Adult daycares can be an excellent place for seniors to meet people, make friends, get out of the house, to try some fun activities, and to keep themselves engaged in the community. Feelings of isolation and loneliness are all too common in the aging populations, so the experience offered by adult daycare centers can be incredibly beneficial. It’s also a welcome break for the primary caregivers, who can use this time to decompress. 

What is Adult Day Care?

If you want to understand what adult day is really is, start by picturing a regular daycare with children. That will give you the basic understanding, but obviously there are many differences, too. 

Who is Adult Day Care for?

Adult daycare is a place for senior citizens, generally those who are being cared for at home by a loved one, to spend some time in order to socialize and have a nice day. It also offers some time for the caregiver to get some other things done, giving them a break from caring for their loved one.

Do Medicare and Medicaid Cover Adult Day Care Costs?

Original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not cover adult day care, but Medicare Advantage (Part C), which is purchased from private insurance companies, can include coverage for adult day care. Some plans will, some plans won’t – it’s up to whatever that particular private insurance company is offering. If you or a loved one is planning on taking advantage of the benefits of adult day care centers, then make sure you shop for a Medicare Part C plan that will help with these costs.

Types of Adult Day Care Centers

There are a few different types of adult daycare centers and they are differentiated based on the types of care and service they provide. Some long term care homes will incorporate parts of adult daycare, too. It can be a useful assisted living tool since it gives a change of scenario, a chance to try a new activity or two, and it gives the individual something to look forward to during the week. 

Social adult daycare center: This is like a social club for seniors who want to get out of the house. Seniors will get together, along with a staff of caregivers, to do all sorts of different stimulating and fun activities. It’s a good place to meet people, make friends, and it offers a break to the person who usually gives them care, which is crucial in preventing caregiver burnout.

Adult day health care: This is for seniors who require additional health care throughout the day. It’s still a chance to get out of the house and to have some fun, but it includes a higher level of care for people who need it. Joining will often require a medical examination. It’s very supervised, with medical professionals there to help.

Dementia and Alzheimer’s day care: This is an environment that is tailored to the unique needs of people who are living with Alzheimer’s or dementia. The staff in these programs will have special training and will be experience in dealing with the additional challenges that they pose and the necessary procedures. These types of centers are essential for people living with dementia and Alzheimer’s, since they’ll have the necessary day care services to keep everyone safe. A day program for Alzheimer’s and dementia is still a great way to experience social activities and to improve the well being of your loved one.

Benefits of Adult Daycare

The benefits of a visit to adult daycare, or a visit with family, or different types of therapy are well-documented. Seeing some friends can be a form of therapy for a senior who has been feeling isolated, and adult daycares are great care providers, so the participant is in good hands. Each adult day care program will vary. Some offer personal care, some offer health services, and they have their own varying costs. For something that can drastically benefit the lives of a participant, it can be very worthwhile. 

Questions to ask an adult day care center:

If you’re looking for an adult day care for a loved one, it involves some research, so here are some ideas of questions that you can ask to help ensure the center is a good fit.

  • Do you have the necessary licenses or certifications? (Note: these can vary from state to state.) 
  • Which conditions are they able to accommodate? 
  • What are the hours of operation?
  • What the registration process like?
  • Who owns/funds this program?

Don’t be shy to ask any other questions that are on your mind, it’s valid to have concerns and questions and a good adult day care center will understand and will appreciate that you’re dedicated and involved with finding great care. If they seem flippant or dismissive to any of your questions, that is never a good sign.