Family Resources

Is Personal Care Right For Me?

A personal care home is a residential facility that provides living space and meals, along with personal care services, assistance with the tasks of daily living, and supervision to adults who no longer wish to, or who are no longer able to, live on their own.

Residents generally are mobile, active, older adults; however, personal care homes also are able to provide care for individuals who have physical, behavioral, or cognitive disabilities that do not require skilled nursing care but who otherwise are unable to care for themselves.

Personal Care Home staff take care of routine tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and other chores, leaving you with more time for things you enjoy, such as spending time with friends or engaging in hobbies and other interests.

In Pennsylvania, personal care homes are licensed by the Department of Public Welfare. Personal care homes are different from assisted living facilities, which are designed to allow residents to "age in place" regardless of the level of care they may require, and nursing homes, which are designed for individuals who require skilled nursing or rehabilitation services.

Many seniors move to a personal care facility while they are still in great health and functioning well at home.

Some signs that it may be time for you or a loved one to consider a personal care home include:

Fear of living alone or falling
Inability to provide proper meals or nutrition
Forgetting to take medications
Missing appointments
Needing help with bathing or dressing
Feelings of loneliness or isolation
Inability to clean and maintain your home

There's No Place Like Home... For Growing Old

Remaining in your own home as you age is becoming easier through the growth of services and support through government funding. With pre-planning to ensure that your needs are met and to prepare a Plan B in case of unexpected changes, you can enjoy the best quality of life wherever you are.

For you to thrive at home, these needs must be met:

Home is clean and easy to navigate without risk of falling
Nutritious food is available daily
Medications are taken as prescribed
Personal hygiene is maintained
Regular social interaction is available

Even if you can’t do all of those things, you can find help through friends, family, church and a growing number of services. A good resource is the STEP Office of Aging in Williamsport, 570-326-0587, which can help you find assistance with cleaning, shopping, transportation, social activities, nursing care and meeting other needs. Some services may be eligible for payment through a recent Federal grant aimed to serve more elderly and disabled Pennsylvanians in their own homes.

Because it’s difficult to notice changes that indicate you need assistance, enlist a friend or family member to alert you if they notice things are getting off track. Things to look for include:

A change in health or death of one spouse—sometimes one spouse’s capabilities can mask deficits in another
A fall
Lack of cleanliness of the home, clothing or individual
No food or moldy food in the refrigerator
Extreme weight loss or gain
Missed appointments
Frequent emergency room visits
Evidence of a fire in the cooking area

All of these changes should be investigated. Waiting too long to fill in the gaps could impact your health.

If you have adult children who live far away, they can keep tabs by contacting clergy, friends, a housekeeper or others who interact with you regularly. During telephone calls expect them to ask you about social activities, meals and your general satisfaction with life.

You should also ask for your healthcare provider’s recommendations about the best living environment for you as medical changes occur. Because chronic illness and physical changes can affect a person’s ability to remain at home, it’s best to investigate other living options before the need suddenly arises. There are three main types of long-term care facilities:

Independent care — for people who can take care of all of their needs but prefer living without the responsibilities of a home.

Personal care — assistance with tasks such as personal hygiene, managing medications, meal preparation may be needed but would be able to evacuate the building without assistance.