Families considering adult day care often want to know what their loved one will actually do all day.

Will they sit in a room watching television? Will there be people to talk to? Are meals served? What happens with medications? Are there activities? And how does transportation work?

A typical day is much more structured than many families expect. Adult day care activities can include exercise, games, arts and crafts, movies, social time, meals, outings, and other group programs. Depending on the center and the person’s care plan, participants may also receive help with personal care, medications, mobility, and other daily needs.

The exact schedule varies from one program to another and can also depend on each participant’s needs. However, most adult day care programs combine supervision, social interaction, meals, planned activities, and health-related support throughout the day.

If you are still learning about adult day services, read our guide explaining how adult day care programs work in Missouri.

Here’s what families can generally expect during a typical day.

Arrival and Transportation

For many participants, the day begins with transportation to the adult day care center.

Transportation can be particularly important for families who work during the day or who cannot regularly drive a loved one to and from a program.

At Family United Home Health Care, door-to-door transportation is available for participants attending its Adult Day Care Centers.

After arriving, participants are welcomed into the center and begin settling into the day’s routine.

The start of the day also gives staff an opportunity to observe how someone is doing. Changes in mood, mobility, energy, or general condition may affect how the person participates during the day.

For people who benefit from routine, following a familiar arrival schedule can also make attending adult day care feel like a regular part of the week rather than an occasional appointment.

Breakfast and Morning Routine

Once participants arrive, the morning may begin with breakfast and time to settle in.

Meals are more than a break between activities. They can also provide a regular routine and an opportunity to spend time with other participants.

After breakfast, the program moves into morning adult day care activities.

The schedule may change from day to day so participants have different ways to stay active, socialize, and spend their time.

For someone who previously spent much of the day alone at home, simply having somewhere to go, people to see, and a routine to follow can make the day feel very different.

Social and Recreational Activities

Social and recreational programming is a major part of what happens at adult day care.

Missouri’s Adult Day Care program rules include planned group activities as part of adult day services. These can include recreational, social, cultural, and exercise activities.

Missouri’s Department of Health & Senior Services explains that adult day care programs may include socialization, recreation, exercise and other structured services 

At Family United, participants have access to several types of activities and activity spaces.

The goal is not to keep everyone doing the same activity all day. Different participants have different interests, abilities, and comfort levels.

Some may enjoy group games and conversation. Others may prefer movies, reading, arts and crafts, or light exercise.

Exercise, Games, Arts, Movies and Group Activities

Examples of adult day care activities available through Family United include:

• Group exercise and use of an exercise room
• Bingo
• Games and recreational activities
• Arts and crafts
• Daily movies with popcorn
• Reading and library access
• Computer access
• Group social time
• Weekly outings and field trips

These activities give participants different ways to spend their day.

Exercise can offer an opportunity for movement and physical activity. Games and bingo bring people together in a group setting. Arts and crafts provide a creative activity, while movies can give participants time to relax.

Family United also has recreational, media, library, computer, exercise, and movie spaces for participants.

This variety matters because what adults do at adult day care should not look exactly the same for every person.

A participant who enjoys social activities may look forward to bingo or group outings. Someone who prefers quieter activities may be happier reading, watching a movie, or spending time in another area of the center.

Meals and Nutrition

Meals are another regular part of the adult day care schedule.

Missouri includes food services among the services that may be provided through adult day care, including special or modified diets ordered by a physician when applicable under the person’s care plan.

Family United states that its Adult Day Care Centers serve three balanced meals during the day.

Having meals available at the center can also reduce some of the work families normally manage at home during those hours.

For families touring an adult day care center, it is worth asking:

• How many meals and snacks are served?
• Can dietary restrictions be accommodated?
• How are special diets handled?
• Does someone help participants who need assistance eating?
• What happens if a participant does not want to eat a scheduled meal?

Those details can be especially important when a loved one already needs help with meals at home.

Medication Support and Health Monitoring

Adult day care can include more than activities and social time.

Depending on the participant’s care plan and the services provided by the center, nursing services and medication support may also be part of the day.

Missouri’s Adult Day Care program permits medication management and nursing services by a licensed nurse when those services are part of the individual’s plan of care.

Family United states that a licensed nurse is on staff and that medication administration and reminders are available for participants who need them.

This can be important for families caring for someone who takes medications during daytime hours or needs professional observation while attending the program.

Families should discuss medications, medical conditions, dietary needs, mobility limitations, and other health concerns with the center before attendance begins.

Personal Care Help During the Day

Some participants need help with personal care while they are at the center.

Missouri adult day services can include assistance with activities of daily living based on the participant’s needs and care plan.

That may include help with:

• Walking
• Toileting
• Eating
• Mobility
• Other daily activities

The amount of assistance will vary from person to person.

One participant may be largely independent and mainly attend for supervision, activities, and social interaction.

Another may need much more hands-on help throughout the day.

This is why the care plan matters. Adult day care is not simply a calendar of activities. The person’s support needs should also be considered when planning the day.

Afternoon Activities and Field Trips

After meals and midday routines, participants may return to recreational or social activities.

A typical day at adult day care might include an afternoon movie, group games, arts and crafts, exercise, conversation, or another scheduled program.

Some days may also include outings.

Family United lists weekly field trips among the activities available through its Adult Day Care program.

Field trips give participants a chance to leave the center as a group and spend time in the community.

Not every person will participate in every outing or activity. Participation may depend on the person’s interests, physical abilities, health needs, schedule, and the activity being offered.

The important point for families is that adult day care does not have to mean sitting in the same room doing the same thing every day.

Transportation Home

At the end of the program day, participants return home.

For families using transportation provided through the program, the return trip completes the daily schedule.

Family United’s Adult Day Care Centers in St. Louis and St. Peters currently operate Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

After returning home, some participants may be able to continue their evening independently or with family.

Others may also receive in-home support during mornings or evenings.

Adult day care only covers part of the person’s day, so families should consider what assistance may still be needed before pickup and after returning home.

What Families Should Expect on the First Day

The first day can feel unfamiliar both for the participant and the family.

Before attendance begins, families should make sure the center understands the person’s care needs, medications, mobility needs, dietary restrictions, medical conditions, communication needs, and normal routine.

Families should also ask what they need to bring and how transportation and pickup will work.

It is normal for someone to need time to become familiar with the center, staff, other participants, and daily schedule.

Rather than judging the program only by the first few hours, families can pay attention to how the participant responds as the routine becomes more familiar.

Family United offers families the option of a free trial day so they can see the Adult Day Care Center before making a longer commitment.

Seeing the program in person can also answer one of the most common questions families have: what happens at adult day care?

Instead of imagining what the day might be like, families can see the activities, staff, spaces, meals, and general atmosphere themselves.

Adult Day Care Activities Can Make Each Day More Structured

The best way to understand adult day care is to think of it as a structured daytime program rather than simply a place where someone stays while a caregiver is working.

The day may include transportation, meals, social interaction, exercise, recreational programs, movies, games, arts and crafts, personal care, nursing services, and outings.

The exact mix depends on the center and the participant’s needs.

At Family United Home Health Care, adult day care activities include weekly bingo, field trips, exercise, arts and crafts, daily movies, recreational activities, library and computer access, along with meals, transportation, medication support, and other daytime services.

For families deciding whether adult day care could be a good fit, seeing what actually happens during the day can make the decision much easier.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are meals included at adult day care?

Meals can be part of adult day care services. Family United states that participants at its Adult Day Care Centers receive three balanced meals during the day. Families with specific dietary or medical requirements should discuss those needs with the center before attendance begins.

Is transportation available?

Yes. Family United offers door-to-door transportation to and from its Adult Day Care Centers. Missouri’s Medicaid Adult Day Care services also include transportation provisions for qualifying participants, subject to program requirements.

Are there nurses at adult day care?

Adult day care programs can provide nursing services when required by the participant’s care plan. Family United states that a licensed nurse is on staff to provide medication administration and reminders and other applicable nursing support.

Can someone attend adult day care only on certain days?

Adult day care does not necessarily mean attending every weekday. Attendance can vary according to the participant’s needs, program schedule, availability, payment arrangement, and Medicaid authorization when applicable. Families should speak with the provider about which attendance schedule may be available for their situation.