DianeBerardi’sguidetoEvaluatingAdultDaycareCenters

AdultDaycareCentersvaryinlevelofqualityandtypesofprogramsandservicesprovided.Pre-EvaluatingAdultDaycareprovidersisjustasimportantascheckingouteveryothercareprovideryoumightbeconsideringforyouragingparents.Andaswithothercareoptions,notalladultcarecentersarethesame.Youoweittoyourparent’ssafetyandcomforttodosomechecking…Herearesomeimportantfactorstoconsider:

ClientAssessment:Willthecenterevaluatemyparent’smedicalneeds,physicalandcognitivefunctioningandsocialskills?Whowillevaluatemyparent?Whataretheevaluator’squalifications(degreedgerontologist,etc.)?Howwillmyparentbeevaluated?Willtherebecontinuedperiodicevaluations(ifso,howoften)?Clients:Areservicesprovidedtopeoplewithdifferenttypesofimpairments?Isthecenterequippedtodealwithbehaviorsassociatedwithdementia?Activities:Whatactivitiesareoffered?Canmyparentssuggestactivities?Arepeoplewithdementiaincludedingeneralactivities?Nutrition:Whatmealswillbeprovided?Howarespecialdietshandled?

[DIANEBERARDI’SGUIDETOEVALUATINGADULTDAYCARECENTERS] 2

DianeBerardi,Gerontologist&TalkshowHost“ParentsAreHardToRaise”www.DianeBerardi.com

MedicalServices:

ArethereRegisteredNursesonstaffto:Administermedication,Checkbloodpressureandvitalsigns,andRemindclientstotaketheirmedications?

Isthereaphysicianonstaffandoncall?SpecialNeeds:Isthecenterabletoaccommodateclients:

Inawheelchair,Whouseawalker,WhorequiresassistancetoiletingWhoishearingorsightimpaired,orWhohaveotherphysicallimitations?

Administration:Whoownsthefacility?Howmanyyearshasthecenterbeeninoperation?Isthecenterlicensedbythestate?

Hoursofoperation:Whatarethehoursofoperation?Isthecenteropenanyweekends,eveningsor

holidays?Isthereaminimumnumberofdaysperweek/monthor

numberofhoursperdayrequiredbytheclient?

Whatisthecenter’spolicyregardingabsences?Whatprovisionsaremadeforinclementweather?

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DianeBerardi,Gerontologist&TalkshowHost“ParentsAreHardToRaise”www.DianeBerardi.com

Cost:Whatisthedailycost?Whattypesofpaymentsareaccepted?Isthereanyfundingorinsuranceaccepted(e.g.Medicaid,VABenefits,LongTermCareInsurance,etc.)?Staff:Whatarethestaffqualifications?Whattypesofbackgroundscreeningandhealthcertificationsarerequiredofindividualstaffmembers(criminalbackgroundcheck,annualphysicalexam,flushotsandvaccinations)?IsthereaRegisteredNursealwayspresent?Howdoesthecenterhandleemergencies?Isthestaffspecificallytrainedtohandleclientswithdementia?Arevolunteerstrainedandsupervised?

Transportation:Istransportationtoandfromthecenterprovided?Whatqualifications,trainingandbackgroundchecksdothedrivershave?

Howoftendoyouperiodicallycheck?Canthefamilydriveclients?Whatifthereisadelayinpickingupaclient?

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DianeBerardi,Gerontologist&TalkshowHost“ParentsAreHardToRaise”www.DianeBerardi.com

VisitingtheCenter:Asyoudriveup,whatisyourfirstimpressionofthecenter?Asyouenter,hasyourimpressionchanged?Howwereyougreeted?

Whatisyouroverallimpressionabouttheappearance?

Isthisawarm,clean,invitingandfriendlyatmosphere?Isthereadequatespaceforclientstomoveaboutfreelywithawalker,cane,etc.?Istheoutsideareasafeandclean?

Aretheretriphazardssuchas:� Warncarpetrunners,� Cracksinthesidewalk,or� Potholesinthedriveway?

Visittheclientbathroomfacilities:Arethey:Cleanandfresh?Welllit?Properlystocked?

Dostaffandclientssharetoiletfacilities?

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DianeBerardi,Gerontologist&TalkshowHost“ParentsAreHardToRaise”www.DianeBerardi.com

Visitmealpreparationareas:Dotheyappearcleanandorganized?Areitemsintherefrigeratorclearlymarkedwithexpirationdates?Domealpreparationsurfacesandfloorsappearsanitary?

Notes: