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Domiciliary Care FAQs

Is a Domiciliary Care Home a Long Term Care Residential Facility?

No, a Domiciliary Care home is not in the same category as facilities like nursing homes, assisted living residences or personal care homes. Domiciliary Care is a program designed to allow older adults or adults with disabilities to remain in the community by providing an opportunity for them to live with an individual or family. Most Domiciliary Care homes have one or two clients. The program is analogous to the foster care system for children. Like the children placed in that system, most Domiciliary Care clients do not have family members who are willing or able to help meet their needs. One of the eligibility criteria for the Domiciliary Care program is that the client has no relative who is willing or able to provide the necessary support for independent living.

Is a Domiciliary Home Considered a Business?

No, Domiciliary Care homes are not considered businesses for IRS/tax purposes. The home must be the actual residence of the provider, and must be a private, non‐commercial household or family dwelling.

What types of services are provided by the Domiciliary Care home?

Clients who choose to participate in the Domiciliary Care program cannot require skilled or intermediate nursing care. Clients must be independently mobile or semi‐mobile, but are incapable of living alone, typically because they have a mental or physical disability that makes it difficult to accomplish activities such as preparing meals, bathing or complying with medication administration without assistance.

Each Domiciliary Care client will have a plan of care developed in consultation with the local Area Agency on Aging. The provider is responsible for providing furnishings, utilities, meals, transportation to medical appointments, assistance with activities of daily living such as personal hygiene and assistance with self‐administration of medication. Nearly all Domiciliary Care clients have comprehensive medical coverage through Medicaid. Most also receive a special supplement to the Supplemental Security Income(SSI) benefit that helps pay for the cost of residing at the Domiciliary Care home.