ADULT FAMILY HOME CONSULTING SERVICES

The Adult Family Homes (AFH) is a Residential Long Term Care setting that can provides “In Home” private individualized care for up to 6 to 8 residents with 24 hours / 7 days a week care and supervision. For a home to be licensed as an AFH, a house, in a Residential Community may be modified to have ramps, roll in showers, wider doors or hallways, and lowered windows. These homes are inspected by city building official to fit the needs of resident with physical disability. Once the home is inspected by DSHS and has met the requirements to operate as an AFH, the home will then be licensed as an Adult Family Home to care for up to 6 residents.

The AFH is operated by an Entity Representative who must have the required Credentials to operate an AFH. This individual may be married or single, with or without children or pets. Each AFH is required to have a Resident Manager to manage the day-to-day operations of the home and care of residents. The AFH can admit individuals as young as age 18 and can be cared for until the end of life.

Why is the AFH such a great Long-Term Option for Care? Because of the increased amount of time and attention a caregiver can provide residents living in the Adult Family Home. The AFH is an appealing option as compared to larger senior communities or facilities. As disability and care needs increase, residents may require a higher level of care which overall allows the resident to age in place in the AFH. Adult Family Homes can Specialize in different care needs, such as caring for those with Dementia, Mental Health, and Developmentally Disability. Some homes can care for individuals with multiple different types of health issues such Diabetes, COPD, Cancer, physical disability, etc. The Residents Health must be stable and predictable for care in the AFH.

Services in the AFH include Behavior Management, Medication Management, Care with Activities of Daily Living, Showers, Meal preparation, Feeding, Activities, Ambulation, Transferring, Cleaning services, and laundry services. More and more AFH’s are owned and operated by Nurses, we refer to as Private Duty Nursing AFHs. These homes are for residents who may require skilled or intermittent nursing care in a home setting. Some nursing care may include, intravenous infusion therapy, ventilator care, wound care, tube feeding, indwelling catheter care, and among others.

Residents living In the AFH can enjoy Socializing and Activities on a much smaller setting. Residents are encouraged to furnish and decorate their rooms as they prefer. Some Resident can enjoy outings, and many other activities as compared to larger settings. The AFH is a “Family” setting in which a household shares a support system that allow optimal health maintenance and well-being of each resident. The ability to demonstrate Independence and express personal needs and preferences is encouraged in the Adult Family Home.

Mary Tu’ifua RN, AFH Consultant

Elder Village Partners Consulting Services Director