Family Care Homes: A Good Option

While the cost of residential care is out of reach for many, conditions arise when it can become impossible to meet all of one’s spouse’s or parent’s needs at home. Even some Assisted Care, Memory and Skilled Nursing communities, who feel their resident’s needs outweigh their staff’s ability to meet them, will sometimes require a family to bring in 24/7 private care – at a cost of up to $15,000/month – or leave the community. What is one supposed to do?

One solution I’ve found myself recommending for cases like these are Family Care Homes. Family Care Homes are privately-owned homes, usually nondescript, single-story homes in quiet neighborhoods, which can house three to six residents in a mix of private and shared rooms. Unlike Assisted Living, Memory Care and Skilled Nursing facilities, which tend to have a ratio of one caregiver per six, eight or even twelve residents, family care homes guarantee a one caregiver to three resident ratio.

All, to the best of my knowledge, are private pay. The cost depends on the resident’s level of care need, staffing, and the location and amenities of each house. Just as an Assisted Living or Memory Care community sends out a nurse to assess the applicant’s needs before accepting them or setting their incoming monthly cost, so, too, do Family Care Homes. However, unlike most Assisted Living and Memory Communities, which often provide a base rate and then a menu of additional costs after the assessment (for care, medication and incontinence management), Family Care Homes tend to provide a single set, all-inclusive monthly charge.

The costs in this area tend to start at around $5,000/month and go up to as high as $9,000/month, for someone who is non-ambulatory and requires a lot of hands-on care. Only a handful Family Care Homes are equipped with the required sprinkler system to accommodate non-ambulatory residents.