Private Care
Adult Day Services: When Daytime Support Is Enough
Published April 26, 2026
How adult day services can support meals, supervision, social activity, caregiver respite, and safer routines.
Adult day services can be a useful middle option between being alone at home and paying for full-time care. They may provide supervision, meals, activities, transportation, and caregiver respite during daytime hours.
Who may benefit
- An older adult who is unsafe or lonely when alone all day.
- A family caregiver who works or needs regular respite.
- A person with early or moderate dementia who benefits from routine.
- Someone who needs meals, social activity, or structured engagement.
Questions to ask
- What days and hours are available?
- Is transportation provided?
- What staff training is required?
- Can the program handle dementia, toileting needs, mobility needs, or special diets?
- How are emergencies handled?
- What is the daily cost, and are subsidies available?
Find local programs
The Eldercare Locator can connect families with local aging services. ACL's Connecting People to Services page describes programs that help older adults and caregivers access community-based support.
Combine with home care
Some families use adult day services three days a week and short caregiver shifts on other days. This can provide structure while keeping costs lower than all-day private care.
Use YouRetire tools
Use the Private Caregiver Cost Calculator to compare adult day service days plus caregiver hours against full-time home care.
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