Adult Day Service Providers Continue to Develop

Posted on August 25, 2022 by Bobbie Guidry

According to the Department of Human Services, a net total of 13 adult day programs closed from 2021 to the midpoint of this year. The availability of adult day services as our state ages is increasingly essential to promote quality of life and health.

The Details

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) Licensing Division Home and Community Based Services Unit Manager, Jill Slaikeu, shared a few trends with LeadingAge Minnesota:

• At the beginning of 2021, there were 198 licensed adult day centers. At the end of June, DHS was licensing 185 adult day centers for 13 fewer programs.
• Since 2020, for every two programs that have closed, one program has opened.

The Pandemic's Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic was challenging for many Adult Day Service (ADS) providers. With a mandated government shutdown of ADS-licensed sites, many providers worked diligently to support their clients and their families through remote services. The value of continued connection through remote services was vital to helping people stay in their homes in the community.

New Model: Virtual ADS

Many individuals find it hard to travel to an ADS site as often as would benefit the individual and their caregiver. Therefore, with support from ADS members, LeadingAge Minnesota and our partners in the Long-Term Care Imperative advocated for the continued availability of remote services during the 2022 session. The Legislature passed the provision. New settings will be able to add remote service provision in January 2023.