A Step in the Right Direction: Adult Day Programs in 2025

Written by Janet Williams, CDP, CADDCT, CMC – Owner of StilMee Florida, Dementia Coaching & Care Management

When caring for someone with a memory disorder, the “usual” ways we communicate in healthy relationships often don’t work. In daily life, we share plans, solve problems through discussion, and ask for opinions. But for someone living with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, these well-intentioned approaches can actually create more confusion and anxiety.

That’s because memory loss makes it difficult to process information, weigh options, or remember conversations. Asking a loved one with dementia, “Do you want to go to a day program?” almost always leads to a “no.” Not because they truly dislike the idea, but because they fear the unknown, don’t understand what’s expected of them, or worry about failing.

Instead, the transition into an adult day program works best when it is planned by care partners ahead of time and introduced gently. Staff at high-quality centers are trained to welcome participants warmly and help them settle in with ease. A smile, a familiar activity, or even music can help the day start on a positive note.

And once there, something amazing often happens: elders come alive again. Surrounded by peers, engaging in meaningful activities, and supported by professionals who genuinely enjoy their work, many participants rediscover joy, creativity, and social connection.

It’s important to dispel a common myth: enrolling in a day program is not the first step toward nursing home placement. In fact, research now shows the opposite. Regular participation in adult day services can help slow the progression of dementia by reducing isolation, stimulating the brain, and encouraging movement and purpose. This support can actually extend the time a loved one can remain at home.

For care partners, adult day programs are also a lifeline. Providing round-the-clock structure, stimulation, and supervision at home is overwhelming, especially while juggling other responsibilities. Day programs give care partners a break, reduce stress, and allow them to continue their role with greater patience and energy.

In 2025, many centers also offer additional resources such as health monitoring, therapy options, care partner support groups, and even hybrid or virtual engagement for families who need flexible solutions.

If you’ve been considering this option, make this the month you take the next step:

• Schedule a tour. Visit a few programs to see how the staff interact with participants.

• Look for joy. Notice whether participants are engaged, smiling, and treated with dignity.

• Ask about support. Many programs offer care partner education and respite services in addition to daily activities.

• Trust the process. Remember, your loved one may resist at first—but given time, many begin to thrive.

An adult day program is not giving up—it’s a step in the right direction. It’s a way of saying to your loved one, “You are valued. You still have gifts to share. And we want you to live with joy.”