Adult day care programs: a source for respite.

Respite care can be considered an illness prevention and health promotion intervention for both caregivers and the older people dependent on them. By maintaining clients' level of functioning, the process of deterioration is delayed and a degree of health promotion is achieved. Similarly, the relief of caregivers' burden, although minimal, sustains them in their role. A community-based mode of providing adult day care is supported in the literature. It seems logical to combine the services of a community-based organization and a long-term care institutional setting whenever possible.