Consider day care... for your elder parents

Working parents have long had the option to use day care to help them balance family/career demands. But just as kids have grown and left the nest, working baby boomers are finding that caring for their frail parents can be just as big of a concern.

The Wall Street Journal's Jeff Opdyke recently took a detailed look at this practice and the 3,500 adult day centers serving roughly 400,000 seniors in the U.S.

• Individual facilities say demand is growing 5%-15% a year.
• Adult day care serves at least 400,000 people nationally, by some estimates.
• The average cost is around $61 a day. A home health aide could run about $152 for an eight-hour day.
• Services can include physical therapy, exercise and grooming.

The article also suggested that you start with local Alzheimer support groups, or state or local agencies on aging, for a list of facilities. Verify that they are licensed by the proper agency and ask about transportation options.