The main aims of Day Care Centres are to give carers a break and also to provide an informal base for social interaction and company to offset isolation and loneliness. Day Care services are often provided in a semi-structured manner between 9am and 4pm, Monday to Friday. However, Day Care Centres are adapting to a growing demand, and services are increasingly being made available seven days a week, 52 weeks a year, and for longer periods during the day.

Within Day Care Centres, as well as companionship and theraputic activity, you will usually find a range of additional services that may be chosen, such as, for example, laundry, bathing, take away meals, hairdressing and foot care. Day Care is also becoming established as a specialist service with Day Care Centres offering expertise in such areas as dementia and re-ablement.

Day Care is also being seen as an option that may be taken up as and when needed, rather than a longer term commitment. Clients’ attendance may vary from week to week or month to month. They may attend for mornings or afternoons only and it may also be added to short periods of respite care to enable carers to have free time around particular events or personal need.