A recent study by San Francisco’s Institute on Aging (IOA) documents that adult day health programs play a vital role in helping senior participants maintain their health and independence. Since the 1970s, adult day health care has been promoted as an alternative to nursing home care for seniors with chronic illness, disability, or dementia. There are currently 4,600 adult day health centers operating in the United States, but little scientific research demonstrating their impact on the health of senior participants.
“We know that day programs make good fiscal sense for California”
The IOA research team followed attendees of 16 San Francisco adult day health centers and comparable older adults who did not attend a day center. After one year, the day center participants reported significantly fewer problems with regular daily activities than the individuals who did not attend a day center. They also perceived an increase in their quality of life, which numerous researchers believe can result in better health, reduced health care utilization, and reduced mortality.
Adult day health programs provide seniors living in the community with transportation to non-residential facilities where they receive health services, nutritious meals, and social activities as many as five days per week, helping to prevent premature institutionalization and freeing family caregivers to work or attend to errands.