, but some offer weekend and evening care.
As of 2007, 35 states offer licensure of adult day care, but only 26 require such licensure. Adult day care services or programs may be affiliated with hospitals, nursing homes , home health agencies, or senior centers, but many are unaffiliated, independent programs. They may be located in storefronts, senior centers, community health and medical centers, and nursing homes.
Among centers responding to a 1997 National Adult Day Services Association (NADSA) survey, the average number of persons in an adult day care facility was approximately 40 and the average age of persons served was 76. About three out of four persons receiving adult day care services lived with family. Nearly 80% of adult day centers offered nursing services, and approximately 90% were not-for-profit. Fees ranged from $1 to $200 per day, with an average of $28 to $43 dollars per day. As of 2003, Medicare does not pay for any type of adult day care; however, in 35 states, Medicaid can be used to pay for adult day care services for individuals that meet financial criteria.
Though fees for adult day care vary widely, the service is generally considered to be cost effective when compared with the cost of institutional care, such as skilled nursing facilities or even home health care. More importantly, adult day care enables older adults, persons with physical disabilities, and those with cognitive impairments to maintain their independence. Research has demonstrated that adult day care also reduces the risks and frequency of hospitalization for older adults. Adult day care satisfies two requirements of care. It provides a secure, protected environment and is often the least restrictive setting in which care may be delivered.
Quality and standards of care vary from state to state and from one center or program to another. NADSA and the National Council on the Aging have developed standards and benchmarks for care, but adherence to these standards is voluntary. NADSA is developing a certification program for adult day center administrators and directors. A certification process for program assistants also exists. Since no uniform national standards exist, it is difficult for consumers to know whether a program or center is staffed by qualified personnel or provides appropriate services.
Generally, quality adult day care centers or programs conduct thorough assessments of each person and develop individualized plans of care and activities to meet the needs of impaired, disabled, or frail older adults. The plans for each individual describe objectives in terms of improvement or maintenance of health status, functional capabilities, and emotional well being. Centers must have sufficient staff to ensure safety, supervision, and close attention. Further, all personnel and volunteers should be qualified, trained, and sensitive to the special needs of older adults. For example, centers and services for persons with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias must take special precautions to ensure that people do not wander away from the facility.
Results
The aging population in the United States, the increasing incidence of Alzheimer’s disease, and rising popularity of adult day care have created new and additional opportunities for health professionals and other care-giving and service personnel.
Resources
BOOKS
Buelow, J. R. Listening to the Voices of Long-Term Care. Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 2007.
Capezuti, E. A., E. L. Siegler, and M. D. Mezey. Encyclopedia of Elder Care, 2nd ed. New York: Springer Publishing, 2007.
Mace, N. L., and P. V. Rabins. The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for People with Alzheimer Disease, Other Dementias, and Memory Loss in Later Life, 4th ed. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2006.
Moore, K. D., L. D. Geboy, and G. D. Weisman. Designing a Better Day: Guidelines for Adult and Dementia Day Services Centers. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2006.
PERIODICALS
Cohen-Mansfield, J., and B. Jensen. “Changes in habits related to self-care in dementia: the nursing home versus adult day care.” American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias 23, no. 3 (2007): 184–189.
Gerdner, L. A., T. Tripp-Reimer, and H. C. Simpson. “Hard lives, God’s help, and struggling through: care giving in Arkansas Delta.” Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology 22, no. 4 (December 2007): 355–374.
Walker, R. J., and H. A. Kiyak. “The impact of providing dental services to frail older adults: perceptions of elders in adult day health centers.” Special Care in Dentistry 27, no. 4 (July 2007): 139–143.
Yan, E., T. Kwok, C. Tang, and F. Ho. “Factors associated with life satisfaction of personal care workers delivering dementia care in day care centers.” Social Work in Health Care 46, no. 1 (2007): 37–45.
OTHER
“Adult Day Care: One Form of Respite for Older Adults.” ARCH National Respite Network Fact Sheet 54, April 2002. http://www.archrespite.org/archfs54.htm (March 20, 2008).
“Adult Day Care Fact Sheet.” Eldercare, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services July 6, 2005. http://www.eldercare.gov/eldercare/Public/resources/fact_sheets/adult_day.asp (December 24, 2007).
“Nursing Homes.” Medicare, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services April 10, 2007. http://www.medicare.gov/Nursing/Alternatives/Pace.asp (December 24, 2007).
“Adult Day Services: The Facts.” National Adult Day Services Association.http://www.nadsa.org/adsfacts/default.asp (March 20, 2008).
ORGANIZATIONS
Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL, 60601-7633, (312) 335-8700, (800) 272-3900, (866) 699-1246, [email protected], http://www.alz.org.
California Association for Adult Day Services, 921 11th Street Suite 1101, Sacramento, CA, 95814, (916) 552-7400, (916) 552-7404, [email protected], http://www.caads.org.
National Adult Day Services Association, 85 South Washington, Suite 316, Seattle, WA, 98104, (877) 745-1440, (206) 461-3218, [email protected], http://www.nadsa.org.
U.S. Administration on Aging, One Massachusetts Ave., Washington, DC, 20201, (202) 619-0724, [email protected], http://www.aoa.gov.
L. Fleming Fallon, Jr., M.D., Dr.P.H.
Adult Day Care
Adult day care
Definition
Adult day care includes programs, services, and facilities designed to assist physically or mentally impaired adults remain in their communities. These are persons who might otherwise require institutional or long-term care and rehabilitation.
Purpose
There are two general purposes for adult day-care. The first is to provide an alternative to placement in a residential institution. The second is to create a respite for care-givers, often the children of the persons for whom the care is being provided.
Description
There are two general types of adult day care programs. One is based on a medical model and the other on a social model. The medical model provides comprehensive medical, therapeutic, and rehabilitation day treatment. The social model offers supervised activities, peer support, companionship, and recreation. Both models assist older adults and those with chronic conditions to remain as independent as possible, for as long as possible.
Programs organized along the medical model lines are often called adult day health care to distinguish them from social programs. Adult day health care programs offer health services such as physician visits, nursing care, and podiatry, as well as rehabilitation services such as physical, occupational, and speech therapy in a secure environment. This model of adult day care is offered to persons with a variety of chronic medical conditions including the following:
- adults with Alzheimer's disease, other forms of dementia, or depression
- persons recovering from stroke or head or spinal cord injuries
- people with chronic conditions such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease
- adults with developmental disabilities such as Down syndrome
- adults suffering from mental illnesses
- weak or frail older adults requiring nursing care or assistance with daily living activities
The social model of adult day care emphasizes supervised group activities such as crafts, gardening, music, and exercise . Participants in this model may require some assistance with the activities of daily living (e.g., eating, bathing, dressing) but they generally do not require skilled nursing care. Like adult day health care facilities, these social programs generally provide transportation and a midday meal for participants, as well as caregiver support groups, information and referral services, and community outreach programs.
In 2005, an estimated 36 million Americans will be aged 65 or older. According to statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor, the fastest growing segment of older adults is the population aged 85 and older. Historically, approximately 80% of the frail elderly remain in the community and are cared for by relatives, most commonly by adult daughters. Today, however, an increasing number of women aged 35–54 are in the workforce and unable to care for aging parents or disabled adult children living at home.
Although the participants of adult day care are adults who attend the programs daily or several times each week, adult day care also meets the needs of families and other caregivers. Before women entered the workforce, they were available to care for relatives at home. Today, adult day care provides a secure, alternative source of care for women who work outside the home. It also offers respite, or much needed breaks, for caregivers. Older adults caring for spouses, or children caring for aging parents find that adult day care helps ease the burden of caring for ill, confused, or disabled family members.
The first adult day care centers opened in England during the 1940s and 1950s. Established by psychiatric hospitals, these centers were designed to reduce the frequency of hospital admissions. The first adult day care centers in the United States appeared during the early 1970s. Today, there are more than 4,000 services and centers. Most centers and programs operate during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, but some offer weekend and evening care.
As of 2003, 34 states offer licensure of adult day care, but only 25 require such licensure. Adult day care services or programs may be affiliated with hospitals, nursing homes , home health agencies, or senior centers, but many are unaffiliated, independent programs. They may be located in storefronts, senior centers, community health and medical centers, and nursing homes.
Among centers responding to a 1997 National Adult Day Services Association (NADSA) survey, the average number of persons in an adult day care facility was approximately 40 and the average age of persons served was 76. About three out of four persons receiving adult day care services lived with family. Nearly 80% of adult day centers offered nursing services, and approximately 90% were not-for-profit. Fees ranged from $1 to $200 per day, with an average of $28 to $43 dollars per day. As of 2003, Medicare does not pay for any type of adult day care. However, in 35 states, Medicaid can be used to pay for adult day care services.
Though fees for adult day care vary widely, the service is generally considered to be cost effective when compared with the cost of institutional care, such as skilled nursing facilities or even home health care. More importantly, adult day care enables older adults, persons with physical disabilities, and those with cognitive impairments to maintain their independence. Research has demonstrated that adult day care also reduces the risks and frequency of hospitalization for older adults. Adult day care satisfies two requirements of care. It provides a secure, protected environment and is often the least restrictive setting in which care may be delivered.
Quality and standards of care vary from state to state and from one center or program to another. NADSA and the National Council on the Aging have developed standards and benchmarks for care, but adherence to these standards is voluntary. NADSA is currently developing a certification program for adult day center administrators and directors. A certification process for program assistants also exists. Since no uniform national standards exist, it is difficult for consumers to know whether a program or center is staffed by qualified personnel or provides appropriate services.
Generally, quality adult day care centers or programs conduct thorough assessments of each person and develop individualized plans of care and activities to meet the needs of impaired, disabled, or frail older adults. The plans for each individual describe objectives in terms of improvement or maintenance of health status, functional capabilities, and emotional well being. Centers must have sufficient staff to ensure safety, supervision, and close attention. Further, all personnel and volunteers should be qualified, trained, and sensitive to the special needs of older adults. For example, centers and services for persons with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias must take special precautions to ensure that people do not wander away from the facility.
Results
The aging population in the United States, the increasing incidence of Alzheimer's disease, and rising popularity of adult day care have created new and additional opportunities for health professionals and other care-giving and service personnel.
See also Nursing homes.
Resources
books
Arnold, Dorothy T. Better Elder Care: A Nurse's Guide to Caring for Older Adults. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2001.
Beisgen, B. A., M. C. Kraitchman, and A. C. Ellis. Senior Centers: Opportunities for Successful Aging. New York: Springer Publishing Company, 2003.
Clark, Chris L. Adult Day Services and Social Inclusion: Better Days. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2001.
Harris, Phyllis J. The National Directory of Adult Day Care Centers, 3rd edition. Silver Spring, MD: Health Resources Publisher, 2002.
periodicals
Nieves, E. J. "The Effectiveness of the Assertive Community Treatment Model." Administration and Policy in Mental Health 29, no. 6 (2002): 461–480.
Powell, J., and H. Roberts. "Identifying 'Value' in Day Care Provision for Older People." Journal of the Royal Society of Health 122, no. 3 (2002): 158–164.
Ritchie, L. "Adult Day Care: Northern Perspectives." Public Health Nursing 20, no. 2 (2003): 120–131.
Sanfilippo, J. G., and J. E. Forker. "Creating Family: A Holistic Milieu at a Geriatric Adult Day Center." Holistic Nursing Practice 17, no. 1 (2003): 19–21.
organizations
Adult Day Care Group. 3 Ramsgate Ct., Blue Bell, PA 19422. Telephone(610) 941-0340, FAX (610) 834-0459. <http://www.libertynet.org/adcg>.
Alzheimer's Association. 919 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 100, Chicago, IL 60611-1676. 800-272-3900 or 312-375-8700, FAX 312-335-1110. <http://www.alz.org>.
California Association for Adult Day Services. 921 11th Street Suite 701, Sacramento, CA 95814. (916) 552-7400, Fax: (916) 552-7404. [email protected].
National Adult Day Services Association. 8201 Greensboro Drive, Suite 300, McLean, VA 22102. (866) 890-7357 or (703) 610-9035, Fax: (703) 610-9005. [email protected].
U.S. Administration on Aging. 200 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20201. 202-619-0724. AoA [email protected].
other
Administration on Aging. 1998 State Performance Reports. 1998 [cited March 21, 2003]. <http://www.aoa.gov/napis/98spr/tables/table4a.html>.
"Adult Day Care Checklist." Care Guide. [cited March 21, 2003]. <http://www.careguide.com/Careguide/livingalternatives contentview.jsp?ContentKey=1060>.
"Nursing Homes: Alternatives for Care." Medicare. [cited March 21, 2003]. <http://www.medicare.gov/Nursing/Alternatives/Pace.asp>.
L. Fleming Fallon, Jr., M.D., Dr.PH
Adult Day Care
Adult day care
Definition
Adult day care describes programs, services, and facilities intended to assist physically or mentally impaired adults who might otherwise require institutionalization, allowing them to remain in the community. It is generally considered an alternative to institutional long-term care and rehabilitation.
Description
There are two general types of adult day care programs—a medical model and a social model. The medical model provides comprehensive medical, therapeutic, and rehabilitation day treatment. The social model offers supervised activities, peer support, companionship, and recreation. Both models assist older adults and those with chronic conditions to remain as independent as possible, for as long as possible.
Programs organized along the medical model lines are often called adult day health care to distinguish them from social programs. Adult day health care programs offer health services such as physician visits, nursing care, and podiatry, as well as rehabilitation services such as physical, occupational, and speech therapy in a secure environment. This model of adult day care is offered to clients with a variety of chronic medical conditions including:
- adults with Alzheimer's disease, other dementias, or depression
- patients recovering from stroke or head or spinal cord injuries
- patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease
- adults with developmental disabilities such as Down syndrome
- adults suffering from mental illnesses
- frail older adults requiring nursing care and assistance daily living activities
The social model of adult day care emphasizes supervised group activities such as crafts, gardening, music, and exercise . Participants in this model may require some assistance with the activities of daily living (e.g., eating, bathing, dressing) but they generally do not require skilled nursing care. Like adult day health care facilities, these social programs generally provide transportation and a midday meal for clients, as well as caregiver support groups, information and referral services, and community outreach programs.
In 2006, there were an estimated 37 million Americans aged 65 or older. According to U.S. Department of Labor statistics, the fastest growing segment of older adults is the population age 85 and older. About 80% of the frail elderly remain in the community and are cared for by relatives, most commonly by adult daughters. Today, however, an increasing number of women aged 35 to 54 are in the workforce and unable to care for aging parents or disabled adult children at home.
Though the clients of adult day care are the adults who attend the programs daily or several times each week, adult day care also meets the needs of families and other caregivers. Before women entered the workforce, they were available to care for relatives at home. Today, adult day care provides a secure, alternative source of care for women who work outside the home. It also offers respite, or much needed breaks, for caregivers. Older adults caring for spouses, or children caring for aging parents find adult day care helps ease the burden of caring for an ill, confused, or disabled family member.
The first adult day care centers opened in England during the 1940s and 1950s. Established by psychiatric hospitals, these centers were designed to reduce the frequency of hospital admissions. The first adult day care centers in the United States appeared during the early 1970s, and today there are more than 4,000 services and centers. Most centers and programs operate during business hours, Monday through Friday, but some offer weekend and evening care.
According to a 1997 survey conducted by the National Adult Day Service Association (NADSA), 34 states offer licensure of adult day care, but only 25 require licensure. Adult day care services or programs may be affiliated with hospitals, nursing homes , home health agencies, or senior centers, but many are unaffiliated, independent programs. They may be located in storefronts, senior centers, community health and medical centers, and nursing homes.
Among centers responding to the NADSA survey, the average enrollment (number of clients) was about 40; the average client age was 76; and about three quarters of clients lived with family. Nearly 80% of adult day centers offered nursing services, and approximately 90% are not-for-profit. Fees ranged from $1 to $200 per day, with an average of $28 to $43 dollars per day. As of 2001, Medicare does not pay for any type of adult day care; however, in 35 states, Medicaid can be used to pay for adult day care.
Viewpoints
Though fees for adult day care vary widely, the service is generally considered cost effective when compared with the cost of institutional care, such as skilled nursing facilities or even home health care. More importantly, adult day care enables older adults, persons with physical disabilities, and those with cognitive impairments to maintain their independence . Research has demonstrated that adult day care also reduces the risks and frequency of hospitalization for older adults. Adult day care satisfies two requirements of care; it provides a secure, protected environment and is often the least restrictive setting in which care may be delivered.
Quality and standards of care vary from state to state and from one center or program to another. NADSA and the National Council on the Aging have developed standards and benchmarks for care, but adherence to these standards is voluntary. NADSA is currently developing a certification program for adult day center administrators and directors; there is already a certification process for program assistants. Since no uniform national standards exist, it is difficult for consumers to know whether a program or center is staffed by qualified personnel or provides appropriate services.
Generally, quality adult day care centers or programs conduct thorough assessments of each client and develop individualized plans of care and activities to meet the needs of the impaired, disabled, or frail older adults. The plans for each client describe objectives in terms of improvement or maintenance of health status, functional capabilities, and emotional well being. Centers must have high caregiver to client ratios to ensure safety, supervision, and close attention. Further, all personnel and volunteers should be qualified, trained, and sensitive to the special needs of the client population. For example, centers and services for persons with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias must take special precautions to ensure that clients can not wander away from the facility.
Caregiver concerns
The aging population in the United States, the increasing incidence of Alzheimer's disease, and rising popularity of adult day care have created new and additional opportunities for health professionals and other care-giving and service personnel.
Along with nurses, physical, occupational, and speech therapists, adult day care centers employ:
- administrators, program, and activity directors
- recreational therapists and assistants
- health aides and program aides l bus and van drivers
- social workers and counselors
- teachers and trainers
KEY TERMS
Alzheimer's disease —Progressive dementia characterized by worsening memory and other cognitive impairment.
Geriatrician —Physician specializing in the care and treatment of older adults.
Resources
BOOKS
Ebersole, Priscilla, and Patricia Hess. Toward Healthy Aging Human Needs and Nursing Response, Fifth Edition. St. Louis: Mosby, 1998, pp. 822–823.
Hogstel, Mildred O. Nursing Care of the older Adult. New York: Delmar Publishers, 1994, pp. 439–440.
National Association of Adult Day Services. Adult Day Services Fact Sheet. http://www.ncoa.org/.
National Association of Adult Day Services. Your Guide to Selecting an Adult Day Services Center. http://www.ncoa.org/.
ORGANIZATIONS
National Association of Adult Day Services, 1901 L St, Nw, 4th fl, Washington, DC 20036, (202) 479-1200, http://www.ncoa.org/nadsa/ADS.
Family Caregiver Alliance, http://www.caregiver.org/work&eldercare/bdc.html.
Seniorresource.com, http://www.seniorresource.com/hsdc.htm.
Barbara Wexler MPH
Adult Day Care
Adult Day Care
Definition
Adult day care describes programs, services, and facilities intended to assist physically or mentally impaired adults who might otherwise require institutionalization, allowing them to remain in the community. It is generally considered an alternative to institutional long-term care and rehabilitation.
Description
There are two general types of adult day care programs—a medical model and a social model. The medical model provides comprehensive medical, therapeutic, and rehabilitation day treatment. The social model offers supervised activities, peer support, companionship, and recreation. Both models assist older adults and those with chronic conditions to remain as independent as possible, for as long as possible.
Programs organized along the medical model lines are often called adult day health care to distinguish them from social programs. Adult day health care programs offer health services such as physician visits, nursing care, and podiatry, as well as rehabilitation services such as physical, occupational, and speech therapy in a secure environment. This model of adult day care is offered to clients with a variety of chronic medical conditions including:
- adults with Alzheimer's disease, other dementias, or depression
- patients recovering from stroke or head or spinal cord injuries
- patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease
- adults with developmental disabilities such as Down syndrome
- adults suffering from mental illnesses
- frail older adults requiring nursing care and assistance daily living activities
The social model of adult day care emphasizes supervised group activities such as crafts, gardening, music, and exercise. Participants in this model may require some assistance with the activities of daily living (e.g., eating, bathing, dressing) but they generally do not require skilled nursing care. Like adult day health care facilities, these social programs generally provide transportation and a midday meal for clients, as well as caregiver support groups, information and referral services, and community outreach programs.
In 2005, there will be an estimated 36 million Americans aged 65 or older. According to U.S. Department of Labor statistics, the fastest growing segment of older adults is the population age 85 and older. About 80% of the frail elderly remain in the community and are cared for by relatives, most commonly by adult daughters. Today, however, an increasing number of women aged 35 to 54 are in the workforce and unable to care for aging parents or disabled adult children at home.
Though the clients of adult day care are the adults who attend the programs daily or several times each week, adult day care also meets the needs of families and other caregivers. Before women entered the workforce, they were available to care for relatives at home. Today, adult day care provides a secure, alternative source of care for women who work outside the home. It also offers respite, or much needed breaks, for caregivers. Older adults caring for spouses, or children caring for aging parents find adult day care helps ease the burden of caring for an ill, confused, or disabled family member.
The first adult day care centers opened in England during the 1940s and 1950s. Established by psychiatric hospitals, these centers were designed to reduce the frequency of hospital admissions. The first adult day care centers in the United States appeared during the early 1970s, and today there are more than 4,000 services and centers. Most centers and programs operate during business hours, Monday through Friday, but some offer weekend and evening care.
According to a 1997 survey conducted by the National Adult Day Service Association (NADSA), 34 states offer licensure of adult day care, but only 25 require licensure. Adult day care services or programs may be affiliated with hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, or senior centers, but many are unaffiliated, independent programs. They may be located in storefronts, senior centers, community health and medical centers, and nursing homes.
Among centers responding to the NADSA survey, the average enrollment (number of clients) was about 40; the average client age was 76; and about three quarters of clients lived with family. Nearly 80% of adult day centers offered nursing services, and approximately 90% are not-for-profit. Fees ranged from $1 to $200 per day, with an average of $28 to $43 dollars per day. As of 2001, Medicare does not pay for any type of adult day care; however, in 35 states, Medicaid can be used to pay for adult day care.
Viewpoints
Though fees for adult day care vary widely, the service is generally considered cost effective when compared with the cost of institutional care, such as skilled nursing facilities or even home health care. More importantly, adult day care enables older adults, persons with physical disabilities, and those with cognitive impairments to maintain their independence. Research has demonstrated that adult day care also reduces the risks and frequency of hospitalization for older adults. Adult day care satisfies two requirements of care; it provides a secure, protected environment and is often the least restrictive setting in which care may be delivered.
Quality and standards of care vary from state to state and from one center or program to another. NADSA and the National Council on the Aging have developed standards and benchmarks for care, but adherence to these standards is voluntary. NADSA is currently developing a certification program for adult day center administrators and directors; there is already a certification process for program assistants. Since no uniform national standards exist, it is difficult for consumers to know whether a program or center is staffed by qualified personnel or provides appropriate services.
Generally, quality adult day care centers or programs conduct thorough assessments of each client and develop individualized plans of care and activities to meet the needs of the impaired, disabled, or frail older adults. The plans for each client describe objectives in terms of improvement or maintenance of health status, functional capabilities, and emotional well being. Centers must have high caregiver to client ratios to ensure safety, supervision, and close attention. Further, all personnel and volunteers should be qualified, trained, and sensitive to the special needs of the client population. For example, centers and services for persons with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias must take special precautions to ensure that clients can not wander away from the facility.
Professional implications
The aging population in the United States, the increasing incidence of Alzheimer's disease, and rising popularity of adult day care have created new and additional opportunities for health professionals and other care-giving and service personnel.
Along with nurses, physical, occupational, and speech therapists, adult day care centers employ:
- administrators, program, and activity directors
- recreational therapists and assistants
- health aides and program aides
- bus and van drivers
- social workers and counselors
- teachers and trainers
KEY TERMS
Alzheimer's disease— Progressive dementia characterized by worsening memory and other cognitive impairment.
Geriatrician— Physician specializing in the care and treatment of older adults.
Resources
BOOKS
Ebersole, Priscilla, and Patricia Hess. Toward Healthy Aging Human Needs and Nursing Response, Fifth Edition. St. Louis: Mosby, 1998, pp. 822-823.
Hogstel, Mildred O. Nursing Care of the older Adult. New York: Delmar Publishers, 1994, pp. 439-440.
ORGANIZATIONS
National Association of Adult Day Services. 〈http://www.ncoa.org/nadsa/ADS〉.
Family Caregiver Alliance. 〈http://www.caregiver.org/work&eldercare/bdc.html〉.
Seniorresource.com. 〈http://www.seniorresource.com/hsdc.htm〉.
OTHER
National Association of Adult Day Services. Adult Day Services Fact Sheet. 〈http://www.ncoa.org/nadsa/ADS_factsheet.htm〉.
National Association of Adult Day Services. Your Guide to Selecting an Adult Day Services Center. 〈http://www.ncoa.org/nadsa/guide_2_ADS.htm〉.