Adult Family Living: A Home, Not a Facility
A Connecticut care option for qualifying seniors who need daily support and do better in a real home than in a large facility. Adult Family Living centers comfort, routine, and personal connection.
What Is Adult Family Living?
Adult Family Living (AFL) is a Connecticut Department of Social Services program that allows eligible seniors to live in the private home of a trained and approved host family or caregiver. Unlike assisted living facilities or nursing homes, AFL provides care in a real residential home with all the warmth, familiarity, and personal connection that comes with it.
The senior becomes part of the household, sharing meals, daily routines, and genuine human connection with their host family. It is a model of care that truly centers the person: their needs, their dignity, their preferences, and their quality of life.
New Haven Elderly Services works with families throughout Connecticut to facilitate AFL placements and ensure that every senior in our AFL program receives the attentive, compassionate care they deserve.
How Adult Family Living Works
The AFL process is straightforward, and New Haven Elderly Services is here to guide families every step of the way.
Initial Assessment
A care needs assessment is conducted to determine if the senior qualifies for the AFL program based on their level of care needs and circumstances.
Caregiver Matching
We carefully match the senior with a trained, approved AFL host caregiver whose home environment, schedule, and personality align with the senior's needs and preferences.
Move-In & Ongoing Support
Once placed, the senior moves into the caregiver's home. New Haven Elderly Services provides ongoing monitoring, support, and oversight to ensure everything goes smoothly.
Who May Qualify for AFL?
Adult Family Living is designed for Connecticut seniors who need daily care and support but do not require skilled nursing care. Common qualifiers include adults who:
- Need assistance with activities of daily living
- Cannot safely live alone but prefer a home setting
- Would benefit from a family-style environment
- Are seeking alternatives to nursing home placement
- Qualify for Connecticut Medicaid (HUSKY) or private pay
- Have been assessed and approved through the DSS process
Eligibility is determined through a formal assessment. Contact us to begin the conversation about whether AFL is right for your loved one.
The Benefits of Adult Family Living
AFL offers a unique combination of professional care and genuine home warmth that institutional settings simply cannot replicate.
A Real Home Environment
Seniors live in an actual family home — with a kitchen, living room, garden, and all the comfort and normalcy that comes with it. No institutional halls or shared common rooms.
Personalized One-on-One Care
With a dedicated host caregiver, the senior receives highly individualized attention tailored to their unique routine, preferences, and care needs — every single day.
Social Connection & Belonging
Loneliness is one of the greatest challenges for seniors. In an AFL home, they are part of a household — sharing conversations, meals, and daily life with people who genuinely care about them.
Cost-Effective Alternative
AFL is typically more affordable than assisted living facilities or nursing homes, and may be covered through Connecticut Medicaid programs. It offers exceptional value without sacrificing quality.
State-Supported & Regulated
The AFL program is overseen by the Connecticut Department of Social Services, providing a structured framework of standards, oversight, and accountability to protect seniors.
Improved Well-Being
Research consistently shows that seniors in home-like care settings experience better emotional health, stronger cognitive engagement, and greater overall satisfaction with their lives.
How New Haven Elderly Services Supports AFL Families
New Haven Elderly Services helps families move through the AFL process with clarity and practical support. Our team stays involved before placement, during matching, and throughout ongoing care.
- Navigating the DSS AFL application and assessment process
- Recruiting, training, and supporting host caregivers
- Carefully matching seniors and caregivers for compatibility
- Ongoing home visits and quality monitoring
- Family communication and care plan coordination
- Handling administrative and billing support for caregivers
Is Adult Family Living Right for Your Loved One?
Contact New Haven Elderly Services today. Our team will help you understand the AFL program, answer your eligibility questions, and guide you through every step of the process — at no cost to you.