Community-based residential care for the minimally impaired elderly: a survey analysis

Foster home care for the elderly, as an alternative to living independently, living with relatives or living in an institution, has been a neglected area of investigation, although such care is a nationwide phenomenon. This survey of all licensed Family Care Home operators in the Louisville, Kentucky area provides baseline data regarding the characteristics of providers of adult foster care and the recipients. Data were obtained from 183 persons caring for minimally impaired adults in their own homes and on 422 residents in these foster home settings. Of the residents, 69.5 percent were aged 65 or over. Care providers are described on the basis of age, race, sex, educational level, family size and composition, previous employment, reasons for entering the business, and problems encountered. Residents are described on the basis of age, race, sex, physical condition, care required, and outside contacts. Foster home care for the aged can furnish many advantages if the resident is properly placed and support services are provided. This form of care deserves much greater emphasis in future research of the provision of services for the elderly.