The State of Adult Day Services

Abstract

With approximately 4,600 centers serving over 260,000 persons each day, adult day services (ADS) continues to be a growing sector within the long-term care industry. However, due to the absence of national data, a full and detailed understanding of the ADS industry has been limited. In the first national study since 2002, researchers collected descriptive and programmatic data on a randomly selected sample ( N = 557) of ADS facilities across the United States. Results indicated substantial changes in facility characteristics (e.g., size, staffing), participant characteristics (e.g., age, care needs), service provision (e.g., psychosocial, nursing, and medical services), and financing and funding (e.g., rates, reimbursement). Data suggested that the ADS industry has an increased capacity to serve as a provider of comprehensive health care for families and as a platform for chronic disease management. Implications for public policy makers, providers, and researchers are discussed in light of the current health care environment.