What an adult family home is
Washington law defines an adult family home as a residential home that provides personal care, special care, room and board to more than one and up to six adults. With approval from the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), a home may serve up to eight.
Homes are licensed and inspected by DSHS Residential Care Services. Each home's license, specialties and inspection reports are public.
Who it tends to suit
Adult family homes can suit people who need daily help with personal care and would do better in a quieter, household-sized setting. Some homes hold specialties in dementia, mental health or developmental disabilities.
What a home can provide varies a great deal. Two homes with the same license can have very different staffing, experience and routines.
What to check
- The home's license and specialties in the DSHS lookup
- Recent inspection reports and any enforcement actions
- Who is on site overnight, and whether they are awake
- Whether the home has a DSHS contract to accept Medicaid, if that may matter now or later
- The written agreement, the monthly rate and what it includes
Common questions
Can an adult family home accept Medicaid?
Only homes with a DSHS contract can accept Medicaid. Ask the home directly, and ask whether a resident who starts as private pay can stay if they later qualify for Medicaid.
How is this different from assisted living?
An adult family home is a house with a handful of residents. Assisted living facilities generally serve seven or more residents, usually in a larger building with apartments or rooms and shared spaces.