Personal Care Homes

What Are Personal Care Homes?

Personal care homes provide older adults with board and care in the comfort of residential homes. Licensed by the state, personal care homes generally house between two and 10 seniors and provide varying levels of care. Also called “adult care homes” or “residential care homes,” these residences typically have both private and semi-private rooms. They’re often family-run, and have the owners living on-site.

The intimacy of these homes allows seniors to receive personalized, one-on-one care in a home that has been modified with the same safety features found in larger assisted living communities. These amenities can include grab bars, safety rails, emergency call buttons, and wheelchair-friendly ramps and rooms. Personal care homes are a smart option for older adults who need daily assistance, but prefer to share a private home with a family and a small group of seniors.

What Services Do Personal Care Homes Provide?

While the exact services will depend on the individual personal care home, these residences typically provide all meals, housekeeping, and assistance with daily tasks, such as bathing, dressing, using the toilet, and taking medications. Some homes also provide personal transportation to appointments, shopping, and organized outings.

Personal care homes that offer memory care for seniors with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other memory impairments provide higher levels of care. Staff may assist with everything from changing adult diapers to spoon-feeding liquid meals.

Homes that are designed to care for people with specific conditions focus on implementing care plans to manage those conditions and prevent complications. For example, the staff at a personal care home for seniors with diabetes might provide special meals, check blood sugar levels, administer insulin, and lead doctor-recommended physical activities.

What Are the Benefits of Personal Care Homes?

Personal care homes provide a real home away from home for older adults who aren’t comfortable living in a large community. Their smaller size gives residents a chance to get to know one another better. In family-run homes, older adults can also join the family for meals, games, movie nights, and, in some cases, even enjoy the company of children and pets.

While personal care homes may not offer all the luxury and convenient amenities of senior living communities, they do have superior levels of personal care. Staff is always within the home to attend to residents’ needs, and, depending on the level of care provided, a staff member may also be on duty throughout the night.

Some personal care homes have the added benefit of providing age in place environments. These homes have tiered levels of care that allow older adults to continue living in the home through different stages of life and care. Homes designed to help older adults age in place give residents and their families extra peace of mind; even as seniors begin to require higher levels of care, they won’t have to disrupt their lives to move to a nursing home.

How Much Do Personal Care Homes Cost?

As you might expect, costs for personal care homes vary depending on the state and the level of care provided. In many cases, the cost of a personal care home is half the cost of a nursing home and less than the cost of an assisted living community.

In general, monthly costs range anywhere from $1,500 to $4,500. Homes providing memory care services will likely be more expensive. Available financial assistance depends on the state; however, many homes only accept private pay.

How Do I Evaluate Personal Care Homes?

The quality of a personal care home depends on many factors, but centers on the home’s management. When evaluating a personal care home, try to visit the home at different times of the day to observe how things are run on a regular basis. Observe both the residents and the staff, and ask to see as many rooms as possible.

Below are a few things to consider and make note of as you tour the home:

• Look for senior safety modifications (grab bars in bathrooms, working call buttons, and lights to emergency exits).
• Ask to see training certifications, licensing paperwork, and state evaluation reports.
• Observe how the staff speaks to the residents and how the residents interact with each other.
• Ask to see menus and try the food. Visit the home when a meal is being served.
• Talk to the residents to see if they’re happy or if they have any complaints.
• Ask about visiting hours, daily activities, and general rules and procedures.

Are There Personal Care Homes Near Me?

Location is a key factor when choosing a personal care home. As personal care homes are often in suburban neighborhoods, they may be near parks, small shopping centers, and houses of worship, but farther away from medical offices and arts and culture venues. Along with the proximity to health and entertainment facilities, consider how close the home is to family and friends who’d like to visit.

Be sure to search using SeniorLiving.org’s database to locate a personal care home near you. You may be surprised to find a personal care home right in your family’s neighborhood!

Not sure if a personal care home is the best option for you? Watch our video below on the different types of senior housing to learn more about your options.