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Staffing Ratio Planner

Direct-care staffing is the biggest operating cost in an adult day center, and it is set by a ratio rule. States commonly set ratios in the neighborhood of one staff member per six participants, stricter for higher acuity, but your state's rulebook sets the binding number: confirm it with your licensing agency, then plan with it here. Everything runs in your browser.

Your program

Expected daily attendance (peak)plan to the peak hour, not the average; a ratio that fails at lunch failsDirect-care ratio (confirm with your state)typical shapes only; your state's licensing rule is the one that countsStaffed hours per dayprogram hours plus setup and closeOperating days per month

Your labor market

Average direct-care wage ($/hour)your local market rate, not a national averagePayroll burden (%)employer taxes, workers comp, benefits, as a percent on top of wages

Add one float staffer for breaks, bathroom assists, and call-outsthe ratio must hold while people take lunch; most schedules need the float

Your numbers, estimated

Direct-care staff on floor: 3
Scheduled with float: 4
Direct-care hours / month: 792
Loaded wage / hour: $20.06
Direct-care cost / month: $15,888
Cost / participant-day: $40.12

Direct-care staffing only: the program director, nursing hours for medical model programs, food service, and drivers are additional lines. Estimates from your own inputs; not a quote or advice, and not your state's required ratio.

The ratio is one rule. The kit maps all of them.

The Adult Day Care Licensing Kit pairs this planner with the full staffing framework, the required-roles table, the training calendar, and the exact ratio question to ask your state, plus everything else the launch needs. $199 once, 30-day money-back guarantee.

See the Licensing Kit Next: check your funding readiness