Adult Day Care Business Franchise Centers or some call them Adult Day Care Franchise Facilities

With life expectancy continuing to rise, we may need assistance as we age. While help of all types is available, a valuable though not well-known service is adult day care, designed for older adults who can no longer manage independently, or who are isolated and lonely.

What is an adult day care business center?

Adult day care business center has planned program of activities designed to promote well-being though social and health related services. Adult day care business centers operate during daytime hours, Monday through Friday, in a safe, supportive, cheerful environment. Nutritious meals that accommodate special diets are typically included, along with an afternoon snack.

Adult day care centers can be public or private, non-profit or for-profit.

The intent of an adult day center is primarily two-fold:

• To provide older adults an opportunity to get out of the house and receive both mental and social stimulation
• To give caregivers a much-needed break in which to attend to personal needs, or simply rest and relax

There are currently approximately 4,000 adult day care centers nationwide, according to the National Adult Day Services Association (NADSA). The proliferation of centers over the past two decades corresponds to the "mushrooming demand for home and community based services" to meet the needs of a rapidly escalating elder population.

Good candidates for adult day care 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

Adult day dare center participants need to be mobile, with the possible assistance of a cane, walker or wheelchair, and in most cases, they must also be continent.

A social adult day care setting differs from adult day health care, which usually requires a health assessment by a physician before someone is admitted into the program. Adult day health centers, which typically use the term "Adult Day Health Care" (ADHC) in their names, often provide physical, occupational, and speech therapy, and are usually staffed with an RN and other health professionals. A third type of day care provides social and health services specifically for seniors with Alzheimer's or a related type of dementia.

What services does an adult day care business center provide?

A well-run adult day care center's goals will focus on enriching the participants' lives, building upon their skills, knowledge, and unique abilities and strengths. Below are some of the activities that may be available:

• Arts and crafts
• Musical entertainment and sing-a-longs
• Mental stimulation games such as BINGO
• Stretching or other gentle exercise
• Discussion groups (books, films, current events)
• Holiday and birthday celebrations
• Local outings

Some centers offer programs that include children. The Friendship Center in California developed The GOLD Project, described as, "An innovative intergenerational program embracing growing older with grace and dignity." Elders visit local classrooms and share their life experiences with the children, educating and enlivening both groups in the process. The Center also has an "Adventuresome Aging" program for people with early stage Alzheimer's disease, to help them remain engaged and active in the community.

Besides recreational activities, some adult day care centers provide transportation to and from the center, social services including counseling and support groups for caregivers, and health support services such as blood pressure monitoring and vision screening.

How can adult day care business benefit today's family?

Almost Family, an adult day care business provider in both the U.S. and Canada, summarizes the benefits well: "Adult day care business 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 business provides a much-needed respite for the caregiver, affording a break from the physical demands and stress of providing round-the-clock care."

For the participant, adult day care's business benefits can be extensive:

• a safe, secure environment in which to spend the day
• enjoyable and educational activities
• improvement in mental and physical health
• enhanced or maintained level of independence
• socialization and peer support
• nutritious meals and snacks

When should I consider using adult day care business services center?

It's usually challenging to admit you need help, especially if you've been a highly independent person used to caring for others all your life! And if you're the caregiver, it may be equally difficult to consider allowing "strangers" to care for your beloved family member.

As with any service, the best time to start exploring what's available is before you actually need it. According to ElderCare Online, you should seriously consider using adult day care when a senior:

• can no longer structure his or her 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