Adult Day Care Alleviates Many Caregivers' Burdens

One of the fastest growing industries in the United States and around the world, Adult Day Care Centers provide an environment of professional longterm care and assistance for those seniors in need of these services.

The primary goal of these centers is to provide a daily respite for the longterm caregiver (usually a family member or close friend) so he/she may pursue other activities, whether it be a career, errands or simply rest and relaxation. The daily care of a senior can be excruciatingly taxing, and these centers are in place to help take some of the burden away, without the guilt and risk associated with institutionalizing a loved one.

According to the National Adult Day Services Association (NADSA), which describes itself as "the leading voice of the rapidly growing adult day services industry and the focal point for ADS providers", many of those served by Adult Day Care Centers today would have been institutionalized just ten years ago. This bleak option can be erased by many nowadays, with the appearance of over 3,500 Day Care centers nationwide.

NADSA recognizes two distinct classifications of Adult Day Centers. Those with a focus on providing seniors with a chance to associate with their peers, participate in arts and crafts, work out with some gentle exercise, and play mental stimulation games fall into the Social Care category and are perfect for those patients who need little medical care, but still require assistance in their daily living.

Those with a focus on intensive health and therapeutic services fall into the Health Care category and are preferred for those with severe medical problems and for those that might otherwise require nursing home care. The Health Care facilities are further split, with some exclusively focusing on Alzheimer's patients, or those with related dementia. It is important that the prospective care seeker investigate thoroughly and identify the ADC most appropriate for the level of care needed.

Adult Day Care Centers are usually open eight hours a day, five days a week, with some programs offering a half day on Saturday. The cost is usually in the range of $50 a day, with some centers falling below or above this average price line. Medicaid assistance is available for those who wish to use one of the Health Care facilities, and some long term care insurance providers will also cover at least some of the cost.

According to NADSA, nearly 25% of U.S. households provide some level of care to a relative fifty years or older, and Coordinated Care Solutions predicts that in the 21st century the demands placed on family and informal caregivers are likely to escalate, affecting nearly every American family.

Those wishing to know more may visit NADSA's Web site for information or contact their local doctor to see what programs are in place near them.