Pandemic closure orders and the fear of congregate settings are placing adult day centers at serious risk of permanent closure leaving vulnerable elderly and individuals with disabilities to default to residential institutional care earlier than would otherwise be necessary.

There are two principal constituencies ADS centers can address to share the industry’s message of caring for our nation’s most vulnerable population: First is contacting public policy makers at the federal, state, and local levels; second is engaging the media to create broader awareness about ADS. Specifically, the message to the Congress and the media is essentially the same: Emergency retainer payments are needed as a center lifeline to assure participants of Adult Day Services will have a place to return when centers are permitted to resume usual and customary services. This Town Hall will provide a template for successful media engagement.