Q. What are the Types of Adult Care Homes?

A.   Adult Care Home – An adult care home is a facility licensed by the Division of Health Service Regulation to provide residential care to seven or more adults who require some personal care and supervision along with room and board to ensure their safety and comfort.

Family Care Home – A Family Care Home is a home licensed by the Division of Health Service Regulation to provide residential care to two to six adults who require some personal care and supervision along with room and board to ensure their safety and comfort.


Q.   How do I select an adult care home for my relative?

A.   This web site has a list of all of the licensed homes in Durham County. It is recommended that you visit several homes to get a feel for each home. If possible, include the person who is going to be placed. You may want to scout the homes first and then take the person to the homes that were chosen. It is important that the person being placed is included in the planning.

      The following links can assist you when selecting a nursing home:

      Checklist for selecting a nursing home
       Checklist Link

      Compliance record of nursing homes
      http://medicare.gov

Q. How much does it cost to live in an Adult Care Home?

A.   For a person receiving State/County Special Assistance, the cost of care varies depending upon the level of care. The room and board portion is paid by the State/County Special Assistance and the personal care portion is reimbursed by Medicaid. Private pay clients can, and usually do, pay more; the rates can vary.

Q.   What services are covered by my monthly cost of care payment?

A.   State/County Special Assistance and Medicaid recipients receive the  following services with no additional charge: personal care, health care, three meals plus snacks daily, medication administration, activities, transportation services and housekeeping and laundry services. Private pay residents negotiate a contract with the home for these same services.

Q.   How can I find out if the person needing placement is eligible for State/County Special Assistance or Long Term Care Medicaid?

A.   The Department of Social Services has a long term care Medicaid Unit located at 414 East Main Street . They can be reached at 919-560-8000.

Q. What is the difference between an Adult Care Home and a Nursing Home?

A.   A nursing home is a health care facility that provides nursing or convalescent care to persons who need services by a licensed nursing staff. Adult Care Homes are not required to have nurses on staff and focus more on personal rather than nursing needs.

      The cost for care at a nursing home is paid by a person’s income and resources; if they are eligible, Medicaid will pay the additional expense.

      In an Adult Care Home, a person is paid by a person’s income and resources; if they are eligible, State County Special Assistance will issue an additional check to the individual to pay for their monthly cost of care. Medicaid will pay for the personal care portion of the monthly cost of care.

Q. Is there someone who can help me with placement services?

A.   In many cases, placement comes after a person has been hospitalized. The hospital has staff called Discharge Planners who can assist families with placement.

      The Department of Social Services has a social worker in Adult Services who can assist families with locating a facility. Call 919-560-8000 and ask to speak with the placement social worker.

Q.   What is the Community Advisory Committee?

A.   Durham County has two Advisory Committees: the Nursing Home Advisory Committee and the Adult Care Home Advisory Committee. Members are appointed by the County Commissioners. Their mandate is to work to maintain the Resident’s Bill of Rights and to promote community involvement and cooperation to ensure quality care.

      More information regarding the advisory committee can be found at:
      http://www.tjcog.org/aging-services.aspx

Q.   What are the responsibilities of the Advisory Committees?

A.   Members of the committee make quarterly visits to nursing homes and adult care homes and annual visits to each family care home. They work to ensure that the Resident’s Bill of Rights is followed and observe general conditions in the home at the time of their visit. They meet monthly to discuss their visits and complete a written report concerning their visit. The report documents the general conditions that were found at the time of the visit, including the appearance of the residents, the physical environment, activities offered, and any problems or conditions that should be rechecked on the next visit. These reports can be found on this web site under each home’s listing.

Q.   What is the ombudsman program?
A.   The Ombudsman Program mandate is to:

• Investigate and work to resolve complaints made by or on behalf of residents in long-term care facilities
• Educate people about their rights and the rules and regulations governing long-term care facilities
• Provide training and technical assistance to Community Advisory Committees (appointed volunteers) and long-term care facilities
• Work with long-term care providers to resolve issues of concern
• Promote community involvement with long-term care facilities and residents
• Collect and analyze data about complaints
• Act as mediators when residents have difficulty exercising their rights
• Provide information to the public agencies, legislators and the general public on issues affecting long-term care.

      More information regarding the ombudsman program can be found at:   http://www.tjaaa.org/ltc/welcome.htm

Q.   What is a Corrective Action?

A.   A Corrective Action Report is issued by the county adult home specialist for violations of state   licensure rules and the Resident’s Bill of Rights that impact directly and significantly on the health, safety and welfare of facility residents. A Corrective Action Report is also issued for less significant deficiencies that have not been corrected in a timely manner. A Corrective Action Report requires the facility to initiate a corrective action plan and stipulate when corrections will be made.

Q.   What is a Complaint?

A.   A complaint is an allegation of violation of state license rules or the Resident’s Bill of Rights that is called into the local Department of Social Services.

Q.   What is a Negative Sanction?

A.   Negative sanctions are actions that are imposed on a facility by the Division of Facility Services when conditions in the home are found to be detrimental to health or safety of the residents. Negative sanctions may include the imposition of administrative penalties (financial penalties), a suspension of admissions, downgrading a license to provisional status and license revocation.

We welcome your questions regarding long term care and plan to add additional questions to our list so they may help others who have the same questions.