About Adult Day Services
Save time and money by purchasing "build to suite" documents
necessary for a Medicaid contract.
-
Policy &
Procedure Manual (140 pages) - $400.00
-
Employee
Handbook (50 pages) - $200.00
-
Volunteer
Manual (12 pages) - $100.0
Buy all three
at the same time for $600.00 and save!
Contact smyers@adutlday.org
for more information.
How can I learn, in detail, about starting an Adult Day
Center in Washington State?
We encourage you to attend WADSA’s How to Start An Adult Day
Center seminar. This all-day session will provide each seminar
participant with the opportunity to ask every imaginable question
about Adult Day Services. Seminar instructors are seasoned
professional in the field with years of successful experience. To find out when the next
session is being offered,
click here.
Where can I find the regulations that cover Adult Day Services?
Adult Day Services in the State of Washington are at this time
neither certified nor licensed. If a provider of day services
wishes to "capture" any type of public dollars (Respite or
Medicaid for example) that day center must be in compliance with
Adult Day Services regulations. To view the Adult Day Service
regulations,
click here. For more information about regulatory issues,
contact Candace Goehring, Adult Day Services Program Manager,
Department of Social & Health Services. Ms. Goehring can be
reached at
GoehrCS@dshs.wa.gov or call 1-800-422-3263.
What if I want to enroll only private pay participants?
You can do that. There are no state regulations that apply except
for those written in boarding home or adult family regulations
relevant to Adult Day Services. There may be local or county
health codes that apply however.
How can I find out if there is a need for an Adult Day Center
in my area of interest?
Understanding your community and the market for an Adult Day
Center is essential. Consider the following: number of people over
the age of 65, living situations of older adults, existing
services to frail elders, financial wherewithal of those living in
the community.
Conduct interviews with existing service providers who serve not
only older adults but others who might use an adult day center:
people living with developmental disabilities, head injuries or
AIDS for example. Check with social workers at local assisted
living facilities and nursing homes. They can be a good source of
referrals we well as potential community partners.
Contact the local Area Agency on Aging for their perspective. They
may have a better sense of need for participants using public
dollars than for those who private pay for Adult Day Services.
However, if you plan to gain a Medicaid contract, you will be
working with you local Area Agency on Aging. To find the local
Area Agency on Aging, go to
www.agingwashington.org or call (360) 570-2239.
What is the difference between adult day care and
adult day health care?
Adult day care is a supervised daytime program providing personal
care services appropriate for adults with medical or disabling
conditions that do not require the intervention or services of a
registered nurse or licensed rehabilitative therapist acting under
the supervision of the client’s physician.
Adult day health is a supervised daytime program providing skilled
nursing and rehabilitative therapy services in addition to
personal care services provided in adult day care. Adult day
health services are appropriate for adults with medical or
disabling conditions that require the intervention or services of
a registered nurse (RN) or licensed rehabilitative therapist
acting under the supervision of the client’s physician.
What are the staffing
requirements and staff to participant rations?
While there are no staffing or ratio requirements for private pay
only Day Services, it is advisable for ALL Day Centers to be
guided by state regulations.
Minimum staffing requirements for adult day care centers include
an administrator/program director, activity coordinator, a
consulting registered nurse, and a consulting social worker.
Minimum staffing requirements for adult day health centers include
an administrator, program director, RN, activity coordinator, a
physical therapist/occupational therapist or speech therapist, and
a social worker. The administrator and program director may be the
same person.
Staffing ratios must be a minimum of one staff to six
participants. Staff counted in the staff-to-participant ratio is
those who provide direct service to participants. When there is
more than one participant present, there must be at least two
staff members on the premises, one of who is directly supervising
the participants.
How much should I charge?
The market will vary between communities. Currently adult day care
centers charge between $7.00 and $10.00 per hour and adult day
health care charges between $10.00 and $15.00 per hour, depending
on type of services needed and length of day. Consider bundling
services or offering a discount for groups of hours purchased in
advance, using a punch card system.
To view current Washington State Medicaid payment rates, contact
the local Area Agency on Aging, (360) 570-2239 or go to
www.agingwashington.org.
What are the current trends in Adult Day Services?
The old "continuum of care" is a thing of the past. There is a
growing universe of services emerging everywhere to meet the needs
of those living with chronic illnesses. Think "wellness," "enrichment,"
"life enhancement." When day center participants are
asked what they like about going to their day center, they often
talk about the exercise programs and the social relationships.
Programs that build physical strength and promote human
interaction are important and attractive to everyone.
Services that support dementia caregiving are on the rise. A good
dementia day center attends to the needs of the participant and
the caregiver. Helpful caregiver information is always in demand. |
