The advantages of adult day care verses nursing home care

by Azalia Williams Angela Sherrill of Rays Of Joy Adult Care center ( 22-Feb-2009 )

It has been stated that people are living longer. We are faced now with the challenge of how to keep our parents, grandparents and or our mentally or physically challenged adults that we love safe, happy and healthy. We are also faced with  keeping them involved in the society and not be isolated, lonely or depressed.  In  todays society most people are working 1 to 2 jobs in order to survive our economy. We want to take care of our loved ones but need a place that is safe for them while are working at jobs. Without adult day care facilities our only choice is to place them in a nursing home.  An adult day care facility is a safe place for adults with  physical, emotional, and mental impairments to receive socialization, meals and snacks, minor medical assistance, continuance of their medication routines and experience some sense of independence. In an adult day care the participants help with planning daily activities, share their interest and experiences with others and learn new ideas. Adult day care is designed to maintain or improve your loved ones potential for self sufficiency. It is a place to have fun during the day and return home to their familiar surroundings.  It helps adults stay active and involved in the world around them while remaining with family members in the community.If placed in a nursing home your loved one has to adjust to new surroundings and a new way of living. They become dependent on strangers to care for them 24 hours a day. They are constantly adjusting and readjusting to the staff change overs and it increases their anxiety and fears. They have frequent changes in the people that give them direct care ie: baths, grooming and dressing them daily. With an adult day care they have only a change in that they will go daily for socialization and meals during the day and then return home. Returning home is always comforting and is always where people prefer to be. With many years of nursing experience in  the nursing home care setting the most important desire for the resident is to return home one day.  Adult day care provides the caregiver with peace of mind as they continue to work. It also can provide some rest from the fulltime responsibility of caring for and impaired adult. Adult day care is an alternative to nursing home care.