Is an Adult Family Home right for my loved one?

There's a whole plethora of options and types of facilities to choose from when it comes to senior care. How do you know if an Adult Family Home is the right fit?

When you or a loved one need more care than you can get at home, it may be time to consider the available options for residential care. Residential care is where you can live and get help with care in a community setting. There are many residential care options, each offering different housing and care service options. An adult family home is a care facility that is licensed by the state to provide housing and care for up to 6 adults. It is located in a regular house, in a residential neighborhood. Adult family homes can provide different levels of care, depending on the medical needs of their residents.

How do you know if an adult family home is the right type of residential care for you? Consider these attributes and see if they are right for you or your loved one.

The environment: The adult family home environment is small and conducive to providing intimate, personalized care on demand. This setting is often the best for someone who cannot be left alone for long periods of time, or who cannot call for help. Residents will be helped by the same few caregivers and providers. There is a family-like atmosphere, sometimes including children of all ages or pets. Over time the caregivers and providers can become like family, including the immediate families of their residents.

Level of care: Knowing what level of care you need will help you select the best residential care facility. An adult family home caters well to helping those who need help ambulating or who are in a wheelchair. A home may or may not have staff awake at night, although staff is ALWAYS available to provide help when needed. They cannot have locked doors, so those with wandering behaviors may be better suited to a special memory care community. Additionally, there are some medical conditions that can only be cared for in a skilled nursing facility.

Social interactions: Activities and social interactions are organic, and adapted to the group’s dynamics. Eating meals, snacks, and watching TV together is socialization enough for some, while some homes may plan regular events and activities. During the regular course of a day, residents will have opportunities to integrate with their caregivers and fellow housemates, even when they don’t participate in planned events. An adult family home is an excellent setting for those who like small, intimate gatherings and close relationships.