Over 4 million people in the United States currently are afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease and it is predicted that over 14 million people will have this disease by the middle of the century unless a cure is found.

Adult Day Care Programs
Adult day care can be another form of respite care. People with dementia most often attend these programs during the day and return home in the evening.

Depending on the setting, adult day care programs can provide a range of services and structured activities in a group environment. These programs may be available at senior centers, assisted living facilities and nursing homes. A day care program may provide such activities as crafts, music, exercise and a communal meal, usually lunch. Some programs include physical, occupational and speech therapy. Adult day care programs usually are open only during daytime hours, from one to five days a week, but some also offer evening and/or weekend services.

Adult day care programs serve several important functions. Participants may engage in activities designed to maximize mental and physical strengths and abilities and promote independence. While providing caregivers with a break from their responsibilities, these programs also offer the opportunity to become acquainted and interact with other caregivers, relieving isolation and loneliness, especially of aging spouses. Some programs also offer support groups and educational opportunities for caregivers. Adult day care programs can enable working family members to maintain full-time jobs in addition to caring for an aging relative.

Often, lack of transportation is the greatest obstacle to participation in a day care program. Ask if the program provides any transportation services to the facility. When transportation is available and your loved one will be traveling without a companion, ask what kind of supervision is provided to ensure safety and comfort. Ask if an attendant accompanies participants to the program.

Cost and funding for adult day care vary by the services that a program offers. Most often, people pay out of their own pockets for these programs. Ask if a ''sliding scale'' of fees is available, which means that the amount that participants pay is based on their income. Some Medicaid reimbursement for adult day care may be available depending on the state in which the person lives and the types of services that the program provides. Programs that offer physical, occupational or speech therapy are most likely to be among those for which reimbursement, as well as transportation, is available. Generally, Medicare does not pay for adult day care. A staff member should be available to help you explore all possible payment sources.

Choosing a Day Care Program for a Person with Dementia
Before you set out to tour any day care program, be aware of the special needs of the person with dementia as well as your own particular preferences. It may be helpful to keep a list of these special needs and preferences with you as a reminder. For example, if the person has always liked music, find out if, and how often, the program offers music therapy. You will probably have to look at more than one program in order to find the best match.

Keep in mind the distance of the program from the person’s home, especially if the program does not provide transportation. When transportation is provided, ask if a staff member trained in caring for individuals with dementia accompanies participants to the facility. If transportation is not provided, the closer the facility is to home, the less difficulty there may be for the caregiver in getting the person to and from the program, resulting in a better experience for everyone. Sometimes, however, travel to a more distant program may be necessary in order to have a special need accommodated such as a language preference. You may want to ask if the person with dementia can participate in the program on a trial basis. Remember that a good program director should refer you to another program at the onset of the intake process if he/she believes that it would be a better fit.

Finding the best residential or day care to meet the needs of a person with dementia requires time, patience, and planning. Remember to do your research by considering how well each facility or program addresses both medical and personal needs (your own and your family’s as well) and by exploring all possible options for care. Your concern and effort will help you find the facility or program that meets those needs.

Developed by, and made available with the permission of John J. Connolly, Ed.D., President and CEO of Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. “America's trusted source for information on top doctors and quality healthcare."