Adult Day Care Centers
are intended to provide care and companionship for adults who need assistance
or supervision. These programs provide caregivers and family members a
temporary rest from caregiving, while the senior adult receives care in a safe
environment. The senior adult benefits from staying in the community, structure
to his or her daily activities, and social interaction. Placing the senior
adult in a day care center allows the caregiver or family member to go to work,
run errands, or just relax while their loved one is safe.
Generally,
there are two different types of Adult Day Care Centers: adult social day care
and adult day health care. Adult social day care provides a social outlet for
the senior and offers activities, meals, recreation, and some health-related
services. Social activities can include crafts, cooking, exercise, field trips,
and games. Adult day health care offers intensive health, therapeutic, and
social services for adults who otherwise may need institutionalized care. Adult
day care services can also include counseling, education, physical therapy,
medication management, assistance with eating, toileting, and/or walking, and
transportation services.
The
cost of day care services vary depending on location, the services offered, and
other factors. However, adult day care services are often less expensive than
hiring a home health nurse or placing the senior in a facility and day care could
be a good option for families to consider. To explore Adult Day Care Centers in
Virginia, the Virginia Department of Social Services maintains an online search
database that can be found here:
Written by Heather W. Winter, Esquire
