Adult Homes in NYC
Adult homes were originally established
to serve the aged and frail elderly who needed a
supervised living arrangement, but did not need nursing
home care. In the 1960’s, when New York State began to
downsize its State Psychiatric Hospitals, adult homes
began to house a younger, deinstitutionalized population
of people with a mental illness.
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There are currently about 28,000
persons living in New York State’s 453 licensed
adult homes. Of these, about 9,000 persons live in
52 licensed adult homes in New York City.
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Approximately 11,000 adult home
residents, almost 40% of the state’s adult home
population, have a diagnosis of mental illness.
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Most residents with a diagnosis of
mental illness live in 176 homes referred to by the
New York State Department of Health and the New York
State Office of Mental Health as “impacted homes.”
An impacted adult home is defined as a home which
has a resident population of 25% or more of people
with a mental illness. The operator is then required
to have a written agreement with a mental health
provider to serve the needs of this population.
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According to the Office of Mental
Health, in 1999, the average adult home resident in
a “non-impacted” home was a white female between 75
and 84 years of age. Residents in “impacted” homes
were generally younger, male, and more likely to be
from a minority population.
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Approximately 15,000 adult home
residents receive Supplemental Security Income
(SSI). This number includes most if not all
residents who are diagnosed as mentally disabled.
SSI pays about $31 per day for care in adult homes.
Adult homes are currently licensed and
regulated by the New York State Department of Health and
were previously the responsibility of the Department of
Social Services. The New York State Office of Mental
Health licenses and monitors mental health providers
that serve residents with a diagnosis of mental illness
in impacted homes.
Adult Home regulations prohibit operators
from directly providing health care services or
employing staff to provide health care services. Adult
Homes are not considered health care facilities. Adult
Homes provide meals, housekeeping, personal care and
case management services.
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