Just Friends is southeast Indiana’s only daytime assisted activity center for adults who are socially isolated or live with chronic illness. We provide an engaging and safe place that enhances dignity, uniqueness and independence for adults who are aging with challenges and provide balance for caregivers. Our vision is to provide an enriched quality of life while aging.

Every day we preserve independence and improve aging in place by eliminating social isolation through individualized daily activities, inclusive physical exercise, delicious food, nursing and social work coordination, transportation, and authentic community. We improve the lives of adults and encourage positive relationships with their caregivers by promoting independence while living at home instead of a nursing home.

Located in Columbus, Indiana, our small nonprofit organization serves Bartholomew, Brown, Decatur, Jackson, Jennings, and Johnson counties.

Just Friends Adult Day Services serves adults who crave socialization, learning, hands-on activities, and exercise, and their families who have errands to run. Some participants come purely for our authentic community and others have diagnoses like stroke recovery, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and/or diabetes. Most of our participants are older adults, and 30% live alone.

To see our anti-discrimination policy, click here.

At Just Friends, we offer so much more than just a safe space for adults during the day—we’re a community. Along with friendly faces and meaningful connection, we provide a wide range of activities, licensed nursing and social work support, plus free meals and transportation. We’re also conveniently located inside Mill Race Center, right next to a gym and physical therapy services.

A lot of folks come to Just Friends for the chance to stay active. Even for older adults with limited mobility, the World Health Organization recommends staying engaged in light to moderate exercise. That’s why we offer at least two physical games and two group walks every day—it’s a fun and easy way to keep moving.

Staying socially connected is just as important as staying physically active. Loneliness has been linked to shorter life expectancy and more frequent hospital visits. Research shows that person-centered care—where people’s preferences are respected—can help ease those feelings of isolation. Activities like art, music, and crafts have also been shown to reduce loneliness, especially for those living with memory loss.

And for caregivers, Adult Day Services like ours can be a real relief. One study found that when a caregiver's spouse attended a day program regularly, the caregiver felt significantly less stress—more so than with in-home services.

At Just Friends, we’re here to support both adults and their caregivers with care, connection, and community.

Are you a Veteran? The Indiana Veteran’s Administration covers the cost of Adult Day Services for many Veterans.

Are you on the PathWays to Aging, Health & Wellness, or CHOICE Waiver? Contact your Care Manager and ask if Adult Day Services can be added to your plan.

Do you have long term care insurance? If so, Adult Day Services may be covered in your Long Term Care Insurance plan.

Just Friends also accepts private pay. We know long-term services are costly and essential to maintain independence. That's why, as a nonprofit, we offer a sliding scale based on your income and expenses, ranging from $20 per hour to $10 per hour. This option is available thanks to our donors, local foundations, and grants.

Just Friends recognizes that each person has unique abilities and interests. That’s why each person has their own customized activities. We offer hands-on activities like bingo-size, washer toss, daily walks, wire sculpture, baking, and cognitively stimulating activities like trivia, name that tune, and finish the sentence.

This person-centered approach increases independence and gives participants meaning and purpose. One participant remarked “I’m 75 and never knew I liked sewing!” She is now making pillows for her 14 grandchildren.

People who attend Just Friends are served breakfast, lunch, and a mid-afternoon snack. Just Friends participates in the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), which provides healthy meals and snacks to adults. CACFP ensures all participants have access to balanced meals during the day. We follow all program guidelines to promote equity, inclusion, and food security for the families we serve.

To see our Activity Calendar, click here.

Any kind of change – even good change – is hard. If you think your loved one or their caregiver would benefit from Just Friends, give us a call. Our Family Care Coordinator would love to talk about your specific situation.

Yes, we are a 501c3 designated charity. We rely on donors, grantmaking institutions, and our Local United Way to provide high quality and affordable respite and community. The average cost to serve a participant is currently $37 an hour. Nearly all of our participants can only afford to pay $10-12 an hour.