What Is the Difference Between Social Adult Day Care & Medical Adult Day Care?
Adult day care is a designated place that offers community-based programs for adults needing assistance. It provides an environment with socialization, respite for caretakers and support services for people who may need supervision for safety reasons. Medical adult day care provides an additional layer of health services.
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History
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Adult day care was originally created to offer out-of-home options to adult caregivers. Thomas Day, an expert in long term care, describes the original model for adult day care as a "sitting service" where the elderly "would receive social services, activities, crafts and some individual attention from the workers."
Differences
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Medical adult day care programming is for adults who because of mental or medical health difficulties cannot be left unsupervised. Day says it "offers skilled services from nurses, therapists, social workers, psychiatrists, geriatric physicians and others."
Benefits
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A huge benefit of adult day care is the respite it offers caregivers.
Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of woodley wonderworks
The significant aspect of both models of adult day care is the relief it offers caregivers. It can be overwhelming to be a caretaker on a 24-hour basis. Helpguide.org emphasizes this by saying adult day care "gives caregivers a much needed break in which to attend to personal needs or simply rest and relax."
Costs
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Medicare and health insurance does not usually cover costs for any adult day care. Medicaid covers costs of adult day care if the financial low-income requirements are met. Costs range from $25-$70 a day (as of January 2010) depending on where you live and the services provided. Professional health care services means higher fees, says Helpguide.org.
Considerations
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Program staff can help you decide the right adult day program for your loved one.
Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Erik Söderström
When determining the right level of adult day care program, carefully consider the needs of the program candidate. If the primary needs are social or to help with mental stimulation, social adult day care is the right option. If additional assistance like dispensing medication or monitoring blood pressure is indicated, then medical day care is appropriate. Meet with program staff to discuss the correct choice.
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Giulio Bernardi Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of woodley wonderworks Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Erik Söderström
