日間照顧是臺灣近年來逐漸發展長期照顧體系中之一環，它的種類和所提供的活動相當多樣性。主要是以護理人員為首，提供居民一天中部份時間的照顧服務。文中將介紹國內外相關文獻，並呈現研究者參觀訪談國內附設於醫院 (即醫療模式 ) 的老人日間照顧機構（或老人日託）之結果，並與文獻做比較。本研究以參觀和結構式的訪談為收集資料的方法，探討臺灣西部地區老人日間照顧機構（共5所）的現況、困境、所提供的服務和機構中護理人員的角色和功能。 結果發現：能被服務的人數過少（共約170人）；各機構的理念不盡相同，使居民的活動設計或期望，均有很大的差別；收費較高，而政府尚未將其納入全民健保中，故只可嘉惠中、高收入之家庭；而護理人員的角色相當多樣性及自主性，包括行政、管理（如：管理、訓練護士等）、財政、臨床護理活動、治療性活動的設計和帶領、家庭協商、居民生活照顧等等，但他們所能接受在職教育的機會相當有限，故本身的成長和自信較有限。本調查報告之結果可提供相關單位在日後規劃、管理類似機構之考量。

　　　　　The purpose of this study was to examine the conditions, service types, and nursing functions of five adult day care centers along the west coast of Taiwan. Data were collected from field trips to the institutions and stucture interviews with staff members. Raw data were recorded, content-analyzed, and categorized into major themes. Results indicate that:(1)The five adult day care centers could only provide services to around 170 persons, and recently only 76 persons are using these services. (2)The charge of the services was high that only moderate or high income families can afford to pay it.(3)The nursing functions include providing direct daily care, designing and administering health promotion, rehabilitations and leisure activities, and managing institution administration. These findings may serve as relevant information which can be taken into considerations for future development of related programs.