A Family Caregiver’s Guide To Adult Day Services

National Adult Day Services Week 2019

Adult Day Services provide compassionate daily care to adults who need caregiver support and assistance. National Adult Day Services Week, the third week in September, is set aside as a time to recognize adult day services across the U.S. and the impact they have on the lives of individuals and their families. Below is a guide to help family caregivers choose an adult day center that meets the needs of a loved one.

What is Adult Day Services?

Adult day centers are settings that provide comprehensive care to senior adults, adults with memory impairing ailments like Alzheimer’s or dementia and adults with physical or intellectual disabilities who require assistance with the activities of daily living. Activities of daily living (ADL)   include tasks such as bathing, eating, dressing, and mobility. An adult day service not only provides additional help with these tasks, but also offers daily activities, nutritional programs, amenities, healthcare services and support to family caregivers.

Questions to ask the Adult Day Service Provider:

When choosing an adult day service provider to meet the needs of your loved one, consider asking these questions to better understand the organization and what is available.

1.) What hours does the center operate?

2.) What amenities are available to my loved one?

3.) What daily activities are offered?

4.) What is the staff-to-participant ratio?

5.) Are meals and snacks included?

6.) Do you provide specialized care for individuals with memory-related conditions?

Discussing these questions with an admissions counselor or program director before making a decision will help you determine if the program is a good fit for your loved one.  

Adult Day Service Amenities

Below are several different services that many adult day centers offer to program participants.

Activities – Structured daily activities are an important part of any adult day service. Many centers offer a variety of activities to meet your loved one’s activity level and physical abilities. Activities offered at Concordia Adult Day Service include arts and crafts programming, music activities, chaplaincy-led worship services, mentally-stimulating activities and much more.  

Nutrition – Many adult day services include meals and snacks as well as nutritional planning and education. During your initial visit, ask the program counselor if meals are incorporated in the program pricing.

Health Services Availability – Often, an adult day services center is part of a larger organization, such as a continuing care retirement community or an assisted living or personal care facility. The benefit to an adult day service operating as part of a larger, health-focused community is that your loved one could receive an increased level of care onsite, administered by trained medical staff, in case of an emergency. Concordia, specifically, has many professional staff members nearby who can provide specialized care for individuals with memory-related conditions, if ever needed.

Physical and Social Wellness – Aside from daily activities and health and nutritional services, adult day services are important to the individual’s physical and social wellness as well. For example, many adult day service centers offer fitness courses, wellness activities and opportunities to interact with others in a caring and supervised environment.

Caregiver Resources

According to the Pew Research Center, 23% of adults 45-64 care for an aging loved one each day. To meet the needs of caregivers, many adult day service centers will offer resources, including support groups, assistance with care planning, counseling and caregiving education. Concordia offers these services as well as specialist consultation and monthly support group sessions for caregivers of individuals with memory-related conditions.

To learn more about how Concordia Adult Day Services can provide your loved one with quality, compassionate care – visit the Adult Day Services page of our website or call our Adult Day Services Program Coordinator at 724-352-1571, ext. 8271. You can also message us through the Contact form on our website 24 hours a day.

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