ADULT DAY CARE

(WSJ) What to look for

1. Written policy on fees and emergency procedures

2. Written up to date plan of care for each participant

3. Planned menus and meals for special diets.

4. Daily planned communications with caregivers

5. Referrals provided to other needed services

6. Active involvement of staff trained in CPR and first aid

7. Warm inviting atmosphere

8. Adequate space, furniture and equipment, indoors and out.

9. Variety of appealing activities

The number of frail parents to adult children will nearly double by 2030 with families providing 80% of long term care.

Adult day care delays nursing home placement by an average of 18 -22 months.

Cost is from $20 to $50 per day.

Medicaid can be used for adult day care in around 35 states.

ADULT DAY CARE: Adult day care offers support, services and supervision to older frail or disabled persons outside their home- in independent centers or in churches or community centers- for a few hours or several days a week. It may help families avoid nursing homes, providing participants the services they need while giving caregivers respite from the often crushing demands of looking after an ill, confused or disabled loved one (AARP). Here are some questions you should ask when visiting a facility.

• Is it clean.
• Do participants seem comfortable in their surroundings
• Is it licensed or certified. Currently only 24 states have certification for adult day care. 25 have licensing requirements and a few states have no standards at all. You will still need to be careful even with certification since there can many levels of care in different facilities.
• How does the staff interact with participants. Do they treat them with dignity
• Ask about staff qualifications
• Is there a plan of care for each person and how is it monitored. Do the programs and activities match individual needs
• What are their hours
• Is transportation available
• Are there any special eligibility requirements such as age or residency
• What are the costs
• Will Medicaid, state or private funding be available
• Is there an additional fee for Alzheimers
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