National Adult Day Services Week

National Adult Day Services Week is September 21-27, 2025

2025 Theme:  “ADS at the Crossroads: Policy, Practice, Progress”

The week beginning the third Sunday of September is designated as National Adult Day Services Week. This special week has been celebrated annually since it was initially proclaimed on September 27, 1983, and reaffirmed by former President Ronald Reagan on September 8, 1988.

Excerpts from the original 1983 proclamation:

Day care centers enable individuals to obtain the care they need without being forced to live in institutions, and they offer needed respite to families whose infirmed relatives live with them. In recognition that adult day care centers and their dedicated professional staffs serve many health maintenance functions, provide vital medical care, including medication monitoring, therapies, and health education, and provide invaluable opportunities for social interaction to disabled elderly Americans, the Congress of the United States, by House Joint Resolution 132, has designated the week beginning September 25, 1983, as “National Adult Day Care Center Week” and has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of that week.

NC Governor Proclamation of National Adult Day Services Week

The 2025 National Adult Day Services Week theme is:  “ADS at the Crossroads: Policy, Practice, Progress”

• Policy & Advocacy: Grassroots efforts, leveraging research-based policy
• Provider Practice: Care design, operations, caregiver programs
• Progress Metrics: Measuring impact via research, standards, data collection.

Celebration Ideas

• Host an adult day center open house to showcase the place where services happen.
• Honor adult day center workers with a special meal.
• Invite people who benefit from adult day services, e.g. participants, current and former family caregivers, to write notes of appreciation to the adult day center workers.
• Sponsor an educational event in the community.
• Plan a gala to raise awareness and funds to sustain the program.
• Contact us about successful celebrations you have experienced!