How to Become an Adult Day Care
According to the National Adult Day Services Association (NADSA), there are more than 4,800 adult day care programs serving 150,000+ clients in the U.S. That figure is expected to increase when the agency conducts its 2010 survey. Given the growth of this service, you couldn't be in a better position to get into this business. It's gratifying. Fun. Badly needed. And your rewards will include watching your clients live life to the max.
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Things You'll Need
- Venue
- Licenses/permits
- Service menu
- Goals and objectives
- Policies and guidelines
- Fee structure
- Activities
Instructions
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Learn all you can about the adult day care system so you are fully prepared to sink your money, energy and heart into your effort. Differentiate centers providing physical care for seniors in need of medical monitoring from the adult day care concept that entertains and cares for mobile seniors who might otherwise spend their days in social isolation.
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Choose a venue that's appropriately sized to stage the activities your adult day care will provide. Find a large basement or great room capable of supporting a large group. Alternately, rent space in a larger facility. Check with local authorities to make certain your location permits large, daily gatherings; if not, petition your zoning board for a variance and obtain licenses, permits, accreditations and certifications from your state.
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Set operational policies, goals and objectives for your adult day care and decide on the conditions under which you'll accept a senior into the fold: will you open your doors only to healthy men and women, those with mild impairments (e.g. dementia) or a mix? Use activities as your guide: most adult day care facilities require a senior to be continent and mobile---canes, walkers and wheelchairs are no problem---if they're to be eligible for the program.
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Choose age-appropriate activities for adult day care clients based on the volume of research that supports increased mental acuity as a result of stimulating challenges paired with social interaction. Offer puzzles, cards, board games, BINGO and crafting; schedule sing-alongs, discussion groups, holiday celebrations, gentle exercise, guest speakers and cultural events. Let clients make suggestions, too.
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Price your services accordingly. Consult sources like MetLife's Market Survey of Long-term Care Costs that released a 2009 survey showing a wide disparity in adult day care fees (e.g. $150 a day in Vermont versus $27 per day in Alabama). Convince families that, from a financial standpoint, your daily fee is much less expensive than the average $21-per hour cost for a private caregiver that won't solve the isolation dilemma. Find out if Medicare or Medicaid can be tapped in your state to help families with the cost of your service.
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Hire the right staff. Follow the national staffing average of one employee per six clients if you want to guarantee excellent care and optimal personal attention. Draft a dynamic menu of programs and activities so clients coming to your day care Monday through Friday for their social and health fix will have a safe, fun, uplifting experience while giving family members the respite they so desperately need to attend to their jobs, families and social lives.
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Tips & Warnings
Obtain grant funds, investors and/or philanthropic donations of cash and in-kind supplies if you're not in a position to personally capitalize your adult day care start-up.
References
- Photo Credit senior image by Alexander Raths from Fotolia.com
