Group home for the elderly
Group homes for the elderly are homes where several elderly people live in a house with staff members who give them some assistance with their daily lives. Group homes are not nursing homes, which provide medical care. The federal government oversees nursing homes, but group homes are overseen by the states. As the baby boom generation ages, the demand for group homes is also increasing. There are steps one can take if interested in opening a group home in Texas.
Instructions
1. Contact the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) and ask for the state regulations on group homes for the elderly. Be sure to ask about the physical requirements for the home such as wheelchair access, elevators and railings.
2. If you already have a house you want to use, contact the local zoning authority where the house is located and find out if the house is zoned for use as a group home. If it is not, ask if you can get a zoning variance. If you are looking for a house, make sure the house you rent or buy is zoned for the use and that any lease permits use as a group home. Also consider how close you will be to public transportation, shopping and entertainment for the residents.
3. If you need to make changes to the building to comply with group home requirements, be sure to get the proper building permits, use licensed workers and have all the required inspections.
4. Ask DADS whether any staff member at the group home is required to have a license or certification to assist the residents. If the staff is providing any kind of medical service, a license may be required. Staff members may also need CPR training. Use only properly licensed or certified staff and be sure you have the required number of staff on duty.
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