The adult day care service market has grown as the population has aged, but services are not restricted to the elderly. Disabled adults who are no longer eligible for children’s services but who still require extra care can also receive services.
Adult day care services are provided by both for-profit and not-for-profit operations. They can be provided in home, at a facility, or a combination of the two. Transportation services to and from the facility may be available in addition to transportation to and from medical appointments.
David Weisenberger vice president and division manager–allied healthcare, medical professional, and non-medical professional at James River Insurance Company, says, “James River writes both for-profit and non-profit adult day care facilities. We have a very broad appetite with respect to size of facility, from the very small, more social-oriented, single-location facilities to large, multi-location facilities with multiple acuity levels.”
David Derigiotis, director of professional lines at Burns & Wilcox, explains that his carriers consider three different types of adult day care. “First are facilities that provide opportunities for socialization to adults who want to interact with others and are able to care for themselves. The second type specializes in caring for adults who have Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. The third kind provides day care for adults who have physical challenges and need assistance with daily personal care, administering medications, monitoring blood pressure, and/or changing of feeding tubes.”
Gail Pierce, senior commercial undewriter at Roush Insurance Services, says: “With the multiple carriers we use to place business, we are able to write almost any type of adult day care operation – for profit, non-profit, ambulatory, or non-ambulatory with medical care.”
The markets used are primarily non-admitted because of the flexibility they provide in pricing for the specific exposures in a given center. Carriers include James River, Scottsdale, Essex, ProAssurance Specialty, ArgoPro, Hiscox USA, Kinsale, and Lloyd’s of London.
“Adult day care is a term that encompasses a wide range of services, acuity levels, and clients,” according to Mr. Weisenberger. “Some adult day care centers are for active seniors or the mildly developmentally disabled who may need a little help to have meaningful social interaction with their peers. They can participate in a wide range of activities and have fun while developing friendships. Some facilities are for severely developmentally disabled adults or seniors who cannot be left on their own during the day and who require significant assistance with activities of daily living.”
Ms. Pierce says, “Working with the elderly increases the possibility of having to handle health or physical issues. These may be known or unknown and can include such problems as loss of balance, dementia, high blood pressure, or other issues that require immediate response by staff members. It is important that all personnel be well trained and prepared for anything that might happen.”
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