Group home
A group home, congregate living facility, care home (the latter especially in British English and Australian English), adult family home, etc., is a structured and supervised residence model that provides assisted living and medical care for those with complex health needs. Traditionally, the model has been used for children or young people who cannot live with their families or afford their own homes, people with chronic disabilities who may be adults or seniors, or people with dementia and related aged illnesses. Typically, there are no more than six residents, and there is at least one trained caregiver there 24 hours a day. In some early "model programs", a house manager, night manager, weekend activity coordinator, and four part-time skill teachers were reported. Originally, the term group home referred to homes of 8 to 16 individuals, which was a state-mandated size during deinstitutionalization. Residential nursing facilities, also included in this article, may be as large as 100 individuals in 2015, which is no longer the case in fields such as intellectual and developmental disabilities. Depending on the severity of the condition requiring one to need to live in a group home, some clients are able to attend day programs and most clients are able to live normal lifestyles. Facilities Because group homes are usually ordinary suburban houses, often tract housing, modified for handicap access and care, the bathrooms in homes are typically shared. In bigger houses, there is typically a group therapy room. The group homes highlighted in news articles in the late 1970s and 1980s, and by the late 2000s, have been cited internationally as a symbol or emblem of the community movement. Group homes were opened in local communities, often with site selection hearings, by state government and non-profit organizations including the international in a broader array, spectrum, continuum, or services systems plan for residential community services or Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS). Another context in which the expression "group home" is used is referring to residential child care communities and similar organizations, providing residential services as part of the foster care system. There is a considerable variety of different models, sizes and kinds of organizations caring for children and youth who cannot stay with their birth families. Residents of group homes are responsible for their own conduct and are bound by an agreement to follow an expected list of house rules. Any disorderly conduct by group home residents, including fighting with other residents, damaging group home property, or another resident's personal property, or an inability to follow house rules or follow instructions from group home staff members can lead to a resident being kicked out of the group home. Types and Models A group home in a local community is what the government and universities term a "small group home". Group homes always have trained personnel, and administration located both for the home and outside the home at office locations. Larger homes often are termed residential facilities, as are campuses with homes located throughout a campus structure. K.C.