South Middlesex Times

Living with dementia in communities that have senior centers providing adult day health and social services is linked to fewer hospitalizations, reduced healthcare use, and lower Medicare costs. This finding comes from a study by researchers at Rutgers University-New Brunswick and the University of Massachusetts Boston, published in Health Affairs Scholar.

The research highlights the role of senior centers in reducing healthcare expenses and acute care usage for those with dementia, especially in smaller communities. Emily A. Greenfield, a professor at Rutgers University School of Social Work, stated: "Our findings provide evidence to support the growing interest in increasing funding for community-based organizations to improve health." She emphasized the potential value senior centers bring to healthcare systems as community-based assets.

Adult day health services provide clinical care like nursing services and medication administration for older adults living in communities. In contrast, social adult day services focus on recreational activities without offering clinical care. Despite widespread agreement among policymakers on the importance of community-based services for individuals with dementia, few studies have explored their impact.

Caitlin Coyle from the University of Massachusetts Boston noted: "In partnership with The Massachusetts Councils on Aging, we conducted a comprehensive assessment of the breadth and depth of the functions of councils on aging in our state." The study used data from U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services alongside a statewide census of councils on aging and senior centers in Massachusetts. It included 48,474 residents aged 75 years or older diagnosed with dementia.

Massachusetts serves as an ideal setting for this research due to its extensive network of councils on aging that often offer dementia-focused programming. Many municipalities in New Jersey also have senior centers funded by local investments, though research on their service offerings is limited.

While these findings are correlational and do not establish causation, they suggest cost savings associated with these programs. Future research aims to better understand how dementia-focused programs at senior centers affect healthcare utilization among those living with dementia.

The study was led by Ayse Akincigil from Rutgers University, with co-authors including Divya Bhagianadh from the University of Arkansas; Clara J. Scher, Emily A. Greenfield, Natalie E. Pope from Rutgers University; Ceara Somerville; and Caitlin Coyle from the University of Massachusetts Boston. Funding was provided by The Alzheimer’s Association [AARG-20-684159], Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs, and Massachusetts Councils on Aging.