Sunday, February 3, 2013 10:59 PM EST

By Daniel O. Tully Attorney

Both adult day care and adult day health care can give caregivers an occasional or a regular respite from caretaking. In the case of caretakers who work outside jobs, it delays permanent long-term care.

Adult day health care provides medical services in addition to activities. Adults with physical and mental disabilities are the primary targets of the program, and the care is intended to help patients relearn the ability to care for themselves. Nursing home care, therapeutic activities, meals and transportation are provided in a safe environment. The activities provided can help improve the mental, physical and emotional well-being of the patient.

Caregivers receive peace of mind that their loved one is having a good experience while they can take a break.

You may be eligible for a home or community-based Medicaid waiver. An experienced elder care attorney can advise you on this and the other issues involved in integrating adult day care and adult day health care into your or a loved ones long-term care plan.

Dementia

Dementia is a progressive brain dysfunction caused by Alzheimers disease, as well as other illnesses such as brain tumors and strokes. Poor nutrition can also be a cause. The frequency of dementia increases with age, with one-third of those older than 90 suffering from it. About one-half of the cases are caused by Alzheimers.

Signs of dementia include forgetfulness (especially short-term memory loss), lack of concentration (including problems with familiar activities), poor judgment, problems communicating (including substituting nonsensical words and phrases) and personality changes (including mood swings, disruptive behavior and loss of initiative).

To help prevent dementia, stimulate your mind regularly by learning new things, doing puzzles and staying mentally and physically active.

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Senior Signals: The benefits of adult day care and adult day health care