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Adult Day Centers
Often considered a middle ground between in-home care and residential care, adult day centers allow older adults to continue to live at home or with family, while still getting their daily care needs met and the benefits of socialization with a community of peers.
What are adult day centers?
Adult day centers provide a safe, structured environment for older adults during the day, offering social activities, health services, and care. They are designed to enhance well-being, giving caregivers a break while ensuring older adults get the companionship, supervision, and specialized care they need. This arrangement can also allow family caregivers time to work or attend to other responsibilities during the day.
Types of adult day centers
Adult social day care Provides social activities, meals, recreation, and some health-related services
Adult day health care Offers intensive health, therapeutic, and social services for people with serious medical conditions. These services may be covered by Medicare and/or other health insurance. PACE centers are considered a type of adult day health care
Specialized adult day care Serves individuals with dementia or cognitive conditions such as Alzheimer's
Services provided
- Activities and games suitable to older adult's level and ability
- Community meals
- Medication management
- Support with activities of daily living or personal care, such as toileting
- Laundry services
- Speech and/or occupational therapy (not provided by all centers)
Schedules
Adult day centers usually offer programming during the week for either half or full-day attendance. Attendees often participate in adult day programs between 2-5 days per week, depending on their needs and the needs of their family members/caregivers.
Keep in mind: level of care
Adult day programs aren't one size fits all - as you search, first want to understand if your loved one needs a more specialized type of medical or memory care as this will help determine the best fit for your family.
Adult day programs aren't one size fits all - as you search, first want to understand if your loved one needs a more specialized type of medical or memory care as this will help determine the best fit for your family.
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Planning for future needs
The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) provides daily care at a center for elders who need a nursing home-level of care. PACE services allow elders to continue living at home and enjoying their communities while receiving high-quality care at a lower cost.
Learn more about PACE center eligibility or find a center by state.
The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) provides daily care at a center for elders who need a nursing home-level of care. PACE services allow elders to continue living at home and enjoying their communities while receiving high-quality care at a lower cost.
Learn more about PACE center eligibility or find a center by state.
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When are adult day centers a good option?
How do you know if this is the right care for your loved one? Here are some high-level pointers to consider throughout your search.
Adult Day Centers are best for...
- Socializing, stimulating, and providing other cognitive and mental health benefits that are difficult to reproduce in an isolated home environment.
- Providing alternatives to care in the home (by either a family caregiver or professional) yet still offering supervision, medication support, and meals.
- Allowing a break for caregivers.
- Providing safety and supervision without overly elevated costs.
But remember...
- Since these are daily programs, you will need to find a program that is a reasonable commuting distance from your loved one's home, which may be a challenge in very rural areas.
- Most adult day centers cannot provide services to individuals who require an intensive level of medical care, though there are some specialty centers that may offer more medical support.
Easing a transition
In cases where moving to a facility may be the best long-term option, adult day care can provide a valuable transition experience. Practically speaking, it can delay moving to a facility while keeping family member safe. Plus, the older adult will experience the social benefits of a community environment and may help them be more open to a full-time change to a facility.
In cases where moving to a facility may be the best long-term option, adult day care can provide a valuable transition experience. Practically speaking, it can delay moving to a facility while keeping family member safe. Plus, the older adult will experience the social benefits of a community environment and may help them be more open to a full-time change to a facility.
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Keep in mind: transportation
Many programs provide transportation, but if not, will a family member be available to drive your loved one? You can also look into local transportation services that cater to seniors.
Many programs provide transportation, but if not, will a family member be available to drive your loved one? You can also look into local transportation services that cater to seniors.
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By National Adult Day Services Association
A comprehensive checklist to help you evaluate adult day centers.
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Paying for adult day centers
The flexibility of adult day centers creates a wider range of costs, making it more accessible to those looking for part-time care. Learn about average hourly costs and payment for adult day centers.
How much do adult day centers cost?
According to Genworth's Cost of Care Calculator, the median daily cost of an adult day center is about $95.
Some programs may also offer hourly rates for half-day attendance, or a monthly fee, depending on their enrollment policies.
Paying for adult day centers
- Directly out-of-pocket
- Private long-term care insurance
- Medicaid
- Both Medicaid and Medicare for PACE centers
- Medicare Advantage
- Supplemental insurance (e.g., Medigap)
- Veterans benefits
Coverage is highly dependent on your plan
You should research your loved one's insurance provider and plans. Since programs may or may not be covered, we advise you to call them directly.
You should research your loved one's insurance provider and plans. Since programs may or may not be covered, we advise you to call them directly.
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By Genworth
Find localized cost info and compare across care types.
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Finding adult day centers & additional resources
Here are some helpful resources to help you find adult day services near you, as well as financial eligibility for different benefit programs.
National directories for adult day centers
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Adult Day Services National Directory An easy-to-use directory to find specific adult day centers near you, provided by the National Adult Day Services Association.
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Find a PACE center near you A directory listing all Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) programs in your area.
Resources to help find adult day programs or access related benefits
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Find your local AAA for guidance A network of state agencies aka 'Area Agencies on Aging' can help you unlock benefits and services related to in-home care. Start by contacting your local agency.
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Medicaid & Adult Day Care A state-by-state guide to eligibility for adult day programs related to Medicaid, provided by PayingforSeniorCare.com.
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Memory Cafe Directory has resources and a listing of virtual and in person ‘cafe gatherings’ for memory care patients and their families.
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Continue exploring
Not sure which would be the best fit? Compare all 3 options in our Comparison chart
In-Home Care
Adult Day Centers
Residential Care
Care provided by a trained caregivers or home health aides for an individual or couple in their home. In-home care supports older adults with daily activities and provides family caregivers a needed break (respite care).
Supervised out-of-home care for older adults in external settings. Older adults come during the day to socialize, enjoy activities, exercise, and dine with friends. Some centers may offer additional services like laundry. Participants live at home, but this can allow family caregivers to work during the day or take some regular time off.
Also called facility care, this broad category of care includes senior living communities, assisted living, and nursing homes. Residents live on-site and enjoy a range of services and benefits, which usually include housekeeping, activity/exercise classes, and/or meals.
Care can be provided part-time, full-time, overnight, and on weekends. In-home care usually requires a 4 hour minimum shift.
Programs are usually available on weekdays as a half-day or full-day. Nights and weekends are not typically options.
Facilities providing care support may offer more flexible part-time hours since they can serve multiple residents in a shift; up to 24/7 care available in some facilities.
Customized services based on need, from companionship and chores to help with bathing and mobility, up to 24/7 medical care. However, intensive or round-the-clock medical care at home can become prohibitively expensive for many families, especially if it's long-term.
Supervised setting for older adults who need light to moderate care support, such as transfer assistance, basic personal care, and medication management. There are also adult day health programs that offer higher levels of medical care, but these are less common.
Range of care levels offered depending on facility type: from light housekeeping all the way to 24/7 medical care. Continuous care facilities allow residents to transition between care levels without leaving the community.
This can be a more affordable option when care needs are light to moderate. Full-time care at home becomes expensive.
Lower hourly rate of care than an in-home caregiver, which makes it a good option for care during weekday hours.
While this type of care is expensive, once overnight or 24/7 care is needed, it is often more affordable than in-home care.