About the Adult Care Facility Directory
New York State, through the State Department of Health, licenses and supervises adult care facilities which provide temporary or long-term, non-medical residential care services to adults who are substantially unable to live independently. Resident dependence may be the result of physical or other limitations associated with age, physical or mental disabilities or other factors. Residents of adult homes, enriched housing and assisted living programs are provided with personal care and services on a long-term basis; residences for adults provide long-term residential care with supervision but without personal care. Most residents of adult care facilities are in need of supervision and personal care services necessary to enable the resident to maintain good personal health and hygiene, to carry out the basic activities of daily living, and to participate in the ongoing activities of the facility. Personal care includes direction and assistance with grooming (including care of hair and ordinary care of nails, teeth and mouth); Adult Care Facilities Overview explains some of the terms used by professionals/the differences between housing options - resting, bathing, walking and ordinary movement from bed to chair or wheelchair, eating, and assisting with self-administration of medications. However, residents of adult care facilities must not require the continual medical or nursing services provided in acute care hospitals, in-patient psychiatric facilities, skilled nursing homes or health related facilities, since adult care facilities are not licensed to provide any nursing or medical care.
AH - Adult Home
An adult home is established and operated for the purpose of providing long-term residential care, room, board, housekeeping, personal care and supervision to five or more adults unrelated to the operator. Adult homes may be operated by a natural person, a partnership, a not-for-profit corporation, a public corporation, a non-publicly traded business corporation or a limited liability company.
ALP - Assisted Living Program
An assisted living program, which is available in some adult homes and enriched housing programs, combines residential and home care services. It is designed as an alternative to nursing home placement for individuals who historically have been admitted to nursing facilities for reasons that are primarily social, rather than medical in nature. The operator of the assisted living program is responsible for providing or arranging for resident services that must include room, board, housekeeping, supervision, personal care, case management and home health services.
EHP - Enriched Housing Program
An enriched housing program is established and operated for the purpose of providing long-term residential care to five or more adults, primarily persons sixty-five years of age or older, in community-integrated settings resembling independent housing units. The program provides or arranges for the provision of room, board, housekeeping, personal care and supervision. Enriched housing programs may be operated by a natural person, a partnership, a not-for-profit corporation, a public corporation, a non-publicly traded business corporation or a limited liability company.
NFP - Not For Profit
NFP is defined as a (Not For Profit) Adult Care Facility.
PPHA - Private Proprietary Home for Adults
PPHA is the acronym for Private Proprietary Adult Home. It is defined in Title 18NYCRR, Part 487.2(b) of the Department Regulations as an adult care facility which is operated for compensation and profit.
RESIDENCE - Residence For Adults
A residence for adults is established and operated for the purpose of providing long-term residential care, room, board; housekeeping and supervision to five or more adults, unrelated to the operator.
Services for Nonresidents
Services for nonresidents in adult homes, residences for adults and enriched housing is an organized program of services which an operator is authorized to provide to residents of the above facilities but which are provided to nonresidents who are aged or disabled to enable such persons to remain in or return to the community. These services may include an organized social day care program, temporary residential care, or other services the facility is authorized to provide.
Under State law, no person or organization may operate an adult care facility without an operating certificate from the Department. Operating certificates are issued only to operators who satisfactorily demonstrate good character, competency and the ability to operate facilities in compliance with law and regulations. Facilities are subject to periodic inspection by state staff to determine if the facility is being operated in a manner that protects the health, safety and well- being of residents. Failure of an operator to comply with regulations may result in fines or action to revoke or suspend the operating certificate.
As you become familiar with adult care facilities and their programs, we encourage you to visit facilities, speak with the staff and residents, and review the recent inspection reports available at the facility and from the New York State Department of Health, Adult Care Facility Complaint Hotline, telephone number 1-866-893-6772, or visit their website at https://www.health.ny.gov/facilities/adult_care/.
Information prepared by New York State Department of Health / Adult Care Facilities / Western Regional Office and provided by:
Erie County Department of Senior Services, 95 Franklin St., Buffalo, NY 14202-3968
Phone: (716) 858-8526 / Fax: (716) 858-6468