What to Look For When Touring an Adult Day Care Program

A good tour is part interview, part gut check. The first 60 seconds tell you a lot — is the space clean, is it bright, are participants engaged, does the staff make eye contact and smile, does it smell fresh?

Questions to ask: What is the staff-to-participant ratio? (Ours is 6:1.) What is staff turnover? How are medications handled? What is the daily schedule? How are emergencies handled? What is the cost and what is included? Is transportation available? How are families communicated with?

Things to notice that nobody mentions: are participants sitting in front of a TV or actually doing something? Do they look like they are enjoying themselves? Are bathrooms clean and accessible? Is there outdoor space? Is the food the kind of food you would eat?

Schedule a tour at /tours — bring your loved one if they're up for it, and trust your gut.