Most counties in Mississippi lack sufficient adult day services, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of Mississippi. The research found that approximately 80% of counties have no adult day service centers, and existing centers cannot meet the needs of people with dementia and their caregivers.
Authors Keith Anderson, professor and chair of the Department of Social Work, and Ruaa Al-Juboori, assistant professor of public health, published their findings in the Journal of Applied Gerontology. They estimate the state would need an additional 910 adult day services operating at full capacity to meet current demand.
Anderson noted the national shortage of adult day services is difficult to quantify but acknowledged its widespread impact. The researchers focused on Mississippi, citing it as an underserved region across the healthcare spectrum.
Adult day services provide health care, nutrition, socialization, and daytime programs in a monitored environment for seniors and adults with cognitive or physical impairments. They also give caregivers a break from daily responsibilities, Al-Juboori said.
Mississippi has an estimated 63,000 people living with Alzheimer’s disease, a form of dementia, and about 92,000 provide primary support, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. The study suggests that if just 10% of these individuals used adult day services, the state would need approximately 91 additional centers.
Anderson emphasized the shortage exists in both urban and rural areas, often leaving families burdened and older adults isolated. Funding remains a major obstacle, as adult day services lack access to federal programs like Medicaid and Medicare that support similar services. Expanding funding sources could help address the critical gaps in care, he said.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
