Alzheimers Disease: Caregiving: Respite and Adult Day Care for the Alzheimers Patient

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Once you have looked over the information, the next step is for the caregiver, along with the person being cared for, to visit and tour the center. Observations and questions that can be made or asked include:

• Is the staff friendly?
• What is the daily cost?
• Ask to see sample menus over a period of several weeks.
• Is the center clean and free of odor?
• What is expected of the caregiver?
• Is there a place to isolate sick persons?
• What are the credentials of the staff?
• Is the facility wheelchair accessible?
• Do volunteers help out?
• What is the staff-to-client ratio? (Six clients per staff member is a good ratio).
• May you have a list of references?

If you live in a state that licenses adult day-care centers, be sure to verify that the center's license is current.

The cost of adult day care varies from facility to facility. Private facilities may average $40-$50 a day, while nonprofit centers may be only $10 a day. Centers funded by corporations or religious organizations can also be relatively inexpensive. If medical services such as physical or speech therapy are provided, Medicare, Medicaid, or veterans' benefits may cover part of the costs.

Reviewed by the doctors at the The Cleveland Clinic Neuroscience Center.

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