Adult day care is one of the newest and least known ways of providing peer interaction and activities for elders and others who need daily care, while also providing time for the primary caregiver to work or have time with friends.
Adult day care centers are widely varied in the services they offer and should be considered by those looking for care options.
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Types of Adult Day
Care
Attached to Nursing Homes: Even if the day care does not have a Registered Nurse, which most don't, a day care attached to a nursing home generally has an agreement where a nurse is just a room or two away. Therefore, in a medical emergency, help is nearby.
People who are in the earlier stages of dementia or Alzheimer's disease where they will eventually need nursing home care for dementia are generally easier to transition to the nursing home when that time comes. Sometimes a family member can just gently guide the elder toward a different door than the one they have used to board the bus or get in the family car. This door leads into the nursing home and the elder goes to his new room. With a family member along, the elder often doesn't mind the change as much, since the staff and atmosphere will seem familiar.
There are a few negatives with adult day care centers that are attached to nursing homes.
For elders who are still very much aware of their surroundings, a day care attached to a nursing home can send the signal that moving to the nursing home is next. If they fear a nursing home, then they may also fear the day care center.
When preparing your elder for adult day care, it's often advised that the caregiver say they are getting ready to go to "the club" or to "volunteer." Let's face it, in our society, day care is considered a service for children and many adults find this term insulting. For this reason, many adult day care centers refer to their care as adult day services. If the center is attached to a nursing home, it's harder to pull off the "club" idea.