It is no secret that many seniors who end up in nursing home are unhappy. They receive little or no attention, they are taken from a home environment and placed in a retirement facility, diets are usually poor, and activities lacking. They are also quite an expensive form of care. Nursing homes have been the standard in the past because of their accessibility and often close location to the resident's past home. However, there is a new standard in the world of elderly care. This new standard is a retirement home called an adult family home.

Adult family homes are simply a nursing community, provided out of a residential home. DHSH has placed certain restrictions and requirements on adult family homes to make them as safe and quality controlled as possible. Many seniors are turning to this new form of assisted living care because of the benefits provided. These benefits include:

1. A real home feeling. One of the main problems with nursing homes is they feel more like a hospital than a home. They are often large, impersonal facilities. Seniors are placed in their room in the facility and then must learn to interact with over 100 other seniors in the facility and get around the facility in their own. This is a shocking experience for seniors who have spent much of their lives in a personal home environment. Adult family homes are limited to 6 residents and are located in a residential home. This provides seniors with the feeling that they are living back at home, just with 5 other friends.

2. More specialized care available. Since adult family homes comprise of a maximum of 6 seniors, they are able to provide seniors with a more specialized and personal environment. A typical adult family home will usually have two to three caregivers. This allows each caregiver to provide personal attention to 2 residents on a full time basis. Those with Alzheimer's and more senior diseases receive the best care possible.

3. A smaller, more personal community. Being introduced to 100 other residents at a facility is an overwhelming experience for most. Adult family homes, being limited to only 6 residents, are a smaller community. The resident will only be introduced and grow a friendship with 5 other people. This allows for closer relationships and allows the seniors to grow closer to one another. A personal, friendship-filled environment is important for the resident to experience a home like feeling.

As we have seen, adult family homes can provide a real home feeling, more specialized and personal care, and a smaller community that a senior can't find with nursing homes. To gain more information on adult family homes, visit the link found below.