What Is Adult Day Care? Services, Costs, and How to Choose

Find adult day care near you
Caregiving is rarely easy, even if the person you are caring for is a beloved member of your family. If you are juggling work or other family needs, it can be challenging to find the time and energy to manage all your responsibilities. For many caregivers and their seniors, adult day care can provide vital support. Senior day care is different from respite care, which provides only short-term relief for caregivers and lasts from a few hours to several weeks.
Adult day care, as the name suggests, offers daily, regular programming in a central location for seniors. Usually available during regular business hours, adult day care may feature classes, therapy, and meals for seniors. This programming is inclusive of those experiencing dementia. If you think adult day care may be useful for your own needs and that of your senior, Caring can help. We offer free, expert guidance to help you navigate your care journey with confidence. Our Family Advisors are available at (800)558-0653.
Key Takeaways
|
Is Adult Day Care Right for Your Loved One?
What makes adult day care a better option than, say, an assisted living facility or memory care facility? There is no lack of living options for seniors, from independent living residences to nursing homes. If your senior is content and able to remain in their own home or in your home, however, elderly day care may be an option that provides just enough structure to keep your loved one engaged without the sometimes-high cost of residential options.
Seniors who may benefit from adult care could include those who:
- Experience isolation or loneliness, especially during the day when you might be at work
- Would benefit from a higher level of social or emotional support
- Need assistance to engage in hobbies, reading or other daily activities
- Have dementia or other medical conditions that require supervision
Benefits of Adult Day Care Programs
Senior day care programs offer diverse benefits for seniors and their loved ones.
- Caregiver respite: Elderly day care services relieve some caregiver burnout. Additionally, adult day care programs provide predictable hours for the caregiver to work, attend to personal needs, or run errands.
- Boredom remedy: Seniors gain stimulation and enrichment from diverse activities.
- Loneliness reduction: Individuals interact with peers and may build meaningful connections. Seniors who seldom see anyone outside of their family often feel lonely, which can negatively affect their mental and physical well-being.
- Sense of purpose: Senior day care offers routine and structure, which often benefits retirees.
- Additional access to health services: Centers may provide basic health care and preventative screenings, such as dental or hearing services, that older adults might find difficult to access otherwise.
Benefits of adult day care for seniors with dementia
Some adult day care centers are geared toward those living with dementia. These are generally suited for seniors who have some mobility (self-propelled wheelchairs are likely to be fine) and don’t require constant one-on-one assistance. These centers may be best for seniors who are continent, not abusive physically or verbally, and not prone to wandering. The best way to determine if an adult day care is right for your senior may be to let them experience a few days at the center to see how they do. If they struggle, they may be better with in-home care or companion services.
Services and amenities adult day care provides
Every senior day care program will be different, but your senior is likely to find a range of programs and activities designed to keep them engaged and occupied with stimulating and enjoyable activities and materials. There may be limited health services, including art or music therapy, counseling sessions, vision or hearing care and routine health checks.
You may also find some of the following activities:
- Fitness or dance classes geared toward seniors
- Educational workshops, lectures, or group discussions
- Arts and crafts activities
- Games, such as card games or trivia contests
- Group excursions to local sites of interest
- Birthday and holiday celebrations
Additional care types
How Much Does Adult Day Care Cost?
If adult day care sounds like something your senior might enjoy, but you’re wondering how much does senior day care cost? — we have good news for you. CareScout’s 2024 data places median adult health care costs at $2,167/month Senior day care costs less than other care options in most locales. However, fees vary significantly depending on the area, services, and operator. Many programs have a sliding fee scale for lower-income families, and sometimes accept hourly payments.
In some communities, churches run free adult drop-in programs that don’t qualify as certified adult day care centers but can serve a similar purpose, albeit with limited services. Additionally, low-income seniors have access to financial assistance programs.
Veterans Benefits
Veterans qualifying for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical benefits and needing long-term care may receive free services at VA-run adult day care centers. This benefit is designed to support the health and well-being of veterans by providing them with access to daily comprehensive care in a supportive community setting. The Uniform Benefits Package available to enrolled veterans can help cover senior day care costs, which may be free or require only a co-pay for eligible vets.
Explore our comprehensively researched guide to veterans benefits.
Medicaid and PACE
State Medicaid programs might pay for some adult day care services for eligible seniors. In some areas, the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) may fund adult day care. This program provides comprehensive medical and social services to some community-dwelling seniors who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid benefits.
Medicare
Neither Medicare Part A or Medicare Part B covers adult day care services. However, some Part C plans, also called Advantage plans, offer limited adult day care coverage.
One exception: Medicare Part B covers outpatient mental health treatments prescribed by a physician. If the senior day care center that your loved one attends includes a clinic, patients may be able to use its services for mental health care while attending the adult day care, although there may be a copayment for the counseling services.
Other Funding Options
Depending on your loved one’s situation, you may have other options for managing senior day care costs. Your senior may have income from social security, a pension or bonds or annuities, for example, There may be money in bank savings or retirement accounts, IRAs, 401(k) plans or 403(b) tax-sheltered annuities. Long term care insurance, if they have it, may cover some costs. If your senior owns a home, a reverse mortgage can help as well. This option is basically a loan against the value of the home, that is paid when the owner dies or sells the property.
Comparing Adult Day Care Costs and Other Types of Senior Care
As the table below shows, senior day care costs are well below the costs for other types of senior care. The median cost of adult day care is $2,167/month, less than half what it costs to have a home health care aide come to your home, and less than a quarter of the costs associated with nursing home care.
Types of Senior Care | Median Monthly Cost |
---|---|
Skilled Nursing Facility (private room) | $10,646 |
Skilled Nursing Facility (semi private room) | $9,277 |
Assisted Living | $5,900 |
Home Health Care Aide | $6,483 |
In-Home Care Services | $6,292 |
Adult Day Care | $2,167 |
Source: Carescout
How Does Adult Day Care Compare to Other Senior Care Options?
Before enrolling your loved one in adult day care, compare alternative care options to find which best suits their needs.
Adult Day Care | In-Home Care | Home Health Care | Assisted Living | Skilled Nursing Care | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Location | Community center | Senior’s residence | Senior’s residence | Residential facility | Residential facility |
Cost | Lowest | Variable, depending on hours of care needed | Variable, depending on hours of care needed | High | Highest |
Duration | Weekdays during business hours | Flexible | Flexible | 24/7 | 24/7 |
Meal Plans | Usually includes meals on attendance days | May include assistance with meal preparation and grocery shopping | May include home-delivered meals | Three meals daily | Three meals daily |
Typical Services | Programmed group activities, socialization, limited health and personal care | Help with activities of daily living and personal care, companionship, light housework and chores | Personal care and medication management, intermittent skilled nursing and therapies | Help with activities of daily living and personal care, maintenance, housekeeping, recreational programming | Skilled medical and rehabilitative care, nutritional oversight, medical social services |
Medical Care? | Limited | No | Yes | Limited | Yes |
How Do I Find an Adult Day Care Program?
To find potential adult day care sites, enter your city or ZIP code in Caring’s Senior Living Directory. You can compare ratings and reviews to pinpoint the best match for your loved one.
When looking for the right adult day care program, it can be helpful to make use of the National Adult Day Service Association’s site checklist, which includes questions to ask when visiting centers.
Adult Day Care FAQ
Browse our answers hub to find all the answers to your senior care questions.
Popular Adult Day Care Locations
View adult day care options in the top-searched locations.
Don’t see your location? Find adult day care near you.
Sources
- 401(k) Plans. (2025). IRS.gov
- Adult Day Care: What Family Caregivers Need to Know. (2024). AARP.org
- Adult Day Health Care. (2025). U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Annuities—A Brief Description. (2024). IRS.gov
- Calculate the Cost of Long-Term Care Near You. (2025). Carescout.com
- Does VA Cover Nursing Home, Assisted Living, or Other Long-Term Care? (2022). U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs). (2024). IRS.gov
- IRC 403(b) Tax-Sheltered Annuity Plans. (2025). IRS.gov
- Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. (n.d.). Medicaid.gov
- Questions to Ask When Visiting an Adult Day Center. (n.d.). National Adult Day Services Association
- Segal, Jeanne, et al. Adult Day Care Services. (2024). HelpGuide.org
- Social Security in Retirement. (n.d.). SSA.gov
- Types of Retirement Plans. (2024). IRS.gov
- Understanding the Differences Between Day Care and Respite Care Services. (2021). Horizon Recuperative Care
- What is Respite Care? (2023). National Institute on Aging