Learn which is best for you: Adult Daycare or a Senior Center

As fall approaches, adult children get a new sense of busy with their own kids, grandkids, activities, and other social obligations. What works to keep our aging parents stimulated, fulfilled and not feel ignored or bored with life? There are options for you to consider. What can keep your aging loved ones engaged, healthy, and happy while you continue with your everyday life of work and activities. 

Choosing Adult Daycare Programs for Aging Parents

Adult Day Care

You are all familiar with child daycare and probably remember the ends and outs of choosing one. However, when your aging parents need help and you cannot be there 24/7, adult daycare can be a viable option. What is adult daycare? 

Senior care or adult daycare offers help with aging parents who have medical conditions in which they cannot be alone and safe. Adult daycare provides care for aging adults with dementia or other memory related illnesses, chronic conditions, or disabilities. Having a place for your mom or dad to go while you work, run errands, or just get a break can be a big relief. 

Having adult daycare helps your loved one who has medical concerns to get care, be social, and also be safe. You need to have a place that can help, and sometimes getting mom or dad out to a different place to be social and get care is beneficial for everyone. 

Some of the many benefits of adult daycare is that the facility caters to your loved one’s needs. They provide activities to keep the mind stimulated and your parents socially engaged. Also, there are physical activities to keep the body healthy and moving. In addition, the facility will provide proper medication dispensing, proper dietary needs and/or bathing needs, and any other specific concerns your loved one may need to keep their daily routine consistent.

Typically, those who attend adult daycare are independent enough to navigate the facility but may need 24 hour supervision for safety issues. Adult daycare fills the gap between independent living and assisted living. It helps give your loved one freedom of living outside of a facility just a little longer. These types of facilities are wonderful for keeping your aging parents lively and active when you cannot be present 24/7 to help them. 

Senior Center 

The best way to describe a senior center is it is like a YMCA with aging benefits. Your typical population at a senior center is aging adults over 50, and they want a place to gather to exercise, socialize, and get out among other seniors. Individuals who go to senior centers can get around on their own and come and go as they please. Most seniors live independently.

Senior centers do not provide medical care or assistance. They do help form groups for seniors with similar interests such as: playing cards, going for group walks, or even little trips around town or to popular destinations. Every senior center offers somewhat a different array of activities and plans for your aging parents. 

Need more advice or assistance with your aging loved ones? Contact Anne at Senior Living Options and she will guide you through many questions you may have about caring for your aging loved ones.

Author: Ann Jamison

Ann Jamison is an experienced senior advisor who has successfully worked with hundreds of families to help them find the best care and home-like environment for themselves or their loved ones. Prior to launching Senior Living Options, Ann was an eldercare advisor for a national placement agency and served as sales director at a senior living community. Thanks to her 25-year career in advertising sales and marketing, Ann is able to discern between hype and reality for her clients. Ann recognizes that there are objective factors that need to be weighed when making a life-changing decision, but she can also assess the important softer attributes by getting to know her clients and by using the gut instincts that can only come through extended experience.