McKinney Adult Day Care for Dementia, Before Memory Care

Search “memory care McKinney” and almost every result is a community your parent would move into. For many McKinney families that step comes too early. Friends Place is a licensed adult day program for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias: your parent spends the weekday with us in Richardson, with a nurse on duty and one staff member for every five members, then comes home to McKinney at night. The drive is about 19.5 miles straight down US-75, with no tolls.

  • A day program for memory loss since 2005
  • Nurse on site daily
  • $80 half day, $100 full day
  • VA North Texas contracted
  • Weekdays 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM
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Day Care or Memory Care: Which Does Your Parent Need?

The two terms get used interchangeably, but they describe different things, and the difference affects cost, independence and how your parent feels about the next few years.

  Adult day care (what we do) Residential memory care
Where your parent sleeps At home in McKinney In the community
Schedule Weekdays, half or full days, by reservation Around the clock
Who it suits Early and middle stages, still walking, still living at home with family support People who need supervision through the night or can no longer live at home safely
Our pricing $80 half day, $100 full day, $65 enrollment Varies by community

 

The honest test is nighttime and home safety. If your parent sleeps through the night, can be safe at home with a family member in the evening, and walks on their own or with a walker or cane, a day program often covers what they need right now. Many families use us for a long stretch before a move becomes necessary. When that time does come, our nurse and staff will tell you so, because we would rather lose a member than keep one we cannot serve well.

If the diagnosis is new and you are still getting your bearings, our article on what comes next after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis is a good place to start.

McKinney's Commute to Our Door

From McKinney City Hall downtown, head out on SH 5 to US-75 (Central Expressway) and drive south about 11 miles to the Campbell Road exit in Richardson. Our center is on Nantucket Drive near Custer and Campbell. OpenStreetMap routing puts the trip at 19.5 miles and about 27 minutes in light traffic, with no toll roads. From Craig Ranch and the southwest side of McKinney, US-75 is still the spine of the drive.  

It is not a short trip, and we will not pretend otherwise. What makes it work for McKinney families is our long day: we open at 7:30 AM and close at 5:30 PM, so a parent can ride in with a commuting son or daughter and ride home the same way. A full day covers up to ten and a half hours.

Why So Few Day Programs Show Up for McKinney

McKinney is the Collin County seat and has 21,644 residents aged 65 or older, according to the Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey. Yet when we checked the directories in September 2026, we found at most one adult day provider with a McKinney address, and no program that presents itself as built for dementia. Caring.com’s McKinney adult day list already points McKinney families to our Richardson center.  

The directories tell the same story from the other side: a search for dementia care in McKinney returns residential communities first, so many caregivers hear “memory care” before anyone mentions a day program.

Health Care During the Day

A licensed nurse is on duty at our center every day we are open. For McKinney families, this is often the deciding factor, because a parent who needs a midday pill, an insulin check or oxygen help cannot be left with a sitter who is not trained for it. Our nurse gives or reminds about medications, checks blood pressure and glucose, assists with oxygen, performs treatments, and tracks weight. Staff help with transfers and walking, toileting reminders and incontinence care. If something changes, we call you.  

The full scope is on our health care and wellness page.

Meals, Activities and a Place to Rest

Breakfast and a morning snack greet members when they arrive. Lunch is served in the dining room from 12:30 to 1:30, a hot meal cooked in our kitchen from menus a licensed dietitian reviews, with linen napkins on the tables. Exercise happens twice a day, and the rest of the day moves between music, games, crafts, trivia, therapy dog visits and live entertainment. Members who tire can use a recliner or the center’s bedroom.

Paying for Adult Day Care From McKinney

  • Private pay: $80 per half day (five hours or less), $100 per full day, plus a one-time $65 enrollment fee.
  • Long-term care insurance: almost all policies cover adult day services, and we will help you verify.
  • VA benefits: we are contracted with the VA North Texas Health Care System. Eligible veterans referred by a VA physician usually attend at no cost, with a small copay in some cases. See our veterans page.
  • Area Agency on Aging: Collin County caregivers can contact the North Central Texas Area Agency on Aging (800-272-3921), which prioritizes caregivers of someone living with dementia and offers a one-time respite voucher
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Getting Around McKinney Without a Car

We do not provide transportation. McKinney is not a DART member city, so DART Paratransit does not serve it. Collin County Transit offers subsidized, on-demand shared rides to McKinney residents who are 65 or older, have a disability or have a low income, with trips throughout Collin County. Our center is in Dallas County, so ask Collin County Transit (469-771-0667) before counting on a ride to Richardson. Most McKinney families drive.

Local Help in McKinney

  • McKinney Senior Recreation Center, 1400 South College Street, offers fitness, trips and wellness services to members 50 and older, plus a weekday Meals on Wheels lunch. Membership for residents 65 and older is $15 a year. It is a good fit for an independent spouse or an early-stage parent on days they are not with us. Details are on the city’s Senior Recreation Center page.
  • Meals on Wheels of Collin County is headquartered in McKinney and serves Collin County with home-delivered and congregate meals.
  • Our support groups in Richardson are free and open to McKinney caregivers: ladies on the first Wednesday, an Alzheimer’s caregiver group on the second Thursday, and men on the third Thursday of each month, 2:00 to 3:30 PM.
  • The Alzheimer’s Association runs a 24/7 helpline at 800-272-3900.
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Protective and Legal Help McKinney Lists

Dementia raises questions that have nothing to do with activities or meals: who can sign for Mom at the bank, what happens if someone takes advantage of Dad, where to report a concern. The City of McKinney’s senior resources page lists three statewide and national lines that answer those questions:  

  • Texas Adult Protective Services, 1-800-252-5400, for reporting suspected abuse, neglect or financial exploitation of an older adult.
  • The Legal Hotline for Older Texans, 1-800-622-2520, for legal questions.
  • The Eldercare Locator, 1-800-677-1116, for finding services anywhere in the country, which helps when a sibling out of state wants to pitch in.

For medical emergencies, Medical City McKinney on Medical Center Drive is the hospital closest to most of the city.

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Areas Near McKinney We Also Serve

Families between McKinney and our center can read about adult day care in Allen. West of McKinney, our Frisco page covers the Tollway route.

1960 Nantucket Dr, Richardson, TX 75080
(972) 437-2940  |  Get Directions
1232 W. Belt Line Rd, DeSoto, TX 75115
(972) 274-2484  |  Get Directions
4682 McDermott Rd, Plano, TX 75024
(972) 437-2940  |  Get Directions

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have a McKinney location?

No. We serve McKinney from our Richardson center at 1960 Nantucket Drive, about 27 minutes down US-75. If you see an old listing for a Friends Place in McKinney, please call us to confirm before visiting.

What is the difference between adult day care and memory care in McKinney?

Adult day care is a weekday program; your parent comes home each night. Memory care is a residential community. A day program often fits the early and middle stages.

Is there a minimum number of days?

There is no fixed minimum, but we suggest two to three days a week to start, because members who come regularly adjust faster.

Can you take a parent in a wheelchair?

No. Members must walk on their own or with a walker, cane or staff help.

Does my parent need a diagnosis?

No. Our program is designed for memory problems, but a diagnosis is not required.

How do we start?

Call to schedule a tour, complete an application, and then bring your parent for a short visit and assessment before choosing a start date.

See It for Yourself

Take the drive once, on a weekday morning, and see whether the program is worth it for your family.