Guide to Group Homes and Board-and-Care Facilities: Rising Demand as Long-Term Care Solutions

As children, we relied on our parents for guidance, care, and protection. Over time, these roles often reverse, leaving us responsible for ensuring their safety, health, and dignity. It's a transition that requires careful planning and thoughtful decisions about long-term care options.

You and your parents are aging. As America's population grows older, families increasingly turn to group homes and board-and-care facilities as long-term care solutions. These residential settings offer a blend of personalized care, affordability, and a homelike environment, making them attractive alternatives to larger assisted living facilities and nursing homes.

Balancing Emotions and Practical Needs

Caring for aging parents often stirs a mix of emotions—love, gratitude, and sometimes guilt or stress. Many families initially try to provide care themselves, but balancing caregiving with work and family responsibilities often becomes overwhelming. Without a long-term care plan, difficult decisions must be made quickly.

Long-Term Care Insurance can significantly ease the burden of care planning. However, without an LTC policy, families often face the harsh reality that health insurance, including Medicare, only covers short-term skilled care. This leaves families weighing care costs, and the level of support relatives can realistically provide.

Finding the right care solution is not just a practical decision but also an emotional one, rooted in love and the desire to honor the care they once gave us.

What Are Group Homes?

Group homes, also known as residential care homes or adult family homes, are small, community-based facilities that typically house between six and ten residents. They provide room, board, and assistance with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and medication management. Located in residential neighborhoods, they create a more intimate and homelike setting than larger facilities.

Key Features of Group Homes

• Personalized Care: High staff-to-resident ratios allow for individualized attention.
• Community Focus: Small, homelike settings foster companionship and reduce isolation.
• Flexible Services: Assistance includes daily tasks, social activities, and transportation.
• Affordability: Group homes often cost less than larger assisted living or nursing facilities.

Licensed and regulated by state authorities, group homes must meet specific health and safety standards. Staff members, who may include certified nursing assistants or home health aides, are available around the clock to provide non-medical care and supervision.

Board-and-Care Homes

Board-and-care homes provide similar services to group homes, offering assistance with daily living tasks like bathing, dressing, and medication reminders. While they share the intimate, homelike atmosphere of group homes, board-and-care homes often cater specifically to elderly residents and may include more structured caregiving staff. These facilities prioritize independence while delivering non-medical support in a residential setting.

Key Features of Board-and-Care Homes

• Personalized Support: Focused on seniors who need help with daily activities but not intensive medical care.
• Residential Atmosphere: Located in neighborhoods, providing a familiar and comfortable environment.
• Staffing Options: Care is often provided by live-in caregivers or rotating staff, ensuring assistance is always available.

Group Homes vs. Board-and-Care Facilities: Key Differences

While both group homes and board-and-care facilities emphasize personalized care, they cater to slightly different needs. Understanding these differences can help families choose the best option.

Providing Long-Term Care Services for Older Adults

Both group homes and board-and-care facilities are designed to address the needs of older adults who require assistance with daily activities but do not need round-the-clock medical supervision.

Care services typically include:

• Assistance with personal hygiene and grooming
• Medication reminders and management
• Mobility support and fall prevention
• Meal preparation and dietary oversight
• Social and recreational activities to combat loneliness

Residents benefit from personalized care plans tailored to their specific needs, ensuring consistent support as their conditions evolve.

Rising Demand for Smaller Care Settings

By 2030, one in five Americans will be of retirement age, and the number of adults aged 85 and older—those most likely to require long-term care—is projected to triple by 2060. This demographic shift is fueling demand for affordable, personalized care models like group homes and board-and-care facilities.

When Are These Facilities Not Appropriate?

While group homes and board-and-care facilities offer excellent support for daily living, they may not meet the needs of seniors with complex medical conditions. Families should consider transitioning to assisted living or nursing homes when:

• Frequent medical emergencies occur.
• 24-hour skilled nursing or rehabilitative care is required.
• Behavioral challenges demand specialized supervision.
• Advanced memory loss requires dedicated memory care programs.

Assisted living can be an outstanding choice when your loved one requires more attention and support but doesn't need the intensive medical care provided in a nursing home. These communities are designed for older adults who are still relatively independent but may need help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, or medication management.

Assisted living facilities offer private or semi-private apartments, social activities, meal services, and 24-hour staff availability, striking a balance between independence and assistance. They also provide a safe, secure environment where residents can enjoy social interaction and personalized care without feeling institutionalized.

In contrast, group homes and board-and-care homes typically provide a more residential, homelike setting with fewer residents—often in converted houses—and focus on basic supervision and personal care.

While these options may be more affordable, they usually lack the amenities, structured programs, and medical oversight that assisted living communities offer. Assisted living facilities often have a wider range of services, including transportation, fitness programs, and recreational activities, making them ideal for seniors who value a more active and socially engaging lifestyle.

Assisted living delivers a perfect blend of comfort, safety, and support for families seeking a middle ground between complete independence and nursing home care.

Finding Assisted Living Facilities

Finding a quality assisted living facility where you or a loved one lives can be challenging. Moving into assisted living takes careful planning, research, and preparation.

Assisted living communities provide a variety of amenities designed to support seniors while promoting independence and quality of life. These amenities often include:

• Private living spaces for comfort and privacy
• Group meals and engaging activities to foster social connections
• Assistance with daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, and grooming
• Organized outings and social events to keep residents active and involved
• Support with nutrition and medication management to ensure health and well-being

You can see how these services can benefit your loved one when you check out this premier assisted living in Menomonee Falls. The LTC News Caregiver Directory is the first place you should go when researching quality long-term care services, including assisted living.

The directory is the most comprehensive long-term care services directory in the United States, with over 80,000 long-term care providers, including home care providers, senior living, assisted living, memory care, and nursing homes. You can quickly search for options and start your research -- at no cost to you.

For example, if you search Menomonee Falls, WI you will find several assisted living options, including the LakeHouse Menomonee.

Choosing the Right Long-Term Care Option

Group homes and board-and-care facilities are essential elements of today's long-term care options, offering personalized, affordable, and community-focused care solutions. While these options support independence and dignity, they are not suitable for every situation. When making decisions, families should carefully assess needs, finances, and facility capabilities.

Key Considerations

• Level of Care Needed: Evaluate whether daily assistance or specialized medical care is required.
• Budget: Determine affordability, as group homes and board-and-care facilities often cost less than nursing homes but more than independent living.
• Location: Proximity to family and medical providers can make visits and care coordination easier.
• Facility Reputation: Research licensing status, state inspections, and reviews to ensure the facility meets quality standards.

If your loved one has a Long-Term Care Insurance policy, it can help cover some or all of the costs, giving you and your family the freedom to choose the best care options without worrying about depleting assets or compromising on the quality. This financial support ensures your loved one receives the care they need while preserving financial stability and peace of mind for the entire family. With the rising cost of long-term care services nationwide, an LTC policy helps keep quality care in reach for your loved one or you in the future.

• The Ultimate Long-Term Care Insurance Guide

If your loved one has an LTC policy be sure you use the policy benefits. LTC NEWS has combined efforts with Amada Senior Care, a leading in-home healthcare agency with locations throughout the country, to help you process a claim from any LTC Insurance policy. There is no cost or obligation for this service - Filing a Long-Term Care Insurance Claim.

Plan Now

Proactive planning ensures your loved ones receive the care they deserve in a setting that prioritizes comfort, safety, and quality of life. However, planning starts before you or a loved one needs extended care. You usually don't plan for retirement after you retire. The same goes for long-term care planning.

Seek help from a qualified Long-Term Care Insurance specialist representing the top-rated insurance companies offering long-term care solutions. LTC News has a comprehensive section on LTC Insurance and long-term care planning - Long-Term Care Insurance Educational Resources.

Most people add an LTC policy to their retirement plan from ages 47 to 67. An LTC policy will reduce the stress and burdens otherwise placed on your family in the decades ahead when you need long-term care.