Questions & Answers
FAQ and Policies / Procedures
Welcome to the Blue Ridge AFH FAQ page. Here you’ll find answers to common questions about life at Blue Ridge Adult Family Home and how adult family homes in Seattle compare to other senior care options. Our goal is to provide clarity and peace of mind as you explore the right choice for your loved one.
Adult Family Homes – General Questions and Answers
A: An Adult Family Home, is one of the living arrangements available to senior citizens who cannot comfortably or safely live alone while still living in an actual home vs a more institutional environment.
A: It is very common and is expressed by many to us when faced with this very difficult decision. Rest assured, caring for the safety of your loved one is a loving gesture. Eventually, dangerous falls and other issues have to finally be acknowledged and addressed by the family or guardian. It can be a daunting task for families to care for an elderly person, and can be distracting from jobs, family, activities, children, and careers, especially if their loved one also has special needs and services required. Many times the responsibility is placed on one family member who then suffers burnout. Often the best solution is to place a family member in a safe, professional yet homestyle environment where care is focused on their needs 24 hours a day.
A: Yes, they generally offer the same type of care, but differ in levels of care offered. In the state of Washington each home is generally limited to a maximum of 6 residents depending on the ability or size of the home. There is an exception to expand that to 8 bedrooms if the home has a full home fire sprinkler system such as Blue Ridge AFH . Many have shared rooms due to size of the home, while some larger ones can offer private rooms. A private room is generally more expensive than a shared one, and a shared room is generally available for clients with limited Medicaid financing, or because of size limitation of the home.
Blue Ridge Adult Family Home is a large custom home and offers approximately 2600 square feet of wheelchair accessible resident living on the level main floor. There are 8 private bedrooms, 4 of which have private bathrooms and 2 of which have a large shared bathroom. Each bathroom has a walk in shower and a wall heater. The main bath also has a large roll-in shower.
A: Adult family homes, like Blue Ridge AFH, often offer a more affordable option than larger assisted living or nursing home facilities. Because they are smaller, more residential, and have fewer beds, their overhead is usually lower. That means you still get high-quality personal care, meals, and support—but often at a significantly reduced cost. If you’re considering long-term care, we’ll be happy to help you compare exact cost estimates so you can choose what fits best for your family’s budget and care needs.
A: Generally there are three basic types:
Assisted Living facilities are for people who are independent in most ways and who are fully cognizant but might need some assistance with daily living activities. Assisted living is a desired place for seniors who do not yet need an adult family home. They are ambulatory, can easily walk to elevators to the lunchroom and activities that are provided, and do not need watching while sleeping during the night. They live as independently as possible in an apartment setting. Assisting living facilities are typically not licensed to give nursing care.
An Adult Family Home is for those who are forgetful, may fall, need help with remembering things, need assistance with activities of daily living, need monitoring or supervision during the day and at night, or who need more intensive help and care. When the senior requires 24-hour specialized care and he/she is at risk for injuring themself, then he/she should consider moving to an Adult Family Home which has both day and night professional licensed care.
A Nursing Home is for those that require more advanced or specialized care in which a typical Adult Family Home cannot provide. A person who has been determined by a physician to have a condition that requires skilled nursing facilities (i.e., they are a danger to themselves or others or have a debilitating condition) would be a candidate for a nursing home.
A: There are qualified assessors who can do an assessment. Our nurse delegator is a qualified assessor at a reasonable rate. An assessment is required by law to determine your loved one’s care needs and create a care plan based on the assessment. The rates are calculated using a base rate plus extra levels of care. You can contact us and we will provide you with information on how to reach our assessor.
A: An important thing to verify is that there is a small office with an organized record keeping system. For example, Blue Ridge Adult Family Home has a full office complete with custom resident information binders, copy machine, fax, files and computer, along with a state-of-the-art record keeping system and medication charting.
A: Some Adult Family Homes specialize in ethnic languages and offer ethnic meals to seniors who prefer that. There are also developmentally disabled, dementia, men’s only, women’s only, mental health, and other specialty homes. Some allow smokers, others do not. Pets are also a factor with some houses.
Blue Ridge Adult Family Home specializes in all types of care such as dementia and mental health and other needs that can be met. For a full list of care we provide, please visit our Services page. We do not allow smoking or live-in pets to ensure a healthy environment free of asthmatic or allergic conditions, however pets are allowed to visit. We also own all our own medical equipment.
Blue Ridge Adult Family Home – Policies and Procedures
A: Our nurse delegator will do an assessment before move-in, as required by state law. A care plan will then be created, and medications arranged for.
Rent is on a flat rate month-to-month basis. First and last month’s rent is required minus any prorated deduction from the first of the month and date of move-in. There are no long-term contracts. No damage deposit required.
The first month is a trial period and resident may elect to move at any time. The home may also deem that the resident may not be suited for stay without giving the usual 30 day notice required. Our tenant/resident rental contract is the state designed and approved form. Other homes may have different policies other than ours.
A: Blue Ridge Adult Family Home does not accept Medicaid.
A: The room rate is a flat rate that is all inclusive of our services. There are no additional fees. However, we do not cover personal items, prescriptions, transportation, or incontinent briefs. Initial nurse delegation is also not included, but we do pay for ongoing delegation fees. We own all medical equipment and aids for free use and convenience of our residents.
A: We have trained staff who are delegated in the care and oversight of the residents by the R.N. who has prescribed the care plan and assessment. They are trained to observe and monitor residents and notice any changes requiring attention. Any concerns are immediately relayed to the health care professionals and any changes in medication, doctor appointments made, or care direction prescribed by them will be implemented. We can call and receive fax prescriptions with delivery to the home by that same evening, relieving family members of that responsibility. We also have a visiting home doctor service that can be signed up for, and our R.N. can be retained as a personal consult.
A: All Adult Family Home staff and providers have to undergo training in:
-Fundamentals of Caregiving
-Nurse Delegation
-CPR / First Aid
-Mental Health and Dementia
-Food Handling
Additionally, a background inquiry check is performed and caregivers must obtain a Nursing Assistant Registered (NAR) card registered with the Department of Health. For more information about our qualified staff, please visit our Staff page.
We have a very low turnover in staff. The primary caregivers have been here for years so they know the residents well and can recognize if there are any changes or issues that are out of character before they become a problem.
A: Yes, a caregiver is required to always be in the home as per state regulations. At Blue Ridge Adult Family Home we have 2 caregivers during the day and one night staff. The provider also lives on-site in a separate apartment on the top level of the home.
A: Our caregivers are always nearby to give 1-on-1 assistance for all activities of daily living. We have a variety of monitors, call buttons, sensors and alarms to ensure prompt attention and response to resident’s needs, as well as close proximity of caregivers to hear them.
A: All Adult Family Homes are inspected and required to provide safety bars and grab rails for resident safety and protection. However, that is the extent of the requirements. Other than that, bathrooms are just like any other normal home. The majority of adult family homes have 1 to 2 bathrooms with adaptive aids that are shared by all residents.
Blue Ridge Adult Family Home additionally has bathrooms in most bedrooms with custom tile walk-in showers. This way a resident doesn’t have to wait to use the bathroom, and walk-in showers enable a resident to safely enter and exit without having to try and lift their legs and body over a high bathtub wall, preventing accidents. The toilets are handicap accessible with easy transfer, the sinks are ADA approved with easy access, and wheelchair accessible.
A: Adult family Homes vary, and some may not offer those services. The family may have to pay an installer to add a phone or cable line to the room at the family’s expense, including the monthly phone service.
At Blue Ridge Adult Family Home we have everything already installed. A complete cable TV package is included along with HD flat screen TV at no extra charge. The private phone line and jack to the bedroom is in place and a phone service is included upon request. Otherwise anyone may call our home line to talk to their loved one using our cordless phone. This is recommended for dementia/memory loss residents.
A: Yes, it is important that English be understood, comprehended and spoken in order to be able to properly dispense medications and care for the resident via clear communication.
Blue Ridge Adult Family Home specializes in English as a first language and prepares traditional American dishes as a first food style.
NOTE: It’s important that the type of foods and language be asked about when touring any Adult Family Home to ensure your loved one will be understood in his/her native language and will receive meals according to their normal usual diet. A change in diet may not be suitable for them.
A: The term for that is called “Aging in Place”. Blue Ridge Adult Family Home is unique in that we allow residents to Age in Place and eventually hospice. The resident is able to live out their remaining time in a familiar comfortable home environment, unless otherwise indicated by a physician. Aging in Place also spares the family from unneeded distress caused by placing their loved one at such a difficult time in a hospital, or nursing home, and the high cost associated with them.
A: We have an open door policy within reasonable hours of 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
A: We can make doctor appointments and can help arrange the appointment with the family, but the family would transport resident or arrange for transportation. This is standard for most homes due to insurance limitations. We have a visting home doctor who cares for the majority of the residents in the home. The resident may register with the home doctor if they choose. There is also free prescription deliveries from the pharmacy.
A: We have durable hardwood floors so this shouldn’t be an issue.
A: Click here to be redirected to our Contact page. Or fill out the form below and we’ll get back to you asap.
Notice of Disclaimer: The information provided here is the personal observations, opinions and experience of Blue Ridge Adult Family Home and is a general overall synopsis put together in one place intended to cover most issues concerning placement. This is not intended to replace any information available but to add to it.