Benefits of Adult Day Health Care

Posted by ABLE News, Patricia H. Granados, Vice President, GuildCare Network Director at Lighthouse Guild

People who are isolated or live alone in the community can suffer from depression, chronic health problems, loneliness, a reduced sense of purpose, fear over health issues, and loss of sense of self.

However, most people with ongoing medical issues or disabilities prefer to remain independent, live in their own homes or communities, maintain family/friendship ties and keep stress at the most manageable level despite many ongoing issues.

For people who need ongoing long-term care services and want daily interaction with other people, an Adult Day Health Care (ADHC) program is a good solution. ADHC fosters independence and optimum functioning and assists the family or caregiver by providing health services in a congregate setting that accomplishes these goals. Services include nursing care, medication management, social work services, physical, occupational and speech therapies, dietary counseling, pharmacy review, and case management.  These services are provided amid a day of activities that includes a minimum of one meal. As an alternative to a nursing home, ADHC provides people the care they need while enabling them to continue to remain at home.

The benefits of ADHC include increased mental stimulation and interaction with others, less worry about health issues, increased mobility afforded by attending a community-based program, decreased potential for low-mobility related complications of chronic illnesses. Services and activities are tailored for people with all levels of disability — physical, cognitive and visual, to facilitate participation; interaction with others that have similar issues; and creates a supportive environment, plus, a calendar of therapeutic activities creates a sense of anticipation often missing in those who are isolated at home.

Some ADHCs also include specific services, that others do not, to help people with vision loss or conditions such as Diabetes. For example, Lighthouse Guild’s ADHC, GuildCare’s programming and service delivery are specially designed and adapted for those with vision loss and physical/cognitive disabilities.

Positive Outcomes
According to a study published by The Gerontological Society of America, ADHC is another option in the continuum of community-based long-term care that is associated with improved quality of life. The services ADHC provides maintains the individual in community life, increases confidence and feeling of self-worth through socialization and peer interaction, improves or maintains the individual’s maximum level of independence, prevents or delays costly long-term care alternatives (nursing home), reduces unnecessary hospitalization by providing ongoing health monitoring and ultimately, restores and rehabilitates the individual to their highest level of functioning.

Adult Day Health Care services are paid for by Medicaid, Medicaid Managed Care, and Veterans Health Administration (in some areas).

To find out more about programs where you live, contact the Adult Day Health Care Council at 518-867-8383 or visit the Lighthouse Guild website.