An adult care home provides care, support, and services for older adults and people with disabilities. Adult care homes, also known as adult family homes, medical foster homes, and adult foster care homes, ensure their residents are cared for in an intimate home-like setting.
There are many advantages to adult family homes when compared to other levels of long-term care. The benefits of adult care homes range from improved safety and security to intimate social interaction and personalized care.
- Enhanced safety and security
- Round-the-clock support provided by trained caregivers and providers
- Senior care in a home setting tailored for both mobility and accessibility
- Highly personal care due to the small size of adult care homes
- Cost-effective care, adult care homes are generally less expensive than similar levels of long-term care
- Peace of mind for family members knowing their loved one is being cared for in a caring, home-like setting
Adult care homes offer a different way of delivering long-term care due to their small size and excellent staffing ratios. They also offer an array of benefits to residents not found in other long-term care settings.
Personalized Care
Adult care homes offer personalized care tailored to each individual’s needs. This ensures the highest level of care for each person, as staff members can focus on the individual’s specific needs. This highly individualized level of care leads to improved quality of life and greater resident satisfaction.
When compared to other levels of care, like nursing homes, adult care homes can consistently deliver the following:
- Specialized and home-cooked meals
- Consistent staffing consists of owner-operators and a few consistent relief caregivers.
- Flexibility for residents- meal times, wake up and bedtimes can all be highly personalized in the smaller setting of an adult care home.
Lower Staff to Resident Ratios
Due to the small size of adult care homes, they typically have lower staff-to-resident ratios, resulting in enhanced attention and care for each individual. This unique setting allows for more supervised interactions, ultimately leading to safer and more engaged care for the residents.
Socialization and Community
Another benefit of adult care homes is the sense of community they provide. Residents often form strong bonds with fellow residents and staff members. This promotes socialization, better physical and emotional well-being, and can improve the overall health of older adults.
- Shared common spaces encourage social interactions
- Organized group activities and outings to nearby places further foster a sense of belonging
- Some care homes have children living in the home. The multi-generational benefits of including young people in the care and socialization of the residents are usually a great benefit for all.
Benefits of Community Living
Adult care homes provide a close-knit community living experience that allows residents to form relationships with fellow residents and staff. This creates a supportive environment where residents can socialize and establish friendships.
Staff members at adult care homes also build strong relationships with their residents, making sure that each person is getting the care and attention they need.
This leads to improved mental health for residents, as social interaction is essential for older adults. The smaller setting of adult care homes also provides an opportunity for residents to stay active and involved in tailored activities that they enjoy.
Cost-Effective Care
Adult care homes provide cost-effective care compared to larger facilities. Residents and their families are able to save money without sacrificing quality care. In fact, compared to a nursing home, adult care homes cost less and provide additional benefits:
- Private rooms/private baths are common in adult care homes. These types of rooms can be very difficult to come by in nursing home settings.
- Home-cooked meals are the norm in adult family homes. In a nursing home setting, the food is most likely purchased in bulk, cooked in a commercial kitchen, and can be difficult to cater to food preferences and dietary restrictions.
- Due to the small size of adult care homes, the staff will know your loved one well and recognize any changes to their health quickly. In a large nursing home setting, it can be easy to “fall through the cracks” when staff is taking care of a higher number of residents.
Reduced Caregiver Burden for Family Members
Adult care homes not only benefit the residents, but they also reduce the burden on family members acting as caregivers. Family members can feel confident knowing their loved one is receiving personalized, attentive care in a comfortable, supportive environment.
This allows family members the opportunity to focus on maintaining their relationship with their loved one, rather than solely focusing on providing care.
Some benefits of reduced caregiver burden include:
- More time for family members to focus on their work, hobbies, and personal relationships
- Less stress and worry for family members regarding their loved one’s care
- Opportunities for respite and self-care for family caregivers, ultimately leading to a better quality of life for everyone involved
Increased Personal Safety and Security
Adult care homes are closely monitored to ensure the safety of residents. The staff-resident ratios are often higher in adult care homes compared to larger facilities, giving staff more time to monitor residents and respond to emergencies.
In addition to high staff-resident ratios, adult care homes typically have:
- Secure entrances and exits to prevent unauthorized access
- The staff and caregivers are familiar with individual visitors and family members. It would be difficult for unauthorized individuals to gain access.
- Emergency call systems are in place to help residents get assistance quickly, should they need it
- Regular safety checks and updates to ensure the home is well-maintained and safe for residents
In Summary
Adult care homes offer a range of benefits to their residents, including personalized care, small community living, cost-effective care, and increased security. These smaller care settings allow for more social interaction, individualized activities and care plans, and dedicated staff members who are committed to their residents’ well-being.
Benefits of Adult Care Homes Frequently Asked Questions
Adult care homes provide personalized care, increased social interaction, and cost-effective care in a smaller, home-like environment. The lower staff-to-resident ratio ensures that each resident receives the attention they need, leading to improved mental and physical health.
An adult care home is a smaller residential facility that provides personalized care, increased social interaction, and cost-effective care for seniors. Nursing homes usually accommodate higher medical needs and house more residents. The community experience in nursing homes may be less intimate due to the number of residents, but they may be better equipped in providing specialized medical care.
Adult care homes are also known as adult family homes, adult foster care homes, and care homes. You may also see them referred to as board and care homes in a few states in the US. Adult care home terminology, rules, and regulations vary from state to state.
On average, adult care homes cost anywhere from $3,000-$7,000 per month. While this seems high, consider that the monthly cost of a nursing home is anywhere from $7,000-$10,000 per month.