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Residential Care Homes

Last Updated: April 4, 2013

Tucked into regular neighborhoods, residential care homes provide non-medical custodial care for elderly adults. Typically in a single family residence, residential care homes usually serve between two and ten patients, depending on specific state laws. "They offer a home-like setting for people who need assisted living but might be intimidated by larger communities," says Charlotte Stackpole, MPA, A Place for Mom's Market Development Coach for the West Coast region.

Also called board and care homes, adult family homes, and residential care facilities for the elderly, this is a live-in housing and care option for people who do not have skilled medical needs, such as a feeding tube or daily injections. Generally, a residential care home provides the following:

• A room, either private or shared
• Meals
• Varying levels of assistance with daily living activities, such as toileting, bathing, and even money and health care management
• Custodial care, such as laundry, housekeeping, and transportation to doctor appointments
• Reminders to take medications or actual medication administering.

Adult family homes "are wonderful for individuals who are looking for a smaller-home-like setting," says Stackpole. "They'll eat home-cooked meals in the kitchen. [The home] will have a front porch or back porch and a garden. [It] will offer lots of one-on-one tender loving care."

This atmosphere is fostered by a high staff-to-patient ratio, which is typically higher than the same ratio in a nursing home or assisted living community. Most often there is one caregiver for every three or four residents. "If my mom is in a nursing home and she can't walk under her own steam, it could take 30 to 45 minutes to have someone take care of her after she pushes the call button," says Jerry Graham, a Senior Living Advisor for A Place for Mom.

For a senior citizen who is very active, though, a residential care home may not offer enough stimulation. A larger assisted living community has a wider array of social activities, such as on-site aerobics or outings to near-by events. A residential care home is a better fit for a frailer adult who can benefit from more individual care, says Stackpole.

Researching potential adult family homes for loved ones is complicated by the fact that there are no federal standards for these communities. Each state follows its own regulations and licensing rules. (Some states have no set standards.) For states that license residential care homes, surveys on each home are available at local licensing offices. Homes usually must provide this survey if asked by potential clients. To find a local licensing agency, contact the state's department of aging.

Just as every house on a block is different, residential care homes are not all styled the same. Some are modest, while others feature crystal chandeliers and granite countertops. "It depends on how potential residents have been living their lives," says Michelle Graham, a Senior Living Advisor for A Place for Mom. "They are going to be more comfortable in a home like they have been living."

Adult family homes are run by all kinds of individuals, from registered nurses to recent immigrants. Sometimes the homeowner lives in the facility, while others are run like a business with shifts of caregivers. "They [usually] have nursing oversight, but the nurse is not onsite at all times," says Jerry Graham. Because residential care homes vary so greatly, it's vital to assess the needs of the future resident, deciding if they need around-the-clock staff attention, for example. It's also important to visit several homes, comparing and contrasting to find the best fit.

The price tag for a living in a residential care community is often half the cost of nursing home care, and in some states, it is even more affordable than assisted living community care. Although prices vary vastly, care usually costs $3500 to $4500 per month, although some cost as little as $1500 each month. Some charge $5000 to $6000 per month; these are typically homes that specialize in dementia care.

Some long-term care insurance policies pay for residential care home costs. Medicaid-health insurance that helps pay for medical and long-term care for people with low income-often covers fees for people who can't afford the cost of private care. "Most [residential care homes] want you to pay privately for a year or two before you convert to Medicaid," says Jerry Graham. Some residences don't accept Medicaid at all. Since Medicare doesn't pay for custodial care, it doesn't usually cover residential care home fees.

This type of care home is a good fit for many elderly adults. Many of them can provide care until the end of a life, and helps residents feel like they are living in their own homes, says Jerry Graham.