Getting started · 5 min read
PA Personal Care Home Directory (2026) — All 994 Licensed Homes
By Frezer Kifle ·
Free, searchable directory of every Pennsylvania DHS-licensed personal care home. Filter by city, compare capacity, call homes directly, or get a free shortlist.
By Frezer Kifle · Published August 4, 2026
If you searched for a Pennsylvania personal care home directory, this is the list you want: every currently licensed personal care home reported by the PA Department of Human Services — not a paid placement network, and not a partial marketing directory.
How to use the directory
- Start at the full home directory or jump straight to a city (examples: Philadelphia, Lancaster, Bethlehem, Bryn Mawr).
- Open any listing for street address, ZIP, licensed capacity, phone number, map pin, and reviews when available.
- Call 3–5 homes about availability and base rates before you tour — full homes waste whole afternoons.
- Or request a free shortlist: tell us your city and timeframe; within 1 business day we email 3–5 homes currently accepting residents.
What “licensed” means in Pennsylvania
Personal care homes in PA are licensed by the Department of Human Services under 55 Pa. Code Chapter 2600. A facility that is not on the DHS license list should not be providing personal care services. Nursing homes are licensed separately by the Department of Health — see our PCH vs nursing home guide.
Directory vs Google Maps vs paid referral sites
- Google Maps mixes licensed PCHs with independent living, nursing homes, and home-care agencies — hard to filter by license type.
- Paid referral sites often only show facilities that pay for leads; empty inventory or high-commission homes get priority.
- This directory aims for complete state coverage first, then optional free shortlist help for families who want human filtering.
Popular city pages
- Philadelphia personal care homes
- Pittsburgh / Allegheny area listings · regional guide
- Lancaster · Reading · Harrisburg · Allentown · Erie · York
- Bethlehem · West Chester · State College
Next steps after you build a shortlist
Use our how to choose walkthrough, 27 tour questions, and cost guide. Always re-verify licensing on the state provider search before you sign an admissions agreement.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the official PA DHS personal care home list?
We source every listing from the official PA Open Data / DHS licensed personal care homes dataset. DHS remains the legal source of truth for licensing status; we make that data searchable and family-friendly.
How often is the directory updated?
Listings reflect the current statewide licensed PCH dataset. Licensing changes over time — always confirm active status with PA DHS before admission.
Do you charge families to use the directory?
No. Browsing, comparing, and requesting a shortlist are free for families. Operators can optionally claim or feature a listing.