What is the difference between adult day care and adult day health care? Here is what each term means, how Pennsylvania licenses them, and how to tell what level of care a center really offers.
Penn Village Adult Day Care is a licensed adult day center at 200-220 W. Chelten Avenue in Germantown, Philadelphia. Older adults spend the day with us for activities, hot meals, nursing oversight and good company, and our vans bring them from home and back. Families comparing centers often run into two terms, adult day care and adult day health care, and are not sure whether they mean the same thing. This guide explains the difference.
Adult day care is a daytime program focused on activities, meals, supervision and social time. Adult day health care is a daytime program with more health services built in, such as nursing, medication help and health monitoring. In Pennsylvania, both are licensed under the same state rules, so the name on the sign matters less than what the center actually provides. Ask every center what nursing and health services are included.
What is adult day care?
Adult day care is a supervised daytime program for older adults who should not be alone all day. Members spend the day at the center for activities, a meal and company, then go home in the afternoon. Some programs that focus mainly on company and activities call themselves social day care. Read what is adult day care? for the full guide.
What is adult day health care?
Adult day health care, sometimes shortened to ADHC, is a daytime program with more medical support. It usually includes nursing staff on site, help with medications, health monitoring, and coordination with the person’s doctors. It is often a fit for people with ongoing health conditions who need someone watching their health during the day.
Some states license adult day health care separately from social adult day care. The VA also uses the name for its own program, covered below.
Not sure which level of care your family member needs?
Call 267-437-2898Adult day care vs. adult day health care: side by side
| Adult day care (social model) | Adult day health care (health model) | |
|---|---|---|
| Main focus | Company, activities, meals and supervision | All of that, plus health services |
| Nursing | Varies by center | Nursing staff on site |
| Medication help | Varies by center | Usually included |
| Health monitoring | Basic, varies | Regular checks and doctor coordination |
| Personal care help | Often included | Included |
| Good fit for | People who are fairly independent but alone too much | People with ongoing health needs or more care needs |
| Where they live | At home | At home |
Both are daytime programs. In both, your family member keeps living at home. For how either compares to residential care, read adult day care vs. assisted living vs. nursing home. If you are comparing a day program with an aide at home, read adult day care vs. home health care.
How does Pennsylvania license adult day care and adult day health care?
Pennsylvania licenses adult day centers for older adults through the Department of Aging under one set of rules (6 Pa. Code, Chapter 11). The state calls them older adult daily living centers. There is no separate adult day health care license for these centers, so each center decides how much nursing and health support it offers within those rules.
That is why it pays to ask directly. Two centers that both call themselves “adult day care” can offer very different levels of health support.
At Penn Village, a nurse is on staff, vitals are checked monthly, and any concerns are shared with the member’s doctor. Members also get a full day of activities, meals and personal care help.
What is VA Adult Day Health Care?
The VA runs a program called Adult Day Health Care for eligible veterans. Veterans attend a day program for social activities, companionship and health support, and the VA may pay for it directly or through a community center. Veterans can also use Veteran-Directed Care or Aid & Attendance to help pay for adult day care.
- VA Adult Day Health Care vs. community adult day care
- How to apply for VA Adult Day Health Care
- VA adult day care at Penn Village
See the level of care at Penn Village for yourself.
Tour the center, meet our nursing staff, and ask what a day would look like for your family member.
Which one is right for your family member?
For condition-specific programs, see our Alzheimer’s and dementia day care, stroke and brain injury program and Parkinson’s day program.
What should you ask a center about health services?
Ask every center these questions
- Is there a nurse on staff? How often?
- How are medications handled during the day?
- How often are vitals or other health checks done?
- How do you contact the family and the doctor about changes?
- Can staff help with walking, toileting and eating?
- Are you licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging?
More questions in what to ask when touring an adult day care center.
Does insurance treat them differently?
In Pennsylvania, Medicaid pays for adult day care through Community HealthChoices for people who qualify, and Penn Village accepts all three Philadelphia plans. Original Medicare does not pay for either. Read does Medicare cover adult day care? and how much senior day care costs.
Common questions about adult day care and adult day health care
What is the difference between adult day care and adult day health care?
Adult day care focuses on activities, meals, supervision and company. Adult day health care adds more health services, such as nursing, medication help and health monitoring. In Pennsylvania both are licensed under the same rules, so ask each center what health services it includes.
Is adult day health care the same as home health care?
No. Adult day health care happens at a center during the day. Home health care is when nurses or aides come to the person’s home.
Does Pennsylvania have a separate license for adult day health care?
Pennsylvania licenses adult day centers for older adults through the Department of Aging under one set of rules, as older adult daily living centers.
Is there a nurse at Penn Village?
Yes. A nurse is on staff, vitals are checked monthly, and concerns are shared with the member’s doctor.
Does Medicaid pay for adult day health care?
In Pennsylvania, Medicaid pays for adult day care through Community HealthChoices for people who qualify.
More guides for families
