Adult Day Services play an integral role in the continuum of services for disabled adults, especially the senior population. There is a significant need for Adult Day Services in our community. Adult Day Services are proven to prevent premature institutionalization by offering caregivers the respite they need to continue to fulfill the caregiver role and thus maintain the family unit. Share Your Care data shows that its services prevent institutionalization for an average of two years. The majority of the clients served at Share Your Care live at home with their families. Clients attending Share Your Care during daytime hours allow their caregivers time to maintain their household,hold down jobs, and take a break from the rigors of care giving. The National Family Care Givers Association fact sheet states, "More persons enter nursing homes, because of care giver burn-out than because of a worsening of their condition."

According to fiscal year 2001 data, the average daily cost of services is $19.63. The impact of adult day services on the community is significant in that they are a viable cost-effective alternative to institutionalization; the average cost of nursing home care is $42,000 to $70,000 per year (Alzheimers Association statistics, 1998) while adult day care costs approximately $10,000 per year (Share Your Care estimate based on average private pay rate). Adult Day Services cost significantly less per day than a stay at a hospital.

As a result, there are significant enhancements to people's quality of life and significant savings to Medicaid and other government programs that pay for long term care.