Adult Family Homes (AFH) are great options for seniors who would like to live in a home setting with other seniors.
Seattle has approximately 322 AFHs, and not all of them are providing the best services. Many news reports have put a spotlight on these low-quality ones showing how they are not caring for residents properly. The absence of care leads to serious risks, such as falls, worsened medical conditions, development of medical conditions and sickness.
It’s imperative to research AFHs before selecting the one for your older loved one. This way you know you’ll choose the one that will provide care that keeps her/him safe, comfortable and happy.
How to Find AFHs in Seattle
It’s quite easy to find AFHs in Seattle with a Google search, but that should be the least you do when trying to find one for your senior. After finding AFHs near you, it’s important to contact each one to see if they are licensed and regulated by the state.
When an AFH is licensed and regulated by the state, it must abide by specific rules and regulations to provide care. This ensures residents receive the highest quality of care possible.
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services requires the following training for all AFH staff.
- First Aid & CPR
- State Orientation
- Safety Training
- Orientation to the Facility
- 70 Hour Long-Term Care Worker Basic Training
- Specialty Training
- Nurse Delegation – Core and Special Focus on Diabetes
- Continuing Education
- Food Handling and Safety
- AFH Administrator Training
- AFH Orientation Class
Any AFHs that do not complete all of the above training will not be licensed and cannot present themselves as a licensed and regulated AFH in Washington.
Selecting a Seattle AFH for Your Older Loved One
While non-licensed AFHs may be less expensive, you get what you pay for in most cases with them. It is not recommended to use unlicensed AFHs because they may not have the experience, knowledge, and skills to provide adequate care to seniors.
Selecting the right AFH for your senior means checking for licensure and then ensuring they have the services required to take care of their health and wellness. This process can be extremely exhausting with hundreds of licensed AFHs in Seattle.
A1 Senior Care Advisors can help you with selecting an AFH for your senior. Our knowledgeable senior living specialists have a database, which they can use to specifically find the best options for the perfect match. Also, A1 Senior Care Advisors will do a minimum of two (2) years background check on all the facilities we recommend.
Within a very short time you can have a few AFH choices to consider, instead of spending countless hours looking for ones that meet your senior’s needs.
A1 Senior Care Advisors offer their services for free. Get started by calling 425-324-5592. Visit www.A1SeniorCareAdvisors.com and take a look at our 5 STAR reviews on Google.
