It takes place in a hospital while following the lives of middle and upper-class professionals in Salem, a middle-America town.

The town incorporates the usual threads of love, marriage, divorce, and family life, plus the medical storylines and character studies of individuals with psychological problems. When Days of our Lives premiered in 1965, the show revolved around the tragedies and triumphs of the suburban Horton family. Over time, additional families were brought to the show to interact with the Hortons and serve as springboards for more dramatic storylines. Originally led by patriarch Dr. Tom Horton and his wife, homemaker Alice, the Hortons remain a prominent fixture in current continuity.