Is a Dementia Day Program Worth the Drive From Mesquite?

Mesquite families have a few adult day options in town, and for some of them, a local program is the right choice. We would rather say that plainly than oversell a 28-minute drive. Our Richardson center is worth the trip for one kind of family: the one whose parent has Alzheimer’s or another dementia and needs a program designed entirely around memory loss, with a licensed nurse on duty every day, one staff member for every five members, and published prices. If that is you, read on.

  • Dementia day program since 2005
  • Nurse on duty daily
  • 1:5 staff-to-member ratio
  • Meals made in our kitchen
  • VA North Texas contracted
Call Plano Call Richardson Call DeSoto

How to Decide Between Local and Specialized

Here is how we would think about it if it were our own parent in Mesquite.  

A program closer to home may suit you better if your parent uses a wheelchair, needs door-to-door transportation, or mainly needs company and a meal. We cannot take wheelchairs, and we do not provide rides. Some Mesquite programs advertise both, so ask them directly.  

Our program is likely the better fit if your parent has a dementia diagnosis or clear memory loss, walks on their own or with a walker or cane, and needs staff who know how to handle confusion, anxiety, wandering or rummaging. It also fits if you want a nurse on site every day, and if you want to know the price before you call.  

Caring.com’s Mesquite adult day page already lists our Richardson center among the options for Mesquite families. When we checked the other Mesquite listings in September 2026, several had no website at all, and two serve adults with intellectual disabilities rather than older adults with dementia.

The Route From Mesquite to Richardson

From Mesquite City Hall on North Galloway Avenue, OpenStreetMap routing heads to Gross Road, north on I-635 (LBJ Freeway), then north on US-75 (Central Expressway) to the Richardson exits near Custer and Campbell. It is 19.6 miles and about 28 minutes in light traffic. LBJ traffic at rush hour can add time, so many Mesquite families choose full days, up to ten and a half hours for $100, to keep it to one round trip.  

Our DeSoto center is farther for most of Mesquite, about 27 miles, so we point Mesquite families to Richardson.  

We are open 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM, Monday through Friday.

Transportation in Mesquite

Mesquite is not a DART member city, so DART Paratransit is not available here. The city’s public transportation page lists STAR Transit services instead: STARNow on-demand rides inside a Mesquite travel zone, STAR Demand Response shared rides booked a business day ahead, and the COMPASS shuttle between Hanby Stadium and DART’s Lawnview Station. None of those is described as going to Richardson. We do not provide transportation, so Mesquite families generally drive or hire private senior transportation.  

Schedule a Tour and time the drive during the hours you would actually use it.

Two Counties, Two Agencies

Mesquite reaches into both Dallas and Kaufman counties, and the caregiver help available to you depends on where you live.  

  • Dallas County addresses: the Dallas Area Agency on Aging (214-871-5065) offers caregiver support, including respite, to unpaid caregivers of someone of any age with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia.
  • Kaufman County addresses: the North Central Texas Area Agency on Aging (800-272-3921) covers Kaufman County, and its caregiver program includes respite care for people caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or a related disorder.

The Nurse, the Staff and the Day

A licensed nurse is on duty every day we are open, to give medications, check blood pressure and glucose, assist with oxygen, handle treatments and track weight. Every staff member passes a criminal background check, holds CPR and first aid certification, and completes at least 12 hours of dementia care training a year.  

The day itself is full. Breakfast and a morning snack greet members, and exercise comes twice. Lunch is hot, cooked on site and served in the dining room from 12:30 to 1:30. Music, a daily sing-along, trivia, crafts, therapy dog visits and live entertainment fill the afternoon. Recliners and a quiet bedroom are available for rest.

Contact Us Schedule a Tour

What You Will Pay

A half day (five hours or less) costs $80. A full day costs $100. Enrollment is a one-time $65 fee that covers screening and a needs assessment. Meals and snacks are included.  

Long-term care insurance covers adult day care under almost all policies, and our staff will help you verify benefits. Eligible veterans referred by a VA physician usually attend at no cost under our VA North Texas contract, with a small copay in some cases; see our veterans page. 

Mesquite Resources for Caregivers

The city runs three senior centers for adults 50 and older: Evans Senior Center on Hillcrest Street, Goodbar Senior Center on Concord Drive and Rutherford Senior Center on Rutherford Drive. Goodbar and Evans serve a hot weekday lunch at 11:45 AM, with a suggested $1 donation for qualified participants 60 and older. Details are on the city’s Adults 50+ page. These centers can be a lifeline for a caregiver spouse who needs time with friends.  

Caregiving also brings its own weight. If you are struggling with the decision to bring in help, our article on overcoming spousal and caregiver guilt was written for exactly that moment. Our support groups in Richardson are free and open to Mesquite caregivers.  

A few more Mesquite details worth keeping on the refrigerator:  

  • Dallas Regional Medical Center, 1011 North Galloway Avenue, has a 24-hour emergency room and is the only acute-care hospital the federal CMS hospital list shows in Mesquite.
  • The city’s Senior Resources page points families to Texas Adult Protective Services and to Dallas County’s Connect to Care portal for aging and disability services.
  • Transit may change. The city is working on a Public Transit Development Plan to review its current services, so ask again if transportation is the thing keeping your parent home.
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Who We Serve

Adults 50 and older with memory loss, or who fit well with a group that has it. No diagnosis is required, and members with Parkinson’s or mild cognitive impairment often do well. Members must walk on their own or with a walker, cane or staff help. Days are reserved in advance.

Nearby Areas

North of Mesquite, our page on adult day care in Garland covers the DART Paratransit option. West of you, the Dallas adult day care page compares our two centers.

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

Is Friends Place in Mesquite?

No. We serve Mesquite from our Richardson center, about 28 minutes away via I-635 and US-75.

Why not the DeSoto center?

For most Mesquite addresses, Richardson is closer, about 20 miles against 27.

Can my mother use a wheelchair at your center?

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

Is STAR Transit an option for getting to Richardson?

The STAR services Mesquite lists run within a Mesquite travel zone or to connecting stations. Call STAR at 877-631-5278 to ask about a longer trip, but most families drive.

What does it cost?

$80 per half day and $100 per full day, plus a one-time $65 enrollment fee, with meals included.

How do we begin?

Schedule a tour, fill out an application, and bring your parent back for a brief visit and assessment before choosing a start date.

Tour Before You Decide

If our program sounds like the right fit, the next step is simply to see it.