Adult Day Care for the Frail Elderly
- 1 May 2002
- journal article
- clinical trial
- Published by SAGE Publications in Journal of Aging and Health
- Vol. 14 (2), 237-259
- https://doi.org/10.1177/089826430201400204
Abstract
Objectives: To assess outcomes and satisfaction among frail elderly day care clients and their informal caregivers and the impact of adult day care on the cost of health services. Methods:One-hundred eight elderly participants were randomly assigned to the experimental group (immediate admission to an adult day care center) and 104 participants to the control group (3 months on a waiting list). Results:Participants’ and caregivers’ subjective perceptions of the day center’s effects were positive. However, using standard research instruments, there was no evidence of an effect of day center attendance on the client’s anxiety, depression, or functional status; on caregiver burden; or on the cost of health services. Discussion:It is difficult to demonstrate objectively the benefits of programs and interventions that are perceived by clients, caregivers, and staff to have positive effects. In future studies, maintenance of high levels of participation should be incorporated as an explicit program goal.Keywords
This publication has 32 references indexed in Scilit:
- A randomized controlled trial of day hospital and day centre therapyClinical Rehabilitation, 1999
- Geriatric Day HospitalsAge and Ageing, 1995
- Appendix AMedical Care, 1993
- Day hospitals for elderly people.BMJ, 1992
- Application of a Multidimensional Caregiver Burden InventoryThe Gerontologist, 1989
- Factors Affecting Attendance in Adult Day Care CentersJournal of Gerontological Social Work, 1987
- Changes in Life Satisfaction Among Participants of Adult Day Care and Their Informal CaregiversJournal of Gerontological Social Work, 1987
- Effects and Costs of Day-Care Services for the Chronically IllMedical Care, 1980
- The CES-D ScaleApplied Psychological Measurement, 1977
- Health Care for Elderly Americans: Evaluation of an Adult Day Health Care ModelMedical Care, 1976