There have been so many comments about how to get started with a Personal Care Home. Because we may all be in different States , it’s impossible for me to know every City/State rules and regulations concerning Personal Care Homes (PCH) I would recommend that you read the first post I wrote on Personal Care homes and then all of the comments and responses following the post. Then contact your State agency. Try the Department of Human Resources, the Department of Human Services, Office of Regulatory Services, etc. If you can’t locate the information from these sources, then visit a few PCH’s in your area and ask the owner, where to go to get started. Some will actually help you!! Remember that although your heart is in the right place when thinking of caring for others, it is still a business and other Personal Care Home providers may not be so willing to share information with you, they may feel threatened or territorial. Still, others are very open and kind. I believe that visiting several PCH’s is the best way to decide if this business is for you, to observe first hand how it’s done ( or not done) and to ask questions for immediate feedback. For some of you, it might be feasible to start one in your own home to save on overhead costs. If my home was up to standards, I would have started in my own home, having my family in the lower part of the house and the PCH residents in the upper half of the house. Be creative, get ideas from other PCH’s to see how creative you can be. Check out PCH in various neighborhoods, communities, and socio economic groups to get good ideas. You do not need to be in the medical field or have a medical background in most States. Some require a workshop or orientation to attend before getting licensed. While others require you to complete a certificate program before getting started. In Georgia, you have to go to a New Provider Orientation ( one day workshop) and once you get your certificate of completion, you mail it in with your PCH application. Again, check with your local and State government for your specific requirements!!!! Feel free to check out my website at www.goldenlifepch.com
April 3, 2009 at 12:27 am |
I am currently attempting to do this in Georgia. I attended the workshop, and received so much information that I was almost discouraged. Are there consultants out there who do the paperwork for a fee? It is so much. I feel like I am writing a dissertation. And, they said that if it is incorrect, you only get one more chance before having to attend the 2 day workshop again. How does one get residents for the home? I am yet to find the requirements for the home like dimensions, etc.
July 4, 2009 at 11:35 am |
yes, its a daunting task for sure. expect 6 months to a year before getting everything done and to get clients. if you are talking about MR clients the policies are lot more detailed and time consuming. once you get them approved, your consumers or ‘individuals’ come from referrals from the provider directory in which many Support Coordinators use to refer consumers to you. you must get a licensed first through the office of regulatory services ( this department tell you how to set your place up, dimensions , etc) and then you submitt your application to the MRWP or the NOW process to get your provider number.
October 24, 2009 at 9:07 pm |
I really would like to know how to start this. I am a RN and I also have some real estate property. I would like to convert a home that I have into a personal care home. I have a question regarding how you decide how much to charge. Does your state provide supplemental payments to those clients on SSI? What do you base your pricing on?