Evolving Models of Senior Care- Analyzing the Transition from Social to Medical Models in Adult Day Care and Home Health Care Services
Adult Day Care Programs: Social and Medical Models
According to Pratt (2010), the original form of adult daycare was a social model since the 1970s. Its primary role was to provide a secure and safe environment for persons without important healthcare needs but with minor limitations in their daily living activities like loneliness and boredom, resulting in depression and isolation. It also allowed senior citizens and others who suffer from mild cognitive impairment to interact with others in a sheltered environment (Ellen, 2017). Our assignment writing services will allow you to attend to more important tasks as our experts handle your task.
However, even though it was not their initial intention, many adult day care centers have slid into caring for senior citizens with significant medical health problems who need more than social daycare. They slowly started adding limited nursing care and other healthcare services such as medication administration, clinical measures, blood pressure monitoring, and medical evaluation (Pratt, 2010). Now, adult daycare centers provide healthcare screening and other services.
The Largest Population in Adult Care Program
Accordingly, 52% of the senior citizens who receive adult daycare services in the U.S. are those with cognitive impairment (SeniorCare, 2022). Pratt (2010) found that when Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia are an aspect in an equation, caregivers of adults tend to be worried and nervous about their senior citizens’ ability to attend an adult daycare. They, therefore, need adult daycare more than others because they need constant observation, medication administration, personal care such as bathing, therapeutic diets, health monitoring, and help with mobility, such as the use of wheelchairs (SeniorCare, 2022). This allows the family caregivers to retain their jobs and spend time with their loved ones. Therefore, most adult daycare service recipients are patients with Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive impairments.
When Home Care and Adult Day Care are Inappropriate
Home care and Adult Day Care are inappropriate when the home caregivers can balance life and work because they can spare time to care for their seniors (HelpGuide, 2022). However, if the senior suffers from cognitive impairment, they can work with home care. It is also inappropriate if the elderly are often surrounded by family members playing vital roles in helping them. This means that the seniors can be safe in their own homes around the family caregivers. Adult daycare is also irrelevant when senior citizens are in perfect financial, emotional and physical health.
References
Ellen, M. E., Demaio, P., Lange, A., & Wilson, M. G. (2017). Adult day center programs and their associated outcomes on clients, caregivers, and the health system: A scoping review. The Gerontologist, 57(6), e85-e94.
HelpGuide (2022). Adult Day Care Services. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/senior-housing/adult-day-care-services.htm
Pratt, J. R. (2010). Long-term care: Managing across the continuum, 3rd Edition. Massachusetts: Jones & Bartlett Publishers.
SeniorCare (2022). Who uses Adult Care? https://www.seniorcare.com/adult-day-care/resources/who-uses-adult-day-care-/
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Question
Many services are available to help seniors stay in their homes. These services are increasingly popular as more seniors choose community care over institutionalized care. Two primary services that assist seniors in this area are adult day care and home health care.
Find an adult day care and a home health care nearby or use the Internet.
Based on the knowledge gained from your research, respond to three of the following questions:
Adult daycare programs began more like a social model; however, they have developed as a medical model over time. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
Adult daycare is described as a gap filler between institutional and non-institutional care. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
What population comprises the most significant group receiving care in adult daycare programs? Why?
Do you think receiving patients with more medical problems has impacted adult daycare services? Why? How has this affected staffing?
Which success factor has had the most significant impact on the cost-effectiveness of healthcare services? How?
What impact has home health care had on the quality of life for consumers? Provide examples to support your answer.
Is there a time when home health care and adult day care are no longer appropriate for a senior? What criteria are used to establish this?
Use your course and textbook readings and the South University Online Library to support your work. As in all assignments, cite your sources in your work and provide references for the citations in APA format.