Day care services: an alternative to institutional care.

The day care program at St. Camillus Nursing Home in Syracuse, New York is described. The growth rate of the program,, the observed benefits to the participants, and acceptance by their family members indicate its value to the community. The admission criteria are well defined and non-restrictive, and there is a wide scope of services. However, a greater number of participants and expansion of the services would be feasible if Medicare patients could be included in the program besides the present Medicaid and private physician referrals. Such reimbursement should be provided for the sake of participants and their families, as well as for the economics of the total health structure. This would open the doors for day care programs in many other communities across the nation.