Elderly Day Care Near Me: What It Includes in Utah

Elderly day care, also called adult day care, gives an older adult a safe, social place to spend the day, usually on weekdays, with activities, meals, and supervision. Adult day health programs add nursing and sometimes therapy. What's often not included: rides to and from the program, help before it opens and after it closes, and the level of personal care some parents need. Many families pair a day program with help at home to cover the gaps.

You and your wife both work. Mom can't be alone all day anymore, but she doesn't need a nursing home, and she'd be bored stiff sitting at home. A friend mentioned "adult day care." You want to know what a day there actually looks like, and what you'd still need to handle.

What a typical day includes

• Arrival and check-in, often mid-morning.
• Activities: exercise, music, games, crafts, discussion groups, and outings.
• Lunch and snacks, often with help for special diets.
• Supervision all day, including for parents with memory loss at many programs.
• Help with some personal care, like using the bathroom.
• Medication reminders or administration, depending on the program.

Social programs vs. adult day health

Social adult day programs focus on company, activities, meals, and supervision.

Adult day health programs add nursing care, health monitoring, and sometimes physical, occupational, or speech therapy. They can be a good fit for a parent with ongoing health needs.

For programs focused on memory loss, see dementia day care.

What's usually not included

• Rides. Some programs offer transportation, but many don't, or only in limited areas.
• Early mornings and evenings. Programs often open after the workday starts and close before it ends.
• Getting ready. Bathing, dressing, and breakfast happen at home before the program.
• Weekends and holidays.
• Higher levels of care. Some programs can't help with two-person transfers, frequent incontinence care, or wandering.

Questions to ask when you visit

• What are your hours, and is there a fee for early drop-off or late pickup?
• Do you provide transportation? Where?
• What personal care do you help with?
• Who gives medications?
• How do you handle memory loss and wandering?
• What's the staff-to-participant ratio?
• What does a typical day look like? Can we visit for a trial day?
• Is the program licensed? Can I see inspection results?

For warning signs to watch for, see senior day care: warning signs.

How families pay

• Private pay, usually by the day.
• Some Utah Medicaid programs, for people who qualify.
• Veterans benefits, through the VA Adult Day Health Care program.
• Long-term care insurance, depending on the policy.

Finding a program in Utah

Your local Area Agency on Aging can point you to programs in your parent's county. See our county-by-county guide. Not sure adult day care is the right fit? Try our care options tool.

Day care plus help at home

Many families get the best result by combining the two: a day program for weekday company and activities, and help at home for the hours around it. That might look like:

• Morning: help with bathing, dressing, breakfast, and medications, then a ride to the program.
• Afternoon: a ride home, dinner, and the evening routine.
• Weekends: company and help when the program is closed.

Where help at home fits

Our Care Professionals fill the gaps a day program leaves. They help your parent get ready in the morning, drive them to the program and home again, and handle dinner and the evening routine, so you don't have to leave work early or take time off. On weekends and holidays, they provide company and help at home. We have local offices serving families in:

• Salt Lake City: Salt Lake, Tooele, Summit, and Wasatch counties, including Heber.
• Layton: Davis and Weber counties.
• Lehi: Utah County.

Not sure we cover your parent's address? Outside these counties? We may still be able to help. Call or text us and we'll tell you right away. See how everyday help at home works.

What to do next

1. List the hours your parent needs someone, including mornings, evenings, and weekends.
2. Visit two or three programs, and ask the questions above.
3. Book a trial day.
4. Plan rides and the hours the program doesn't cover.
5. Look at all our home care services, or see your exact price in 30 seconds.

Need help for someone in your family? See your price in 30 seconds, or call us to talk it through.

This article is general information, not medical, legal, or financial advice. Talk with a qualified professional about your situation.