Adult day services, or day programs, provide health-related services and social activities for adults with a wide variety of care needs in a community-based group setting. Today, these programs are serving more younger adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) than ever before, as well as a growing number of veterans with traumatic brain injuries, according to the National Adult Day Services Association (NADSA).
With this shift has come not only a new emphasis on day program offerings for adults with disabilities, but an increased need for caregivers to be familiar with their many benefits. Here, experts offer guidance to help families understand what day programs for adults with disabilities are, the services they offer, as well as how to find the right fit.
Key takeaways
- Day programs for adults with disabilities increasingly serve younger adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and veterans with traumatic brain injuries.
- These programs offer socialization, skill development, medical services, therapy and vocational training.
- Selecting a program involves consulting local disability agencies, visiting facilities to assess their approach and ensuring alignment with the individual’s needs, abilities and goals.
What are day programs for adults with disabilities?
Day services for adults with disabilities offer structured support and engagement outside the home while also giving caregivers much-needed respite, explains Carrie Hobbs Guiden, senior executive officer of chapters and community at The Arc, the largest national community-based organization advocating for and with people with IDD. “They provide socialization, skill development and opportunities for independence while allowing individuals to live at home,” notes Guiden.
For adults with physical disabilities, day services are often grouped with programs for seniors, such as adult day care centers, which offer social and recreational programming, therapy services and medical support, adds Guiden.
But for adults with IDD, day programs have changed tremendously over the years in the types of services they offer. “For adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, day services have increasingly shifted away from facility-based settings and toward more community-focused programming,” Guiden says. “These services often include job training, volunteer opportunities and recreational activities that promote inclusion.”
This is a shift that caregiver and family caregiving consultant Barbara Corley has seen firsthand over the course of 40 years working in her Ohio community. “In the past, some adult day services used to have a ‘babysitter’ feel which means clients were watching TV, not participating in activities,” says Corley, whose sister with IDD entered a day program at the age of 18. “But I definitely see a move in the right direction as there’s been much more of a push to get this population out into the community.”
Services provided by day programs for adults with disabilities
An increasing number of independently owned and operated organizations have begun to offer day programs specifically designed for younger adults with physical and mental disabilities, according to ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center. One such organization is Easterseals, which day program offerings include:
- Recreational activities, such as day trips, shopping, arts activities and playing games.
- Cultural and educational programming.
- Exercise.
- Volunteer activities.
- Medical rehabilitation therapy such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, audiology and speech-language therapy.
- Health services such as screening, counseling, medication management and medical/social evaluations.
Professionals on staff
Day program staffing regulations vary by state, but most staff supporting adults with IDD are Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) or Direct Care Workers who are trained in areas like disability rights, person-centered planning, behavior management and emergency response, Guiden says. For day programs serving individuals with physical disabilities, staff may include nurses or therapists with training in healthcare and mobility support, she adds.
Cost of day programs for adults with disabilities
“The cost of day services varies widely based on location, program offerings and individual support needs,” Guiden says. Many of these programs are funded through Medicaid waivers so it is less common for IDD-focused programs to accept private pay, she notes.
To get an idea of costs in your area, you can search adult day services in your area using this interactive Cost of Care map by Genworth, a long-term care insurance company.
Benefits of day programs for adults with disabilities
People with IDD would do well to attend community-based programs, such as day programs, as much as and as long as possible, says certified dementia provider Jerry Godinez who is also the senior house manager at Noah Homes, California’s first homes for adults with IDD fighting memory loss. Read on for a closer look at the benefits of day programs for adults with disabilities.
Socialization and friendships
“Community-based programs offer many opportunities for socialization and recreation while promoting inclusion in society,” Godinez says. These activities help participants build friendships, reduce isolation and develop social skills, Guiden adds.
For Corley’s sister, who is non-verbal, non-ambulatory and spastic quadriplegic with cortical vision impairment, the social activities at her day center had an enormous impact, despite many catering to higher-functioning adults. “Being able to be around folks like her and others not like her, she really blossomed and came out of her shell,” Corley says. “Just like any adult, you stretch and grow by being around different personalities and temperaments.”
“Community-based programs offer many opportunities for socialization and recreation while promoting inclusion in society.”
— Jerry Godinez, certified dementia provider
Development of daily life and employment skills
Learning to cook, grocery shop, budget money and use the internet are just a few of the essential skill-building activities offered at many adult day programs. In addition, vocational day programs teach job skills like resume writing, interviewing, customer service and task management. “Some also include hands-on experience in community job settings or volunteer roles,” adds Guiden.
Along with teaching new skills, skill-based activities get individuals out of their comfort zone, Corley says. “It can be a huge confidence builder,” she says. “For example, if they learn to cook, it can bring a sense of pride at home where they may not have had the chance to help before.”
“Programs serving adults with IDD often focus on skill-building, employment preparation and community engagement.”
— Carrie Hobbs Guiden, senior executive officer of chapters and community at The Arc
Greater independence and communication
Therapy-based activities such as occupational therapy, physical therapy, music therapy and speech therapy can all improve mobility and communication while increasing independence, according to Guiden. Outside of therapy services, day programs offer chances to become more independent for those with more severe disabilities, too.
“Even something as simple as learning to cross the street or making a choice for herself blew her world wide open,” Corley says of her sister. “At one point, her program urged us to begin pushing more choices at home, too, where you can become so automatic as a caregiver. Just by saying ‘What would you like to do?’ made her much more independent.”
Respite and support for caregivers
When adults participate in a day program, caregivers can take this time during the day to address self-care needs to prevent caregiver burnout or the overall needs of the family, like holding a steady job, according to experts. Not only that, but they can do both and feel secure their loved one is being cared for, Corley adds. “If you get connected to a day program that your person enjoys and the staff is good, the number one benefit is that it gives you peace of mind as a caregiver,” she says.
Community engagement and awareness
“Community integration offered in day programs is big,” Corley says. “Folks with disabilities should have full gamut of relationships. They should have people who are their peers and people who are not their peers. By offering trips to the library or the museum, you are making their circle bigger because they are going to see people they wouldn’t normally see.”
The same goes for adults in the community meeting people with IDD, Corley explains, which has made a huge impact on her own family’s life. “Years ago, I remember bringing my sister to the town I used to live in and people would stare because she was in a wheelchair,” Corley says. “Now, we joined a church and the congregation speaks with her and includes her. When the immediate community sees them all the time, it’s less unusual.”
How to find a day program for adults with disabilities
The first best step to find day programs near you: Consult with your local agency that oversees services and support for people with disabilities and maintains an updated directory of approved vendors that offer day program services, recommends Godinez.
From there, Guiden advises visiting different programs with the individual who will be attending to observe how they react to the environment and how staff interact with them. It is also important to consider if the center offers an individualized approach to activities as many day programs are designed to support people with specific disabilities, she says.
“Programs serving adults with IDD often focus on skill-building, employment preparation and community engagement,” she concludes. “Others are geared toward individuals with complex medical needs or mobility challenges, providing therapies and health monitoring. The key is to find a program that aligns with the individual’s goals, abilities and support needs.”
