About Care Help Center

What is Care Help Center?

Care Help Center is a care-matching and referral service that helps families explore adult day care and related care options based on location, needs, and availability.

How does Care Help Center work?

You submit your information through our form. We review your situation and help connect you with care options that may fit your needs.

Is your service free for families?

Yes. Our matching service is free to use for families.

Does “free” mean the care itself is always free?

Not always. The cost of care depends on the provider, the services needed, and the participant’s insurance or program eligibility. In some cases, services may be fully covered; in other cases, private pay or other funding sources may apply. California’s adult day services information lists multiple payment sources depending on the program and eligibility, and Medicare generally does not cover most long-term care.

How quickly will I hear back?

We review requests as quickly as possible and aim to follow up promptly after submission.

Do you guarantee placement?

No. We help connect families with care options that may fit their needs, but final admission, eligibility, coverage, and availability are determined by each provider.

What areas do you serve?

We currently focus on helping families in California.

How do you use my information?

We use the information you submit to review your needs and help connect you with care options. For full details, please review our Privacy Policy.

Can you help me find a program that offers Spanish, Vietnamese, or other language support?

Yes. If language is important for your loved one’s comfort, communication, or daily care experience, let us know in the form. We can help identify programs that may offer staff or services in preferred languages, depending on the provider and availability.

Adult day care and program types

What is an Adult Day Program (ADP)?

In California, an Adult Day Program is a community-based program for adults age 18 and older who need personal services, supervision, or help with activities of daily living on less than a 24-hour basis.

What is Adult Day Health Care (ADHC) / CBAS?

In California, CBAS is the current Medi-Cal community-based day health benefit and replaced ADHC as the Medi-Cal benefit in 2012. It is designed for older adults and adults with chronic medical, cognitive, behavioral health, or disabling conditions who are at risk of institutional care and can remain at home with the right supports.

What services can ADHC / CBAS provide?

For eligible participants, CBAS services can include professional nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, mental health services, therapeutic activities, social services, personal care, meals, nutritional counseling, and transportation to and from the participant’s home and the center.

Can these programs help loved ones stay healthier, more active, and out of nursing homes longer?

That is often one of the goals. California describes adult day services and CBAS as alternatives for people who can remain at home with the right support, and CBAS is intended to delay or prevent institutionalization and help people remain in their homes and communities as long as possible. Individual results vary based on the person, the provider, and the services they receive.

Can programs help preserve mobility and cognition?

They may, depending on the person’s needs and the program. Because CBAS can include physical, occupational, and speech therapies, mental health services, therapeutic activities, and structured support, programs may help support mobility, function, engagement, and daily routine.

Do any programs support people with dementia or memory loss?

Some do. California notes that specialized Alzheimer’s Day Care Resource Centers can exist within ADP or ADHC settings and are designed to address the psychosocial, mental, functional, and cognitive needs of people with dementia while also supporting caregivers.

Do these programs offer transportation?

Often, yes. California states that adult day services programs provide or help arrange transportation, and CBAS includes transportation to and from the participant’s residence and the center for eligible participants.

Activities, therapies, and daily life

What kinds of daily activities might be offered?

Activities vary by center, but many programs may offer therapeutic activities, arts and crafts, games, coordination-building activities, music, meals, social interaction, and structured routines. California’s official program descriptions support the broader concepts of therapeutic activities, social services, and supportive day programming, while each center’s exact activity calendar varies.

Can programs offer physical, occupational, or speech therapy?

Some can. For eligible participants in CBAS, California lists physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy among the covered services. Whether those services are actually available depends on the program and the participant’s eligibility.

Can programs offer a fun, social environment instead of just supervision?

Yes. Many families want a setting that offers both care and engagement. Adult day services are designed not only around safety and support, but also around socialization, therapeutic activities, and daily structure.

Can programs include musicians, themed parties, social events, and fun activities?

Some centers may offer those kinds of activities as part of their calendar. Exact offerings vary by provider, so it is best to ask each center about its daily and monthly activities. California’s official descriptions support the broader concept of therapeutic activities and social services, while each center defines its own programming.

Questions from providers

How can providers join Care Help Center?

Providers can complete the provider inquiry form on our For Providers page. We review submissions and follow up with programs that appear to be a fit for our network.

What information do providers need to submit?

We ask for basic program details such as service area, program type, accepted payment sources, transportation, and availability.

Do providers pay to join?

Provider participation terms may vary. We discuss fit, referral structure, and next steps directly with providers during the enrollment process.

What kinds of providers do you work with?

We aim to work with licensed, reputable providers that are committed to quality, communication, and family-centered service.