Adult Family Care

Adult Family Care (AFC) is a program that provides a supportive family environment for people who need extra assistance living successfully in the community. AFC staff matches potential participants with host homes, and provides ongoing support and training to the participant and host. Hosts are paid monthly by Medicaid and receive room and board reimbursement, while participants only pay for room and board charges. Depending upon the level of need of the participant, a host can receive up to $18,000 to provide care that prevents or delays institutional care. One unique aspect of the program is that family members (excluding spouses, parents, or legally responsible adults) of participants can be paid for serving as hosts. SCES offers the program in the Greater Boston area and surrounding communities.

Participants

AFC participants are people living with a variety of different medical diagnoses, but they all need help with their activities of daily living. Some participants are frail elders who receive assistance from family members, while others are younger adults who are involved with the Department of Mental Retardation (DMR) or the Department of Mental Health (DMH). Some participants work, while others attend Adult Day Health programs.

Eligibility

• Age: 16 or older
• Chronic medical diagnosis that requires assistance with at least one activity of daily living per day (some examples include feeding, bathing, dressing, and ambulating)
• Caregivers may be any friend or family member other than a spouse, parent, or legally responsible relative and must meet qualifications specified by the state.

Services

• A family environment with their own bedroom
• Meals prepared for the participant and eaten with the host family
• Assistance with medication reminding and daily personal care needs
• Assistance with transportation to medical and social appointments
• Thorough screening of potential host families, including interviews, home assessments, three references, and a criminal history check
• Visits by RN every 60 days to monitor medical conditions, treatments, and vital signs
• Visits by social worker at least every 60 days to monitor the quality of the placement, and to provide support and crisis intervention as needed
• 24-hour emergency beeper coverage
• Coordination with participant's other providers (DMR, DMH, physicians)
• Medicaid participants are eligible five days of Adult Day Health
• Possibly other services, depending on the participant's needs

Fees

• Participant only pays room and board (approx $400 per month)
• All other services are paid for by Medicaid (also known as Mass Health)

Private pay options are available for non-Medicaid clients.