Adult Family Home

What is an Adult Family Home?

Adult Family Homes provide personalized care to small groups of adults. They may also be called Personal Care Homes or Residential Care Homes. These homes provide meals, lodging, health management, and assistance with daily living activities.

Adult Family Homes are specially licensed, often located in residential neighborhoods, and provide an environment closer to a home situation than one would find in an Assisted Living facility. Occupancy is usually limited to no more than six adults, and some facilities may be licensed for up to eight. While these homes offer help with daily living activities, they don’t offer the same level of medical care as more extensive facilities.

A group of elderly people having breakfast at a table.

Essential services offered in Adult Family Homes usually include:

  • Private or semi-private bedrooms.
  • Home-cooked meals.
  • Supervision of medication.
  • Transportation to and assistance with medical appointments.
  • Social activities.
  • Housekeeping and laundry.

An Adult Family Home can provide a higher level of personal care than the average Assisted Living facility, including higher supervision to help prevent falls and assistance with tasks such as incontinence or personal hygiene care, transfer support, and bathing assistance.

Benefits of living in an Adult Family Home

  • A “home-style” environment:

    Residences often have been renovated for this purpose and are located in neighborhoods vs. large buildings. These homes may be quieter and encourage a more relaxed pace.

  • Personalized attention:

    The typical caregiver-to-resident ratio is 1:3, allowing for more assistance.

  • Lower cost:

    Costs for these facilities are often much lower than their counterparts, so may be more affordable when clients meet the criteria.

  • Safety and security:

    These home facilities typically have extra safety features and the additional security of staff living with the residents.

Adult Family Home FAQs

What’s the difference between an Adult Family Home and other senior living options?

The number of residents in an Adult Family Home is much lower than Assisted Living or Skilled Nursing facilities. With more one-to-one engagement with caregivers, the environment is closer to a home situation. However, larger facilities have more social programming, including off-site activities, as they serve a wider variety of residents.

How do I know if an Adult Family Home is the right choice for my loved one?

When considering whether to move your family member into an Adult Family Home, take into account the following criteria:

  • Do they need ongoing assistance with personal hygiene, mobility, decision-making, and basic day-to-day tasks?
  • Are they looking for more activities?
  • Are they overwhelmed or flustered in large-group environments?
  • What level of ongoing medical assistance or supervision do they need?

With so many questions and factors to consider, connect with one of our Senior Living Advisors, who can help you evaluate the best options to meet your needs. Our team is ready to help you assess Adult Family Homes and other options to ensure you find the right solution for your situation.

Return to Senior Living Options

Let’s discuss how we can help.

Contact Us