Identifying research priorities in adult day centers to support evidence-based care of vulnerable older adults

Adult day centers (ADCs) are essential community resources that allow frail older adults to remain in their communities. Research demonstrates that ADC staff have the capacity to leverage their culturally and socially congruent relation-ships with clients and caregivers, to deliver evidence-based interventions that improve health outcomes. Yet, they remain a largely overlooked neighborhood resource for older adults with complex health care needs. The National Adult Day Services Association (NADSA) created a multistakeholder work group to identify priority areas for research to enhance the quality of services offered in ADCs and the delivery of evidence-based practices to clients. This perspective piece, which presents the workgroup’s findings in the form of key research priorities, is intended as practical guide for researchers seeking to align their research questions with the needs of ADCs and those they serve. In addition to identifying areas of further exploration, we discuss current studies being undertaken within the ADC setting.