What Adult Day Care Costs in Berkeley, California
Families in Berkeley usually start looking at adult day care for one of two reasons. Either a parent is spending long days alone while everyone else is at work, or the person doing most of the caregiving is close to the end of their rope. In both cases the first practical question is the same: what does it cost, and how does that compare with the alternatives in an expensive region like the East Bay?
This guide answers that with published survey numbers rather than guesses, and explains what usually moves the price up or down. Where a figure is only available for the whole state, we say so.
The short answer
The most widely cited source for long-term care prices in the United States is the Cost of Care Survey run by CareScout, the Genworth company that took over the survey in 2024. Its 2025 survey collected rates from providers between July and November 2025.
For adult day health care, the 2025 survey reports a California median of $94 per day, or about $2,037 a month when you assume five days a week for a full year. CareScout's tool shows the same $2,037 monthly figure for the San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont area, which covers Berkeley. The national median is $95 per day, so California sits almost exactly on the national line for this one type of care, even though it is far above the national line for most others. You can look the numbers up yourself in the CareScout Cost of Care tool and the 2025 state data tables (PDF).
| Care type (2025 median) | California | SF–Oakland–Fremont area |
|---|---|---|
| Adult day health care, per day | $94 | $94 |
| Adult day health care, per month (5 days a week) | $2,037 | $2,037 |
| Non-medical in-home care, per hour | $40 | $43 |
The last row is the comparison most Berkeley families make. A full month of weekday adult day health care at the local median costs about the same as forty-seven hours of in-home help at the local hourly median, yet it covers roughly forty hours or more of supervised time each week, along with meals and the company of other adults.
What a daily rate usually covers
Adult day health care is a daytime program. A participant arrives in the morning, spends the day with staff and other adults, and goes home in the late afternoon. Most centers in California that call themselves adult day health care centers include some combination of the following in the daily rate:
- Supervised activities, from music and conversation groups to gentle exercise
- A midday meal and snacks
- Health monitoring support from licensed staff, such as observing changes and following up with families
- Help with personal care during the day, such as toileting or eating
- Social work support and care planning in some programs
Transportation is the item that varies most. Some centers arrange door-to-door rides and fold the cost into the rate; others bill it separately or expect families to use paratransit. In Berkeley, East Bay Paratransit serves eligible riders, but the trip has to be booked ahead and may not line up neatly with program hours. Ask about this early, because a center that is affordable on paper can become hard to use if getting there is a daily struggle.
To see how a day is structured here, our daily program page walks through the rhythm from morning welcome to afternoon wind-down.
Why the price varies between programs
Two adult day programs a few miles apart can charge noticeably different amounts. The usual reasons:
Level of health support
California separates adult day health care, which is licensed by the California Department of Public Health and includes nursing and therapy services, from social adult day programs, which focus on activities and supervision. Health-model programs generally cost more because they employ licensed clinical staff. If the person you care for needs medication reminders, diabetic monitoring, or help with mobility, a health-model center is usually the better fit even if the rate is higher.
Number of days
Many families start with two or three days a week. At the California median of $94, three days a week works out to roughly $1,222 a month across a full year, compared with about $2,037 for five days. Some centers set a minimum number of days; others are flexible.
Half days and extended hours
Some programs offer half days at a reduced rate. A few offer early drop-off or late pickup for working caregivers, sometimes for an added fee.
How the bill is paid
The daily rate matters most to families paying privately. For people enrolled in Medi-Cal who qualify for Community-Based Adult Services, known as CBAS, the program is billed through their Medi-Cal managed care plan, and the family may pay little or nothing for the service itself. We cover that in more depth in our guide to paying for adult day health care in California.
Putting the number in context for an East Bay household
A useful way to think about adult day care in Berkeley is as a tool that buys time for everyone in the household. If a working daughter can keep her job because her father spends weekdays at a center, the monthly cost is weighed against her income, not just against the cost of a care home. If a spouse can sleep, see a doctor, or simply sit in a café for a few hours, the whole arrangement at home becomes more sustainable.
It is also worth being honest about the limits. Adult day care does not cover nights or weekends. A person who wanders at night, needs help getting to the bathroom several times after dark, or cannot be left alone at all in the evening may need more than a daytime program can provide. In that case adult day care can still be part of the plan, paired with in-home help or as one piece of a larger plan worked out with the person's doctor.
Questions to ask about cost on your first call
When you phone a center, these questions usually get you a clear picture quickly:
- What is the daily rate, and is it the same for every participant?
- Is there an enrollment or assessment fee?
- Are meals, snacks, and activities included?
- Is transportation available, and what does it cost?
- Do you accept Medi-Cal through CBAS, VA benefits, or long-term care insurance?
- What happens if we miss a scheduled day?
- How much notice do you need to change the schedule?
Write down the answers in the same order for each center so the comparison is fair. A slightly higher daily rate that includes transportation and lunch can work out cheaper than a lower rate with extras added.
How Berkeley Adult Day Healthcare fits
Berkeley Adult Day Healthcare, operated by West Oakland Health Council, is on Alcatraz Avenue in South Berkeley. We do not publish a fixed rate online because the right answer depends on the schedule and on how the program is paid for. The quickest way to get a current figure is to call (510) 601-0167 or plan a visit during visiting hours, 9 to 5. You can also read more about what adult day health means at our center before you call.
Frequently asked questions
How much does adult day care cost per day in Berkeley?
CareScout's 2025 survey puts the California median for adult day health care at $94 per day, and its tool shows the same figure for the San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont area. Individual programs can charge more or less depending on services and transportation.
Is adult day care cheaper than in-home care in the East Bay?
For the same number of hours, usually yes. CareScout's 2025 tool lists non-medical in-home care at $43 an hour in the San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont area, so a single eight-hour day of home help costs more than three times the $94 daily adult day health care median. Home care, however, comes to you and can cover evenings and weekends.
Does Medicare pay for adult day care?
Original Medicare generally does not pay for adult day care. In California, Medi-Cal members who meet the criteria may receive adult day health services through CBAS, and some veterans can use VA adult day health care benefits.
Can we start with only a few days a week?
Many centers allow part-week schedules, and starting with two or three days is common. Ask each center about its minimum schedule and how easily days can be added later.