Personal care homes

What is a personal care home in Pennsylvania?

A personal care home is a residence licensed by the Department of Human Services under 55 Pa. Code Chapter 2600 that provides shelter, meals, supervision and help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, eating and medications to four or more adults who do not need nursing-home care.

In Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties, DHS's provider directory lists 68 licensed personal care homes and 2 assisted living residences, with 5,255 licensed resident places between them (retrieved November 6, 2026).

Who is a personal care home right for?

It suits older adults who need daily help and supervision but not ongoing nursing: people who are unsteady, forget medications, are lonely at home or need help bathing, and, with a secured unit, people with dementia who are at risk of wandering.

It is not right for someone who needs 24-hour skilled nursing, which requires a nursing home.

What care must a personal care home provide?

At least one hour of personal care a day for each mobile resident and two hours for each resident with mobility needs, medication administration by trained staff, three meals a day, supervision, and a written support plan for each resident.

Homes may arrange outside home health or hospice visits for residents; they may not provide ongoing skilled nursing themselves.

What does a personal care home cost?

There is no Lehigh Valley median; CareScout's 2025 Pennsylvania assisted living median, which largely reflects personal care homes, is $76,218 a year, about $6,352 a month, with shared rooms and small homes often below it and dementia units above.

Medical Assistance does not pay room and board; SSI with the $439.30 state supplement helps residents with very low income in homes that accept it.

How do I find a good personal care home in the Lehigh Valley?

Narrow by town and needs first, then use DHS's records: check each home's license type, capacity, dementia unit and the sections cited in its last two inspection summaries, and tour the best three at mealtime.

Our licensed home roster sorts every home by size, dementia unit and latest violations. Of the 70 licensed homes in the three counties, 8 are licensed for 16 or fewer residents and 21 for 100 or more; the median capacity is 72.

How many personal care homes providers are in Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties?

Here is how the state and CMS records distribute personal care homes between the three counties; agencies have no bed count.