Although adult day care is a relatively vague term, the services provided at these centers are actually very specific and are usually broken down between three main types: social, health, and specialized.
For relatively healthy seniors who may just be looking for some extra recreation or a way to meet new people, enjoy healthy activities, receive meals, and even utilize select health services adult day care can be a solution! Some of these centers will also feature things such as hair and beauty services, massage therapy, exercise classes, cooking classes, field trips, and pet therapy. Yet, for seniors with dementia, finding an Alzheimer’s adult day care center means making sure a facility is equipped to help those with this specific condition.
What to Look for with Adult Day Care
When it comes to finding locations to accommodate Alzheimer’s and dementia patients, it may take a little more of a vetting process before a comfortable decision can be made. With more than 3,500 adult day care centers to choose from, helping your loved one feel comfortable with receiving care in a new setting is very important. Since the main goal is to find Alzheimer’s adult day care services, one of the top priorities should be ensuring trained staff will be present during your loved one’s time there.
Caregivers and seniors with Alzheimer’s can find many benefits through adult day care centers.
Alzheimer’s disease presents several behavioral characteristics that those working at a day care center will need to be equipped to handle at any time. Whether a result of changes in one’s environment, prolonged confusion, or just an unknown trigger, seniors with Alzheimer’s or dementia can, at times, be difficult to assist and care for without the proper training. It could be a simple matter of communicating in a way someone with this disease can readily understand, or having knowledge ahead of time as to what works and what doesn’t — either way it’s best to find an Alzheimer’s adult day care center that is ready for the challenge.
On a similar note, making sure there is enough trained staff to accommodate the number of Alzheimer’s patients present at any time is just as important. Maybe their skills are top-notch, but there’s just a shortage of hands on deck. You’ll need to consider who is available and when before the decision to hand off care of your loved one for a day or two throughout the week. It’s not always easy to break out of a routine, even if it means you’re getting some time off as a caregiver — just remember the benefits can be far reaching for both you, and your loved one!
Weighing the Benefits of Alzheimer’s Adult Day Care
For a senior receiving Alzheimer’s care through an adult day care center, the positives can be quite worth the time and money spent. These locations are designed with the ability to accommodate the various challenges associated with Alzheimer’s disease, and also provide the necessary therapies and professional oversight. Notably, facilities can call themselves a dementia-focused daycare without any special licensing, so a tour or even a trial run may be a good first step.
Once you’ve found a suitable Alzheimer’s adult day care location, your senior loved one can begin enjoying benefits such as:
- Healthy social interactions with others
- Physical or mental activities
- Specialized therapies (speech therapy, music therapy, physical therapy)
- Skill building for use in one’s daily routine
- Possible delay of cognitive decline
- Meal and nutrition services
- General health and medical services
- Possible transportation
Not only will a senior loved one benefit from spending time at adult day care, but as a caregiver, you can also receive some benefits:
- A break from stress
- Increased effectiveness of home caregiving
- Potential savings of the cost of care
- Increased patient mood for better caregiving
- Counseling resources through day care center
- Reduced guilt in knowing a loved one is cared for
If these aspects of an Alzheimer’s adult day care center sound like they could improve your caregiving experience, then it may be time to find a location suitable for your loved one. You can search for adult day care locations through resources like Eldercare.gov and their locator tool. For more information on adult day care and other things like caregiver support, be sure to read through the many resources found right here on SeniorCaring.com!
