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Caring for you at PARK PLACE ADULT DAY SERVICES
220 3rd Ave South Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54495 715-422-2795 Park Place Mission Statement:
To promote a maximum level of independence and function to participants experiencing early dementia, mild memory loss and/or cognitive impairment and to provide respite, peace of mind and support information to the caregiver. |
Adult Day Care Services
An Adult day care offers a stimulating social environment while giving
caregivers a break. Start exploring your options and find the best center
for your needs.
An Adult day care offers a stimulating social environment while giving
caregivers a break. Start exploring your options and find the best center
for your needs.
What is Adult Day Care?
Adult day care is a planned program of activities in a professional care setting designed for
older adults who require supervised care during the day, or those who are isolated and lonely.
Adult day care centers enable seniors to socialize and enjoy planned activities in a group
setting, while still receiving needed health services. At the same time, they offer family
caregivers respite from caregiving duties while knowing that their loved one is in a safe place.
Services vary between facilities, including the level of care offered. While one type of center
will focus primarily on social and recreation activities, and offer specialized services
for adults with a specific health condition, such as dementia or a physical disability
(Park Place Adult day Services) another type will provide more comprehensive medical and
therapeutic services. These could include physical, occupational, or speech therapy, for
example, or medical services administered by a registered nurse or other health professional.
Adult day care centers tend to operate during daytime hours, Monday through Friday (Park
Place Adult Day Services), although some services may be available in the evenings or at
weekends. Whatever the range of services, the intent is primarily two-fold:
• To provide older adults an opportunity to get out of the house and receive both
mental and social stimulation, as well as the continuing care they need.
• To give caregivers a much-needed break in which to work, attend to personal
needs, or simply to rest and relax.
Whether you’re looking at day care services for yourself or an older adult you’re caring for,
these tips can help you find the center that best fits your needs.
Services provided by adult day care centers
A well-run adult day care center’s goals will focus on enriching participants’ lives,
building upon their skills and strengths, and providing lots of social interaction. Each
facility differs in terms of features, but services may include:
Social activities. Planned activities tend to be tailored to the participants’ abilities and health
conditions, but may encompass such things as arts and crafts, musical entertainment and
sing-a-longs, mental stimulation games such as bingo, stretching or other gentle exercise,
discussion groups (for books, films, or current events, for example), holiday and birthday
celebrations, and local outings.
Nutrition. Day care centers provide seniors with nutritious meals, including those that
accommodate special diets, along with snacks.
Personal care. Center staff can help with the activities of daily living such as grooming, toilet
hygiene, walking, and feeding.
Health services. These may can vary from medication dispensing, blood pressure monitoring,
hearing checks, and vision screening, for example, to symptom management and more
intensive medical or therapeutic services.
Transportation. Some adult day care centers provide transportation to and from the Center
and for any local outings. Park Place Adult Day Services relays on the vendor or a Private
pay caregiver to provide transportation to and from the facility each day, but will provide
transportation for any community outings in the course of a day a participant may be
attending.
Services for Caregivers. Some centers may provide counseling, support groups for caregivers,
help for care planning, and caregiving education.
Some Centers even offer Pet Therapy or programs that include children. The Friendship
Center in California, for example, developed The GOLD Project where older adults are
encouraged to visit local classrooms and share their life experiences with the children,
educating and enlivening both groups in the process.
Staffing of Adult Day Care Centers
Though each adult day care is staffed according to the needs of its participants, many
programs operate with:
• Activity staff, usually an activity director and assistants (Park Place Adult Day
Services does not).
• Program assistants who aid with personal care (Park Place Adult Day Services
employ Client Care Assistants who provide service to participants who attend
each day on a 1 to 4 radio, one caregiver for every 4 persons in attendance).
• A social worker
• A Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse
• A Center or Program Director (Park Place Adult Day Services employs a
Registered Nurse who serves as the Program Director).
Centers that serve a large number of participants may also employ: a driver, secretary,
and accountant (Park Place Adult Day Services employs a bookkeeper 16 hours per
week).
Source: National Adult Day Services Association (NADSA)
Benefits of an Adult Day Care
Almost Family, an adult day care center provider in the U.S. and Canada, summarizes the
benefits of adult day care well: “Adult day care offers a win/win situation for everyone in the
family—not only the client or member who attends the program, but also for the family
member who has primary responsibility as caregiver. Adult day care provides a much-needed
respite for the caregiver, affording a break from the physical demands and stress of providing
round-the-clock care.”
Benefits for the older adult
For the participant, an adult day care center’s benefits can be extensive.
• Adult day care provides a safe, secure environment in which to spend the day or part
of the day.
• Offers enjoyable and educational activities.
• Appropriate physical exercise can help to reduce falls.
• Meaningful social interaction can improve both mental and physical health and help
to prevent or delay cognitive decline.
• Mental and social stimulation during the day can improve the quality of your sleep at
night.
• Participation in adult day care activities may even enhance or maintain your level of
independence, keeping you living at home longer by relieving caregiver fatigue and
delaying your escalation of dependence.
• Having control over activities you partake in can bolster your self-esteem.
• Adult day care offers the chance to build new friendships and enjoy peer support.
Benefits for the caregiver
Seeking support and maintaining your own health are key to managing your role as a
caregiver, so it’s not selfish to use the services of an adult day care center to give you some
time to yourself. If you’re overwhelmed by the daily grind of caregiving, your patience and
compassion will wear thin, you’ll find it harder to connect with the person you’re caring for,
and you’ll probably both feel unfulfilled.
• Taking regular breaks from the demands of caregiving can reduce your stress levels
and help you to avoid burnout.
• Being able to recharge your batteries can leave you feeling more energetic, focused,
and reinvigorated about your caregiving role.
• Using an adult day care facility can enable you to continue working, attend school, or
devote more time to other family members.
• Can give you peace of mind that your loved one isn’t home alone but is in a
supervised and safe environment.
Is an Adult Day Care center right for you?
As a senior, it can be challenging to admit that you’re lonely or need help, especially if you’ve
been a highly independent person used to caring for others all your life. But it’s important to
remember that most of us over the age of 65 will require some type of long-term care
services. There’s nothing to be ashamed about in admitting you need more help than you
used to. After all, we’ve all had to rely on others at some point during our adult lives, be it for
help at work or home, for professional services, or simply for moral support. For many of us,
independence is recognizing when it’s time to ask for help.
Similarly, if you’re the caregiver, it may be difficult to consider allowing “strangers” to care for
your beloved family member. But even if you know that you’re the best possible person to
care for your loved one, that’s no reason not to seek adult day care services. Taking time off
is vital to your health and well-being and having time apart can help refresh and rejuvenate
any relationship.
When to consider Adult Day Care
As with any service, the best time to start exploring what’s available is before you actually
need it. You may want to consider using adult day care when a senior:
• Can no longer structure their own daily activities.
• Is isolated and desires companionship.
• Can’t be safely left alone at home.
• Lives with someone who works outside the home or who is frequently away from
home for other reasons.
Good candidates for Adult Day Care centers are seniors who . . .
• Can benefit from the friendship and functional assistance a day care center offers.
• May be physically or cognitively challenged but do not require 24-hour supervision.
• Are in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
• Are mobile, with the possible assistance of a cane, walker, or wheelchair.
• Are continent (in most cases).
Choosing the right Adult Day Care center
The National Adult Day Services Association (NADSA) recommends you start by asking
yourself what specific services both the senior adult and the caregiver need most.
For the day care participant, 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?
Answering these questions will help you determine which of the three main types of
adult day care centers (social, health-focused, and dementia or disability-oriented) will
best serve you.
Questions to ask an Adult Day Care center provider
When you contact the Adult Day Care centers you’ve chosen to consider, ask questions such
as the following:
1. Who owns or sponsors the adult day care center? How long has it been operating? Is it
licensed or certified? (If required in your country or state)
2. What are the days and hours of operation?
3. Which conditions are accepted (e.g., memory loss, limited mobility, incontinence)?
4. What is the ratio of staff to participants? How are care providers screened? What is the
training and level of experience of the care providers? How, and by whom, are the care
providers supervised?
5. What procedures does the program have for emergencies?
6. What activities are offered? Are there a variety of individual and group programs?
7. Is transportation to and from the adult day care center provided?
8. Are meals and snacks included? Are special diets accommodated?
9. What is the cost of services? How is payment arranged?
Visiting an Adult Day Care center
When you have identified potential adult day care centers, plan to visit at least three so that
you can get a “feel” for the people and the environments. Observe the staff and how they
interact with care participants. Try to picture yourself or your loved one there and ask plenty of
questions. You may wish to try out different adult day care centers a few times each to see
whether your experience on different days confirms your initial impressions. Be sure to bring
the following site visit checklist with you each time:
Adult Day Care center site visit checklist:
• Did you feel welcome?
• Were the center services and activities properly explained?
• Were you given information regarding staffing, programming, and costs?
• Is the facility clean, pleasant, and free of odor?
• Is the building and site wheelchair accessible?
• Is the furniture sturdy and comfortable?
• Are there loungers and chairs with arms for relaxation?
• Is there a quiet place in the center?
• Did the staff and participants seem cheerful and comfortable?
• Are participants involved in planning activities?
Source: National Adult Day Services Association (NADSA)
Adult day care is a planned program of activities in a professional care setting designed for
older adults who require supervised care during the day, or those who are isolated and lonely.
Adult day care centers enable seniors to socialize and enjoy planned activities in a group
setting, while still receiving needed health services. At the same time, they offer family
caregivers respite from caregiving duties while knowing that their loved one is in a safe place.
Services vary between facilities, including the level of care offered. While one type of center
will focus primarily on social and recreation activities, and offer specialized services
for adults with a specific health condition, such as dementia or a physical disability
(Park Place Adult day Services) another type will provide more comprehensive medical and
therapeutic services. These could include physical, occupational, or speech therapy, for
example, or medical services administered by a registered nurse or other health professional.
Adult day care centers tend to operate during daytime hours, Monday through Friday (Park
Place Adult Day Services), although some services may be available in the evenings or at
weekends. Whatever the range of services, the intent is primarily two-fold:
• To provide older adults an opportunity to get out of the house and receive both
mental and social stimulation, as well as the continuing care they need.
• To give caregivers a much-needed break in which to work, attend to personal
needs, or simply to rest and relax.
Whether you’re looking at day care services for yourself or an older adult you’re caring for,
these tips can help you find the center that best fits your needs.
Services provided by adult day care centers
A well-run adult day care center’s goals will focus on enriching participants’ lives,
building upon their skills and strengths, and providing lots of social interaction. Each
facility differs in terms of features, but services may include:
Social activities. Planned activities tend to be tailored to the participants’ abilities and health
conditions, but may encompass such things as arts and crafts, musical entertainment and
sing-a-longs, mental stimulation games such as bingo, stretching or other gentle exercise,
discussion groups (for books, films, or current events, for example), holiday and birthday
celebrations, and local outings.
Nutrition. Day care centers provide seniors with nutritious meals, including those that
accommodate special diets, along with snacks.
Personal care. Center staff can help with the activities of daily living such as grooming, toilet
hygiene, walking, and feeding.
Health services. These may can vary from medication dispensing, blood pressure monitoring,
hearing checks, and vision screening, for example, to symptom management and more
intensive medical or therapeutic services.
Transportation. Some adult day care centers provide transportation to and from the Center
and for any local outings. Park Place Adult Day Services relays on the vendor or a Private
pay caregiver to provide transportation to and from the facility each day, but will provide
transportation for any community outings in the course of a day a participant may be
attending.
Services for Caregivers. Some centers may provide counseling, support groups for caregivers,
help for care planning, and caregiving education.
Some Centers even offer Pet Therapy or programs that include children. The Friendship
Center in California, for example, developed The GOLD Project where older adults are
encouraged to visit local classrooms and share their life experiences with the children,
educating and enlivening both groups in the process.
Staffing of Adult Day Care Centers
Though each adult day care is staffed according to the needs of its participants, many
programs operate with:
• Activity staff, usually an activity director and assistants (Park Place Adult Day
Services does not).
• Program assistants who aid with personal care (Park Place Adult Day Services
employ Client Care Assistants who provide service to participants who attend
each day on a 1 to 4 radio, one caregiver for every 4 persons in attendance).
• A social worker
• A Registered Nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse
• A Center or Program Director (Park Place Adult Day Services employs a
Registered Nurse who serves as the Program Director).
Centers that serve a large number of participants may also employ: a driver, secretary,
and accountant (Park Place Adult Day Services employs a bookkeeper 16 hours per
week).
Source: National Adult Day Services Association (NADSA)
Benefits of an Adult Day Care
Almost Family, an adult day care center provider in the U.S. and Canada, summarizes the
benefits of adult day care well: “Adult day care offers a win/win situation for everyone in the
family—not only the client or member who attends the program, but also for the family
member who has primary responsibility as caregiver. Adult day care provides a much-needed
respite for the caregiver, affording a break from the physical demands and stress of providing
round-the-clock care.”
Benefits for the older adult
For the participant, an adult day care center’s benefits can be extensive.
• Adult day care provides a safe, secure environment in which to spend the day or part
of the day.
• Offers enjoyable and educational activities.
• Appropriate physical exercise can help to reduce falls.
• Meaningful social interaction can improve both mental and physical health and help
to prevent or delay cognitive decline.
• Mental and social stimulation during the day can improve the quality of your sleep at
night.
• Participation in adult day care activities may even enhance or maintain your level of
independence, keeping you living at home longer by relieving caregiver fatigue and
delaying your escalation of dependence.
• Having control over activities you partake in can bolster your self-esteem.
• Adult day care offers the chance to build new friendships and enjoy peer support.
Benefits for the caregiver
Seeking support and maintaining your own health are key to managing your role as a
caregiver, so it’s not selfish to use the services of an adult day care center to give you some
time to yourself. If you’re overwhelmed by the daily grind of caregiving, your patience and
compassion will wear thin, you’ll find it harder to connect with the person you’re caring for,
and you’ll probably both feel unfulfilled.
• Taking regular breaks from the demands of caregiving can reduce your stress levels
and help you to avoid burnout.
• Being able to recharge your batteries can leave you feeling more energetic, focused,
and reinvigorated about your caregiving role.
• Using an adult day care facility can enable you to continue working, attend school, or
devote more time to other family members.
• Can give you peace of mind that your loved one isn’t home alone but is in a
supervised and safe environment.
Is an Adult Day Care center right for you?
As a senior, it can be challenging to admit that you’re lonely or need help, especially if you’ve
been a highly independent person used to caring for others all your life. But it’s important to
remember that most of us over the age of 65 will require some type of long-term care
services. There’s nothing to be ashamed about in admitting you need more help than you
used to. After all, we’ve all had to rely on others at some point during our adult lives, be it for
help at work or home, for professional services, or simply for moral support. For many of us,
independence is recognizing when it’s time to ask for help.
Similarly, if you’re the caregiver, it may be difficult to consider allowing “strangers” to care for
your beloved family member. But even if you know that you’re the best possible person to
care for your loved one, that’s no reason not to seek adult day care services. Taking time off
is vital to your health and well-being and having time apart can help refresh and rejuvenate
any relationship.
When to consider Adult Day Care
As with any service, the best time to start exploring what’s available is before you actually
need it. You may want to consider using adult day care when a senior:
• Can no longer structure their own daily activities.
• Is isolated and desires companionship.
• Can’t be safely left alone at home.
• Lives with someone who works outside the home or who is frequently away from
home for other reasons.
Good candidates for Adult Day Care centers are seniors who . . .
• Can benefit from the friendship and functional assistance a day care center offers.
• May be physically or cognitively challenged but do not require 24-hour supervision.
• Are in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
• Are mobile, with the possible assistance of a cane, walker, or wheelchair.
• Are continent (in most cases).
Choosing the right Adult Day Care center
The National Adult Day Services Association (NADSA) recommends you start by asking
yourself what specific services both the senior adult and the caregiver need most.
For the day care participant, 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?
Answering these questions will help you determine which of the three main types of
adult day care centers (social, health-focused, and dementia or disability-oriented) will
best serve you.
Questions to ask an Adult Day Care center provider
When you contact the Adult Day Care centers you’ve chosen to consider, ask questions such
as the following:
1. Who owns or sponsors the adult day care center? How long has it been operating? Is it
licensed or certified? (If required in your country or state)
2. What are the days and hours of operation?
3. Which conditions are accepted (e.g., memory loss, limited mobility, incontinence)?
4. What is the ratio of staff to participants? How are care providers screened? What is the
training and level of experience of the care providers? How, and by whom, are the care
providers supervised?
5. What procedures does the program have for emergencies?
6. What activities are offered? Are there a variety of individual and group programs?
7. Is transportation to and from the adult day care center provided?
8. Are meals and snacks included? Are special diets accommodated?
9. What is the cost of services? How is payment arranged?
Visiting an Adult Day Care center
When you have identified potential adult day care centers, plan to visit at least three so that
you can get a “feel” for the people and the environments. Observe the staff and how they
interact with care participants. Try to picture yourself or your loved one there and ask plenty of
questions. You may wish to try out different adult day care centers a few times each to see
whether your experience on different days confirms your initial impressions. Be sure to bring
the following site visit checklist with you each time:
Adult Day Care center site visit checklist:
• Did you feel welcome?
• Were the center services and activities properly explained?
• Were you given information regarding staffing, programming, and costs?
• Is the facility clean, pleasant, and free of odor?
• Is the building and site wheelchair accessible?
• Is the furniture sturdy and comfortable?
• Are there loungers and chairs with arms for relaxation?
• Is there a quiet place in the center?
• Did the staff and participants seem cheerful and comfortable?
• Are participants involved in planning activities?
Source: National Adult Day Services Association (NADSA)
