How to Start an Adult Daycare

The National Adult Day Services Association estimates about 4,000 adult daycare services across the nation. And with the large aging population, there's an anticipated shortage of these types of services. An adult daycare business is responsible for providing a nurturing environment for citizens, giving the permanent caregiver a break, or allowing for work outside the home. These facilities care for both the disabled and aging population. But to start an adult daycare, you must be licensed with your state, purchase the necessary insurance policies and set your pricing structure. Here's a guide to starting an adult daycare.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Contact your state about licensing requirements. The first step in starting an adult daycare business is contacting the state licensing board about requirements. This may include passing an exam, completing a lengthy application and pass an inspection of your daycare building.

2. Purchase an insurance policy for your business. You will need liability protection for your adult daycare business. Your current insurance carrier may offer a policy as an extension of your homeowner's policy, or you may need to purchase an entirely new policy. For a list of accredited insurance carriers, check with your state licensing board.

3. Plan entertainment for your adult patients. As an adult daycare provider, it's important to provide activities such as games, art, music and movie hours to keep your patients engaged. This will also put family members at ease that their loved ones are happy while in your care.

4. Determine your pricing structure. The fees adult daycare providers charge vary greatly by stat,; but general pricing is about $60 to $150 per day. Shop local daycare centers to get an idea of what the pricing structure is like in your area.

5. Consider hiring staff for your daycare service. When first launching the business, you may not need additional staff. But as your business grows, you may need to hire employees to attend to the individuals you serve. Make sure to hire employees who are certified with the state as certified healthcare workers.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't forget to check with your state about how many citizens you can serve. States are very strict about how many individuals an adult daycare business can serve. This is typically determined by the size of your facility and number of staff you have.
• Be prepared to pass a criminal background check. You may be required to consent to a criminal background check before becoming certified. Some states don't allow individuals convicted of felonies to operate this type of business.

Resources

• The National Adult Day Services Association

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[Sondrac]

on 12/10/2009 I resent calling those who attend Adult Day Care Centers as patients. They are not! They are seniors who need someplace to go to during the day. They are not senile, and there is no age limit. Not all are sick either. A Day care center for a child does not mean the child is a patient. The same for the Adults. Know the facts before you write.