SPECIAL SECTION: SENIOR LIVING
• What activities are offered? Are there a variety of individual and
group programs?
• Are meals and snacks included? Are special diets accommodated?
Visiting an adult day care center
Spend a day at the adult day care center that sounds best to you, so
you can get a “feel” for the people and the environment. Also, check
out references. Talk to others who have used the adult day care center
and ask for their opinions.
You may wish to try out different adult day care centers a few times
each to see whether your experience on different days confirms your
initial impressions. Be sure to bring the following site visit checklist
with you each time.
Adult day care center site visit checklist:
• Did you feel welcome?
• Were the center services and activities properly explained?
• Were you given information regarding staffing, programming, and
costs?
• Is the facility clean, pleasant, and free of odor?
• Is the building and site wheelchair accessible?
• Is the furniture sturdy and comfortable?
• Are there loungers and chairs with arms for relaxation?
• Is there a quiet place in the center?
• Did the staff and participants seem cheerful and comfortable?
• Are participants involved in planning activities?
Source: National Adult Day Services Association (NADSA)
Where to locate adult day care centers
For assistance in finding a local center, you can try:
• Your family doctor
• Local social services or health department
• Mental health centers
• Local senior center
• Area Agency on Aging in the U.S. (Call 1.800.677.1116 for the
AAA in your area.)
• Yellow Pages listings under Adult Day Care, Aging Services,
Senior Citizens’ Services, and similar categories
Questions to ask an adult day care center
provider
When you contact the adult day care center(s) you’ve chosen to
consider, NADSA suggests asking the following questions:
• Who owns or sponsors the adult day care center?
• How long has it been operating?
• Is it licensed or certified (if required in your country or state)?
• What are the days and hours of operation?
• Is transportation to and from the adult day care center provided?
• Which conditions are accepted (e.g., memory loss, limited
mobility, incontinence)?
• What are the staff ’s credentials, and what is the ratio of staff to
participants?
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Costs and financial assistance for adult day care
In the U.S., the average cost for an adult day care center is about
$64 per day, depending on where you live and the services provided
(e.g., meals, transportation, nursing supervision). Professional health
care services will mean higher fees. Many facilities offer services on a
sliding fee scale, meaning that what you pay is based on your income
and ability to pay.
While Medicare does not cover adult day care centers, Medicaid
will pay most or all of the costs in licensed adult day health care
sett