Day centers for senior citizens

What is a day center?

A day centre is a facility intended for senior citizens. At a day centre, older people who are still able to manage well in their everyday lives at home receive professional nursing and care from qualified staff.

Day centers are suitable for senior citizens who want to spend their day in company. They not only promote social contact but also provide family caregivers with valuable relief – for example, if they are working during the day or simply need a break from their daily caregiving responsibilities.

What happens at a day center?

In addition to needs-based care, a day centre provides transportation to and from the centre, meals, exercise sessions to promote physical mobility, social activities, and creative activities to stimulate memory.

The care services offer seniors a structured and varied daily routine.

In a day centre, the focus is on social interaction and group activities, as well as encouraging and promoting independence among the senior citizens receiving care.
Maintaining social contacts and spending time as part of a community contribute significantly to the quality of life of older people.

How much does it cost to stay at a day center?

The cost varies depending on the service provider, is usually socially graded, and depends on income and care allowance.
You can find out the exact prices from the respective day centre.

How do I find a day center?

Day centres are organised by various regional providers. 

The following link provides information about the services offered by the Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Freie Wohlfahrt. For services in your province, click on the selection list for your province.

The following link provides information about the services offered by Fonds Soziales Wien.

Day centers in Vienna - Fonds Soziales Wien

Further information can be found in the Information Service of the Ministry of Social Affairs. This platform provides you an overview of public and private social institutions, organizations, associations, and self-help groups.

The website of the Information Service of the Ministry of Social Affairs lists day centers throughout Austria.
To access this information, click on the link below, which will take you to the website. The next steps are as follows:

  1. The option "day centers" is already selected
  2. Enter the federal province in the search field or filter for a more specific region in the left-hand column
  3. There are additional filter options in the left-hand column that you can select
  4. Click on the magnifying glass to get the results.
Link to the Infoservice des Sozialministeriums

Last update: March 3, 2026