Adult day care for dementia: a comparison of programs in Sweden and the United States.

Adult day care is regarded as an important respite service to family caregivers of dementia patients to assist the patient to remain in the community. This study includes 178 Swedish and 86 American day care centers serving cognitively impaired clients. Client, staff and organizational characteristics were surveyed. Although the two countries have quite different systems of elder care, client characteristics were similar, suggesting that adult day care centers are a convergent solution to a common problem of supporting disabled elderly. Differences were found between the USA and Sweden in the staff, structure, and services of the programs. The study raises questions about day care centers' goals and organization. Results provide a clearer understanding of the optimal role and function of adult day care centers.