Adult day care is perhaps one of the best kept secrets in elder care. It allows seniors to continue living in the community while still receiving supportive services and enjoying social and recreational opportunities that most can only get in residential long-term care facilities. This service is a godsend for both caregivers and seniors alike, but many often wonder, what does a senior do all day at an adult day center?

There’s no denying the stigma that adult day care carries. Many centers are working hard to combat the notion that they simply provide “glorified adult babysitting.” In fact, many elder care experts recommend referring to adult day care by another name, such as “the center” or “the club” to avoid infantilizing senior attendees. Once an elder leaves their comfort zone and tries attending a day program, they usually find it much more rewarding and engaging than sitting in front of the TV day after day.

For example, Helen, an 82-year-old retired nurse feels that her decision to attend an adult day center was a good one. Since she began going to the Hope PACE Care Center in Fort Myers, Florida, she feels that her quality of life has increased due to their holistic approach to care.

She mentions that, in addition to better coordinating her health care, the center’s staff helps her in a variety of other ways. With their assistance, Helen was able to access large-print library books so she could read more easily, and they gave her a mini Christmas tree during the holidays to decorate her home. According to Helen, it’s the personalized, comprehensive approach to care that she appreciates most. “There’s no aspect of my life they haven’t touched,” she says.

A Typical Day at Adult Day Care

To provide seniors and family caregivers with a better idea of what goes on after a senior best hospital type beds for home use is dropped off at an adult day center, AgingCare visited the Hope PACE Care Center. Here’s what we learned firsthand about what a typical day might look like from the perspective of your elderly loved one

8 a.m. Arrival

Most facilities open around eight or nine in the morning and offer transportation services for seniors who cannot drive themselves or who don’t have someone to drop them off.

8:15 a.m. Eat breakfast

Hope PACE has a designated space for walkers and canes that guests don’t need to use once they are in the facility. Seniors drop off their mobility aids once they arrive and then head to the group dining area. When it comes to breakfast, day centers generally offer a variety of food options. Some, like Hope PACE, employ nutritionists who work with seniors to design meal and snack plans that follow their dietary restrictions and complement their care plans.

9 a.m. Catch up on current events

Every morning, a staff member at Hope PACE reads newspaper articles aloud for those seniors who cannot or do not want to read the paper on their own. Guests are encouraged to discuss these headlines while they enjoy morning beverages like coffee, tea and juice.