
What makes adult daycare different than a nursing home? Adult daycare offers daily activities for seniors, and it is seen by many as a middle ground between family members caring for elderly loved ones around-the-clock and moving a loved one into a nursing home full-time.
There are several noteworthy distinctions that make adult daycare different than a nursing home, and they begin with how many hours a senior can stay in each.
Adult Day Care Centers: A Daily Resource for Seniors
There is no single form of adult day programs, as there are at least three distinct forms of adult daycare. They are:
- Social daycare
- Adult day health care
- Alzheimer’s and dementia daycare
Social Day Care
Adult social daycare is an activity-centered experience for seniors with a fairly high level of independence. Family or other caregivers can drop their senior-aged loved one at a social daycare, where the senior will engage in several social activities. Some common activities offered at adult social daycare include:
- Arts and crafts
- Mentally engaging games such as bingo and trivia
- Musical activities such as karaoke sing-along
- Nature-oriented activities such as gardening, bird watching, and nature walks
- Social group discussions, such as book clubs or film discussions
There is no shortage of activities offered at social daycare, and these group gatherings can be an important part of your loved one’s routines.
Adult Day Health Care
For seniors who are facing regular health problems and no longer have the independence they once did, adult day health care may be a viable option. These daytime assistance facilities may provide:
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Speech therapy
- Group activities in a controlled environment
- Daily assistance from nurses, therapists, and other medical professionals
- Essential medical and support devices that may not be offered in social daycare
Adult day health care may be an enriching option for seniors with health concerns who want to remain active in a social network without risking serious injury or a health incident.
Alzheimer’s and Dementia Day Care
Seniors diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and dementia face unique problems and require specialized care. Adult daycares that specialize in Alzheimer’s and dementia could help your loved one feel a sense of community and take some stress off you or their other caregiver.
Nursing Homes Are Full-Time Living Facilities
Nursing homes are full-time living facilities that offer round-the-clock care to seniors. These homes are generally more expensive than any form of adult daycare, as they are responsible for residents’ wellbeing, including:
- Ensuring residents are well-fed
- Administering baths and other hygienic care
- Monitoring the health of residents around the clock
- Ensuring that residents are engaged on a daily basis through activities and social interaction
- Responding immediately if health complications arise
- Providing a safe and clean living environment for all residents
Nursing homes become residents’ full-time living quarters, and while this drastically reduces the caregiving load for family members of residents, it may also open residents up to various forms of mistreatment.
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Know How to Spot Mistreatment in Adult Day Cares or Nursing Homes
While the potential for mistreatment may be greater in nursing homes because of the amount of time residents spend there, seniors can be mistreated in adult daycare as well. It is important to know the signs of abuse, neglect, and exploitation and how to react if they arise in your loved one.
Signs of Abuse and Neglect in the Elderly
Whether your loved one is living full-time in a nursing home or spending a lot of time in an adult daycare, it is important to recognize possible signs of elder abuse. They may include:
- A disheveled appearance, such as messy hair or an unshaven face
- Apparent signs of anxiety or trauma, such as recoiling from your touch, rocking back and forth, or being generally fidgety
- The emergence of bruises, cuts, scrapes, burns, or other signs of physical trauma
- Uncharacteristic outbursts, especially if they are violent
- The presence of bedsores
- Signs of depression
You should also be aware of signs of financial exploitation, such as unexplained withdrawals, purchases that your loved one is unaware of, changes to banking information, and missing valuables.
If You Suspect Elder Abuse, Call Authorities and Then Call a Lawyer
Regardless of whether your loved one is spending time in a nursing home or adult daycare, you should contact law enforcement if you have reason to suspect that your loved one is enduring mistreatment from a nursing home or senior daycare staff. Once you have spoken to authorities, you should call a lawyer who can:
- Initiate legal action immediately
- Handle all legal responsibilities from start to finish
- Ensure that your loved one’s rights are protected
A lawyer can help you pursue any financial awards that your loved one is eligible for if they were mistreated while under the watch of a nursing home or senior daycare. You should contact a New York nursing home abuse lawyer from our firm if you need a professional to explain your legal options and guide you through the process. Nursing home abuse cases can take the civil litigation path, although many times criminal charges are also pressed. Your attorney will tell you all you need to know about suing, negotiating settlement, or waiting for a court verdict and award.
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We aim to ensure that your loved one suffers no more harm than they already have. Call us today at (800) 842-6336 to discuss your case. Our clients pay nothing upfront, nothing out of pocket, and we only collect a fee if we win.
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