Why Adult Family Care?
People who are unable to live independently because of a medical, physical or developmental disability will benefit from meaningful, lasting relationships in a family or family-like setting, a setting where their needs are met, their interests and choices are supported and involvement with their community is encouraged.

Adult Family Care recognizes and supports the extraordinary commitment people make when they care for a loved one in their home or place their trust in a home-away-from-home for that loved one.  It is a program that provides compassionate, individualized care as well as funding to support that care.

Caregivers receive a tax-exempt stipend and a room-and-board payment from the individual’s benefits.

Why us?

Specialized Home Care has been a leader in the field of Shared Living since 1974, when it pioneered in developing the first Shared Living model in Massachusetts.  Adult Family Care, a program of Specialized Home Care, provides a variety of living models based on the current and changing needs of the individuals we serve.

This model reflects the belief that individuals thrive and grow to their maximum potential for independent, fulfilled lives when they have strong, ongoing personal relationships, access to community activities and individualized care that matches their unique needs and capabilities.  Adult Family Care embraces this philosophy and is an alternative to group living arrangements.

Why choose Adult Family Care?  Our services provide the quality care necessary to support each client’s specific needs – providing the family with support and peace of mind and the individual with an enhanced quality of life.

How it works:

Individuals age 16 or over who require daily physical assistance, prompting or supervising to perform Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s) may receive care from paid family or non-family caregivers in their home.

Specialized Home Care provides and trains caregivers to deliver care in the caregivers’ home.  A Registered Nurse regularly visits the home, monitors health needs and develops a plan of care.  A Placement Coordinator provides case management through regular visits, ensuring quality of care and accessing resources, and support is available 24/7.  Overnight respite is also available for caregivers.

The facts you need to know:

The program -- A Medicaid/Mass Health funded program, Adult Family Care pays family and non-family caregivers for their care of eligible adults with physical, cognitive or mental disabilities.  Caregivers receive a monthly, tax-exempt stipend in addition to a room-and-board payment from the individual’s benefits.

Eligibility to receive care – Individuals age 16 or over who are eligible for Mass Health and have a physical or mental disability or medical condition that requires daily physical assistance, prompting or supervision to successfully complete ADL’s are eligible to apply for Adult Family Care.

ADL’s considered for eligibility – ADL’s considered in establishing eligibility for Adult Family Care are bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring from one position to another, ambulating and eating.  Behavior management issues, such as wandering, resistance to care and verbal abuse, are also considered.

Eligibility determination – A Registered Nurse completes a detailed inquiry and assessment of the individual’s needs and capabilities.  A physician completes a Patient Summary and makes a recommendation for Adult Family Care.  Mass Health makes the final determination of eligibility.

Eligibility to become a paid caregiver – Parents who are not legal guardians of their child who is over 18, other family members (siblings, aunts, uncles, etc.) and friends of the family may be approved as caregivers.  When needed, the agency will provide and train a caregiver, who will care for the individual.

Spouses and parents who are legal guardians cannot receive payment through Adult Family Care.  If their child is over 18 and the parents are co-guardians, one parent can receive the stipend if the other relinquishes guardianship or another person becomes the guardian.