Adult day care is a combination of services designed to help older people avoid institutionalization. Services are highly supervised and include physical, occupational, and speech therapy, games, exercise, arts and crafts, social activities, and more. Caregiver support is another part of most adult day care programs. It includes feedback on client progress, care recommendations, and suggestions for a multitude of problems.

There's a more to adult day services than meets the eye--at least the eye of a casual observer. A casual observer may only see a day care client playing bingo or a board game. These activities may look like nothing more than simple recreation, but they serve a purpose.  In combination with other services they are a type of therapy. The activities that take place at adult day care are way to engage clients. They are also a way for older people to interact with each other and stay connected with the world. The importance of bingo, or any other activity, is not the game itself, but conservation and dialogue before, during, and after the activitity.

Adult day care programs vary widely.  Some programs have a very strong medical orientation. Adult day health programs are primarily focused heavily on clients' medical needs. These programs may require a health assessment by a physician as a prerequisite to admission. Other adult day care programs are primarily focused on social needs and interaction. These programs may emphasize social activites including discussion groups, films, picnics, birthday parties, and short outings.  Catholic Youth Association's progam in Lawrenceville is a hybrid. It is supervised by a nurse who provides health support, monitors blood pressure, and helps with medication, etc., but there's also a strong emphasis on social activities and interaction. CYA's program also has a unique intergenerational component. There is pre-school program in the same building, and the pre-schoolers put on shows and other events for the benefit of older clients.

Whatever the program model, and whatever the nature of the services, a well run adult day care program should enhance the lives of clients. In this regard, and in order to measure results, most day care centers, will assess the client's needs and abilities upon admission. Whether the client assessment is formal or informal, the staff of the day care center will then seek ways to tailor activities to that clients needs and abilities, and monitor results.

Any senior who cannot be left alone by family members is a good candidate for adult day care. The typical day care client is an individual who is physically or cognitively challenged but does not really require 24-hour supervision. In many instances, an individual will benefit just from the friendship and the functional assistance that day care offers.

Adult day dare center participants need to be somewhat mobile. Adult day care is not a place where someone comes to sleep all day. Ciients must be able move with the assistance of a cane, walker, or wheelchair. In other words, clients cannot be bed-ridden.  In most cases, clients must be continent although most centers are well equipped to with accidents.

Many day care centers also offer transportation options. ..