What is an adult foster home?
Make a difference in the lives of others. Open your own home-based business.
Adult foster homes offer 24-hour care and services. They are for people who want to live in a safe, home-like setting. Adult foster homes serve older adults, people with physical disabilities or people with mental health conditions. They focus on residents’ independence, choice and dignity.
Oregon has many caring adult foster home providers — and there is a growing need for more. Some counties in the state have few or no homes.
As a provider, you make it your business to help people live the lives they want. You help them have a place to call home, where they also receive support with daily living activities and skills.
Why open an adult foster home in Oregon?
An adult foster home is a business. It is a commitment. As an owner, you provide care and services. You complete ongoing trainings and education to support your home, staff and residents. You manage daily operations, paperwork, and staff members. This is hard work. It is also satisfying. You create a caring and safe home. You help people with daily activities and tasks including meals, medications and getting around.
As a provider, you can:
- Make a living in your own home or separate residence that you own, lease or rent.
- Gain tax benefits if you live in the adult foster home and enroll to accept and provide care to Medicaid recipients. You may also be able to accept private payments or other insurance. (Approval may be required for homes serving people with behavioral health conditions.)
- Help create stability for the people who live in your home. Build community.
"It is a career. We are a small business, we are a home, and we open it to help those in our community.”
~ Oregon adult foster home provider
Types of adult foster homes you can open
There are many kinds of adult foster homes. There are two kinds that are urgently needed in Oregon.
All adult foster homes provide 24-hour care and services. All adult foster home owners need to own, lease or rent a home that meets state requirements. They must have financial resources to operate the home for at least two months.
English proficiency is required. We also seek providers who speak both English and other languages, such as Amharic, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Ukrainian and Tagalog.
But there are
some unique differences when it comes to what type of adult foster home business best fits your life.
Ask yourself:
- Who would you want to work with?
- What kind of services would you like to provide?
- Where would you want to open your adult foster home?
Learn about the two kinds of adult foster homes needed most:
Adult foster homes licensed by ODHS for...
Older adults and people with disabilities
Older adults 60+ and adults of all ages with physical disabilities.
- Host up to five adults.
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You create a care plan together with each resident, their family, and their care team.
You might help residents:
- Eat, get dressed, use the bathroom, complete personal care
- Walk and move around the home
- Make meals
- Take medicines and go to appointments
There is a great need for adult foster homes in these counties:
- Baker
- Clatsop
- Curry
- Douglas
- Hood River
- Klamath
- Lane (largest gap)
- Lincoln
- Linn
- Malheur
- Tillamook
- Umatilla
- Wasco
- Yamhill
Homes are very needed in rural areas of these counties.
No experience is required. But successful providers usually have some care experience. It's most important that you want to provide care.
This is a good opportunity for care workers who want to open their own business, have control over their schedule or want to try something new.
You will have a required orientation.
You will have annual trainings and inspections of your home.
Most people living in your home will have benefits through Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid). Some will pay privately.
If you serve Oregon Health Plan members, and you live in the home, you may qualify for tax credits.
Adult foster homes licensed by OHA for...
People with mental health conditions
Adults of all ages with mental health conditions. Some may also have physical, intellectual or developmental disabilities.
- Host up to five adults.
- You follow a person-centered service plan. Some residents need only occasional help. Others need regular monitoring or support.
You might help residents:
- Make meals
- Take medicines, go to appointments
- Go to work or participate in activities
- Work with emotions
Mental health adult foster homes are needed in every county in the state, especially in the following counties:
- Benton
- Columbia
- Coos
- Crook
- Curry
- Deschutes
- Douglas
- Hood River
- Jefferson
- Josephine
- Lane
- Lincoln
- Linn
- Morrow
- Polk
- Tillamook
- Umatilla
- Wasco
Yes. You will need at least one year of experience providing supervision or direct care to people who have mental health needs.
You will have a required orientation and must pass the caregiver test.
You will have annual trainings, certifications and inspections of your home.
People living in your home generally have Medicaid benefits through the Oregon Health Plan.
If you serve Oregon Health Plan members, and you live in the home, you may qualify for tax credits.
Quality care matters. Help someone live with dignity and independence.
Get started: Choose your licensing path (ODHS or OHA)
If you’re interested in a career in the care industry, coupled with running a small business, this might be a fit for you.
Choose a path below: