Adult Day Centers in Hampton Roads: What the State Roster Shows

By Norfolk Senior Advisor Care Team · October 23, 2026

How many adult day centers are licensed in Hampton Roads, by locality?

VDSS records as of October 28, 2026 list 21 licensed adult day care centers across our 13 localities. Norfolk has four, Virginia Beach and Newport News three each, and Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Hampton and James City County two each. Gloucester has one.

Thirteen centers sit on the Southside (Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Suffolk), seven on the Peninsula in Newport News, Hampton and James City County, and one in Gloucester. The count shows where licensed programs exist, not how convenient they are for a given neighborhood.

Adult day centers are licensed by VDSS under 22VAC40-61 and appear in the same public search as assisted living. Our adult day directory lists them by city. Search by the locality name and read what is listed before you call, since it saves a round of phone tag.

What do 793 licensed adult day slots mean for Hampton Roads families?

The 793 licensed slots are capacity limits, not a count of openings. Spread over 21 centers, that works out to about 38 slots per center on average. A center licensed for 40 may have a full roster, a waitlist or open spots on only certain days of the week.

That is a modest number for a region this size and spread across several cities, which is why families who need a Monday-through-Friday schedule sometimes wait. If you hear "we are full," ask about part-time days, a waitlist and how often spots open.

Capacity also does not say what each center does best. One may specialize in dementia, another in medical monitoring, another in social programs. Call and describe your parent's needs rather than asking only whether there is room. The roster is a map of what exists, and the phone call tells you what is available now.

If your parent needs a particular schedule, such as every weekday, ask whether the center guarantees those days. A family caregiver who works full time cannot plan around a spot that might open on Thursdays only. Ask also whether a half-day option exists, since some parents manage better with a shorter stay at first.

How do I evaluate an adult day center in Virginia?

Look up the center on the VDSS public search, read the inspection findings, and then visit during a normal morning. Ask about staff-to-participant ratio, who gives medications, how meals and toileting are handled, transportation, and what the center does if your parent becomes ill or confused during the day.

Watch how staff talk to participants. Look at whether people are doing something or sitting in rows. Ask for a trial day, which most centers can arrange, and check how your parent feels afterward the same evening and the next morning.

The comparison between adult day and in-home care helps if you are deciding between a center and an aide at home. Adult day also gives a family caregiver predictable hours, which matters for burnout and respite. A short trial reveals more than any brochure, and it shows whether your parent is willing to go back.

What does adult day health care cost in Virginia compared with the nation?

Virginia's median for adult day health care is $20,995 a year for five days a week, about $1,750 a month, according to the CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey. The national median is $24,700 a year. The survey does not report a year-over-year change for Virginia adult day.

No published median exists for Virginia Beach-Norfolk alone, so treat these as statewide benchmarks. Ask each center for its daily rate in writing and for what is included, such as meals, transport and nursing oversight. That is roughly $1,750 a month for a full-time schedule, a figure to keep in mind when comparing options.

Compared with private non-medical home care at 44 hours a week ($80,080 a year in Virginia), adult day at $20,995 is far less. It does not replace overnight care, but it can stretch a caregiver's week. Start with the full cost page for other levels of care. Many families also use fewer days a week, which lowers the bill and still gives the caregiver a break.

Ask the center what is included in the daily rate and whether transportation, meals and incontinence supplies cost extra. A cheaper base rate with several add-ons can cost more than a flat rate that includes them. Ask for the rate sheet in writing and keep a copy with your other notes.

Does the CCC Plus Waiver pay for adult day health care in Hampton Roads?

Yes, for eligible people. Adult day health care is one of the services under the Commonwealth Coordinated Care Plus (CCC Plus) Waiver, along with personal care, respite and a personal emergency response system. The person must be enrolled in Medicaid and meet nursing facility level of care, with screening done by a local team.

The waiver is meant for people at risk of nursing facility placement who can be served safely at home. Hour and dollar limits apply to some services, such as respite up to 480 hours per state fiscal year. That makes it a better fit for someone who needs real help during the day but is still safe at home overnight.

Ask the center whether it takes Medicaid waiver participants and which managed care plans it works with. Call the Medicaid-enrolled parent's plan to confirm. Our page on the CCC Plus Waiver covers screening, and the area agency on aging can point to the right door.

Where should families go if their Hampton Roads locality has no adult day center?

If you live in Poquoson, Williamsburg, York County or Isle of Wight County, where VDSS lists no center, look at neighboring cities and ask about transportation. Hampton and Newport News are the nearest for Poquoson and York families, James City County for Williamsburg, and Suffolk or Portsmouth for Isle of Wight.

Water crossings matter. A center that looks close on a map can add a long ride on the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel or the Monitor-Merrimac when traffic backs up. Ask whether the center provides transportation and what pickup area it covers.

The area agency on aging can help in each region: Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia (757-461-9481) for Isle of Wight and the Southside, and the Peninsula Agency on Aging (757-873-0541) for Poquoson, Williamsburg and York County. Both offices can explain which programs serve your address, which is half the battle in a region split by rivers.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between adult day care and adult day health care?

Adult day care is the licensed center model in Virginia, with supervision and activities. Adult day health care is the term used for the service paid under programs like the CCC Plus Waiver and in CareScout pricing, usually with added health monitoring. Ask which term the center uses before you compare prices.

Does Medicare pay for adult day care?

Medicare does not generally pay for custodial day programs. It covers medical visits and certain skilled services. Families usually pay privately or use a Medicaid waiver. Ask the center what payment sources it accepts. Ask the center which payers it accepts, and whether the Medicaid plan covers the service in your parent's case.

How do I know if a center has an opening?

Call the center and ask about openings by day of the week. The VDSS roster shows licensed capacity only. Ask about waitlists and trial days at the same time. Ask about the trial day, too.

Can my parent with dementia attend adult day?

Many centers serve people with dementia, but programs differ. Ask about staff training, the secure entrance, wandering risk and how participants with advanced memory loss are included. Ask the center if staff can handle a wandering resident and how they manage exits and supervision.