Adult Foster Care vs. Assisted Living
How the two compare in size, staffing, daily life and Medicaid, so your family can choose with confidence.
THE SHORT ANSWER
Size and setting are the big difference
Both give older adults help with daily living. Adult foster care is a licensed home with a small number of residents, often five or fewer, with home-cooked meals and caregivers who know each person well. Assisted living is a larger community with many apartments, shared dining and scheduled activities.
Medicaid is accepted in contracted Oregon adult foster homes and in some assisted living communities. We welcome both Medicaid and private pay at all three of our homes.
When adult foster care fits
Families often choose a foster home when personal attention matters most.
- Memory loss or confusion in a busy setting
- Mobility needs and help with transfers
- Care after a hospital or rehab stay
- A loved one overwhelmed by a large building
- A preference for home-cooked, family-style meals
- Caregivers who know each resident by name
- Medicaid as the payer, now or later
How to compare your options
Every family’s situation is different. These four steps help you compare adult foster care and assisted living fairly.
1. List the needs
Write down the care your loved one needs now, and what may change, such as medications, mobility and memory.
2. Compare the setting
Ask how many residents each caregiver looks after at night, and who handles medication.
3. Visit in person
Tour more than one place. Notice whether residents seem comfortable and whether caregivers know them by name.
4. Check payment
Ask what happens if Medicaid becomes the payer later, and get all costs in writing.
Medicaid and private pay
We welcome both Medicaid and private pay at all three of our homes. For Medicaid, a state or county case manager is part of the planning. For private pay, we will go over costs with you in writing.
Not sure how Medicaid works? Read our plain-English guide to Medicaid for adult foster care in Oregon.
Call us and we will talk through which path fits your situation.
Start the conversation
Call us at 503-930-2557 to talk through your options, ask questions, or arrange a tour of any of our three homes. You can also read our frequently asked questions.