Adult family care: a viable alternative to nursing homes
- Collection:
- Health Policy and Services Research
- Series Title(s):
- LTSS choices
- Author(s):
- Mollica, Robert, author Ujvari, Kathleen, author
- Contributor(s):
- AARP (Organization), issuing body. Public Policy Institute (AARP (Organization)), issuing body.
- Publication:
- Washington, DC : AARP Public Policy Institute, 2021
- Language(s):
- English
- Format:
- Text
- Subject(s):
- Residential Facilities Long-Term Care -- methods Adult Residential Facilities -- legislation & jurisprudence United States
- Genre(s):
- Technical Report
- Abstract:
- People who require long-term services and supports (LTSS) desire access to living options other than nursing homes. Adult family care (AFC) is a term loosely describing a combination of housing and LTSS in which care recipients live full time in a house or other small residential setting. This type of care is a viable alternative to nursing homes for older adults and people with disabilities. In collaboration with health care professionals, AFC offers individuals assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) and personal care, and help with medications and other health care tasks. AFCs provide housing, services, a caregiver workforce, and often integration with the community. AFCs serve people who pay with private resources, as well as participants of Medicaid and other home- and community-based services (HCBS) programs in some states. More than 40 years ago, Oregon and Washington state established the first AFCs for private-pay residents and those receiving public funds. The goal, to create choices for people who prefer more homelike support in small residential settings, proved successful, and by 2009, 30 states had licensed a total of 18,901 AFC facilities with a capacity to serve 64,189 residents. Today, 18 states license AFC under assisted living regulations (see appendix 1) and 38 states include AFC among the array of LTSS residential care options available. Despite a long history of operating within communities, AFCs remain relatively unknown among consumers and their families. Further, in some states, the number of AFCs has remained stable or even declined over the years, even as the population ages and demand for LTSS services increases. While some states have hesitated to widely market AFCs because of difficulties in recruiting providers, this doesn't entirely explain why AFC is not more widely available. AFCs remain featured alongside other options in consumer guides and websites published by state licensing agencies. But while some state policy makers, like those in Washington and Oregon, have managed to better use their regulatory processes to support AFCs, other states have left AFC providers to fend for themselves. Consumers, family members, advocates, and policy makers can learn more about AFC through several resources, such as state licensing agency websites, which contain information about the range of programs that help consumers. Often these licensing agencies publish consumer guides that offer detailed information about what to look for when considering AFC. State Aging and Disability Resource Centers also provide information about AFC as an option for consumers seeking LTSS. This Spotlight summarizes the key features of AFCs for consumers, advocates, and state policy staff seeking to expand the number of AFC providers in their state. By highlighting several components found in state regulations on AFC, this report also provides resources for improving awareness and evaluating AFC care options.
- Copyright:
- Reproduced with permission of the copyright holder. Further use of the material is subject to CC BY-NC-ND license. (More information)
- Extent:
- 1 online resource (1 PDF file (17 pages))
- Illustrations:
- Illustrations
- NLM Unique ID:
- 9918316880506676 (See catalog record)
- Permanent Link:
- http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/9918316880506676