HEALTH PROFESSIONALS & COMMUNITY LEADERS Information & Referrals • Community Education • Levels of Care • Eligibility Criteria • Successful Referrals • Online Resources • Physician's View • Social Worker to Social Worker • Research Studies • Materials For Your Clients • Elders & Their Families RCEB Case Managers Press Packet Fact Sheets

Eligibility Criteria

Each program has its own guidelines, and these vary from program to program. (Eligibility Criteria by Program) Minimum age and incontinence services vary in particular from program to program. In addition, each program carefully balances the number of wheelchair users on any given day. So call the program(s) concerned for current information.

Having said that, the following general guidelines will give you a good idea of the people who are (and are not) good candidates for an adult day program.

A Good Candidate…

• Is 18 or older
   
• Has a medical condition requiring treatment or rehabilitative service prescribed by a physician, or is suffering from isolation or depression (whether diagnosed or not)
   
• Has physical/mental impairments that handicap activities of daily living but are not so serious as to require 24-hour institutional care
   
• Is at risk for placement in an institution due to safety issues and/or the lack of caregiver availability.

A Poor Candidate…

• Is often sexually inappropriate
   
• Is sometimes very aggressive, hostile or verbally disruptive
   
• Is addicted to alcohol or other drugs and not in a recovery program
   
• Requires one-on-one nursing care or constant supervision
   
• Requires acute care or is bed-bound
   
• Lives with dementia too advanced to allow participation in any group activities
   
• Requires around-the-clock supervision/care, and other resources are not available to cover evening, night and weekend hours

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