The Guide

A Guide to Selecting a Personal Care Home for Your Loved One

How to select a Personal Care Home

Personal Care Homes have emerged as a result of our growing aging population, the increase in life expectancy and families are no longer living as extended family units with three or more generations under one roof.

Selecting the right personal care home for your loved one is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. The proper facility will make the difference in the mental, social, and physical well-being of your loved one. With that in mind, we hope this guide and also the checklist will assist you in choosing the home that is right for your loved one.

What is a personal care home

Personal Care Homes are relatively new, having become popular in the 1980’s to provide programs of personal care for senior citizens. Up until that time, most assisted care was provided by “nursing homes” and the idea of living out one’s golden years in a “nursing home” was not looked upon as a happy way to spend those years. Personal care homes offer residents the personal care and assistance they need as needed, and also supports them in their continued independence and pursuit of personal interests.

Personal Care, a part of long-term care, provides a combination of personal services, housing, housekeeping, and health care planned for each individual to address their needs for help with normal day-to-day activities, yet still allowing the individual to maintain a maximum level of independence.

A successful personal care experience will combine, in a group setting, personal services, supervision and, when necessary, assistance, activities, and health-related services. When combined successfully, these services will:

* Minimize the need to up-root and relocate the resident
* Accommodate the individual’s developing needs and preferences
* Maximize a resident’s dignity, autonomy, privacy, safety and independence
* Encourage family and community involvement.

Personal Care may be found as part of acute care hospitals, integrated into skilled nursing facilities, part of retirement communities, or free-standing facilities.

Mary’s Haven is a free-standing personal care home for assisted living conveniently located in the heart of downtown Adel, GA. This is a residential neighborhood that is quiet, safe and comfortable to many of our residents.