Institute on Aging: Adult Day Health Care Helps Seniors Maintain Health, Independence

Since the '70s, adult day health care has been an alternative to nursing home care for seniors with chronic illnesses, disabilities or dementia - and a new study from the Institute on Aging (IOA) has found that it can play a vital role in helping seniors maintain their health and independence.

According to a press release from the IOA, "Adult day health care programs provide seniors living in the community with transportation to non-residential facilities where they receive health services, nutritious meals and social activities as many as five days per week, helping to prevent premature institutionalization and freeing family caregivers to work or attend to errands." These programs are also much less expensive than nursing home home care.

During the study, the IOA research team followed attendees of 16 San Francisco adult day health centers and comparable adults who didn't attend a day center. After a year, they found that day center attendees had significantly fewer problems with regular daily activities. The attendees also perceived an increase in their quality of life, which some researchers believe can result in better health and reduced health care utilization and mortality.

To learn more about the study, click here.