Large assisted living communities can be fun. They have lots of things to do and people to meet. But there are benefits to being in a more intimate setting too. For one thing, smaller residential care homes are often more homelike—especially if they’re inside a house!

How Small Is Small?

As we discuss in “What Is a Residential Care Home?” residential care comes in a variety of sizes—down to pretty tiny. The small types are called various names, depending on the state. In Michigan, adult foster-care homes care for up to six people. Across the lake, Wisconsin’s adult family homes house three or four clients. And in Iowa, you’ll find elder group homes for three to five people.

These small residential care facilities are often run out of personal houses, where a trained homeowner doubles as the caregiver.

Benefits of Intimate Settings

Here are a few benefits to living in places like these:

• Homey environment. The setting is more palatable for some people than an apartment-like setting or one that reminds them of a nursing home.
• Familial atmosphere. Ideally, clients become like members of the family, even participating in family activities.
• Personalized care. Caregivers have fewer people to tend to, so the care should be more personalized. For example, some large assisted living facilities aren’t able to provide meals for special diets. A residential care home may be able to do that. You’ll also generally have the same caregiver all the time.
• Independence. Residents should be able to maintain a good amount of control over their lives—for example, cooking in the kitchen, and leaving for some fun about town without having to sign out.
• Small group of people. Some folks prefer a smaller group of friends to a bustling community.

With all these benefits, small residential care homes may sound like an ideal solution for many people, but, as with any type of long-term care, there are potential dangers—elder abuse being one of the most serious. So be sure to look into the home carefully before moving in.

That said, if you find a compassionate caregiver who runs a reputable residential care home, the arrangement can indeed be a wonderful one.