How to Choose an Adult Daycare Center

Adult daycare centers can be a lifesaver for the primary caregiver. Many of us have aging parents or loved ones at home, that are living with Alzheimer's disease or dementia, or some other condition. Maybe you have to work in the daytime, or maybe you just need a break from the everyday routine of taking care of your mom or dad. Until my dad became sick enough with dementia and renal failure to need 24 hour care by professionals, I took care of him at home. As any caregiver knows, it can be physically and emotionally draining to be the sole caregiver.

There comes a time when we, as caregivers, need to also take care of ourselves. Sometimes you can have someone come to the home and take care of your loved one, but sometimes you have to think outside of the box. For my own sanity I used an adult daycare center to take care of my dad two days a week. That gave me a chance to unburden myself for a while from the role of caregiver, and have a few hours to myself. Everyone needs some "me" time.

My dad, at first was a little reluctant to going to the daycare center, because he felt more secure with me. However, when he started getting out he enjoyed being around people his own age. I would fix him breakfast before I took him, and then he was given lunch at the center and an afternoon snack. There were many planned activities that he discovered he liked to do. The staff was helpful in keeping the seniors engaged in fun activities. They played catch with a beach ball, and also would toss bean bags at a target. They also had a couple of treadmills for the people that were capable of walking on them.