New Reports on Adult Day Services Centers

NCHS has released two new reports on adult day services centers.  The reports, Differences in Adult Day Services Center Participant Characteristics by Center Ownership: United States, 2012 and Differences in Adult Day Services Center Characteristics by Center Ownership: United States, 2012, looked at selected characteristics of adult day services center participants in 2012 and compared them by center ownership using data from the National Study of Long-Term Care Providers.

The 4,800 adult day services centers nationwide provide a variety of services to their 273,200 participants, the majority of whom are older adults and women.  Unlike other long-term care providers, such as nursing homes, home health agencies, hospices, and residential care communities, the majority of adult day services centers are nonprofit. However, for-profit ownership of adult day services centers appears to be increasing, from 27% in 2010 to 40% in 2012.

State-level estimates for characteristics presented in this data brief are available from: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nsltcp/nsltcp_products.htm.

Key Findings from the Reports:

• In 2012, more than one-third of participants in adult day services centers were younger than 65. A higher percentage of participants in nonprofit centers than in for-profit centers were younger than 65.
• About one-half of participants in adult day services centers were non-Hispanic white persons. A higher percentage of participants in for-profit centers than in nonprofit centers were Hispanic or were non-Hispanic and of a race other than black or white.
• Almost one-third of adult day services center participants had Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias, and about one-quarter had a developmental disability. A lower percentage of participants in for-profit than in nonprofit centers had Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias or a developmental disability.

• About 60% of adult day services centers used a standardized tool to screen for cognitive impairment, and about 20% used a standardized tool for depression screening. A greater percentage of for-profit than nonprofit centers used these tools.
• More than one-half of adult day services centers provided skilled nursing, therapeutic, and social work services, while less than one-half of centers provided mental health, pharmacy, and dental services. With the exception of social work services, a greater percentage of for-profit than nonprofit centers provided these services.
• Almost all adult day services centers provided daily transportation to and from the center.