Day care services: an alternative to institutional care

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Healthcare Management
• Community Health Services

Background:

• The St. Camillus Nursing Home established a day care program.
• The program serves a community need with defined admission criteria and diverse services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the growth, benefits, and community acceptance of the St. Camillus day care program.
• To identify barriers to program expansion and propose solutions for wider accessibility.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive analysis of program growth and participant outcomes.
• Assessment of family member acceptance and satisfaction.
• Evaluation of current service scope and admission criteria.

Main Results:

• The program shows positive growth, participant benefits, and strong family acceptance.
• Current reimbursement models (Medicaid, private referrals) limit participant numbers and service expansion.

Conclusions:

• The day care program is valuable to the community.
• Including Medicare patients with appropriate reimbursement is crucial for program expansion.
• Reimbursement reform would enable similar programs nationwide, enhancing participant well-being and healthcare economics.