A study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that pandemic-related closures of adult day services left older adults and caregivers without critical supports and services. Unlike childcare centers, which were deemed essential during the pandemic, adult day centers were not treated the same way. However, the magnitude of the impact of adult day closures on well-being, particularly among members of racial/ethnic minority groups, has yet to be measured with any form of “big data” because large-scale, nationally representative data sets consisting of participant-level information and outcomes associated with adult day center participation do not yet exist. Study authors call on adult day centers to link rigorous collection of racial and ethnic data to quality measures of access to equitable “age-friendly” care as a means of better supporting diverse community-dwelling older adults beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

Questions?

Contact:

Alyssa Odegaard – Vice President, Public Policy 
cell: 206-948-2279