Residential care refers to care that takes place in a living situation other than a person's home. Residential care is designed for older adults who need help with either medical needs or daily activities of living but who don't need to be in a hospital. Some facilities offer only help with daily living. Others offer close supervision and mild medical care. Still others offer extensive medical care. Home-like board and care homes, rehabilitation facilities, and nursing homes are all residential care facilities.

The two main concerns people have are what quality of care is offered and how to afford the facility. Medicare only covers skilled nursing facilities for a certain number of days per year, and based only on medical need. Contact your Medicare office for more information. Private insurance may or may not contribute to costs. Look into facilities that may be partially funded by government or private agencies to make them more affordable.Here are some good questions to ask when choosing residential care:

• Are they licensed?
• How often are they inspected for their license?
• Do they take Medicare or other insurance?
• How many people does one nurse or caretaker look after?
• How many physicians, nurse practitioners, or other primary care providers are there?
• Is there a primary healthcare practitioner on the site or on call?
• How many people per room?
• What activities are offered?
• How much staff turnover is there?
• How close is it to friends and relatives?
• What are visiting hours and policies?
• What religious services are offered?

Check the facility for cleanliness, safety, and staff attitude. Talk with residents and with their visiting family members. Taste the food. Ask friends and professional people what they have heard about the facility. This is an important decision. If you ever have concerns that someone in a nursing home is being mistreated, contact Adult Protective Services in your area.

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