Family Care Homes - Another Option
We've all had loved ones say, or at least discuss, about loved ones either going into a Retirement "Home" or "Community" or at least having a discussion regarding the topic. But the term "Retirement Communities" or "Homes" is a very broad description that encompasses many different type of Retirement Communities, Facilities, or even actual "Homes" that provide care for Seniors needing either basic assistance with their ADL's (activities of daily living) or for even more acute levels of care. And these names of communities/facilities/homes can vary according to the area of the country you live in. For today's conversation, I will not delve into the many different name differences because they truly could alter by each state. But we will address the major types that are out there.
Independent Living (IL) can be broken out into two main area's - Active Adult Living and Independent Senior Living. Often times "Active Adult Living" refers to private homes, within an overall community, that attracts mainly seniors because of organized activities and/or nearby attractions - like the coast or mountains. Some Active Adult Communities (ie, Sun City) are huge and can/cannot be gated and can include up to 15,000 homes. "Independent Living" often times are Senior Apartments or Condo's with a centralized restaurant and/or activity room. Unlike Active Adult Living, whereby you usually own your own house, with "Independent Living" you are normally paying a monthly rent or lease to live in the Community. No direct healthcare supervision is on-site usually at either Active Adult Living or Independent Living Communities .............. hence the term "Independent Living".
Usually the next Level of Care is "Assisted Living" (ALF) which is the common term throughout the country. This type of care truly does help with Activities of Daily Living (ADL's) either intermittently or on a regular basis. Residents usually rent out a room on a monthly basis (like Independent Living), but unlike the former, the Community will have CNA's (Certified Nursing Assistants), MedTechs, LPN's, and RN's on staff for on-going healthcare needs. As a result of the additional level of Skilled Care on staff, monthly costs when moving to Assisted Living usually go up substantially then if living in Independent Living or Active Adult Living. And, in many cases, the amount of space a Resident has in either a Private or Shared Room decreases substantially. Often times, ALF's will also have Memory Care wings as well - for those clients whereby Dementia has set-in to the point that more direct Supervision is needed.
The next Level of care would then be Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF's) - which, in the past, was commonly referred to as "Nursing Homes"; a term that the whole industry does not like to use anymore. It usually conjures up a negative mindset of people lingering around on virtual life support waiting awaiting death. Most of the times, this is not the case at all. SNF's have become short-term and long-term rehab communities that work closely with Hospitals. Hospitals, as everyone has seen in time, has relied a lot on SNF's to be able to patients get better in a safe environment with Skilled Care while, at the same time, freeing up much needed Beds in Hospitals.
Another category of Retirement Communities that often times incorporate all of the above includes CCRC's; otherwise known as Continuous Care Communities. These retirement communities will often have Independent Living (Apts and/or Homes), Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing Community, and Memory Care. Many people like this since they can transition from one level of care (when needed) within the same grounds of the same Retirement Community. However, often times these communities are pricey and, in some cases, have a high buy in to get in.
There are exceptions to what I am about to say, but I think it comes as no surprise that over the years a lot of the Retirement Communities have been consolidating. Many of the Church/Religious affiliated or Mom & Pops (Independents) have sold out to large corporate run Senior Retirement Communities that are often so large they are traded on various stock markets. Some people feel that the individuality of the privately run, smaller, retirement communities are going away, because of this consolidation, whereas others like the "Big Box" mentality of uniformity. Regardless, it is not for everyone.
A new and growing trend is something that falls in the middle of probably Independent Living, Assisted Living, and CCRC's - and that is Family Care Homes (FCH). Some states have not recognized them yet or perhaps understood the benefits of what they have to offer to Seniors. Some states call them other names such as Residential Care Communities. While others states (ie, California, Ohio, NC, Florida etc. etc.) have had them for many years, they are growing, and truly recognize their need to offer a High Quality Level of Senior Care.
In a nutshell, Family Care Homes are Private Houses/Homes, often times in actual neighborhoods, that are up-fitted and/or built to care for Seniors needing 24/7 Supervision. They must be licensed and be under the strict supervision of the state they operate in. They must provide Caregivers that are licensed to provided 24/7 care for the residents. In NC, for example, FCH's are licensed by the Department of Health and Human Services and a licensed Administrator must operate them. Activities, Diet Plans, Meal Preparation, Bathing, Personal Care, etc. etc. is provided by the Caregivers in the Home. Some FCH's accept State Medicaid Plans, LT Care Insurance (dependent upon the home and the plan), and some accept only Private Pay. Usually Third Party and/or VA/Tri-Care does not pay for such an Option. But for those families that are willing and/or wanting to help coordinate a loved on live in an actual "Home" or "House", with state licensed and monitored 24/7 care, FCH's are a great option. A FCH, at least in the state of NC, cannot have more than 6 residents at any given time. Thus, caregiver to resident ratio is much lower and they are physically closer to the residents/people. Often times other FCH residents become second families to the residents and to the owners of the Family Care Homes. The house often times tend to be more communal and inviting since it is more of a smaller, "homier" place. Meals are not prepared for 85 to 120 people in large commercial kitchens but rather by one individual in a smaller family kitchen.
Family Care Homes (FCH) are not for everyone or everyone's loved ones but it is an ever growing popular option for seniors not wanting Corporate America retirement communities. I encourage you to look at it seriously, in your respective cities/towns, as another serious option. In the end, having spent 10 years myself in the Senior Care Industry, I recognize that Seniors, and their families, want to be educated on the best options available out there to make the best decision for their specific loved ones.
Phil Koch
ComForCare Home Care / Tel: 704-543-0630 / www.homecarecharlottenc.com
Senior Retreat at Lansdowne / Tel: 704-543-0643 / www.seniorretreat.com