FAQ
This is Local Care Homes FAQ page.
What is an Adult Family Home?
An Adult Family Home is a residential care home licensed by the Department of Social and Health Services. They are licensed for up to 8 residents and can vary widely in the services they offer. There are some that specialize in the needs of Developmentally Disabled and other mental health conditions of adult of all ages, while most are specialized in elder care.
Do all Adult Family Homes generally offer the same services?
No, while some Adult Family Homes offer care that covers essentially every possible need a person could imagine, others are more specific. To account for this our filters offer 35 different options for Medical & Care Needs to ensure that you can find options that can work for you or your loved one.
How much do Adult Family Homes Charge?
The pricing for care in an Adult Family Home can vary quite a lot, in Western Washington the rates typically range from $6,000 to $10,000+ per month depending on the level of care. The bigger factor for affordability will come down to the Medicaid Spend Down policy, in other words, how long they require a client to be Private Pay before they transition to Medicaid. Our Network has Adult Family Homes that range from locations that accept Medicaid from new residents to others that require 3 or more years of Private Pay. If you have limited Private Pay funds, we can definitely find options for you that will be willing to work with you or if you prefer to search on your own, be sure to select Adult Family Homes that accept Medicaid from new clients as they will be the most flexible on price.
Do Adult Family Homes Accept Medicaid?
Absolutely, we have many wonderful Adult Family Homes in our network that accept new Medicaid residents. Just be sure to select Medicaid under source of funds in our filter and the you will see only Adult Family Homes that accept Medicaid from new Residents.
What steps do I need to take to place a loved one in an Adult Family Home?
- Get an Assessment. In order to place a loved one or yourself into an Adult Family Homean Assessment will be required. If you are Private Pay then that assessment will be done through a privately contracted nurse. We typically use Michelle Lowder 253-384-7626. Or check out her website here MJGutenberg - Compassionate Healing. The Assessment will allow the Provider to determine if they can properly care for the needs of you or your loved one as well as establish a price for that care. It is also required by the state before any resident moves into an Adult Family Home. If you are on Medicaid then you will get your Assessment through DSHS. You’ll need to contact the Case Manager for the person looking to move into an Adult Family Home. Specifically request an “Adult Family Home Assessment”. These can take several weeks to get scheduled and completed, so the sooner you get that going the better. If you or your loved one is not currently signed up for Medicaid, but need to, click here Washington Connection
- Find an Adult Family Home. There are thousands of Adult Family Homes in Western Washington with some cities having 300 or more. That’s a lot to choose from and figuring out which ones will accept the care needs of yourself or your loved one, as well as their financial situation can be daunting. Our Filters allow you to search for Adult Family Homes based on City, which can be narrowed down by Zip code. 35 different Care & Medical options, as well as other personal criteria, such as gender, smoking, pets, etc. Ensuring the options you see are options that can actually work for you.
- Tour the Homes. After you’ve submitted the “Get a Quote” or “Schedule a Tour” form, the Provider will be in touch with you. So long as you feel comfortable with your conversation, the next step will be touring. There are many good Providers, but ultimately choosing an Adult Family Home is a personal choice, you’re not just choosing care for you or your loved one, you’re choosing a home. Trust your instincts. Do you get along well with the Provider? does the home feel warm and inviting to you? Do you think that you or your loved one would feel comfortable with the other residents? It’s often the intangible qualities that make a place feel like home. If you don’t click then you don’t click, you don’t need to settle for something that you don’t feel good about.
- Sign the Agreement and Move In. Assuming that you’ve already gotten the Assessment completed, once you’ve chosen an Adult Family Home the resident or their POA will have to sign an agreement with the Provider. After that is done, you can usually move in immediately.
How do I directly Contact an Adult Family Home Provider?
On the listing page for each Adult Family Home is an option to “Get a Quote” or “Schedule a Tour”. Just submit that form and it is sent directly to the Provider.
This is all a bit confusing, can I get some help?
We’d love to help you out, our advisors have been working in elder care for many years and have lots of experience in helping people find the right care for themselves or their loved ones. We are committed to finding you what you’re looking for. Find Adult Family Homes near you, Start Your Search