How to Find an Adult Day Service Provider
Adult Day Care services are gaining popularity. Why? Well, according to researchers, by 2029, 7.8 million Americans over 75 and up won’t be able to afford residential, skilled care. However, they will make too much to qualify for Medicaid. The estimated cost of assisted living and medical needs at this time would be $62,000 per person, annually. The baby boomer generation is putting increased pressure on the senior living market. Many argue that the U.S. is simply not prepared to handle it.
For these reasons, more and more families are looking for home care and adult day care options. We can expect to see a lot of growth from these two industries in the coming years. This is due to in part to assistive technology, which allows older adults to age in place longer. Adult day services, in particular, provide much needed day time support for independent seniors and family caregivers holding a job or needing respite.
What Is Adult Day Care?
Adult day care centers are devoted to maximizing the quality of life for seniors in their surrounding community. They provide an alternative to nursing homes by offering day time programming in a safe, home-like environment. Adult day care centers have various social, medical and wellbeing services and are equipped with professionally trained direct support staff.
How Do You Choose An Adult Day Care Center?
Here are a few things to consider when looking for an adult day care center.
The Sooner, The Better
Seniors who start attending a center when they can fully participate in activities and enjoy the company tend to do better than those who start after a significant health setback. When needs or abilities suddenly change, spending days somewhere new can add to overwhelming emotions. Therefore, its beneficial to already be comfortable with a center and the people there as one’s health declines. When someone begins to find it difficult to structure their day, is becoming socially isolated, or cannot be left home alone safely, it is a good time to suggest finding an adult day service.
Write Down The Particular Needs Of Your Loved One
As you search for the right service for your loved one, it's helpful to compile a list of their needs and desires (yours, too!). This will aid in narrowing down your options and help determine the best fit. You may want to consider questions like: Does the center provide health monitoring or specialized care? Do they cater to a specialized diet? Is there fitness programming? Will there be transportation services available? Is there flexibility in the days or hours of coverage?
Plan To Visit A Few Centers
Let your loved one get a feel for a few different places. Then see if there is one they get particularly excited about or are most comfortable with. You can search the National Adult Day Services Association’s (NADSA) website to locate adult day care services near you. Look into your options, check out online reviews, and contact promising centers to set up an appointment. NADSA even provides a checklist of questions to ask on your visit.
Ask About The Technology A Center Uses
Ask if the center uses any adult day care software or assistive technologies in their care processes. Software providers like StoriiCare offer a family app. This app allows you to get live notifications of your loved one’s activity participation.You can also view community announcements and schedules, see photos from the day and message staff directly about updates or concerns. This will give you peace of mind as you transition your loved one into day care. Technology like Storii shows that an adult day center is progressive in their provision of person-centered care.
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