Near Malden, MA

Caring for someone with a moderate to late-staged dementia disorder can feel like an around-the-clock job. Whether it’s helping the individual with daily routines, safety, or simply being emotionally available, the weight of it all feels heavy. Many caregivers report struggling to find time for themselves, causing burnout, stress, and even their own health issues.

As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, I’ve seen how senior day care can be a great solution: a place where your person with dementia can spend the day engaged in an environment you know is going to keep them safe. While they’re there, you take time to rest, work, or recharge. In the Malden, MA area, several programs offer just that—supportive, stimulating environments designed to bring peace of mind to caregivers and enrichment to those with cognitive challenges.

What Is Senior Day Care?

Senior day care has many titles, adult day health or adult day programs are probably the most common terms. (I find the terminology of adult day health feels more dignified and will be using the terms interchangeably in the rest of this post.)

These daytime programs are supervised by trained staff and the needs of adults and older adults with cognitive challenges, disabilities or long-term health conditions. The programs are often tailored to meet the challenges a person with a dementia disorder may encounter each day, with a goal of the person with dementia feeling successful and good about themselves each day.

Adult day program participants typically attend for several hours a day, up to five days a week, depending on needs. Services may include:

Assistance with medications and personal care
Socialization with peers
Meals and snacks
Physical and occupational therapy
Memory-supportive activities like games, music, and crafts

These centers focus on creating a supportive and engaging experience for individuals with dementia while also giving their caregivers a much-needed respite break.

Benefits of Adult Day Health

The benefits for people with dementia go beyond simple supervision. These programs can play an important role in enhancing quality of life and slowing cognitive decline. Here’s how:

1. Structured Routine

People with dementia benefit from predictable schedules. Knowing what to expect reduces confusion and often agitation. Senior day care programs follow a consistent daily routine, helping participants feel safe and oriented.

2. Social Interaction

Isolation is a common issue for aging older adults. Senior day care centers offer safe opportunities for participants to interact with others in meaningful ways—chatting during lunch, playing games, or participating in group music sessions. This interaction often brings joy and boosts mood.

3. Cognitive Stimulation

Many day programs offer memory games, music and art therapy, arts and crafts, or light exercise. These activities engage the brain and may help maintain current levels of cognitive functioning.

4. Professional Support

Staff at senior day care centers are trained in dementia care and therefore know how to help someone experiencing common dementia-related symptoms, medical concerns, and mobility issues. This means your person is in good hands while you have time to yourself.

5. Respite for Caregivers

Perhaps the most immediate benefit is the break it can offer to caregivers. Whether you need to return to work, handle errands, or simply rest, knowing your person is safe and engaged can bring immense peace of mind.

Frequently Asked Questions

Senior day care unfortunately varies. There are some places that only accept private pay, while others take a combination of private pay and insurance. You can estimate that it will cost about $100 a day in the Malden, Ma area.
Unfortunately traditional Medicare does not pay for day programs. Some supplementary plans or Veteran benefits may cover some of the expenses of these day programs. You can also check with your long-term care insurance (if you have it) to see if they will reimburse you for some of the cost.
Another place to look into is your local state agencies for aging. You can find yours here.
Senior centers or Councils on Aging are community spaces where programs can be free or cost a minimal amount to participate. Some offer meals for free or a discount. You are often required to be able to get to the center on your own or arrange a ride. You might be required to be independent, navigating the spaces and programs.
Adult day care has help embedded into their programs. You are usually there for a set amount of time and cannot come and go outside of that timing.
Adult day care, Adult day services, or Adult day health centers

Questions to ask on your Tour

My biggest suggestion is to go on your tour with a list of questions you NEED answered. You can compare programs and get a feel for the person who is providing you with the tour.

I worked in assisted living, as a Program Director for almost a decade and think these questions will tell you a lot about how a community is run and will treat your person with dementia.

Ask these questions on your senior day care tour -

How long have your employees been working in your program?
This question will tell you about staff retention. The answer to this will tell you whether staff feel valued enough to stay in their position. Or if the staff are given the opportunity to grow from one position to another.

What training do staff have in relation to your specific dementia disorder?
You can ask very specifically, What kind of training do your staff have working with a person with Lewy body Dementia? You have every right to ask this question.

Is the program locked? Can participants get out on their own? AND What happens if someone does get out of the community?
Finding out protocols are really important. If the person touring you doesn’t know this answer, that’s a red flag. All staff working in adult health settings should know, regardless of their position, what to do when a person elopes.

Some more questions to ask:

How do you assist someone who needs help with going to the bathroom or medication management?

Are families ever allowed to come visit during the day?

Do you have an outdoor space for participants? Can they go out alone? Is it secured?

What is the ratio of participants to staff?

Do you have transportation? (Some places do)

Where to search if you live in Malden, Ma

There are several options in this area. I’ve had the opportunity to lead an art therapy group at Cooperative Elder Care in Arlington, MA. My experience was great. Both staff and participants appeared happy and engaged. They have two locations, one is in Arlington and the other one is further west in Acton, MA.

Through a Google search “senior day care” or “adult day health” for dementia brought up some other programs that I don’t know much about, but appear worth looking into:

Medford Center and Everett Center are part of the same organization. The Community Family (TCF) is a non-profit adult day health organization with three locations - Medford, Everett and Wakefield Massachusetts. Medford has a “specialized memory loss program” which might be the right fit for your situation. It’s also important to note - they have great google reviews.

What If Senior Day Care Isn’t the Right Fit Every Day?

Something that is really important to remember when starting any new program - everyone is different and transitions are HARD! Transitions are hard for everyone, and especially hard for someone who may have difficulty with processing new information.

It may take several weeks for someone to feel 100% comfortable leaving their home to go to one of these programs. My biggest piece of advice is to give it time and trust the staff.

You could always start with a few hours at first and build up as the weeks go on to see what the right fit is for you and your family. If your person has trouble after a month or two it might be time to look at what kind of support you could bring into your own home to help keep them engaged and stimulated.

That’s where art therapy can come in…

Art Therapy: The Powerful Alternative or Add-On

Art therapy is a professionally guided, evidence-based approach that uses creative expression to help people with dementia communicate, stimulate the senses, and most importantly experience joy—without relying on verbal language.

Whether used in addition to day care or instead of it, art therapy can be a meaningful way to engage someone with dementia who may struggle with group settings or needs more one-on-one interaction.

Benefits of Art Therapy for Dementia:

Non-Verbal Communication: Art offers an outlet for feelings and thoughts that may be challenging to express with words.
Cognitive Support: Engaging in creative tasks has been shown to stimulate areas of the brain connected to attention, concentration and memory
Emotional Release: Making art can help reduce symptoms of dementia, including anxiety, depression, motivation and agitation.
Sense of Purpose: Completing or being part of the process of creation can enhance feelings of accomplishment and therefore quality of life. Source

To read more about the benefits of art therapy, click on our Enhancing Dementia Care Blog Post.

Choosing the Right Path for Your Person

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes cognitive disorders. What matters most is that your loved one feels supported, engaged, and safe—and that you, as the caregiver, have space to breathe, reset, and continue your journey with strength and compassion.

Senior day care can provide a proven, structured way to meet those needs. And for families looking for a more personalized approach or a meaningful addition to their care plan, art therapy offers a creative, therapeutic avenue worth exploring.

If you’re in the Malden area and would like to learn more about how art therapy can complement your loved one’s life, we’d be happy to help. Contact us today to explore options for one-on-one or group sessions.

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5 Benefits of Senior Day Care for Dementia

What Is Senior Day Care?