Findings, declarations relative to adult family care

2. The Legislature finds and declares that: a. In the absence of appropriate housing with supportive services, many elders or people with physical disabilities are often subject to inappropriate, premature, or overextended institutionalization. This results in the overutilization of costly services and the negative impact of the institutional environment on the individual's emotional and physical well-being. A need exists to fill this gap in the housing continuum between independent living and institutionalization for those elders and physically disabled citizens who are in need of shelter and services to remain in the community. b. Adult family care has proven to be a successful and cost-effective means of fulfilling basic shelter and everyday service needs of elders and physically disabled adults, thereby enabling them to preserve their independence, choice and dignity in a secure environment. c. Therefore, it is the policy of this State to promote the health, safety and welfare of its elderly and physically disabled citizens by encouraging the development of adult family care homes for elders and physically disabled adults and to provide for the licensing of caregivers and regulation of such adult family care homes by the Department of Health.