SPECIAL SECTION: SENIOR LIVING
Adult Day Care
Services
Finding the best center for
your needs.
W
ith life expectancy rising, more and more of us find we
need assistance as we age. Adult day care centers are
designed for older adults who can no longer manage
independently, or who are isolated and lonely. They enable seniors to
socialize with others while still receiving needed care services. At the
same time, they offer caregivers a break from caregiving duties while
knowing that their loved one is in good hands.
What is an adult day care center?
Adult day care is a planned program of activities designed to
promote well-being through social and health-related services. Adult
day care centers operate during daytime hours, Monday through
Friday, in a safe, supportive, cheerful environment. Nutritious meals
that accommodate special diets are typically included, along with an
afternoon snack.
Adult day care centers can be public or private, nonprofit or forprofit. The intent of an adult day care center is primarily two-fold:
• To provide older adults an opportunity to get out of the house
and receive both mental and social stimulation.
• To give caregivers a much-needed break in which to attend to
personal needs, or simply rest and relax.
Regulation of adult day care centers
According to the National Adult Day Services Association
(NADSA), there are currently more than 4,600 adult day care
centers in the United States. Each state provides different regulations
for the operation of adult day care centers, although NADSA offers
some overall guidelines in its Standards and Guidelines for Adult
Day Care.
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. If a program serves a large proportion of
participants with dementia, for example, the ratio should be closer
to one to four.
Staffing of adult day care centers
Though each adult day care center is staffed according to the
needs of its participants, most programs operate with:
• Activity staff, usually an activity director and assistants
• Program assistants who aid with personal care
• A social worker
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