What is a personal care home in Georgia, and how is it different from assisted living?

DCH describes a personal care home (PCH) as a home or building, run for profit or not, that provides or arranges housing, food service, and one or more personal services for two or more unrelated adults. The rule is Chapter 111-8-62. An assisted living community (ALC) is a PCH with 25 or more residents that is licensed for assisted living care (Chapter 111-8-63).

Differences that matter to an owner, from a law firm’s summary of the 2021 rules:

1. Staffing for homes with fewer than 25 beds and residents with minimal needs: 1 awake direct care worker for every 15 residents in waking hours, and 1 for every 25 at night.
2. For 25 or more beds: at least 1 for every 15 in waking hours and 1 for every 20 at night (monthly average).
3. A person responsible must be on site 24 hours a day, with at least one staff person on each occupied floor.
4. Administrators of homes with 25 or more beds must hold a state long-term care administrator license.
5. Homes with 25 or more beds also need a financial affidavit at first licensure.
6. A "memory care center" needs a separate DCH certification.

DCH inspects personal care homes about every 11 to 15 months, or sooner if needed.

Read the full rule before you rely on a summary.