HARRISBURG — State welfare officials have more work to do as they try to clarify for consumers the difference between personal-care homes and "assisted-living" residences, both of which provide care for the elderly and disabled.

A state regulatory panel said Wednesday that the state's first proposal to license assisted living residences did not eliminate confusion over the term.

Assisted living facilities are designed to care for people who need services beyond assistance with tasks of daily living — which is already provided by personal-care homes — but who are not sick enough to require 24-hour nursing home care.

The Department of Public Welfare is developing the regulations under a 2007 state law that mandates the state's first-ever licensing standards for assisted-living residences.

The distinction between personal-care homes and assisted living will be critical for residents who need government assistance to pay for long-term care services. The federal Medicaid program for the poor and disabled does not pay for personal-care home expenses, but it can defray the cost of assisted living in states that have received federal approval for that purpose.

The welfare department has set a goal of making the regulations final by Nov. 30; the rules would take effect July 1. But department spokeswoman Stacey Witalec said officials are willing to extend that deadline, if necessary.