Board-and-Care Homes
A board-and-care home is a residential care home usually licensed to house two to six individuals who require intermittent nonmedical assistance throughout the day and night. They are usually for seniors, but some are set up as group homes for children or adults with various physical or mental disabilities, or developmental problems such as autism or Down syndrome.
Board-and-care homes are typically converted single-family homes, but they can also be small apartment houses converted to a larger board-and-care facility. Residents may have a private bedroom or share one with another resident. Usually they share bathrooms. Communal meals are provided. Assistance with activities of daily living is provided as needed, such as bathing, grooming, toileting, dressing, and feeding.
Residents cannot be bedbound; they must be able to ambulate. They may use a walker or cane, and they may require some minimal assistance to walk. In some instances, they can be in wheelchairs, as long as they can assist with the transfer to and from bed and wheel themselves about the facility. When a person requires moderate to maximum assistance, he needs to move to a higher level of care such as a skilled nursing facility.
Licensing agencies make periodic visits to ensure standards are being met, but these visits are often infrequent. It is suggested family members make unannounced visits to confirm conditions are sanitary and services are being rendered as promised. No medical care is provided by the staff in a board-and-care home. Home-health agencies may visit residents to provide intermittent nursing care such as treating wounds or providing physical, occupational, or speech therapy. Some homes allow residents to have a Foley catheter as long as a home-health nurse comes to change it regularly or in case of blockage or accidental dislodgment.
Many board-and-care homes are licensed and regulated by government agencies, but there are also some mom-and-pop homes that aren't licensed. Licensure status can be verified with your county or state government licensing office. Licensing helps ensure standards of care are being followed and that substandard care can be reported.
Some licensed board-and-care homes can accept government assistance payments for residents who receive government assistance such as SSI. Fees for care range $350–$3,500 per month depending on the location, facilities, and amount of assistance needed. Other than those who may qualify for SSI assistance, these fees are an out-of-pocket expense. Some long-term-care insurance policies will cover these costs. Check with your policyholder for more information.
