How to Find an Adult Foster Home in Oregon

Where to Search

Oregon licenses approximately 2,300 adult foster homes statewide, making them the most common form of residential care in the state. But finding the right one requires looking in the right places, because AFHs don't typically advertise the way larger facilities do.

ODHS Licensing Database: The state's ltclicensing.oregon.gov database lists every licensed adult foster home. You can search by county, city, or zip code and filter by license type. Each listing shows the home's capacity (one to five residents), license status, and any substantiated complaints or violations.

Your local APD or AAA office: Aging and People with Disabilities case managers maintain knowledge of available AFH placements in their area. If your parent is applying for Medicaid-funded care, the APD case manager assigned to their case can help identify homes with openings that match your parent's care level.

Senior placement agencies: Oregon registers referral agencies under HB 2661. These agents visit homes and can recommend placements based on your parent's needs. Keep in mind that placement agents earn referral fees from the homes they recommend, which means they may not refer you to every option — particularly homes that don't pay referral commissions. Use their recommendations as a starting point, not the complete list.

Word of mouth: Ask hospital discharge planners, geriatric care managers, and other families who've placed a parent in an AFH. The care community in most Oregon counties is small enough that the good providers are known by reputation.

What Makes a Good Adult Foster Home

AFHs are residential homes — they look and feel like houses because that's what they are. The evaluation process is more intimate than touring a 100-bed assisted living facility. During your visit:

Meet the provider: In most AFHs, the licensed provider lives on-site and delivers much of the care personally. Their warmth, competence, and engagement with current residents tells you more than any brochure. Ask how long they've been a provider, how many residents they currently have, and what care levels they're experienced with.

Observe the residents: Are they clean, appropriately dressed, and engaged? Do they seem comfortable with the provider? Are they sitting in a living room or parked in bedrooms? The daily environment in a good AFH feels like a well-run household, not an institution.

Check the physical space: Is the home clean and well-maintained? Are grab bars installed in bathrooms? Is the kitchen accessible? Are there tripping hazards? For parents with mobility issues, look for single-level homes or homes with bedroom and bathroom access on the main floor.

Ask about the backup plan: What happens when the provider gets sick or takes a day off? Every AFH should have a designated substitute caregiver who knows the residents. A provider who says "I never take days off" is either burning out or lying — neither is reassuring.

Understanding AFH Pricing

Adult foster homes in Oregon typically cost $3,500 to $6,000/month, depending on care level and location. Portland metro homes generally run at the higher end. The rate usually includes the room, three meals plus snacks, 24-hour supervision, personal care, medication management, laundry, and housekeeping.

For Medicaid recipients, the K Plan or waiver covers care services while the resident pays room and board out of income (capped at $773/month in 2026). Not all AFHs accept Medicaid — ask directly. Homes that do accept Medicaid may reserve some beds for private-pay residents, so availability can vary.

Private-pay rates are negotiable at many AFHs, especially if your parent's care needs are modest. Some providers offer discounted rates for shared rooms, though most families prefer private rooms and they're increasingly the standard.

The AFH Advantage

The maximum five-resident capacity means your parent gets a level of individualized attention that's structurally impossible in a 50- or 100-bed facility. The provider knows every resident's medication schedule, food preferences, daily routine, and behavioral patterns. For parents with dementia who are disoriented by large, unfamiliar environments, the domestic scale of an AFH can reduce agitation and improve quality of life.

AFHs can also accommodate increasing care needs — including end-of-life hospice — which means your parent may not need to relocate as their condition progresses. That continuity of environment and caregiver relationships is valuable for cognitive and emotional stability.

For a complete comparison of Oregon's care settings, Medicaid financial eligibility, and the CAPS assessment process, the Oregon Care Decision Guide walks through every step of the placement decision.

See more Oregon guides →