Host Family: An Alternative to Nursing Home
by Place a parent in a nursing home often leaves a bitter taste, as it is true that these institutions suffer from a bad reputation. Halfway between home support and residential placement, the foster family is an alternative to consider.
The foster care, what is it?
The system of foster care is a form of reception and accommodation of elderly or disabled who do not or no longer of sufficient autonomy to live at home independently. It allows individuals to stay in their homes of older people on a temporary (vacation, weekend …) or permanent, full time or part-time (day or night) in a single room or self catering.
What are the conditions for the reception?
The host must make available to each person housed a room heated to at least 9 square meters (or 16m ² for 2 persons – Article R831-13-1 of the Code of Social Security) with a water point near . Access to common areas (living room, dining room …) is free. Besides accommodation, the friendly family supports the meals, care, cleaning, shopping and activities of the person received.
Who are welcoming?
The welcoming family are endorsed by the General Council of their department. After training and health screenings, the welcome is under investigation by a social worker who checks his character, motivation and adaptation of housing. The approval, which allows for 1 to 3 people, is renewable every five years. The General Council also organizes the control of reception conditions and ensures the establishment of a medical and social hospitality. This monitoring ensures that the person is being hosted attentions and care appropriate to their age or disability.
A legal framework of the trade
The Act of July 10, 1989 for Hosting by individuals in their homes for consideration, the elderly and disabled adults was enacted to promote a quality offer. Amended by a decree of 2004, strictly regulates the practice of foster care: the latter is limited to three people, and it relies on a private contract signed by both parties. Legally, the welcoming is the employee of the hosted (or his legal representative if applicable).
How much?
Compensation is freely negotiated between the family welcome and greeted the person (or his legal representative). The amounts set must take into account the resources of the person taken at home and financial support which it is entitled, but also its level of dependence on the accommodation.
However, this compensation must include a daily rate for services rendered, compensation for the costs of routine maintenance and rent for the room made available to the person received. For the latter, to avoid abuses, the General Directorate of Social Action (DGAS) said in a note that the rent should be calculated in relation to the average price of rentals in the surrounding area. If this sum is revealed abnormally high, the approval may be simply removed. Indeed, the President of the General Council has a power to control the amount. In total, count a minimum of € 1,370 net per month.
How to find a host family?
The General Council of your department offers a list of approved families. Feel free to also visit the excellent website of the Association Famidac.
System limits
The homestay is impossible in case of mental handicaps heavy, certain diseases (senile dementia, delusions, agitation at night) or aggression.
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