Adult Day Services

Adult day care centers, also known as adult day services, have been providing a form of respite for caregivers for more than twenty years. In 1978 there were only 300 centers nationwide. By the 1980s there were 2,100 centers, and today there are about 4,000 centers nationwide, according to the National Adult Day Services Association (NADSA). 

Benefits for the Participant

• A life outside of the house

• Physical, mental and spiritual stimulation

• Friendship and activities with a peer group

• Opportunities to make new friends

• Structure and routine, sense of purpose and accomplishment

• Support and assistance to cope with or prevent anxiety, confusion, depression and memory loss

• Assistance with physical needs to maintain a sense of dignity and competence

• Access to health professionals regarding health concerns and information

• Regular health monitoring and care to maintain maximum health, prevent complications and encourage early treatment of acute illness

• Individual and group support for end-of-life, loss and dependency issues

• Respite from caregivers

• Continuity of care and multidisciplinary team approach to needs

• Safe, secure and caring environment for your loved one

• All care continuously supervised by professional staff

• Cost effective care (high quality at lowest cost)

• Peace of mind for working caregivers

• Daily access to professional staff regarding questions, concerns and support

• Referrals to other agencies and providers

• Assistance with problem-solving current and long term needs

• Monthly support groups and educational seminars/training sessions

• Adult day care allows caregivers to continue working outside the home, receive help with the physical care of a loved one, avoid the guilt of placing a loved one in institutional care, and have respite from what can be a "24/7" responsibility.

Types of Adult Day Care

• Adult day social care provides social activities, meals, recreation, and some health-related services.
• Adult day health care offers more intensive health, therapeutic, and social services for individuals with severe medical problems and for those at risk of nursing home care.
• Alzheimer’s specific adult day care provides social and health services only to persons with Alzheimer’s or related dementia.

• Nearly 78 percent of adult day centers are operated on a nonprofit or public basis and the remaining 22 percent are for profit.

• 70 percent of adult day centers are affiliated with larger organizations such as home care, skilled nursing facilities, medical centers, or multi-purpose senior organizations.

• The average age of the adult day center care recipient is 72, and two-thirds of all adult day center care recipients are women.

• Thirty-five percent of the adult day center care recipients live with an adult child, 20% with a spouse, 18% in an institutional setting, 13% with parents or other relatives, while 11% live alone.

• Fifty-two percent of the adult day center care recipients using adult day services centers nationwide have some cognitive impairment.

• Daily fees for adult day services vary depending upon the services provided. The national average rate for adult day centers is $61 per day (includes 8-10 hours on average) compared to an average rate for home health aides of $19 per hour.

• Funding for adult day services comes from fees for service and third party payers, as well as public and philanthropic sources.

• The average capacity of adult day centers is 40.

• The average adult day center care recipient to staff ratio is 6:1.