Group homes are all over the place and a significant percentage of them are doing a wonderful job caring for the most vulnerable among us. A trend today includes many of these homes adding a day time component that does not impact their resident census and that new component is known as Residential Adult Day Care.
Homes with six, (6), eight, (8) or even twelve, (12) residents are allowing anywhere from four, (4) to twelve, (12) others to come in and use the home during the day. In some cases, the full-time residents are gone to other adult day programs while the operators use this home for others, perhaps those with dementia. Families benefit from a smaller, less overwhelming environment and in the process caregiver relief is provided.
It’s also a wonderful added income for the home. However, it’s important that operators of residential adult day care – which is adult day care in a typical residential neighborhood and home – keep the following in mind:
- If you are under contract with an agency that refers residents and monitors that resident’s care, i.e. community mental health, make sure your using the home during the day for residential adult day care does not violate any contracts you signed or you could lose it all.
- If you are focused on a day-time population with dementia/Alzheimer’s disease, some of whom may be wanderers, be sure the doors are alarmed so staff is instantly notified if an egress door is breached.
- If you operate as a licensed facility for adult foster care or another regulatory designation, read the licensing rules to ensure your adult day operation does not violate administrative rules that govern your license to render residential care.
- In many cases state licensure may not be required, due to this not being a 24/7 operation. In that event still check with city and/or county zoning officials to ensure no legal breaches lie ahead of you.
- Be sure you have an organized activity program based upon a participant’s ability, cognition and interest. Maybe you can use exposure to the fun of electronics, using Skype to reach family that lives some distance away. Whatever you choose, keep it consistent and person-centered.
- Keep the fees reasonable, ideally $400.00 to $900.00 per month on a scale that considers the number of hours they are there.
Residential adult day services have so much to offer. Let’s just be sure we clear the hurdles in advance.
Sign-in and share your thoughts.
______________________________________________________________________
Another Blog Post from the minds of Direct Care Training & Resource Center, Inc. and its Chief Executive, Bruce W. McCollum. Join us for a monthly podcast, next edition on ITunes called, “All that Care Can Be” – August 15, 2017.
For more on our commitment to the exceptionalism of small-scale group living, join the LinkedIn Group: Small Scale assisted Living Success Strategies.
Photos and other images used are for the sole purpose of complementing written material and are not designed to imply or suggest an affiliation with or support by any individual or organization.