Sarasota Senior AdvisorWhat is an adult family care home in Florida?
An adult family care home (AFCH) is a full-time, family-type living arrangement in a private home, licensed by AHCA under Part II of Chapter 429, Florida Statutes, in which the licensee lives in the home and provides room, board and personal care for up to five disabled adults or frail elders who are not relatives.
AHCA's locator shows 13 licensed adult family care homes in Sarasota and Manatee counties (9 in Manatee, 4 in Sarasota), listed on the adult day and family care roster.
How is an adult family care home different from a six-bed ALF?
In an AFCH the licensed provider must live in the home and the capacity tops out at five residents, while a small ALF can be run by staff who do not live there and is licensed under Part I of Chapter 429 with its own admission, staffing and fire-safety rules.
Many six-bed homes in Sarasota and Bradenton neighborhoods are ALFs, not AFCHs. The roster shows which license each one holds.
Who is a good fit for an adult family care home?
An AFCH can suit an older adult who needs supervision and help with personal care, wants a household rather than a building, and does not need nursing care beyond what a visiting home health agency can provide.
The small size means fewer activities and less backup staff; ask who covers when the provider is away, and how medical emergencies are handled at night.
Can Medicaid or optional state supplementation pay for an adult family care home?
Florida's optional state supplementation (OSS) program covers eligible residents of AFCHs as well as ALFs, using the same income standard under rule 65A-2.036, and some Medicaid long-term care plans contract with AFCHs.
Ask the home directly whether it accepts OSS or contracts with the resident's Medicaid long-term care plan.
How do I check an adult family care home's license?
Search AHCA's FloridaHealthFinder locator under the facility type Adult Family Care Home; the profile shows the license number, licensed capacity, status and any sanctions.
Our roster lists every AFCH in the two counties with its license number.
At a glance
| An adult family care home is | An adult family care home is not | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Up to five residents | A building with shifts of staff |
| Provider | Someone who lives in the home | An absentee operator |
| Care | Room, board and personal care | Nursing care |
Sources include Chapters 408, 429 and 651 of the Florida Statutes, Fla. Admin. Code chapters 59A-36 and 65A-2, AHCA, DCF, OIR and Elder Affairs pages, CareScout and VA rate tables as cited above; see our editorial standards.
