I want to take care of one person. How do I become licensed for just one person?
Family care homes are licensed for 2 to 6 people. Homes that provide care for just one person are not regulated, which means there is no need to become licensed.
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How do I get paid for caring for just one person?
Public assistance money, either Special Assistance or Medicaid, can only be paid to a licensed provider. Since the care that is provided for one person in a private residence is not regulated, the reimbursement for that care is a private matter between the caregiver and care recipient.
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How many people can I be licensed to take care of?
Family care homes can be licensed for up to six adults. Whether a home is actually licensed for the maximum six people depends on the size and layout of the home. A certificate of need is necessary for an adult care home of seven or more adults, and obtained only through special circumstances .
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Once I become a licensed family care home, how and from where do I get my residents?
Each family care home is responsible for advertising and networking in the community to build its clientele. Residents entering the family care home should be a direct result of good advertisement and word of mouth about the home. Hospitals, home health agencies, adult day care centers, physicians, senior centers, senior housing projects are possible referral sources and suggested as agencies to network with.
Occasionally, DSS will contact the family care home when working with a client in need of placement. It will be up to the home to decide if they will accept the client as a resident. Likewise, placement clients maintain the right to choose their own facility or home, or they may seek an alternative other than placement.
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How do I get paid?
Payment issues are to be determined by the family care home during pre-admission discussions with potential residents. It should be determined if the resident will be private pay or need public assistance. Residents in need of public assistance will need to apply for Special Assistance on or before admission in the family care home.
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Who takes care of the residents during the day? Where do they go to spend the day?
Unlike group homes for the Developmentally disabled adults, the family care home staff is responsible for the supervision, personal care, and activities program to meet the needs of its residents 24 hours, 7 days a week, including holidays. Residents may leave the family care home if they choose to, however they cannot be required to spend the day somewhere else to accommodate the family care home staff.
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I am already approved as a foster parent for children, so does this make me automatically approved as a family care home?
Family care homes must meet separate and different licensure rules, which are written with the care of older and disabled adults in mind. While being a foster parent for children can be a good background since it allows the experience with working with many governmental agencies, it does not replace the pre-licensure and approval process required for the family care home.
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What is the pay for taking care of an older and disabled adult in a family care home?
