When you or your loved one can no longer get all the care you need at home, it’s time to consider a new living arrangement. Adult family homes are a popular choice for people who aren’t keen on moving into a large assisted living facility.
What Is an Adult Family Home?
Adult family homes (AFHs) are small residential homes for adults who need daily support, including adults who are aging or who have disabilities. They provide up to six non-related residents with room, board, laundry, personal care, social services, assistance with daily living activities, and supervision as needed.
Some AFHs provide additional services, like intermittent nursing care (meaning a nurse is available on a part-time basis) or a higher level of personal care. Some also specialize in caring for people with developmental disabilities, mental illness, or dementia.
In Washington State, AFHs must be licensed. All AFHs assume general responsibility for each resident’s care and safety.
Who Should Live in an Adult Family Home?
Adult family homes are a good option for adults who need more care than they can get at home. They offer varying levels of care, so if one AFH does not offer the services you need, another in your area likely does.
Unlike assisted living facilities, AFHs are small and designed to care for no more than six people at a time. That makes them a good choice for people who prefer a homey, family-like environment.
How to Find a Good Adult Family Home
There are a wide range of adult family homes in Washington State. Look for homes that offer the specific services you need and accept Medicaid if you expect to need it.
From there, check the basic rate for room, board, and services. Ask which services are covered by the rate and how much any other services you need cost. Also ask about the payment policies, refund policies for if someone leaves before the end of the month, and the policy for rate increases.
Before choosing an AFH, it’s a good idea to visit a few different homes that match your needs in person. Ideally, you should visit homes at different times of day to see what daily life is like.
To learn whether there are any potential problem areas at an AFH, ask a representative from each home you visit to show you the last state inspection report. You can also ask them for references so you can contact former residents or their family members.
You can also ask the AFH representative questions about the staff, such as:
- How frequent is staff turnover?
- Does your home provide some level of nursing care (RN, LPN, Nursing Assistant)? How often is it available?
- Who will help me/my loved one with medications if needed (e.g., reminding me/my loved one to take them or opening the bottle)?
- Can someone administer medications if I/my loved one cannot take them alone (e.g., applying medication to my/their skin or putting a pill in my/their mouth)?
- Can someone help me if I need special care (e.g., caring for a wound)?
- What happens if there is an emergency? Can I get help right away?
- What language does most of the staff speak?
Sunrise Services Adult Family Homes
Sunrise Services has comfortable adult family homes with professional, caring staff who are trained and certified in Washington State. We do detailed assessments and planning so we can offer quality, individualized care. A Registered Nurse leads our dedicated Health Department.
Our homes are open to any individual. We have decades of experience in supporting individuals with mental, physical, and cognitive disabilities.
Sunrise Services aims to help develop each AFH resident’s interests, time management, and personal activities. We know that each individual has dreams and possibilities beyond their challenges, so we employ positive supports to discover and meet unexpressed needs. Residents often remain with us for many years.
To learn more about Sunrise Services’ Adult Family Homes, contact us today.
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