Guides for families
Plain answers to the questions every family asks. Written for Washington, citing Washington's rules.
Start here
How to choose an adult family home
What an AFH is, who it's right for, and the 12 questions to ask on a tour.
Coming soon
Paying for care
Medicaid & COPES, explained simply
How Washington's programs work, who qualifies, and which homes accept them.
Coming soon
Comparing options
AFH vs. assisted living: the honest comparison
Cost, caregiver ratios, and daily life — where a small home wins, and where it doesn't.
Coming soon
State records
How to read a DSHS inspection report
What inspectors check, what a citation means, and when to worry (and not).
Coming soon
Getting around
Medical transport for AFH residents
Paratransit, Medicaid rides, and getting to dialysis or treatment from a family home.
Coming soon
Terminology
Adult family home, board & care, residential care: what's the difference?
The same kind of home goes by different names in every state. A translation guide.
Coming soon
Official state resources: DSHS: Choosing Care in an Adult Family Home (PDF) ↗ State AFH Locator ↗