Adult Foster Care: What It Is and How Caregivers Can Help

As they age, many seniors start needing assistance with daily living activities, like cooking and eating, personal grooming and hygiene, getting dressed, and keeping their medication organized.

They are not necessarily sick, and do not require the medical care that comes with living in a nursing home, but they can’t live independently in their own homes. This is where adult foster care comes into play. 

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What Is Adult Foster Care?

Foster care for adults provides a type of assisted living that is not as intense as a nursing home. Generally, adult foster care homes are actual homes, more like a typical living situation than the hospital-like setting of a nursing home. It is sometimes called small group assisted living or adult family care and the home has five people or less living there. 

Foster care for seniors is an excellent option if your loved one is not quite safe living at home on their own but does not need a nursing home. If they are unable to live with a family member, an adult foster care home gives them the independence they crave while also giving their family members peace of mind knowing they have the help and support they need to stay safe and healthy.

Another important distinction between elderly foster care and assisted living is awake staff. In the large assisted living setting, there is staff awake 24 hours a day. In a smaller adult foster care home, the staff typically sleeps overnight while the residents sleep – though of course they are present in case of an emergency or other overnight need. 

Caregivers who work in senior foster care receive training but are not necessarily medical professionals. Because they work in a small-group setting, they can cater to the individual needs of their residents. They can assist with tasks like:

• Personal grooming, bathing and getting dressed
• Preparing meals and help with eating if needed
• Laundry and cleaning tasks
• Walking around the house and going up and down stairs
• Transportation to appointments and other events
• Shopping and running errands like picking up prescriptions
• Managing medications

Adult foster care does vary by state, so you should research regulations in your state before moving your senior loved one. Check for information like the maximum number of residents permitted (it generally varies between 4 and 6), the training required for the caregivers, and costs. 

The cost of adult foster care can be lower than assisted living or having professional caregivers come to your home. It depends on the state regulations, services the adult foster care can offer, and your loved one’s specific needs. 

Adult foster care is not just for the elderly. Foster care for disabled adults – anyone over the age of 18 with a physical or mental disability – is a way for these adults to live outside their home but still have the supervision and support they need. It is a good choice for families who, for whatever reason, cannot care for their loved ones, to have the peace of mind of knowing their loved one is cared for and safe.

To learn about our home care services, contact our caregiving team today at 1-800-GRISWOLD or find a Caregiver near you.