Adult Day Care Costs 2024
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The median daily rate (up to eight hours) for adult day care facilities in the U.S. is $85 in 2024, according to Genworth’s Cost of Care database.1 Many families pay by the hour because older adults don’t spend all day there. How much money families pay also depends on the individual’s needs, the facility’s location, the loved one’s insurance benefits, and the type of care provided.
Adult day care can be divided into two broad types: social care and health care. Typically, both provide meals, social activities, and basic health services. Adult day health care simply involves more medical services, such as medication dispensing or therapy for health conditions like dementia. Below, we’ll look at how costs can vary based on where care is located, how costs are expected to rise in the future, and how seniors and their families afford care. 
Helpful Hint: Adult day care isn’t your only option. Check out our complete guide to long-term care for seniors to see what type of care best meets your needs.
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Average Costs of Adult Day Care Nationwide
Most people who visit adult day care facilities will spend between four and 12 hours per day there, up to five days per week. Families often use adult day care facilities as a respite care option, giving caregivers time to work, focus on their families, or relax. This break from caregiving can help caregivers avoid burnout.
For many families, adult day care is the most affordable type of care. With an estimated median daily rate of $98, adult day care is far cheaper than the equivalent for homemaker services ($195), in-home health aide care ($213), assisted living ($181), or residential nursing homes, which start at $294 for a semiprivate room and go up to $330 for a private room.
Of course, it’s still important for older adults and their families to research to find out which facilities in their area are the most affordable. Pay close attention to fee structures, too. Some facilities charge by the hour, while others offer flat rates.
Average Costs of Adult Day Care by State
The median cost of adult day care is around $98 per day in the U.S., but prices vary quite a bit depending on the state. Such services are most expensive in sparsely populated states like North Dakota ($185). They’re cheapest in Alabama ($46) and Texas ($52). Nationally, families can expect to spend about $2,120 for one month of adult day care for their loved one.1
| State | Median monthly adult day health care (44 hours per week) |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $1,004 |
| Alaska | Unavailable |
| Arizona | $8,927 |
| Arkansas | $1,785 |
| California | $1,897 |
| Colorado | $2,009 |
| Connecticut | $2,533 |
| Delaware | Unavailable |
| District of Columbia | $1,395 |
| Florida | $2,075 |
| Georgia | $2,075 |
| Hawaii | $1,563 |
| Idaho | $4,463 |
| Illinois | $2,232 |
| Indiana | $6,003 |
| Iowa | $2,756 |
| Kansas | $3,571 |
| Kentucky | $1,852 |
| Louisiana | $2,165 |
| Maine | $1,785 |
| Maryland | $2,343 |
| Massachusetts | $2,701 |
| Michigan | $4,463 |
| Minnesota | $1,852 |
| Mississippi | Unavailable |
| Missouri | $2,232 |
| Montana | $3,548 |
| Nebraska | $2,355 |
| Nevada | $1,674 |
| New Hampshire | $2,683 |
| New Jersey | $2,678 |
| New Mexico | $3,917 |
| New York | $2,343 |
| North Carolina | $1,529 |
| North Dakota | $4,017 |
| Ohio | $2,606 |
| Oklahoma | $1,852 |
| Oregon | $4,307 |
| Pennsylvania | $2,488 |
| Rhode Island | Unavailable |
| South Carolina | $1,607 |
| South Dakota | $5,596 |
| Tennessee | $1,674 |
| Texas | $1,115 |
| Utah | $1,071 |
| Vermont | $558 |
| Virginia | $1,496 |
| Washington | $7,242 |
| West Virginia | Unavailable |
| Wisconsin | $2,009 |
| Wyoming | Unavailable |
Our team of senior living advisors provide free guidance to help you find the right housing option for your needs and budget.
Adult Day Care Costs Will Likely Increase Overtime
Like many other expenses you face, the cost of adult day health care is expected to rise year over year. Looking at predicted increases can help you better plan for your care costs. The chart below shows Genworth’s estimations for adult day health care costs for 2022 to 2032.
| Year | Estimated monthly median costs of adult day health care |
|---|---|
| 2023 | $2,058 |
| 2024 | $2,120 |
| 2025 | $2,183 |
| 2026 | $2,249 |
| 2027 | $2,316 |
| 2028 | $2,386 |
| 2029 | $2,457 |
| 2030 | $2,531 |
| 2031 | $2,607 |
| 2032 | $2,685 |
| 2033 | $2,766 |
How to Pay for Adult Day Care
Navigating how to pay for senior care can be confusing. Depending on your insurance plan, you might be able to get some help paying for adult day care services, or you might need to self-pay for care. Let’s take a look at some common payment questions.
Does Medicare cover adult day care costs?
Unfortunately, Original Medicare does not cover any costs associated with adult day care. However, if you have a Medicare Advantage plan (also called Medicare Part C), you may have limited coverage for adult day care services as part of the insurer’s comprehensive home care services. You’ll need to check with your provider to see what, if any, coverage you have.
Did You Know? You can get your Medicare benefits from a Medicare Advantage plan instead of through Original Medicare. Top Medicare Advantage plans deliver Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B, along with perks like dental benefits and prescription drug coverage.
Does Medicaid cover adult day care costs?
Currently, Medicaid provides comprehensive coverage for both adult day care and adult day health care. It’s part of the program’s commitment to covering home and community-based services (HCBS).3 Regulations vary from state to state, so you must check with your state’s Medicaid program to see what’s available.
Do veterans’ programs cover adult day care costs?
VA benefits will cover expenses associated with adult day health care for eligible seniors.4 To qualify, you must be eligible for community care and meet the clinical criteria for the service. In other words, a VA physician must indicate that you need adult day health care. Older adults who qualify might need to pay a copay for adult day health care services. How much depends on your income level and your VA service-connected disability status.
Did You Know? Veterans may also qualify for help with activities of daily living, housebound allowances, and Specially Adapted Housing Grants. Check out our latest veteran care guide to learn what’s covered and how to apply.
In most cases, the VA will not cover adult day health care solely for social purposes or for caregiver respite costs. The main exception is if your Veteran’s Pension includes an Aid and Attendance benefit. This supplemental policy might cover social adult day care.
To see what benefits are available to you, contact your VA social worker or case manager. They can explain your options and determine your copay amount.
What are private payment options for adult day care?
Many older adults turn to retirement funds, savings, family contributions, and other forms of private payment to pay for adult day care. Long-term care insurance is another popular option, but whether or not adult care services are covered will depend on the specific policy. Some policies cover only health care-related expenses at assisted living homes or nursing homes. Other policies are more generous and cover community-based care options.
FYI: A more affordable alternative to adult day care may be a medical alert system if you feel your loved one just needs a way to get help if they need it. Prices can start as low as around $20 per month! Visit our list of the best medical alert systems to learn more.
Seniors without enough regular income or savings to afford adult day care might also take out a loan, secure a reverse home mortgage, or cash out on the value of a life insurance policy. Speak to your family or a trusted financial advisor to decide the best way to pay for the care you need.
» Further Reading: Long Term Care Calculator
Are adult day care costs tax deductible?
Adult day care costs are nearly always tax deductible. If your loved one receives adult day care services, you have two options. You can include the cost as a medical expense and receive a medical expense deduction, or you can claim the dependent care credit. The dependent care credit allows you to claim up to $3,000 of adult day care costs for one dependent or up to $6,000 for two dependents.4
Keep in mind that you can claim one deduction or the other only. Consult a financial advisor or tax professional to guide you toward the most beneficial claim.
Genworth. (2024). Cost of Care Survey.
Medicaid.gov. (2023). Home & Community Based Services.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2023). What is Adult Day Health Care?
Internal Revenue Service. (2024). Topic no. 602, Child and dependent care credit.
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