What is the Difference Between Adult Care Centers and Senior Centers?

Are you in need of some assistance in caring for the elderly, sick, or disabled? Not quite sure which facilities to turn to? Well there are a ton of opportunities for seniors to get the assistance they need with day to day activities, support socially and nutritional, as well as any medical treatments. When choosing a facility, the first priority is to understand what the needs of your loved one are and how these needs can best be accommodated. Both an adult care center and senior center are run for a few hours each day, it will depend on your loved ones needs which is most appropriate. Below the differences are discussed in detail.

What Is an Adult Care Center?

Adult care centers are often called adult daycare services. It is a non residential facility that provides support in areas including health, nutrition, social, and other daily living necessities. Ideally, these centers run for about 10 – 12 hours out of a day and serve the same purpose to you (the full time caretaker) as a daycare center would for a child.

The ideal focus of an adult care center is providing care for those who are suffering from particular health conditions including dementia and other disabilities. These facilities have certified medical staff on site and have on site premises where patients can receive medical care as needed throughout the day.

What Is a Senior Center?

Senior centers are facilities within any given community that provides seniors in the area with the support they need in areas including socialization, fitness, and other things that might be offered. These centers are great for seniors who live alone or are not around family members a lot. There are plenty of activities to take part in and the goal is to help seniors remain active and vital to their community.

Senior centers will vary greatly in their services offered and size and could also mean paying a small fee for membership and other associated costs. The main objective in these centers is to provide a positive environment in which local seniors can take part in and feel like part of a larger group.

Which is Best?

You will need to understand the extent to which your elderly loved one needs help before you can judge which of these is the best option for them. As you can clearly see, both of these centers are meant for seniors that do not need around the clock care. They are both only operational for a few hours out of the day. However, the adult care center will provide medical attention and support whereas a senior center is only there to provide a social outlet for seniors.

If you’re looking for a facility to care for your family member while you attend work, then going with an adult care center is your best option. However, if you’re looking for a facility that will give your family member a way to build relationships and find a sense of community, senior centers are the better alternative. 

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