HOW TO CHOOSE AN ADULT DAY HEALTH PROGRAM
When working adults have to care for an elderly parent or a disabled adult, many times they turn to Adult Day Health programs. They offer meals, activities, medical supervision, medication reminders, personal care, PT, and OT for a fee. For an extra fee, these facilities will provide transportation to and from the Adult Day Health facility. MassHealth covers Adult Day Health programs for a couple of weekdays if the person is nursing home eligible but chooses to stay at home. The following are helpful hints for finding an appropriate program for a loved one.
Keep In Mind
Adult day health programs are not regulated by the state unless they accept MassHealth. If a program accepts only
private pay individuals, there are no government agencies assessing the program quality of care. The Mass. Division
of Medical Assistance (DMA) oversees adult Day Health programs that accept MassHealth. It has specific regulations
for the program and occasionally visits the facility to assess if the regulations are being followed. Because the
department that regulates Adult Day Health facilities is very small and understaffed, supervision by the DMA does not
guarantee quality care. Some private pay programs provide high quality care, but choose not to accept MassHealth because
of its low reimbursement rate. These facilities may adhere to DMH regulations, but have no formal regulatory oversight.
Questions to Ask
Many Assisted Living facilities are beginning to offer Adult Day Health programs. The hours tend to be more flexible
at these facilities because they are open 24 hours a day. They will not do overnight care, but the facility can handle
situations like if the participant needs to come in extra early or the family member is late to pick up their loved one.
Family members may call local Assisted Living Facilities and ask if they offer Adult Day Health Programs. To find an Adult
Day Health program for your patient look in IRis. It has over 180 Adult Day Health programs listed. Use the keyword,
'Adult Day Health' for your search.
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