Free senior care guidance for Twin Cities families. No cost to you, ever.
Call (651) 390-4719
Minneapolis Senior AdvisorTwin Cities • Trusted • Free

Adult Day Care vs. In-Home Care

Adult day care runs on a schedule and gives a caregiver their day back. In-home care comes to the house on whatever schedule you set.

Get matched freeCall (651) 390-4719
Home›Comparisons›Adult Day Care vs. In-Home Care
Short answer

Adult day care runs on a fixed schedule at a dedicated facility, giving a family caregiver structured relief and giving the participant social programming; in-home care comes to the house on whatever schedule the family sets. A verified current Twin Cities adult day services rate was not available at publication -- ask providers for a written daily rate directly.

How Medicaid waiver coverage works

Minnesota's Elderly Waiver and Alternative Care programs can help cover adult day services as part of an approved care plan, alongside in-home personal care -- ask your county human services agency or the Senior LinkAge Line (1-800-333-2433) whether adult day care is included in your specific plan.

Why families combine both

Many Twin Cities families use adult day care two or three days a week for structured activity and caregiver respite, combined with in-home help on the other days -- rather than choosing exclusively one or the other.

Questions families ask

Does home care cost less than assisted living in the Twin Cities?

It depends heavily on how many hours of care are needed — a verified current Minnesota non-medical home care hourly rate could not be confirmed against a primary source, but 24/7 in-home care, once multiple caregiver shifts are factored in, is typically far more expensive than a private-pay assisted living apartment, even though a few hours a week of home care is usually cheaper than a full move.

What is Housing Support and how does it help with assisted living costs?

Housing Support (formerly Group Residential Housing) is a narrower Minnesota state supplement, separate from the Elderly Waiver, that can help very-low-income residents in certain licensed settings offset room-and-board costs — something the Elderly Waiver itself is not permitted to pay for.

What does the Minnesota long-term care ombudsman do?

The Minnesota Office of Ombudsman for Long-Term Care (OOLTC), part of the Minnesota Board on Aging, investigates and helps resolve complaints for residents of nursing homes, assisted living facilities (including memory care), and board-and-lodging settings statewide, and advocates for residents' rights. Reach OOLTC at 1-800-657-3591 or 651-431-2555.

How is the ombudsman different from filing a complaint with MDH?

The ombudsman (1-800-657-3591) is an independent, resident-directed advocate who works to resolve individual concerns and disputes on a resident's behalf, while MDH's Office of Health Facility Complaints (651-201-4200) is the state regulator that investigates a facility's compliance with licensing law and can issue correction orders or other enforcement action.

Not sure where to start?

Answer five questions and a local advisor will come back with senior care options in your area that actually fit your situation and budget. It is free, and there is no obligation.

Find care options
Find senior care — free