Adult Family Care: Unique Option for Independent Living

Adult Family Care (AFC) is a program which matches those who need extra assistance living successfully in the community with families and individuals who can provide a private bedroom, meals, limited personal care, transportation assistance, and medication reminding.

Hosts are paid monthly by Medicaid and receive room and board reimbursement from the participant. Hosts undergo a thorough assessment process to ensure the best possible match with a potential participant. AFC staff provide ongoing support and training to the participant and host. Hosts can have up to three AFC participants in their home.

AFC participants are people living with a variety of different medical diagnoses, ranging from epilepsy, to traumatic brain injury, to HIV/AIDS, and many more. Some participants work, while others attend Adult Day Health programs. Participants are age 18 or older and have a chronic medical diagnosis that requires assistance with at least one activity of daily living per day (e.g. feeding, bathing, dressing, ambulating). Participants cannot be immediately related to the host, but can be friends and may already be living together.

Medicaid pays the host $19.00 per day in TAX-FREE income (approximately $570 per month), while the participant pays at least $400 per month in room and board. Private pay options are available for non-Medicaid clients.

Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES) provides the AFC Program in the Greater Boston area as far north as Ipswich, and in the western suburbs. Potential hosts and participants should contact the SCES Aging Information Center at 617-628-2601 ext. 3151.