What is Adult Day Care?
Adult day care services delay the need for assisted living or nursing home care. Most adult day cares provide a program of activities and outings, meals and social community in a facility where participants are cared for by trained medical staff. There are adult day cares that follow a purely social model, while others offer medical services such as physical, occupational or speech therapy. These services can help preserve some level of independence for older adults, enabling them to live at home alone or with family for longer.
How Adult Day Care Improves Health Outcomes for Seniors
There are many benefits that seniors and their carers can take advantage of when it comes to day care services. Perhaps the most obvious benefit is the improved health outcomes for older adults. Seniors who are alone during the day are at higher risk of developing injuries, social isolation, depression, and cognitive decline. Attending an adult day program even a few times per week can positively impact the health of seniors by reducing these risks.
Regular Health Monitoring
Many adult day care centers are equipped with health professionals to conduct comprehensive health screenings, administer medication, take vitals, and create individualized support plans. Family caregivers are often involved in the development and assessment of care plans. Being regularly monitored and supported in achieving health goals helps promote independence and reduce health risks for seniors.
Nutrition
It is common for seniors to be getting insufficient nutrients and calories when they are alone during the day. The elderly often face barriers to getting groceries and cooking, so adult day care centers are a great solution. Most services will provide participants with one or two nutritious meals in addition to snacks. This not only helps seniors get healthy, nutritious meals but it also provides some relief for family caregivers having to cook.
Social Stimulation & Mental Well Being
The social impact of day care for seniors is tremendous. These communities provide a safe and stimulating environment that allow seniors to feel a sense of belonging and purpose. Social stimulation has positive impacts on mental wellbeing. Day care programming typically has group and individual activities involving crafts, education, music, games, planned outings, fitness, and more. This variety of activities helps seniors keep active mentally and physically, too.
Carer Respite
When looking for an adult day care center, ask if the service offers any sort of software or app for connecting with families. Senior day care software.like StoriiCare enables families to receive live activity notifications, photo updates, community announcements and messages from the adult day care center through any wireless device. Additionally, families can contribute to their loved one’s personal profile by uploading photos and videos or curating personalized playlists. It is a great way for families, participants and adult day staff to communicate and collaborate, enhancing person-centered care.