There are few decisions more difficult than wondering who will care for someone you love when you're no longer able to.

For many parents, the conversation begins as they get older or experience health problems. For siblings, it often begins after realizing they may one day become the primary advocate for their brother or sister. Questions about the future can quickly become overwhelming.

• Will they be happy?
• Will they be treated with respect?
• Will staff help them with personal care?
• Will they make friends, or will they feel isolated?
• Most importantly...
• Will they be safe?

These are normal questions, and you're not alone in asking them. While no two group homes are exactly alike, understanding what quality residential care looks like can help you make a more informed decision and feel more confident about the future.

Why Families Begin Looking at Group Homes

For many families, residential care isn't the first choice, it's part of a long-term plan.

Parents may begin exploring options as they age or recognize they won't always be able to provide daily care. Brothers and sisters often start researching housing because they know they'll eventually help make important decisions.

Planning ahead gives families more time to visit homes, ask questions, compare services, and choose a living environment that truly fits their loved one's needs instead of making decisions during a crisis.

What Is a Regional Center Group Home?

In California, many adults with autism receive residential services through providers that partner with their local Regional Center.

While every home is different, many community-based residential homes share similar characteristics.

Residents typically live in a neighborhood home alongside a small number of other adults, creating an environment that feels more like a family home than an institution. Homes often provide around-the-clock staffing, assistance with daily living activities, meals, medication support, transportation, and opportunities to participate in community activities.

Many families are surprised to learn that these homes often look like any other house in the neighborhood, helping residents remain part of their local community rather than living in a large institutional setting.

What Does Daily Life Look Like?

Every resident has different abilities, interests, and support needs, so daily routines vary from person to person.

A typical day may include:

• Preparing breakfast or helping with meals

• Attending a day program, job, or volunteer activity

• Community outings

• Shopping or recreational activities

• Exercise or hobbies

• Household responsibilities appropriate to the resident's abilities

• Spending time with friends, roommates, or family

The goal isn't simply providing supervision. Quality homes encourage residents to participate in everyday life while receiving the support they need to do so safely.

Will Staff Help With Personal Care?

Yes. Depending on an individual's needs and care plan, staff may assist with activities of daily living, including:

• Bathing and showering

• Dressing and grooming

• Oral hygiene

• Toileting and personal hygiene

• Medication reminders or medication administration

• Meal preparation

• Laundry and housekeeping

• Transportation to appointments and community activities

Good caregivers don't simply complete every task for a resident. Instead, they encourage independence whenever possible.

For example, someone who can brush their own teeth may only need assistance setting up supplies. Another resident may be able to shower independently but need help washing their hair or entering and exiting safely. The amount of support should always reflect the individual's abilities rather than making assumptions based on an autism diagnosis.

Will My Family Member Lose Their Independence?

This is one of the biggest fears families have. Many people worry that moving into a group home means giving up freedom or losing the ability to make personal choices.

A quality residential program works toward the opposite goal.

Residents are encouraged to make choices about their daily routines, participate in activities they enjoy, build friendships, learn life skills, and become as independent as possible.

For some individuals, living with a small group of peers can actually reduce isolation and provide more opportunities for social interaction than living alone.

The best residential homes don't replace independence, they support it.

What Makes a Good Group Home?

Not every residential home offers the same quality of care. As you visit homes, pay attention to more than the building itself.

Ask yourself questions like:

• Do staff speak respectfully to residents?

• Are residents engaged in activities or sitting alone for long periods?

• Is the home clean, organized, and welcoming?

• Do residents appear comfortable and relaxed?

• How long have staff members worked there?

• How are medications managed?

• How often do residents participate in community outings?

• Can family members visit regularly?

• How are concerns or complaints handled?

The answers often tell you far more than a brochure ever could.

Red Flags Families Should Never Ignore

While many residential providers offer excellent care, families should remain actively involved after placement.

Warning signs may include:

• High staff turnover – Frequent changes in caregivers can make it difficult for residents to build trust and receive consistent, personalized care. 
• Poor communication with families – Quality providers should keep families informed about important updates, changes in care, medical appointments, and any concerns involving their loved one.
• Residents appearing withdrawn or neglected – Residents should appear clean, appropriately dressed, engaged, and treated with dignity. Noticeable changes in mood, hygiene, or behavior may warrant further questions.
• Unsanitary living conditions – A well-maintained home should be clean, organized, and safe, with proper food storage, clean bathrooms, and living spaces that promote residents' health and well-being.
• Staff who discourage family visits – Family involvement is an important part of quality care. Providers should generally welcome appropriate visits and encourage ongoing communication with loved ones.
• Limited opportunities for community participation – Residents should have opportunities to participate in community outings, recreational activities, employment, volunteer work, or day programs based on their interests and abilities.
• Unanswered questions about care or supervision – Staff should be willing to answer reasonable questions about daily routines, supervision, emergency procedures, and how they support each resident's individual needs. If you consistently struggle to get clear answers, it may be worth exploring other options.

Trust your instincts. If something doesn't seem right, ask questions and continue advocating for your loved one.

Staying Involved After Move-In

Moving into a group home doesn't end a family's role, it simply changes it.

Regular visits, phone calls, participation in care meetings, and ongoing communication with staff help ensure your loved one continues receiving quality care.

Many successful placements happen because families remain engaged and work collaboratively with caregivers to support the resident's goals.

Building strong relationships with staff also creates opportunities to celebrate progress, address concerns early, and make adjustments as needs change over time.

A Look Into Conservatorship

As parents age, many families begin thinking about who will make important decisions if they're no longer able to care for their loved one. 

Depending on an individual's abilities and level of independence, some families explore a limited conservatorship or other legal arrangements that allow a trusted person to assist with healthcare, financial, educational, residential, or other important decisions.

Because every family's situation is unique, it's a good idea to consult with a Special Needs Planning Attorney. These attorneys help families prepare for the future by explaining available legal options and creating a long-term plan that protects adults with developmental disabilities.

A Special Needs Planning Attorney may be able to help with:

• Limited conservatorships for adults who need assistance making certain decisions while maintaining as much independence as possible.
• Special Needs Trusts to help preserve eligibility for certain government benefits while providing additional financial support.
• Estate planning, including wills, powers of attorney, and planning for the future care of a loved one.
• Guardianship and conservatorship questions, when appropriate based on an individual's needs and state laws.
• Government benefits planning, including programs such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medicaid, or Medi-Cal.
• Long-term care planning to help families prepare for future housing, healthcare, and support needs.
• Transition planning to help ensure a loved one continues receiving care and advocacy when parents or primary caregivers are no longer able to provide support.

Planning ahead can provide peace of mind and help avoid difficult decisions during a crisis.

Other Attorneys Who May Be Able to Help

Depending on your family's needs, you may also benefit from speaking with an attorney who focuses on:

• Elder Law – Often assists aging parents with estate planning, long-term care planning, Medi-Cal planning, and planning for an adult child with a disability.
• Estate Planning – Helps families create wills, trusts, and other legal documents. Many estate planning attorneys also have experience with special needs planning.
• Disability Rights – Focuses on legal issues involving disability rights, education, employment, public benefits, discrimination, and access to services.

Paying for Residential Care

The cost of residential care is one of the biggest concerns families have, but many are surprised to learn that financial assistance may be available.

Depending on eligibility, funding may come from programs such as:

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) 

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal program that provides monthly financial assistance to eligible individuals with disabilities who have limited income and resources. These benefits can help pay for basic living expenses such as housing, food, and utilities.

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) provides monthly benefits to individuals with disabilities who have worked and paid into Social Security, or who qualify through a parent's work record in certain situations.

Medicaid

Medicaid is a government health insurance program for eligible individuals with limited income or certain disabilities. Depending on the state, it may also help cover long-term services and supports, including residential care and other disability-related services.

California Regional Centers

California Regional Centers are nonprofit organizations that coordinate services and supports for eligible individuals with developmental disabilities, including autism. They can help families access housing resources, day programs, employment services, respite care, and other community-based supports.

In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS)

In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) is a California program that may pay for a caregiver to assist eligible individuals with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, meal preparation, housekeeping, and transportation, helping many people remain safely in their own homes.

Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8)

The Housing Choice Voucher Program, commonly known as Section 8, helps eligible individuals and families pay for private rental housing. Because demand often exceeds available funding, waiting lists can be long in many communities.

Nonprofit Organizations Serving People with Disabilities

Many nonprofit organizations provide additional support through housing referrals, advocacy, caregiver resources, transportation assistance, adaptive equipment, financial assistance, social programs, and educational services for individuals with disabilities and their families.

Because every individual's eligibility is different, your Regional Center case manager or another qualified professional can help explain which programs may be available for your family.

Support for Families in California

If you live in California, your local Regional Center can help explain available residential options, determine eligibility for services, and connect you with providers that meet your family member's support needs.

At Center for Behavioral Change, we provide licensed community-based residential services for adults with developmental disabilities in a respectful, supportive environment. Our homes are designed to help residents develop daily living skills, participate in their communities, and maintain as much independence as possible while receiving individualized care.

Whether you're beginning to plan for the future or actively exploring residential options, we're happy to answer your questions and help you understand what quality residential care should look like.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many people usually live in a group home?

Many community-based residential homes support a small number of residents, often four to six adults, allowing for more personalized care and a home-like environment.

Can I visit my family member?

Policies vary by provider, but quality residential homes generally encourage regular family involvement and communication.

Will staff help with bathing, toileting, and other personal care?

Yes. Staff assist with personal care based on each resident's individual care plan while encouraging as much independence as possible.

What if my family member only needs a little help?

Not everyone needs the same level of support. Some individuals may benefit from Supported Living Services or other community-based programs instead of a residential group home.

How do I know if a group home is right?

The best way to evaluate a home is by visiting, asking questions, meeting staff, and considering how well the environment matches your loved one's unique needs, personality, and goals for independence.