Day care is not just for toddlers any more

We're all familiar with day care. Maybe your mom or dad dropped you off as a kid, or maybe you're a young professional taking your own children there now. Day care can provide a great environment for young children by giving them a chance to socialize with other children their age, participate in stimulating daily activities, and have some nutritious meals. And of course, it can provide a welcome respite for parents.

Recently, the day care concept has become increasingly popular with those on the opposite end of the age spectrum. Facilities known as adult day centers allow caregivers to drop their adult spouse, family member, or other relative off in the morning and pick them up in the evening. Most enrollees in the centers, also referred to as participants, are elderly or have a chronic condition.

Adult day care centers provide enrollees with important services including personal care, medical support, counseling, and social services. In addition to providing traditional caregiving services, they provide a social environment with recreational activities. Participants aren't the only ones who may benefit. Recent studies show that caregivers have increased levels of a beneficial stress hormone on days they use an adult day care service for a relative with dementia.

The benefits that adult day centers provide for both caregivers and participants are gaining recognition, leading to their recent spread. There are over 4,600 centers in the United States providing care for approximately 150,000 people.

Nationally, the average participant pays approximately $62 for a full day at an adult day center. Payment may be made directly by the participant, but the cost may be also reimbursed through a government program such as Medicaid or Veterans Administration health care. More than half of the centers are non-profit, and some states require that they be non-profit in order to operate.

While adult day centers certainly provide important benefits, they are not without their problems. As they have increased in popularity, so too have opportunities to use them for nefarious purposes. Some centers in New York are reported to be luring the elderly with free supermarket coupons and then charging them or Medicaid exorbitant amounts for lackluster services. And in some states, the certification and licensure requirements for adult day care centers are less than stringent.

An adult day care center may be a great option for your loved one – just make sure to do your research first.

-----

Have a health care question or frustration? Share your story »