In both Canada and the United States, adult day services (ADS) are an integral component in the array of long-term care services available. We compared characteristics of programs and participant characteristics in Atlantic Canada, Maine, and Vermont. Directors of 47 ADS programs responded to a mailed survey. Individual ADS programs in each province and state exhibited unique program and participant characteristics. ADS programs in the two countries differed with respect to: affiliation, location, levels of government support, participant fees, organizational sponsorship, hours of operation, months of attendance, and hours attended per day. Participant characteristics that varied between the two countries were educational level, physical needs, and cognitive status. The results of this study provide new comparative information that can be used in guiding future research and program development of ADS.
