Proven strategies from placement to marketing, with actionable steps for maximum occupancy.
Adult Family Homes (AFHs) often struggle with occupancy—empty beds directly impact revenue, staff morale, and long-term viability. Filling beds faster isn’t just about advertising the home; it’s about building trust with families, streamlining operations, and positioning your AFH as a top choice in the marketplace.
In this guide, we break down why beds sit empty, what families look for, and how you can systematically increase occupancy using best practices grounded in industry standards.
Empty beds equal lost revenue and underutilized resources. A typical AFH (3–5 beds) can generate $40,000 – $75,000+ per month in revenue, depending on location and care level. Even one unfilled bed can reduce profitability by thousands.
But occupancy isn’t just financial — it’s about reputation, staff confidence, and community impact.
Before diving into tactics, understand these foundational truths:
Families want security, transparency, and evidence you can deliver compassionate, safe care.
Being searchable online and in referral networks is vital.
Patients leaving hospitals need placement quickly. Your responsiveness becomes a competitive edge.
Don’t rely on one directory. Target places where families and referral partners search:
✔ AtlystCare™ AFH Directory
✔ Local care listing sites (e.g., APlaceForMom, Caring.com)
✔ Google Business Profile
✔ Yelp / Facebook
Each listing should be consistent, complete, and optimized.
Homes with professional photos get significantly more inquiries than those with generic snapshots.
Include:
Tip: A study by Google shows that virtual tours can increase engagement and time on page — key trust signals for families.
Your listing text should answer family questions before they ask them:
✔ What level of care you provide
✔ Staffing ratios
✔ Daily routines
✔ Safety features
✔ Nearby services
✔ Pricing range
Avoid generic copy like “cozy and caring”. Be specific.
Allow family advisors and case managers to see whether beds are open today — real-time availability is critical in urgent cases.
Studies show that responding within the first hour increases conversion chances dramatically.
Implement:
Hospitals constantly need placement partners when patients are ready to leave. Establish relationships with:
✔ Case managers
✔ Social workers
✔ Skilled nursing facilities
What they care about:
• Speed
• Transparency
• Documentation readiness
• Communication
Provide a referral packet with clear care levels and policies — this positions your home as professional and reliable.
Home health workers see patients at home and can recommend AFHs when care needs exceed family capacity.
Offer:
✔ Welcome tours
✔ Educational breakfast meetups
✔ Flyers and digital materials
Partner with:
• Senior centers
• Veteran services
• Disability advocacy groups
• Local faith communities
Your presence there builds word-of-mouth credibility.
Families search terms like:
Include:
✔ City + service in title tags
✔ Location schema
✔ FAQ schema
This helps you rank when families search urgently.
Use retargeting ads to stay visible if someone visits your site then leaves.
Platforms:
✔ Google Display Network
Ads like “Beds available now — call today” work well.
Not every inquiry turns into a move-in immediately. Create automated email sequences like:
• Immediate thank-you
• Virtual tour invite
• Care comparison guide
• Follow-up after X days
This keeps your home top of mind.
Families want clarity and consistency.
Standardize your:
✔ Initial inquiry response
✔ Tour follow-up
✔ Pricing breakdown
✔ Admission checklist
This ensures every family gets the same high-quality experience.
Train intake staff on:
• Active listening
• Empathy language
• Confirming next steps
• Setting expectations
Studies in patient experience show families choose facilities where they feel heard.
Rigid pricing turns away families in financial stress.
Consider:
✔ Tiered pricing (basic, with add-ons)
✔ Short-term or respite pricing
✔ Transparent fee sheet
✔ Accepted funding sources (Medicaid/IRIS, private pay)
Price clarity builds trust and reduces decision friction.
Beds fill faster when:
✔ Staff are stable
✔ Families get consistent care
✔ Staff can answer family questions
High staff turnover creates anxiety for families — invest in:
• Caregiver training
• Recognition programs
• Clear role expectations
Track metrics:
✔ Inquiry to tour ratio
✔ Tour to move-in ratio
✔ Days to fill a bed
✔ Lead source effectiveness
Use dashboards (e.g., in HubSpot) to identify bottlenecks.
Don’t compete only on price.
Differentiate by:
✔ Memory care specialization
✔ Dual language support
✔ Cultural dietary programs
✔ Activity calendars
✔ Transportation services
Niche appeal helps families evaluate fit quickly.
Ask families for feedback and publish:
✔ Google reviews
✔ Testimonial quotes (with permission)
✔ Family video testimonials
✔ Case studies
Positive social proof accelerates trust — research shows 90%+ of families read online reviews before engaging.
Filling AFH beds faster is not a single tactic — it’s a system:
✔ Visibility
✔ Speed
✔ Professional communication
✔ Strategic partnerships
✔ Data-driven optimization
By combining referral relationships, digital presence, pricing transparency, and operational readiness, your AFH becomes the go-to care home in your community.
AtlystCare™ offers services to help you:
• Improve placement pipelines
• Manage compliance & documentation
• Market your home professionally
• Handle staffing challenges
• Build referral networks
Contact us today to fill beds faster and run your AFH with confidence.