Updated September 11, 2026
Georgia uses “personal care home” as an official licensing term. The Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH), through its Healthcare Facility Regulation Division (HFRD), licenses and oversees personal care homes, assisted living communities, community living arrangements, and other regulated care settings.
Georgia defines a personal care home as a dwelling that provides or arranges housing, food service, and one or more personal services for two or more adults who are not related to the owner or administrator by blood or marriage. An assisted living community is a personal care home serving 25 residents or more that is licensed to provide assisted living care. Always verify the exact license type and current status with Georgia DCH.
How to verify a Georgia home
1. Search the official GaMap2Care directory
Open the Georgia DCH GaMap2Care facility search. Select Personal Care Home or Assisted Living Community, then narrow the results by city, county, ZIP code, or bed capacity.
2. Match the licensed record carefully
Compare the facility name and full street address in the state record with the home you are considering. Similar names can refer to different locations. If the home provides a license number, use the Georgia DCH license verification search and confirm that the name and address match.
3. Review inspection information
Georgia DCH says GaMap2Care can be used to locate facility listings, verify licensure, and access inspection reports. Review the information available for the specific location. DCH states that unannounced compliance inspections are conducted approximately every 11 to 15 months or as needed; complaint and follow-up surveys may also occur. Ask the home and DCH about anything you do not understand.
Personal care homes and assisted living communities
- Personal care homes provide housing, food service, and one or more personal services for at least two unrelated adults.
- Assisted living communities are personal care homes serving 25 residents or more that are licensed to provide assisted living care.
- Community living arrangements are a separate regulated category serving certain adults whose residential services are supported through Georgia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.
These labels describe state licensing categories, not quality ratings. Confirm that a facility’s current license and approved services fit the individual’s present and reasonably anticipated needs.
Questions to ask before choosing a home
- What is the facility’s current Georgia license number and license type?
- Does the licensed name and address match this exact location?
- What needs can the home safely accommodate during the day and overnight?
- How are emergencies, evacuations, and severe weather handled?
- What help is available with bathing, dressing, toileting, mobility, meals, and medication?
- Which services are included in the stated price, and which cost extra?
- What staffing is available on each shift?
- How does the home respond when a resident’s needs change?
- How are concerns, incidents, and family communication handled?
- Can you review the resident agreement, policies, and total expected charges before committing?
Use our questions to ask when touring a personal care home for a longer visit checklist.
Complaints and resident support
Complaints about a facility or program licensed by Georgia HFRD may be submitted through the Georgia DCH complaint process. The HFRD Complaint Intake Unit can also be reached at 800-878-6442.
The Georgia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program advocates for residents of long-term care facilities, including personal care homes, and helps address resident concerns. Its toll-free number is 866-552-4464.
Call 911 when someone faces an immediate life-threatening emergency.
What PersonalCareHomes.net does—and does not—verify
PersonalCareHomes.net is an advertising directory, not a government agency, placement service, inspection organization, or licensing authority. A directory page may contain public-record information or details supplied by a provider. A listing’s presence does not mean that we inspected, licensed, approved, or endorsed the home.
Before choosing care, confirm licensing and regulatory information with Georgia DCH, tour the home, review written terms, and decide whether the setting fits the individual’s needs.
Continue your search
- Browse personal care homes in Georgia
- Search personal care homes by ZIP code
- Learn how to choose a personal care home
Official sources
- Georgia DCH: Personal Care Homes
- Georgia DCH: GaMap2Care—Find a Facility
- Georgia DCH: Find a Licensed Facility
- Georgia DCH: File a Complaint
- Georgia Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
This guide is general educational information, not medical or legal advice. Rules, records, contact details, and provider status can change. Verify current information with Georgia DCH.