Adult Day Program Directors' Experiences Managing the COVID-19 Pandemic

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Adult day programs (ADPs) offer essential community-based supervised recreational services for older adults with chronic conditions.
• These programs support both clients and their caregivers, playing a crucial role in the healthcare system.
• Most ADPs remained operational during the COVID-19 pandemic, posing significant management challenges for directors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how Adult Day Program directors managed and experienced the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To understand the adaptive strategies and personal experiences of ADP directors during a public health crisis.
• To identify the impact of the pandemic on service delivery and the perceived importance of ADPs.

Main Methods:

• Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 Adult Day Program directors.
• Participants were recruited from a large healthcare region in Ontario.
• Thematic analysis was used to analyze interview data.

Main Results:

• Directors adapted services to meet pandemic-related demands.
• Navigating complex interactions with systems, organizations, clients, and caregivers was a key challenge.
• Directors reported personal emotional responses and gained new insights into client needs and the value of ADPs.
• The pandemic highlighted existing and emerging gaps and opportunities in ADP service provision.

Conclusions:

• Adult day programs demonstrated resilience and adaptability during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The pandemic underscored the critical role of ADPs in supporting older adults, caregivers, and the broader healthcare system.
• Findings offer valuable insights for improving ADP operations and addressing service gaps for clients and caregivers.