What happens when you serve as caregiver to a loved one day in and day out with little to no reprieve other than sleep? Your health could decline, you could become depressed and you could withdraw from the things you love. Finding an adult daycare that suits your loved one just might be what both of you need to get back on track.
No respite from a stressful situation such as caregiving can take its toll on your health and can also cause your loved one to become frustrated and act out. Both of you need a break! An adult daycare could be the solution you need and there are different types based on the level of care your loved one needs.
The right daycare can provide much needed socialization with your loved one’s peers, giving you a chance to recharge your own internal batteries. Activities in these day cares are supervised to ensure the enjoyment, safety and accommodation of needs. There are adult daycares that offer medical assistance just as there are some that provide mostly recreational pastimes such as games, arts and crafts and of course socializing. There are thousands of these adult day cares in the country with more being opened each year, thanks to the growing number of seniors in the population. You could find independent franchised facilities or those affiliated with a church, nursing home or service organization.
How to Find the Right Adult Day Care
The first thing you want to do is check with your loved one’s health insurance company or Medicaid to determine whether or not they will pay for adult day care services or at least cover a percentage of it. The average cost is $50-$75 per day although you will find pricing both higher and lower than that based on the services provided. Some of these adult day care facilities will base the rate for your loved one on a sliding scale, based on their monthly income and expenses.
Evaluate your loved one’s health condition first. Will they need specialized treatment or care during their stay? There are some day cares that offer activities along with medical personnel who take care of administering medications and other health-based activities. Even those with cognitive impairments like dementia or Alzheimer’s have adult day care options.
Look for adult day care facilities that are accredited first by the government as you will know they will follow the strictest of safety rules and are duly inspected. However, only a small percentage of these day cares have gone through accreditation but do not assume that because a facility does not have it they are not an appropriate choice. The majority of adult day care centers still have to be inspected by certain agencies to ensure safety compliances and such. Ask to review the facilities inspection files to see for yourself.
Take a tour of the facility. Are they offering activities that will interest and engage your loved one? Do they offer programs with meals or transportation? Assess your needs before taking the tours to ensure you know what you are looking for in a facility. See for yourself how clean the facility is and how the clients and staff interact with one another. Drop by unannounced to ensure that what you saw on the tour wasn’t just “best behavior” but the standard of how things run there.
You want to see the people in the adult day cares engaged in activity, not sitting neglected or ignored in their wheelchairs or isolated in a corner. If the loved one requires assistance to the bathroom, eating or anything else, ask about their policies on that and whether they have the staff to help with these caregiving issues.
The final step to choosing an adult daycare facility is to bring your loved one on a tour. They have to like it too otherwise the whole idea is a moot point. Stress the activities and social factors. Chances are they will jump at the chance to give you a break and give them some time away from the regular humdrum of caregiving.
