October 10th 2025
By Ari Parker
Learn about the costs of adult day programs and support services for older adults in 2025. Discover pricing, what’s included, and tips to find affordable care options.
By Jordan McElwain
The Family Caregiver Alliance reports that about 44 million adults in the U.S. provide unpaid care to a family member or loved one. While this is noble, it can be stressful and tiring. Unpaid caregivers also often struggle to provide enough socialization and engagement. Adult day care is one way to ease these concerns.
But how much does senior day care cost? The answer is that there are several factors involved. In this article, we’ll discuss the factors that affect senior day care costs. We’ll also compare prices and payment options. This will help you make important planning decisions, including making a budget that suits your needs.
The average cost of senior day health care nationwide is $2,167 per month. However, costs can vary based on location and services provided.
Senior day center fees typically cover supervision, activities, and meals. Transportation can cost extra.
Insurance coverage and financial assistance programs can help offset the costs of adult day care.
When thinking about costs, it's important to consider services offered and the region.
Factors within the facility itself can affect adult day care pricing. For example, facilities with more medical care usually have higher staff-to-client ratios. They also provide more nursing supervision, which can come with higher costs. Larger facilities that have more amenities also tend to be more expensive. Finally, the hours attended can affect costs. While part-time day care can be more affordable, some facilities offer deals for full-time care.
Location can impact the cost of senior day care. Adult day care costs are usually higher in urban areas. This is because operating costs and demand are greater in more populated places than in rural ones. For example, Genworth Financial Group’s Cost of Care Survey found that the daily median cost for adult day health care in New York, a populated area, is $113. However, in the more rural state of Mississippi, this cost is $71.
Some types of senior day care provide more specialized care, which can impact their costs.
Attending social adult day care centers offers many benefits for seniors. They get a regular schedule, which helps keep them active. These centers also reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness while providing engaging activities like music, crafts, cooking, and games. They can provide basic supervision, help with personal care, provide meals, and monitor health while caregivers take a break or continue to work.
Because social adult day care doesn’t provide enhanced medical care, it tends to be the most affordable. For example, the average cost of social adult day care in New York is $75-$100 per day, but there may be extra costs for transportation and special events.
Adult day health care programs are best suited for individuals who need more medical care than social adult day care provides. This can include:
Medical supervision
Skilled nursing care
Medication management
Physical activity programs
These services help manage and prevent issues like heart disease and diabetes. About half of adult day care programs also provide physical, occupational, or speech therapy.
Because these programs provide more specialized health care, costs tend to be higher. For example, the average cost of adult day health care in New York is $100 to $150.
Almost 50% of seniors who attend adult day care have some level of dementia. As dementia progresses, specialized day care for dementia and Alzheimer’s may be needed. This helps create a safe, secure place and manage behaviors.
Specialized staff are trained to help reduce anxiety and safely redirect. These senior day care programs also provide activities that promote cognition and encourage independence. Examples include reminiscence therapy and folding laundry.
Because these programs have specialized staff and lower staff-to-client ratios, costs tend to be higher. However, these specialized day care programs can help delay nursing home placement, which tends to be more expensive.
Some people pay for senior day care out of their own pockets, whereas others depend on coverage from insurance or Medicaid.
Some people choose to pay privately for senior day care. They might use their retirement income or savings. Families might also choose to use cost-sharing strategies, such as pooling contributions or splitting service costs. If paying out of pocket for adult day care, creating a budget can help. This includes being aware of base costs and extras like transportation and creating an emergency fund, should there be changes in your income or regular expenses.
Original Medicare typically doesn’t cover adult day care. Medicare Part B provides limited coverage for skilled therapies like speech and physical therapy in adult day health care settings. However, it does not cover the overall costs of adult day care programs.
Some Medicare Advantage plans and private insurance plans offer partial coverage for adult day programs, including transportation. However, this coverage can differ significantly and may be restricted to a specific number of hours or days each month. It’s best to call the plan or check the Evidence of Coverage (EOC) to see what is covered.
Long-term care insurance often covers adult day care services. But this coverage might limit you to a certain dollar amount per day or a monthly maximum. There may also be certain eligibility criteria to meet before coverage kicks in.
For individuals with limited incomes, Medicaid can help to cover senior day program costs. Medicaid waiver programs can help to cover the cost of adult day care as an alternative to nursing homes. However, coverage can vary by state and is dependent on income, assets, and care needs. The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) can help provide adult day care to individuals who live in a PACE service area. It’s important to note that this coverage varies by state.
For individuals who don’t qualify for Medicaid, state-funded programs can help provide affordable adult day care services. These can usually be found through the state’s Department on Aging.
Veterans eligible for community care can get help from VA and Attendance Benefits. This allowance can be used to pay for adult day care if they meet specific health care requirements. Veterans and their families can contact their VA social worker or case manager for more information.
Some employer benefits can also help cover the costs of adult day care. These include Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs).
Senior day care can be an added expense, but budgeting can help make it more manageable:
Research day care for seniors prices: Because the costs of adult day care can vary, researching senior day cares in your area can help you understand the costs that you need to budget for. Keep in mind that costs usually rise over time. Ensure that you’re budgeting for any extra elderly day care expenses, such as transportation.
Explore funding options: Medicaid, private insurance, and state-funded assistance can help cover or subsidize senior day program costs. You may also be able to use a flexible spending account or health savings account.
Inquire about tax benefits: Sometimes, adult day care can be claimed as medical expenses. It might also qualify for the Child & Dependent Care Credit, in which you can claim up to $3,000 for one dependent.
Research other ways to save money: BenefitsCheckUp and researching senior discounts can lower costs elsewhere. This leaves more budget for senior day care.
Ask about sliding scales: Some adult day care facilities offer sliding scales, where you pay based on your income. Others might also offer additional flexibility, such as a flat rate for attending a certain number of days per month.
Consider alternatives: Adult day care isn’t always the best choice for everyone. For some people, occasional respite care or in-home care might be enough to give caregivers a break and support needs. Other times, long-term care, like assisted living, might be better suited.
Senior day care costs about $100 per day, but this cost can vary depending on location and care levels. Researching local options and visiting facilities can help you better understand costs, including additional expenses like those for transportation and special events. With this understanding, you can plan for any out-of-pocket costs and investigate payment assistance.
The average cost of adult day care is $100 per day. However, this amount can vary depending on location and care level.
Original Medicare typically doesn’t cover senior day care. However, Medicare Advantage plans may provide some coverage for senior day care.
Senior day center fees often include supervision, social and recreational activities, nutritious meals and snacks, and help with personal and basic medical care. Some senior day care fees also include the cost of transportation.
Yes, senior day care is usually more affordable than home care. Because home care provides one-on-one care, it tends to be more expensive. However, home care is usually offered at an hourly rate and adult day care as a flat rate. In some cases, limited home care hours might be more affordable than a full day of adult day care.
Catanese, L. (2024, November 14). Adult day care can benefit older adults and their caregivers. Harvard Health Publishing. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/adult-day-care-can-benefit-older-adults-and-their-caregivers
Family Caregiver Alliance. (n.d.). Caregiver health. https://www.caregiver.org/resource/caregiver-health/
Genworth Financial, Inc. (2025). 2024 Cost of Care Survey: Annual median costs. https://pro.genworth.com/riiproweb/productinfo/pdf/282102.pdf
Internal Revenue Service. (2025, July 8). Topic no. 602: Child and dependent care credit. U.S. Department of the Treasury. https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc602
National Adult Day Services Association. (n.d.). About adult day services. https://www.nadsa.org/about/about-adult-day-services/
Oliver, R. E. (2013). Adult day care: An important long-term care alternative & potential cost saver. The Permanente Journal, 17(3), 56–59. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6179827/
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (n.d.). Adult Day Health Care. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. https://www.va.gov/GERIATRICS/pages/Adult_Day_Health_Care.asp
Village Green Senior Living. (2025, February 7). For seniors: Your guide to adult day care costs in NY (2025). https://villagegreenseniorliving.com/blog/for-seniors-your-guide-to-adult-day-care-costs-in-ny-2025/
