What Are the Benefits of Adult Day Care?
Many older adults prefer to stay in their own homes or the homes of family members. If health care professionals and family members agree that the safety of the senior will not be at risk, adult day care may be an enhancement to their well-being. In its 2008-2009 census, the National Adult Day Services Association counted over 4,600 adult day care centers in the United States.
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Activities
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Games can stimulate the mind and provide socialization.
Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Louise Docker
The care-receiver, or older adult, will benefit from stimulating activities: discussion groups (books, movies, current events), arts and crafts, games, sing-alongs, celebrations (birthdays and holidays) and outings.
Meals
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Adult day care centers provide nutritious meals.
Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Mo Riza
Adult day care centers provide at least one meal during the day and an afternoon snack. This ensures that the care-receiver will get some nutrition while not having to worry about cooking for themselves. Those in the beginning stages of dementia will begin to find preparing meals difficult even if they never did before.
Medical Attention
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Health care providers can detect health problems in older adults.
Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Logan Ingalls
Adult day care centers are usually staffed with a nurse along with other health care professionals trained to recognize health problems in older adults. They can also provide appropriate speech, physical and occupational therapy along with supervised light exercise during the day.
Socialization
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Care-receivers at adult day care centers benefit from spending time with their peers. Other people their same age and needing about the same level of care can offer support and understanding during the aging process. They are able to enjoy similar activities and share memories from childhood and younger adult years.
Benefits to Caregivers
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Those who take care of older adults will appreciate the respite that adult day care gives them while knowing that their loved one is in a safe, nurturing environment. Adult day care may even allow them to work outside the home while the older adult is at adult day care.
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- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of woodley wonderworks Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Louise Docker Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Mo Riza Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Logan Ingalls
