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NADSA
Guide to Selecting an Adult Day Center
This guide
will help you in your search for quality, community Adult Day Services.
You may wish to take a copy of it with you when you interview potential
providers.
Adult Day
Centers provide a planned program that includes a variety of health,
social and support services in a protective setting during daytime
hours. This is a community-based service designed to meet the individual
needs of functionally and/or cognitively impaired adults.
Step
#1 - Determine your needs
What
specific services are important to the older person?
- A safe,
secure environment?
- Social activities?
- Assistance
with eating, walking, toileting, medicines?
- Therapies
- physical, speech, occupational?
- Health monitoring
- blood pressures, food or liquid intake, weight?
- Nutritious
meals & snacks?
- Special
diet?
- Exercise?
- Mental stimulation?
- Personal
care - bathing, shampoos, shaving?
What do you,
the caregiver, need?
- Occasional
free time?
- Coverage
while working?
- Transportation?
- Support?
- Assistance
in planning for care?
STEP
#2 - Find adult day centers
Identify
services in your area. For names and phone numbers of the adult
day centers, try:
- Yellow Pages
("Adult Day Care;" "Aging Services;""Senior Citizens' Services,"
etc.)
- Area Agency
on Aging (AAA) (Call 1-800-677-1116 for the AAA in your area,
or search for them online.)
- A senior
center
- Your family
doctor
STEP
#3 - Call first!
Call
adult day centers and ask for a flier or brochure, eligibility criteria,
a monthly activity calendar, a monthly menu and application procedures.
STEP
#4 - Know what to ask
Look
for the following information in the material received.
- Owner or
sponsoring agency
- Years of
operation
- License
or certification (If required in your state)
- Hours of
operation
- Days open
- Transportation
- Cost - Hourly
or daily charge, other charges, financial assistance
- Conditions
accepted - such as memory loss, limited mobility, incontinence
- Staff credentials
- Number of
staff per participant
- Activities
provided - Is there variety and choice of individual and group
activities?
- Menu - appeal,
balance
STEP
#5 - Pay a visit
After
reviewing materials, make an appointment to visit two or more centers
that might meet your needs.
The following
list will help you decide which day center is the right one for
you.
SITE
VISIT CHECKLIST
Yes
/ No |
Did
you feel welcomed? |
Yes
/ No |
Did
someone spend time finding out what you want and need? |
Yes
/ No |
Did
someone clearly explain what services and activities the center
provides? |
Yes
/ No |
Did
they present information about staffing, program procedures,
costs and what they expect of caregivers? |
Yes
/ No |
Was
the facility clean, pleasant and free of odor? |
Yes
/ No |
Were
the building and the rooms wheelchair accessible? |
Yes
/ No |
Was
there sturdy, comfortable furniture? |
Yes
/ No |
Loungers
for relaxation? Chairs with arms? |
Yes
/ No |
Is
there a quiet place for conferences? |
Yes
/ No |
Is
there a place to isolate sick persons? |
Yes
/ No |
Did
you see cheerful faces on staff and participants? |
Yes
/ No |
Do
volunteers help? |
Yes
/ No |
Are
participants involved in planning activities or making other
suggestions? |
STEP
#6 - Check references
Check references.
Talk to two or three people who have used the center you are considering.
Ask for their opinion.
STEP
#7 - Try it out
Select a day
center. Try it for three to five days. It sometimes takes several
visits for new participants to feel comfortable in a new setting
and with a new routine. If you have questions or are experiencing
any problems, ask for a conference. Staff may have suggestions to
make the transition easier both at home and at the day center.
STEP
#8
- Take care of yourself
Relax. Your
loved one is being well cared for. Remember, your loved one may
not be able to recall all the activities enjoyed during the day.
The staff will gladly provide the missing details. The day center
staff is there for you, too. Ask for:
- Tips to
make caregiving easier
- Additional
resources available in the community
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