Pennsylvania caregiver benefits
Last checked: May 18, 2026
Adult day care can give an older adult or disabled adult a safe place to go during the day. It can also help a family caregiver keep working, get to appointments, handle errands, or rest after a night shift.
In Pennsylvania, payment may come through Medicaid long-term services, Community HealthChoices, the OPTIONS Program, LIFE, VA Adult Day Health Care, private pay, or other local help. The right path depends on age, health needs, income, county, plan, and whether the center accepts that payment source.
Quick answer
Yes, some Pennsylvania families can get help paying for adult day care. The main paths are Medicaid long-term services through Community HealthChoices, the state OPTIONS Program through the Area Agency on Aging, LIFE for eligible older adults, and VA Adult Day Health Care for some enrolled Veterans.
Do not assume Medicare alone will pay for adult day care. Medicare says it does not pay for most long-term care in the community. Ask the program, plan, or agency to confirm payment before you enroll.
Important Pennsylvania warning
Rules can change. Counties, managed care plans, waiver contractors, Adult Day Centers, and agencies may use different names. Before you make a care plan or sign a contract, confirm the current rule with official Pennsylvania sources, the Medicaid plan, the Area Agency on Aging, the VA, or the center.
Who may pay for adult day care in Pennsylvania
Adult day care is daytime care outside the home. In Pennsylvania, you may see the terms Adult Day Center, Adult Day Services, Older Adult Daily Living Center, or Adult Daily Living.
A center may offer supervision, help with personal care, activities, nursing, social services, meals, and emergency help. Some centers may also offer physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, or other health services.
The payment route matters. A center can be open and licensed, but that does not mean every program will pay for it. Ask both the center and the payer.
| Program or route | Who it may help | Where to start |
|---|---|---|
| Community HealthChoices (CHC) | People age 21 or older who have both Medicare and Medicaid, or who need Medicaid long-term services and supports because they need help with daily tasks. | Call the PA Independent Enrollment Broker at 1-877-550-4227, apply through COMPASS, or call the Consumer Service Center at 1-866-550-4355. If already enrolled, call the CHC plan service coordinator. |
| Medicaid home and community-based services | Adults who meet financial rules and care-need rules for long-term care at home or in the community. | Ask for long-term services and supports, also called LTSS. Ask whether Adult Daily Living can be part of the care plan. |
| OPTIONS Program | Pennsylvanians age 60 or older who need help staying at home or in the community. Local funding and local providers can affect what is offered. | Call the local Area Agency on Aging. Ask for OPTIONS, Adult Day Services, caregiver respite, meals, and care management. |
| LIFE, known nationally as PACE | People age 55 or older who meet nursing facility clinical need, meet Medical Assistance rules or can privately pay, live in a LIFE service area, and can live safely in the community. | Ask DHS, PA Link, the Independent Enrollment Broker, or a local LIFE provider about the LIFE program in your service area. |
| VA Adult Day Health Care | Enrolled Veterans who meet VA clinical rules, are eligible for community care, and have the service available in their area. | Ask the VA primary care social worker, case manager, or Geriatrics and Extended Care team. |
| Private pay, long-term care insurance, or local grants | Families who do not qualify for public payment, are waiting for approval, or need extra days not covered by a plan. | Ask each center for its daily rate, sliding fee options, accepted plans, and help with invoices for insurance claims. |
Medicaid and waiver coverage
In Pennsylvania, Medicaid is also called Medical Assistance. Medicaid may pay for adult day services when the person qualifies for long-term services and the service is approved in the written care plan.
This is not automatic. The person usually must meet both money rules and care-need rules. The state or plan may assess how much help the person needs with activities of daily living. These are daily tasks like bathing, dressing, toileting, eating, moving around, and staying safe.
Community HealthChoices
Community HealthChoices is Pennsylvania’s Medicaid managed long-term services and supports program. It serves people who have both Medicare and Medicaid and people age 21 or older with physical disabilities who need long-term services and supports.
For adult day care, the key phrase to ask about is Adult Daily Living services. Pennsylvania DHS describes Adult Daily Living as services in a community-based center that can include personal care, social, nutritional, and therapeutic needs. The service is often for four or more hours per day, one or more days per week, or as listed in the person-centered service plan.
A person-centered service plan is the written plan that says what help the person needs and what services are approved. If adult day care is not in the plan, the plan may not pay for it.
Phone script for a CHC plan
“My family member is in Community HealthChoices. I am the caregiver. We need daytime supervision and help with meals, personal care, and safety so I can keep working. Can we request an assessment for Adult Daily Living services? If it is denied, please send the reason in writing and tell me how to appeal or file a grievance.”
How to apply for Medicaid long-term services
For a new long-term care or home and community-based services application, Pennsylvania lists these starting points:
- Call the PA Independent Enrollment Broker at 1-877-550-4227.
- Call the Consumer Service Center at 1-866-550-4355.
- Apply online through COMPASS, Pennsylvania’s benefit site.
- Call your local County Assistance Office if you need help with Medical Assistance.
The Independent Enrollment Broker can schedule an in-person assessment. That assessment helps decide what long-term services may be needed.
What if income or assets are the problem?
Medicaid rules can be hard. Do not move money or give away property without advice. It may create problems.
These CaregiverBenefits.org guides may help you understand the basic issues before you call:
Services My Way
Services My Way is a self-directed option for some people who need long-term care support. It can help a person manage certain services and workers at home. It is not the same thing as a day center.
If your real question is whether a family member can be paid to provide care at home, start with Can I get paid to be a caregiver? and the caregiver pay quiz.
Adult day health care vs social adult day care
Some people use the phrase adult day care for all daytime programs. Payment offices may not.
A social adult day program may focus on supervision, meals, social time, activities, and basic help. An adult day health program may add nursing, therapy, medication support, health checks, or other medical services.
Pennsylvania Medicaid uses the term Adult Daily Living in Community HealthChoices. The VA uses Adult Day Health Care. The OPTIONS Program lists Adult Day Services. Ask the payer which name it uses and which type of center it will cover.
OPTIONS Program through the Area Agency on Aging
The Pennsylvania OPTIONS Program can help some adults age 60 and older stay at home or in the community. The state lists Adult Day Services as one of the primary OPTIONS services.
OPTIONS may also include care management, in-home meals, personal care, and local supplemental services. What you can get may depend on the Area Agency on Aging, funding, need, and local provider access.
For many caregivers, the Area Agency on Aging is the best first call when the person is age 60 or older and you are not sure if Medicaid is the right path.
Phone script for the Area Agency on Aging
“I care for my family member in Pennsylvania. They need supervision during the day, and I need to keep working. Can you screen us for OPTIONS, Adult Day Services, respite care, meals, transportation, and any local help? Can you also tell me which Adult Day Centers serve our county and which ones may take public payment?”
VA adult day health care
VA Adult Day Health Care is a daytime program for Veterans. It can include social activities, peer support, companionship, recreation, and help with daily tasks. VA says health services from nurses, therapists, social workers, and others may also be available.
This program can also give the family caregiver respite. Respite means a planned break from caregiving duties.
VA says enrolled Veterans may be eligible if they meet clinical rules, are eligible for community care, and the service is available. A copay may apply based on service-connected disability status and financial information.
To start, ask the Veteran’s VA primary care team for the social worker or case manager. Ask about Adult Day Health Care and the Application for Extended Care Benefits, VA Form 10-10EC.
Phone script for VA
“I am caring for a Veteran at home. We need daytime care, supervision, and caregiver respite. Can the VA social worker screen us for Adult Day Health Care, Homemaker and Home Health Aide, respite, and other home and community-based services? Please tell me if VA Form 10-10EC is needed.”
If the Veteran needs extra monthly help because of disability, wartime service, or surviving spouse status, also read VA Aid and Attendance. That benefit is separate from VA health care services.
Dementia day programs
Pennsylvania says Adult Day Centers may serve older adults and adults with dementia-related disease, Parkinson’s disease, or other organic brain syndromes. That can make adult day care a real option when the person cannot be left alone safely.
A dementia day program may help with supervision, meals, activities, personal care, and social time. Some centers may be better prepared for wandering, sundowning, toileting help, medication reminders, or behavior changes. Ask direct questions before enrolling.
Payment still depends on the payer. A dementia diagnosis alone does not mean Medicaid, OPTIONS, VA, or LIFE will pay. The service must fit the rules and the care plan.
Ask this before you choose a dementia program
- Do you accept people with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia?
- What happens if the person tries to leave?
- Can staff help with toileting, eating, and transfers?
- Do you handle medication reminders or medication administration?
- Can you manage diabetes, fall risk, or swallowing problems?
- What behaviors would make the person unable to attend?
Transportation and meals
Do not forget transportation. Adult day care does not help if no one can get the person there.
Many Adult Day Centers provide meals. Pennsylvania says centers may offer social, recreational, and health services. The OPTIONS Program also lists in-home meals as a primary service. Transportation may be available through a center, plan, LIFE provider, county program, or another service. It varies.
For Medicaid CHC, ask the service coordinator whether transportation to Adult Daily Living is part of the approved service plan. For LIFE, ask whether the LIFE provider will arrange transportation to the day health center. For VA, ask the social worker whether help getting to and from Adult Day Health Care is available.
For non-Medicaid help, ask the Area Agency on Aging about senior transportation, shared ride options, senior center meals, in-home meals, and local caregiver respite routes.
How to find a program
Start with the payer, not only the center. A center may look good, but if it is not approved by your plan or program, you may have to pay the full bill.
Step 1: Call PA Link or the Area Agency on Aging
PA Link helps older adults and adults with disabilities find local services. Pennsylvania says PA Link can connect people to local help and help with applications to see if they qualify for funding.
Your local Area Agency on Aging is the front door for aging services in your community. Ask for a list of Adult Day Centers and payment options.
Step 2: Ask the payer which centers it will pay
If the person has CHC, call the CHC managed care plan. If the person may use OPTIONS, ask the Area Agency on Aging. If the person may use VA, ask the VA social worker. If the person may use LIFE, ask the LIFE provider.
Step 3: Visit or call the center before the first day
Ask about payment, health needs, behavior rules, meals, transportation, trial days, and what happens if the person becomes ill during the day.
You can also plan the money side with the care cost calculator. If your main goal is a caregiver break, read respite care for caregivers.
Documents to gather before you call
Keep these papers in one folder. You may not need all of them, but they often come up during screening or enrollment.
- Full legal name, date of birth, address, and phone number
- Medicare card, Medicaid card, and other insurance cards
- Social Security number or benefit letters
- Income proof, such as Social Security, pension, or pay records
- Bank statements and basic asset information if applying for Medicaid
- List of diagnoses, doctors, medications, allergies, and medical equipment
- Notes on help needed with bathing, dressing, toileting, eating, walking, transfers, and memory
- Hospital, rehab, nursing home, fall, or emergency room history
- Power of attorney, guardianship papers, or health care representative papers if you have them
- DD214 or VA information if the person is a Veteran
- Any denial letters or plan notices
For more help making your call list and paperwork folder, use caregiver checklists and phone scripts.
Questions to ask before enrolling
Ask these questions before the first paid day. Get the answers in writing if you can.
- Are you licensed as an Adult Day Center or Older Adult Daily Living Center in Pennsylvania?
- Do you accept Community HealthChoices? Which CHC plans?
- Do you accept OPTIONS, LIFE, VA, private pay, or long-term care insurance?
- Is transportation included? If not, who arranges it?
- Are meals and snacks included?
- Can staff help with toileting, bathing, feeding, transfers, or medication needs?
- What is the staff-to-participant ratio?
- What health problems can you handle?
- What dementia behaviors can you handle?
- What are the hours and holiday closings?
- What is the private pay rate if benefits do not cover a day?
- What happens if my loved one refuses to go, becomes sick, or needs more care?
- Who do I call after hours?
Adult day care and caregiver work
Adult day care can help a caregiver keep a job because care happens during the day. It may cover hours when the caregiver cannot be home.
But adult day care is not the same as paid family caregiving. If you need income for your own caregiving work, read Can I get paid to be a caregiver?. If you need tax help, read caregiver tax deductions.
FAQ
Does Pennsylvania Medicaid pay for adult day care?
It may, if the person qualifies for Medicaid long-term services, the service is covered for that person, and Adult Daily Living is approved in the care plan. Ask the CHC plan or the Independent Enrollment Broker.
Does Medicare pay for adult day care in Pennsylvania?
Medicare says it does not pay for most long-term care in the community. Medicare may still cover medical care, and LIFE/PACE is a special Medicare and Medicaid program for eligible people. Ask the plan before you enroll.
Who should I call first?
If the person is age 60 or older, call PA Link at 1-800-753-8827 or the local Area Agency on Aging. If Medicaid long-term services may be needed, call the PA Independent Enrollment Broker at 1-877-550-4227.
Can adult day care help with dementia?
Some Pennsylvania Adult Day Centers serve people with dementia-related disease. Ask about safety, wandering, toileting, medication needs, staff training, and what behaviors they cannot manage.
Does VA pay for adult day health care?
VA Adult Day Health Care may be available to enrolled Veterans who meet clinical rules, are eligible for community care, and have a program available. A copay may apply. Ask the VA social worker or case manager.
Can I use adult day care for only one or two days a week?
Maybe. Some programs can be scheduled for one or more days per week. The schedule depends on the center, the care plan, the payer, and available space.
Resumen en español
En Pennsylvania, algunas familias pueden recibir ayuda para pagar cuidado diurno para adultos. Las rutas principales son Medicaid/Community HealthChoices, el programa OPTIONS, LIFE/PACE, y Adult Day Health Care por VA para algunos Veteranos.
Llame a PA Link al 1-800-753-8827 o a la Agencia Local sobre Envejecimiento. Pregunte por “adult day services”, transporte, comidas, respiro para cuidadores, y ayuda para pagar.
Official sources used
- Pennsylvania Department of Aging: Adult Day Centers
- Pennsylvania Department of Aging: Local Resources
- Pennsylvania Department of Aging: Area Agencies on Aging
- Pennsylvania Department of Aging: PA Link to Aging and Disability Resources
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: Request Aging and Disability Resources through PA Link
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: Apply for the OPTIONS Program
- Pennsylvania Department of Aging: Meals and Food Assistance
- Pennsylvania Department of Aging: Transportation
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: Apply for Long-Term Care Services
- Pennsylvania Department of Human Services: Independent Enrollment Broker
- Pennsylvania Department of Human Services: Community HealthChoices
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: Apply for Community HealthChoices
- Pennsylvania Department of Human Services: Participant-Directed Services
- Pennsylvania Department of Human Services: LIFE
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: Enroll in LIFE
- Medicare.gov: Long-term care coverage
- VA.gov: Adult Day Health Care
- VA.gov: Current VA health care copay rates
About this guide
This guide was written for family caregivers looking for help with adult day care costs in Pennsylvania. It uses official state and federal sources where possible. Rules, funding, provider lists, and plan policies can change.
This is general information, not legal, tax, medical, or financial advice. For legal or tax questions, talk with a qualified professional in your state.
