Why do people go to adult day care?

People go to adult day care for socialization, structured activities, and to receive care and supervision during the day. Adult day care provides respite for caregivers and helps seniors with chronic conditions or disabilities engage in meaningful activities, improve their well-being, and avoid isolation. Senior day care can also offer therapeutic services and assistance with daily tasks.

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

Q: What are common activities at adult day care facilities?

Common activities at adult day care facilities include arts and crafts, physical exercises, music therapy, games, group discussions, and recreational outings. These activities aim to keep seniors engaged, improve cognitive function, and promote socialization, while also providing opportunities for relaxation and emotional support. Activities are often tailored to meet the needs and abilities of the participants.

An elderly white person in a red and white striped shirt sits in front of a craft table with paint palettes and cups of water and paints a watercolor painting of a red flower.

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

Adult day care offers structured group activities for seniors in a central location.
Senior day care can help overburdened caregivers by providing stimulating, enjoyable activities for their loved one while giving them time to handle other responsibilities.
The median monthly cost of senior day care is $2,058 per month, making adult day care more affordable than other senior care options.
Although basic Medicare doesn’t pay for adult day care, some Advantage plans might, as well as PACE programs run by Medicaid.

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.

Does adult day care help with loneliness?

Yes, adult day care can help reduce loneliness by providing seniors with social interaction, recreational activities, and emotional support in a group setting. Adult day care offers an opportunity for seniors to engage with others, which can alleviate feelings of isolation.