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What is Board & Care Homes?
A Board and Care Home is a housing facility for seniors or for individuals with disabilities who want
or need to be in a group living situation and who may need assistance with personal care and daily
living activities. Typically, a Board and Care facility is selected when 24-hour, non-medical
supervision is needed or desired. Board and Care homes were the first widely recognized form of
assisted living, and as such, they have been regulated by government agencies; but many Board and
Care homes are of the “mom and pop” variety and not licensed. Thus, if a Board and Care home is
under consideration, licensure status should be verified with a county or state licensing office.
Board and Care homes can be a converted single-family home with up to 6 residents or may be a
large building similar to an apartment building with over 100 residents. A characteristic feature of
Board and Care is that communal meals are provided, and there is daily contact with staff.
In various parts of the world, you will find many other names for Board and Care Homes
such as:
such as:
- Adult Foster Care Homes
- Residential Care Facilities
- Retirement Homes
- Assisted Living Facilities
- Adult Care Homes
- Personal Care Operations
- Sheltered Care Homes
- ndependent Living Facilities
- Domiciliary Care
An example of varied names for Board and Care comes from the state of Washington where a
facility for 6 individuals or less is called an “Adult Family Home” while facilities licensed for
between 7 and 150 residents are called “Boarding Homes.” While many Board and Care Homes are
for seniors, some specialize in the care of younger people, or people with special needs. Depending
upon licensing, a Board and Care Home might serve only elderly, or people with disabilities or
chronic psychiatric problems, or Alzheimer’s patients.
Residents of a Board and Care Home have a private or shared room and may have private or shared
bathrooms. The rooms usually do not include a kitchen, since providing meals is a major function
of the facility. Facilities generally have some common areas for socializing which include a dining
area and one or more other rooms that are mainly for informal contact.
The larger facilities will often have other rooms that might be used for classes, concerts, lectures,
films, games, or exercise programs. Sometimes outdoor areas are also available with some
amenities such as swimming pool, shuffleboard or Jacuzzi.
facility for 6 individuals or less is called an “Adult Family Home” while facilities licensed for
between 7 and 150 residents are called “Boarding Homes.” While many Board and Care Homes are
for seniors, some specialize in the care of younger people, or people with special needs. Depending
upon licensing, a Board and Care Home might serve only elderly, or people with disabilities or
chronic psychiatric problems, or Alzheimer’s patients.
Residents of a Board and Care Home have a private or shared room and may have private or shared
bathrooms. The rooms usually do not include a kitchen, since providing meals is a major function
of the facility. Facilities generally have some common areas for socializing which include a dining
area and one or more other rooms that are mainly for informal contact.
The larger facilities will often have other rooms that might be used for classes, concerts, lectures,
films, games, or exercise programs. Sometimes outdoor areas are also available with some
amenities such as swimming pool, shuffleboard or Jacuzzi.
A Board and Care Home provides the following services:
- A basic room for sleeping that might include a desk, chair with reading lamp, or TV. (For
low-cost units the room may be shared.) - Meals
- Help with daily activities, such as money management and setting up health care and other
appointments - Custodial help: reminding, laundry, housekeeping, transportation
- Reminders to take medications
- Daily contact with staff (supervision)
Additional services that a Board and Care may provide (depending upon the facility’s
specialty and licensing):
Residential care is very cost effective as well, on the average about half the cost of nursing home
care. The cost of residential care for an elderly person can range from $1500 to $4,500 a month,
depending on the care needs, the quality of the accommodations and the location of the facility. The
average cost in a six bed home is $2500 a month for a shared bedroom and $3500 a month for a
private bedroom. Most residential care homes have private rooms available for their residents as
well as shared rooms. Very few of the smaller homes will accept someone on SSI unless the family
can supplement the SSI rate, usually by a few hundred dollars a month. Some larger facilities will
still accept someone on SSI who needs minimal personal care services.
specialty and licensing):
- Assisted living, such as bathing or grooming
- Dispensing of medications
- Social, recreational, and spiritual activities
Residential care is very cost effective as well, on the average about half the cost of nursing home
care. The cost of residential care for an elderly person can range from $1500 to $4,500 a month,
depending on the care needs, the quality of the accommodations and the location of the facility. The
average cost in a six bed home is $2500 a month for a shared bedroom and $3500 a month for a
private bedroom. Most residential care homes have private rooms available for their residents as
well as shared rooms. Very few of the smaller homes will accept someone on SSI unless the family
can supplement the SSI rate, usually by a few hundred dollars a month. Some larger facilities will
still accept someone on SSI who needs minimal personal care services.
Residential Care Facility Listing
