Housing Options for Older Adults

Apply to the Domiciliary Care (Dom Care) Program

The Dom Care program provides a family-like living arrangement in the community for adults age 18 and older who need assistance with activities of daily living and who are unable to live independently.

What is ​​​​​Dom Care?

The Domiciliary Care (Dom Care) Program provides a family-like living arrangement, daily support, and supervision to adults age 18 and older who are unable to live independently in the community and do not require a nursing facility level of care. The Dom Care program provides individuals a bedroom with basic furnishings and services to meet their unique needs. Dom Care services include daily meals, assistance with personal care, daily living tasks, medication set-up, and transportation to medical appointments. 

Traditional Dom Care homes are private residences of Dom Care providers, certified by the local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) to provide support and services to no more than three individuals eligible for Dom Care. Providers receive a monthly stipend for sharing their homes and providing Dom Care service to residents.

How does Dom Care Work?

AAAs have administrative oversight of the Dom Care program. The AAA is responsible for operating the program in accordance with the regulatory requirements of Pennsylvania Code, Title 6, Chapter 21. Domiciliary Care Services for Adults. AAAs are responsible for certifying Dom Care homes/providers, determining eligibility for the program, matching Dom Care residents with Dom Care providers, and providing ongoing care management to residents and support to providers.   

Who is eligible?

Dom Care resident eligibility requirements:

  • Resident of Pennsylvania, age 18 and older
  • Independently mobile or semi-mobile
  • Does not require skilled or intermediate nursing care, or general or special hospital care on a 24-hour residential basis
  • Does not have anyone who is willing or able to provide the necessary support for independent living
  • Unable to live alone in the community

Dom Care provider eligibility requirements: 

  • Resident of Pennsylvania, age 21 or older
  • Resides in the Dom Care home
  • Has never been convicted of a crime involving assaultive behavior or moral turpitude
  • Has the experience, capacity, and physical capability to support individuals with physical, behavioral, or age-related difficulties
  • Is willing to work with their local AAA and Dom Care residents​

 

How to Apply

Contact us to learn more about the Dom Care Program.

Contact Your Local Area Agency on Aging

Use the directory to find your local AAA.

Call The Department of Aging

Call PDA to be connected with your local AAA.

717-783-1550

Contact The Department of Aging

Fill out and submit the form.

https://forms.dhs.pa.gov/pda-contact-us/

Participating Counties

Dom Care is currently available in 31 counties: Adams, Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Centre, Columbia, Crawford, Dauphin, Delaware, Erie, Fayette, Greene, Huntington, Jefferson, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Luzerne, McKean, Mifflin, Montgomery, Philadelphia, Snyder, Somerset, Washington, Westmoreland, Wyoming and York.