Adult Day Care Centers are designed to 

provide care and companionship for seniors 

who need assistance or supervision during the 

day. The program offers relief to family 

members or caregivers and allows them the 

freedom to go to work, handle personal 

business or just relax while knowing their 

relative is well cared for and safe.

The goals of the programs are to delay or 

prevent institutionalization by providing 

alternative care, to enhance self-esteem and to 

encourage socialization. There are two types 

of adult day care: adult social day care and 

adult day health care. Adult social day care 

provides social activities, meals, recreation 

and some health-related services. Adult day 

health care offers more intensive health, 

therapeutic and social services for individuals 

with severe medical problems and those at 

risk of requiring nursing home care. 

Seniors generally take part in the program on 

a scheduled basis and the services that are 

offered may include the following: 

• Counseling

• Education

• Evening care

• Exercise

• Health screening

• Meals

• Medical care

• Physical therapy

• Recreation

• Respite care

• Socialization

• Supervision

• Transportation

• Medication Management

HOW DO ADULT DAY CARE CENTER 

OPERATE?

These centers are usually open during 

working hours and may stand alone or be 

located in senior centers, nursing facilities, 

churches or synagogues, hospitals, or schools. 

The staff may monitor medications, serve hot 

meals and snacks, perform physical or 

occupational therapy, and arrange social 

activities. They also may help to arrange 

transportation to and from the center itself.

WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM ADULT DAY 

CARE?

The following case study is an example of a 

senior who may need adult day care services, 

both for his own well being and that of his 

family caregivers:

Paul is 69 years old and recently suffered a 

stroke. He needs some care and supervision 

so he lives with his son and daughter-in-law, 

Adult Day Care
David and Kira. However, because David and 

Kira both work, they need help to care for 

Paul during the day. They found a solution to 

their problem by having Kira drop off Paul at 

the local adult day care center in the morning, 

and having David pick him up when he gets 

off work in the evening. The center monitors 

Paul’s medications and offers him lunch, 

some physical therapy, and a chance to 

socialize with other seniors. 

WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR IN AN ADULT 

DAY CARE CENTER?

All states do not license and regulate adult 

day care centers. There may be a great deal of 

difference between individual centers; 

therefore it is important to learn more about 

each of the centers near you. You will 

probably want to visit the centers closest to 

you, and talk with the staff and other families 

that use the centers to determine if the 

facilities and programs available meet your 

individual needs. You may want to find out if 

your state has an Adult Day Care Association. 

HOW DO I PAY FOR ADULT DAY 

SERVICES?

Costs vary among adult day centers. Costs 

range from $25 a day to over $100 per day 

depending on the services offered, type of 

reimbursement, and geographic region. While 

an adult day care center is not usually 

covered by insurance of Medicare, some 

financial assistance may be available through 

a federal or state program (e.g., Medicaid, 

Older Americans Act, Veterans 

Administration). 

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT 

LOCAL SERVICES?

To find out more about the specific adult day 

care centers where you live, you will want to 

contact your local aging information and 

assistance provider or area agency on aging 

(AAA). The Eldercare Locator, a public 

service of the Administration on Aging (at 1-

800-677-1116 or http://www.eldercare.gov ) 

can help connect you to these agencies. 

The National Adult Day Services Association 

is a good source for general information about 

adult day care centers and programs. They 

can help you link to a state adult day care 

association. It can be reached by calling the 

toll-free telephone number 1-877-745-1440 or 

by going to http://www.nadsa.org. 

For more information about ACL

U.S. Department of Health and Human 

Services, Administration for Community 

Living, Washington DC 20201

Phone: (202) 619 – 0724

Fax: (202) 357 – 3555

Email: ACLinfo@acl.hhs.gov

Web: http://www.aoa.gov