NY State Department of Health: Definition of Community Based Care
Long-term care services may include the medical, social, housekeeping, or rehabilitation services a person needs over months or years in order to improve or maintain function or health. Such services are provided not only in nursing homes, but also in patients’ homes or in community-based settings such as assisted-living facilities. New York State has many services and programs as alternatives to nursing home care. Both medical and non-medical care may be received at home or in residential settings, and can range from simple (light housekeeping) to complex (nursing care or physical therapy) services (37).
Types of Care Programs
- Community Based home care is a concept that describes care at home, acute hospital care, physician care and prescription drugs.
- The Nursing Home Care Program provides for care in a nursing home.
- The Long Term Home Health Care Program provides for a coordinated plan of healthcare and social services for an individual in the community.
The New York State OPWDD website has a step-by-step process for evaluating an individual’s residential needs and preferences, for every county in New York State.
OPWDD Certified and Supervised Residences (38)
These community residential programs operated by either OPWDD or not-for-profit provider agencies whose programs are certified by OPWDD are taken directly from the OPWDD web site.
Family Care (FC)
Family Care is a certified residential program that provides a structured and stable home environment within a family unit to a person with a developmental disability, offering support, guidance, and companionship. Family Care providers are home owners who receive a monthly stipend to care for individuals with developmental disabilities in their own homes.
Individualized Residential Alternatives (IRA)
Individualized Residential Alternatives (IRAs) are certified homes that provide room, board and individualized service options. There are two different kinds of IRAs. A Supervised Individualized Residential Alternative is a home that has staff nearby at all times that individuals are at the residence. A Supportive Individualized Residential Alternative is a home in which living is more independent and supervision is based on the person’s needs for supervision; staff typically are not onsite at all times when residents are home.
Intermediate Care Facilities (ICF)
Intermediate Care Facilities (ICFs) are residential treatment options in the community for individuals with specific medical and/or behavioral needs. ICFs provide 24-hour on-site assistance and training, intensive clinical and direct-care services, supervised activities and a variety of therapies. ICFs are designed for individuals whose disabilities severely limit their ability to live independently.
Community Residences (CR)
A Community Residence provides housing, supplies for daily living like food and toiletries, and services on a daily basis for individuals who have developmental disabilities. Community Residences foster supportive interpersonal relationships, offer supervision to ensure health and safety, and assistance in learning activities that are a part of daily living. Community residences are designed to provide a home environment, and also to provide a setting where individuals with developmental disabilities can acquire the skills necessary to live as independently as possible. There are two types of community residences: supervised community residences, in which staff are nearby at all times that individuals are at the residence, and supportive community residences in which living is more independent. In supportive residences, staff are onsite and available less than the entire time individuals are home, based on the specific support needs of an individual.
OPWDD’s Office of Housing Initiatives assists participants in designing individual living arrangements as an alternative to traditional group home living. Options include home sharing, independent living, rental subsidy programs, and, for those who are income-eligible, homeownership programs. The website describes a variety of housing initiatives.