Personal Care Community
These licensed long-term care communities offer comprehensive, around-the-clock care and supervision for senior residents. Personal care communities are only available in specific states, such as Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
What Is a Personal Care Community?
Personal care communities are a type of long-term care community in certain states, including Kentucky and Pennsylvania. Though more comprehensive than assisted living facilities, they are similar, still offering basic care to residents 24 hours a day. Under state authority, personal care communities must provide, at minimum, the following services to their residents:
- Around-the-clock supervision
- Assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) as needed
- Personal services such as housekeeping and laundry
- Basic health care such as medication reminders and supervision
- Arrangements for therapeutic services as ordered by a resident’s physician
- Social and recreational activities
In addition, personal care communities must provide residents with three meals a day. These meals must meet residents’ nutritional and dietary needs.
These homes are licensed by the Office of Inspector General.
Is Personal Care a Good Fit?
Consider these statements below to determine if a couple of them describe you, or your loved one:
- Having someone on hand all the time would be helpful
- I would prefer to be surrounded by others, versus living alone
- Regular meal preparation would be helpful
- I no longer feel safe living in my home alone
- Family or friends are not nearby if I need help with daily tasks
- I have a slight shuffle as I walk, and I often grab onto furniture for assistance
If most or all of the above statements apply, then a Personal Care Community may be a good option. You could also consider the following solutions:
If you or your loved one are in better health than these statements indicate, the following solutions may be a better fit:
If you or your loved one need more hands-on care, the following options may be a better fit:
Questions to Ask When Considering a Personal Care Community
Financial
- Is there an entrance fee?
- What is the monthly fee?
- What does the monthly fee cover?
- What other services are provided at an additional cost?
Social
- Does their activity program appeal to you?
- Is there scheduled transportation?
- Are there regular outings?
Environmental
- Does it appear to be a warm and hospitable setting?
- Do the residents seem cared for and content?
- Is there a controlled entry system (especially important if there’s a concern about your loved one wandering)?
- Visit during off hours (like in the evenings or on weekends).
- Does the community still look as well maintained and organized as it did during daytime hours?
Staffing
- Is the staff friendly and helpful?
- Is someone available 24 hours a day?
- How often and how many nurses are staffed at a time?
- Does the person giving a tour of the facility know the names of the residents they pass in the hallway? This is a good indicator of the staff involvement.
- What is the average length of employment for the community?
Still not sure? Take our Care Assessment to see what care level may be best.
