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HIDDEN TREASURE AT ADULT DAY CENTERS
Becoming a family caregiver of an older adult can occur suddenly and without warning, or it can evolve
slowly over time. Regardless of how it occurs, it is often a life-changing experience that can be very
stressful, especially when it involves intense caregiving such as dementia or incontinence. Caregivers
must create balance between caring for others and caring for themselves…..easy to say but extremely
difficult to achieve given constantly increasing demands on time and resources.
Imagine finding “hidden treasure” that gives you time to yourself, and fun and friends for your loved one.
You don’t have to worry about your mother being at home alone while you’re at work, and what might
happen: will she fall and break a hip? Leave the house? Your boss has been pretty clear that you can’t
take much more personal time away from work. But you really want Mom to stay home with you as long
as possible.
So what’s the “hidden treasure”? That’s how adult day services have been described by both caregivers
and care recipients. Adult day facilities have the kinds of services you’d find at a nursing home or
assisted-living center but they’re not residential and you don’t have to spend all your savings on them.
The activities at an adult day facility are more affordable, reliable and stimulating than help at home. In
fact, adult day centers are a fraction of the cost of in-home, assisted living or nursing home care. Most
centers charge $60-67 per day for a full day of care, activities and programs.
Adult day goes way beyond a glorified sitter service, offering everything from medication management
and physical therapy, to nursing care, exercise and personal care. Most centers have a registered nurse
available during the day, particularly at centers providing medical treatments.
Activities range from cognitive games for dementia patients to baking, and art classes, video games like
Nintendo Wii, discussion and music groups and wellness programs to keep minds and bodies active. The
cognitive and social stimulation that day care provides can often delay admission to assisted living
facilities and nursing homes.
Similarly, there are mental and physical benefits for the caregiver. Some caregivers end up with medical
complications far in advance of the moment they place their loved one in a facility because the physical
and emotional strain on them was too much for too long. Getting respite early and often is the key to
healthy caregiving.
As with any service, the best time to start exploring what's available is before you actually need it. There
are eight centers licensed by VA Department of Social Services in the Richmond area. Other resources
and questions to ask:
• Senior Navigator, (804) 827-1280, Virginia’s Resource for Health and Aging,
http://www.seniornavigator.com/
• Check the yellow pages and local senior agencies for adult day services.
• Visit 2-3 centers to observe their programs and staff. Is the staff friendly and courteous? Are the
participants active or just sitting around? What programs are available for the specific needs of
your loved one?
• Is the center licensed?
• Who owns or sponsors the agency?
• How long has it been operating?
• Do the days and hours of operation fit your needs?
• Is transportation to and from the center provided if you need it?
• Are your loved one’s conditions accepted, e.g., memory loss, limited mobility, incontinence?
• What are the staff's credentials, and what is the ratio of staff to participants?
• What activities are offered? Are there a variety of individual and group programs?
• What meals and snacks included? Are special diets accommodated? How is the food?
The National Adult Day Services Association (NADSA) recommends you start by asking yourself what
specific services your elder adult and you, the caregiver, most need. Are social activities primary?
Assistance with walking, eating or medications? Mental stimulation? Exercise? As a caregiver, is support
what you need most? Some free time? Help with transportation?
So go find the hidden treasure. And take a deep breath.
Lory Phillippo, MPH, OTR/L,
CEO
Circle Center Adult Day Services
4900 West Marshall Street
Richmond, VA 23230
804-355-5717
