Comparison of Adult Day Services in Atlantic Canada, Maine, and Vermont

Comparisons of aging services in Canada and the United States reveal similarities and differences in the structure and function of the two systems. In both countries, adult day services (ADS) is an integral component in the array of services available to older adults. In this study, I compared structural characteristics of programs, participant characteristics, and examined the National Adult Day Services Association classification model of ADS in demographically similar areas of Canada and the United States. Directors of 47 ADS programs in demographically similar provinces and states in Atlantic Canada, Maine, and Vermont responded to a mailed survey. Adult day services programs in each province and state exhibited some unique structural and participant characteristics. Statistically significant differences emerged between ADS programs in the two countries on the following structural variables: town population, center affiliation, center location, levels of government support, participant fees, organizational structure, hours of operation, months of attendance, hours attended per day, service frequency, and service provision. Participant characteristics that significantly varied between the two countries involved educational level and functional characteristics. A minority of programs exhibited a match between participant needs and services provided. However, very few programs belonged to the most mismatched category of providing core services to intensive level participants. The findings of this study support the importance of individual programs providing services appropriate to meet the needs of participants rather than adhering to a predetermined model of care.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph. D.

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Family and Child Development

Department dc:contributor.department

Family and Child Development

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

1998

Author dc:creator

• Weeks, Lori E.

Chair dc:contributor.committeechair

• Roberto, Karen A.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Bohland, James R.
• Blieszner, Rosemary
• Teaster, Pamela B.
• Sporakowski, Michael J.

• Vermont
• Maine
• adult day services
• Atlantic Canada

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

etd-9398-1847

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/30771