ADULT DAY SERVICES

Adult day service is a community-based program of day care, conducted in a supervised social setting, for frail older people to enable them to continue to live at home. Such persons may be socially isolated; mentally, physically and/or emotionally frail; and may require certain individualized services not found at a local senior center.

Programs providing adult day service are usually described as either social or medical model programs. Social model programs provide socialization, support services, and recreation in a supervised setting. Medical models are designed to meet the needs of those elderly who require medical and rehabilitative services in addition to the services offered by social model programs.

For most programs the person must be ambulatory and able to care for personal toileting needs. Some programs accept participants accompanied by home health aides. Programs, resources, and services vary with each adult day service program. Services include therapeutic recreation and social activities adapted to the abilities of the participants, as well as cultural and educational programs. Other services which may be included are medical supervision, transportation, information, and referral for social services, personal and family counseling, nutritional counseling, and rehabilitative services such as physical, recreational, speech, and occupational therapies. In addition to the specialized care of the older person, families receive daytime respite which enables them to continue to be supportive in a caring way.

Persons who may benefit from an Adult Day Service Program are those who have:

• A medical illness or disability requiring care after its acute phase.
• A chronic disease with increasing limitations.
• An emotional crisis associated with unresolved family conflict or loss of spouse, friend, adult child, etc.
• Changes in mental function such as confusion, significant memory loss, loss of orientation to time and place, or personality changes.

Interested persons should call any of the following Adult Day Service Programs to discuss eligibility requirements, service areas, and admission procedures. A visit to the Center will provide the best information about its physical setting, staff, days, and hours of operation, transportation services, level of individual care, other service components (meals, recreation programs, medical supervision, etc.), and methods of payment, if any. Medical model programs may accept Medicare and Medicaid payments. Others charge on a sliding scale based on income or accept donations.

Please contact the programs listed below for specific information.

The following Queens County adult day service programs are available to seniors living in western Nassau County:

The following Suffolk County adult day service programs are available to seniors living in eastern Nassau County: