Adult Day Care
programs are one of the most under-used resources resources
available for senior care. Adult Day programs provide activities and
supervision for seniors with mental or physical disabilities. For
these older folks, participation in an adult day program provides
opportunities to get out of the house and experience success with
activities geared to their abilities.
This alleviates boredom and provides
a real sense of enjoyment,
accomplishment, and purpose.
For caregivers, the option of adult
day programs allows care at home to
continue even when caregivers must
go to work, or when the burden of
care might lead them to get sick
themselves without a break.
There are two kinds of Adult Day
programs:
Adult Day Health Care, a
medical model, usually provides
nursing care and rehabilitation
therapies in addition to recreation.
Adult Day Activity Centers
offer supervised activities,
companionship, and recreation.
Participants in an Activity program
may need help with some activities
of daily living such as eating,
using the toilet, and taking their
medications, but they do not
generally need nursing care.
However, many Activity Centers also
have a nurse on staff.
Adult Day programs are generally
less expensive than purchasing
private homecare services for the
same number of hours daily. Although
they are usually private-pay, these
programs are often covered by
long-term care insurance policies.
In Texas, Adult Day programs are
included in the list of subsidized
care options offered by the State
for low-income residents who
qualify.
There are several things you will want to assess
before you choose an adult day activity center. Here is a
comprehensive day care checklist...
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