Residents are provided with personal care and services on a long-term basis. Most residents of adult care facilities need supervision and personal care services to enable them to maintain good personal health and hygiene, to carry out the basic activities of daily living, and to participate in the ongoing activities of the facility and the greater community.

Personal care includes: direction and assistance with grooming (including care of hair and ordinary care of nails, teeth, and mouth); dressing; bathing; walking and ordinary movement from bed to chair or wheelchair; eating; and assisting with self-administration of medications. However, residents of adult care facilities must not require the continual medical or nursing services provided in acute care hospitals, in-patient psychiatric facilities or skilled nursing homes, since adult care facilities are not licensed to provide any nursing or medical care.