VA Benefits for Adult Day Care: What Veterans in Pennsylvania Need to Know

Veterans in Pennsylvania who are enrolled in VA health care may be eligible for adult day care at no cost through their VA benefits. This is one of the most underused benefits available to aging veterans and their families — and it’s something many families discover only after years of struggling to manage care on their own. 

SarahCare Adult Day Center in Jenkintown works with veteran families throughout Montgomery County, Bucks County, and the Greater Philadelphia area to access VA-funded adult day services. This post explains the programs, who qualifies, and exactly how to get a referral. 

The VA Programs That Cover Adult Day Care 

VA Adult Day Health Care (ADHC) Program 

The VA’s Adult Day Health Care program provides health and social services to veterans during daytime hours in a community setting. ADHC is designed for veterans who need supervision, health monitoring, or therapeutic programming but who do not need 24-hour nursing care. Services typically include health assessments, medication management, therapeutic activities, socialization, and meals. 

Veterans who qualify for ADHC and choose SarahCare receive the full SarahCare program — including our on-site registered nursing staff, cognitive stimulation activities, physical and occupational therapy, meals, transportation, and all center activities — at no out-of-pocket cost. 

VA Community Care Network (CCN) 

The VA Community Care Network allows veterans to receive care from non-VA providers when VA facilities cannot adequately meet their needs. This includes circumstances where the VA does not have an ADHC program nearby, when wait times are excessive, or when the veteran’s specific clinical needs are better addressed in a community setting. 

SarahCare participates in the VA Community Care Network, which means veterans with an approved CCN referral can attend SarahCare with VA covering the cost. The referring VA provider coordinates the authorization; SarahCare handles the rest. 

VA Caregiver Support — Respite Services 

For veterans whose family members are enrolled in the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC), adult day care can serve as a structured respite option. The VA’s caregiver support program provides a range of benefits for caregivers of eligible post-9/11 veterans; using SarahCare for weekday daytime care can complement those benefits and give family caregivers the time they need. 

Who Qualifies for VA-Funded Adult Day Care? 

Eligibility for VA-funded adult day care depends on several factors: 

• The veteran must be enrolled in VA health care — enrollment is the starting point for all VA benefits 

• The veteran’s VA primary care provider must determine that adult day care is clinically appropriate 

• For Community Care referrals, the VA must determine that VA facilities cannot meet the veteran’s needs in a timely or geographically accessible way 

• Conditions commonly served include Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, TBI, Parkinson’s disease, stroke recovery, and other chronic conditions that affect daily functioning 

Veterans do not need to have a service-connected disability to receive adult day care through the VA — though veterans with higher disability ratings typically have higher priority access to VA services. Veterans who are unsure of their eligibility should speak directly with their VA primary care team or contact the VAMC Philadelphia Patient Advocate at 215-823-5800. 

What We See in Practice 

Families are often surprised to learn that their veteran’s VA primary care doctor can refer directly to a community adult day center like SarahCare. The assumption is that VA care happens at VA facilities — but for services like adult day care, the VA routinely refers veterans out into the community. When we receive a CCN authorization for a new veteran participant, we’ve already done most of the coordination work; the family just needs to start the conversation with their VA provider. 

How to Get Started: Accessing VA Adult Day Care in 4 Steps 

1. Contact your VA primary care provider and ask specifically about adult day health care or community-based adult day services. Bring a list of current challenges — wandering, isolation, missed medications, caregiver exhaustion — so the provider can assess clinical need. 

1. Request a referral to the VA Community Care Network or ask about the ADHC program. The VA social worker or case manager attached to your care team can help identify the right pathway. 

1. Select SarahCare as your community provider. Tell the VA coordinator that you’d like to be referred to SarahCare Adult Day Center in Jenkintown. Provide our address: 261 Old York Road, Suite A51, Jenkintown, PA 19046. 

1. SarahCare coordinates directly with the VA to process the authorization and schedule your loved one’s start date. We handle the paperwork; you handle the visit. 

What Veterans Get at SarahCare 

SarahCare’s veteran participants receive the full adult day health center program — the same services available to all participants, with staff who understand the specific health conditions common among aging veterans and the particular sensibility that comes with having served. We serve veterans with Alzheimer’s, dementia, TBI, Parkinson’s, seizure disorders, and physical disabilities, among other conditions. 

Transportation is included for eligible participants, including rides to VA medical appointments. Our on-site registered nurse monitors health indicators, manages medication schedules, and coordinates with outside providers including VA care teams. Learn more about our full veteran services program at SarahCare’s Veterans Services page. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Ready to Learn More? 

Schedule a free tour of SarahCare Adult Day Center in Jenkintown. 

Call us: 215-999-1200 or contact us at here.

Written by Carolyn Choates  |  Assistant Marketing Manager, SarahCare 

Carolyn Choates works directly with veteran families at SarahCare Jenkintown, helping them navigate VA referrals and Community Care benefits to access adult day services at no cost.