Buyer’s guide · eMAR · Updated October 2026

The best eMAR software for IDD group homes, 2026: eight systems, compared.

A plain guide for IDD group homes, host homes, and supervised living, where direct support professionals pass most medications. What each eMAR is, who it fits, and what to check in a demo. We make Sereniq, so we list it first and say why. Everything we say about other vendors comes from their own public materials.

Book a demo Jump to the comparison
01 / How to choose

Eight things that decide whether it works at the med pass.

Score every vendor on the same eight points, then watch a DSP pass a dose, log a refusal, and give a PRN on a phone.

  1. 01

    DSPs chart on their own phones

    In a group home, direct support professionals pass most doses. If the eMAR lives on a desktop by the med closet, charting waits until after the pass.

  2. 02

    Refusals reach the nurse

    A refused dose should notify the supervisor and the nurse right away, with the reason the DSP wrote, not sit in a report for Monday.

  3. 03

    PRN with limits and a result

    An as-needed dose needs the reason, a check against the order’s limits, and the result recorded later, so the nurse sees whether it worked.

  4. 04

    Controlled counts that follow the dose

    Each controlled dose should move the count, while the shift-change count stays a hand count your staff sign.

  5. 05

    Works in the dead spot

    Homes have bedrooms with no signal. Doses charted offline should save on the phone and sync when the connection returns.

  6. 06

    Orders in without retyping

    A new individual can arrive with thirty medications. Look for a way in from the pharmacy that a nurse confirms before anything reaches the MAR.

  7. 07

    A print your surveyor knows

    A surveyor reads the MAR month by month. Look for a clean monthly print with every dose, refusal, and PRN on the record, in a layout your nurse recognizes.

  8. 08

    Notes, incidents, and the MAR in one record

    A refusal often needs a note and sometimes an incident. When the MAR is a separate product, those stories split across systems.

02 / At a glance

Eight systems, one table.

A quick read on scope. A live pharmacy interface and a phone app are both scope choices, not scores: pick the shape that matches who passes the meds in your homes.

PlatformBuilt aroundStaff deviceOfflinePharmacy linkPublished price
SereniqIDD group homes, DSP-firstNative iOS and AndroidYes, queues and syncsMAR import, nurse-confirmedQuoted after a demo
TherapBroad national I/DD and HCBSiOS and Android appsYes, per vendorMany pharmacy systemsFrom $130/month
iCareManagerLong-term care incl. IDDiOS and AndroidListed, per vendor10+ pharmacy systemsPer individual, no figure
AL CloudCareAssisted living and group homesWeb browserYes, per vendorMajor LTC pharmacies$10.00/bed/month
QuickMARGroup homes and behavioral healthWindows onlyUp to 7 days700+ pharmaciesNot published
ECPAssisted living, also IDDiOS, Android, Windows appsYes, per vendor850+ partnersNot published
GivIDD and HCBSNot publishedNot publishedAdd-on, $8/client$18/active client
CaraSolva MedSupportMedication system beside your EHRWindows, Apple, AndroidNo, by design89 to 180+ pharmaciesNot published

Competitor details reflect each vendor’s own public materials as of October 2026. “Not published” means we could not confirm it from those materials.

03 / The platforms

What each one is, and who it fits.

One card per platform: what it is, who it fits, its strengths, and the questions worth asking in a demo.

01 · IDD group homes, DSP-first

Sereniq

Our pick for IDD group homes where DSPs pass meds

An AI-native operations and EHR platform for IDD group homes, host homes, and supervised living, with the eMAR in the same record as notes, incidents, and plans. Born in Texas on HHSC forms, built to adapt forms and terms to any state. Texas is live today.

Staff device
Native iOS and Android
Offline
Yes, queues and syncs
Pharmacy link
MAR import, nurse-confirmed
Published price
Quoted after a demo
Fits best

Residential IDD agencies where DSPs pass most medications and the nurse needs to hear about refusals and PRN doses without reading every MAR.

Strengths
  • DSPs chart doses on native iOS and Android apps; MAR entries queue offline and sync when the connection returns.
  • Six dose states: taken, refused, not given, self-administered, home visit, and hospital. Refused, not given, and self-administered doses carry a written reason.
  • A refused dose alerts supervisors and nurses as a critical event, and a dose marked not given tells the nurse.
  • PRN doses are checked against the order’s limits and logged with a reason, with a reminder to record the result an hour later. A dose over the limit is still recorded, and the nurse is told.
  • Controlled counts follow each charted dose; the shift-change count stays a hand count.
  • Pharmacy MAR import read by AI and confirmed line by line by a nurse or supervisor before anything lands.
  • Each month prints on HHSC Form 3092, Medication Administration Record, with refusal reasons and PRN doses on page 2.

Sereniq does not run a live pharmacy interface, e-prescribing, or barcode scanning, and does not submit claims. Pricing is quoted after a demo.

Worth checking in a demo
  • ?Have a DSP pass a scheduled dose, log a refusal, and give a PRN on a phone.
  • ?Turn off the phone’s connection mid-pass and watch the doses sync.
  • ?Print a month on Form 3092 and read page 2.
Book a demo See the Sereniq eMAR
02 · Broad national I/DD and HCBS

Therap

A broad national I/DD and HCBS platform whose Medication Administration Record module sits inside the wider Therap system of plans, notes, incidents, and billing.

Staff device
iOS and Android apps
Offline
Yes, per vendor
Pharmacy link
Many pharmacy systems
Published price
From $130/month
Fits best

Agencies that want the MAR inside one national system that also runs billing and EVV across many programs and states.

Strengths, as the vendor describes them
  • PRN reasons for administration and follow-up effectiveness notes, per Therap.
  • Medication documentation that works without an internet connection and syncs on reconnect, per Therap.
  • Interfaces with a wide selection of retail and long-term care pharmacy systems, per Therap.
  • Apps on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
  • Published pricing that starts at $130 per month for small agencies, then per individual supported per year.
Worth checking in a demo
  • ?How is a refused dose escalated to the nurse, and how fast?
  • ?Is the MAR module in your quote, or priced separately?
  • ?Which of your state’s forms print in the state’s own layout?
Sereniq vs Therap
03 · Long-term care incl. IDD

iCareManager

A long-term-care platform serving IDD providers alongside assisted living and other settings, with an eMAR that time-stamps every refusal, hold, and PRN result.

Staff device
iOS and Android
Offline
Listed, per vendor
Pharmacy link
10+ pharmacy systems
Published price
Per individual, no figure
Fits best

Organizations that run IDD services next to assisted living and want medication management, training, and billing from one vendor.

Strengths, as the vendor describes them
  • Barcode scanning on the eMAR, per iCareManager.
  • Pharmacy integrations; its eMAR page cites 10 pharmacy systems supporting 100+ pharmacies, and another page cites 12+ systems.
  • iOS and Android apps, and offline use listed in its own comparison table.
  • Pricing based on the number of active individuals, with extra fees for certain modules, per its FAQ.
Worth checking in a demo
  • ?Which medication workflows are built for group homes and which are shared with assisted living?
  • ?Which modules carry an extra fee?
  • ?Which of your state’s IDD forms print in the state’s own layout?
Sereniq vs iCareManager
04 · Assisted living and group homes

AL CloudCare

An eMAR and EHR for assisted living, group homes, and IDD agencies that runs in a web browser, with per-bed pricing on its website.

Staff device
Web browser
Offline
Yes, per vendor
Pharmacy link
Major LTC pharmacies
Published price
$10.00/bed/month
Fits best

Small group homes that want an eMAR-first system with a low published price.

Strengths, as the vendor describes them
  • Published pricing: Premium (eMAR, EHR, and more) at $10.00 per bed per month with $0 setup and a $120 monthly minimum per EIN.
  • An eMAR-only tier at $3.99 per bed per month for pharmacy partners, with limited availability, setup fees, and a $50 monthly minimum.
  • PRN reason plus an effectiveness check, and barcode scanning, per AL CloudCare.
  • Refusals recorded separately from missed doses, and use online or offline, per AL CloudCare.
Worth checking in a demo
  • ?How do DSPs chart on a phone without a native app?
  • ?Which IDD workflows, such as goal-linked notes and incidents, come with the per-bed price?
  • ?Does the $3.99 eMAR-only tier apply to your pharmacy?
Compare with the Sereniq eMAR
05 · Group homes and behavioral health

QuickMAR (PointClickCare)

A medication-pass system from PointClickCare for group homes, behavioral health, senior living, and corrections, installed on Windows computers.

Staff device
Windows only
Offline
Up to 7 days
Pharmacy link
700+ pharmacies
Published price
Not published
Fits best

Homes that pass meds from a cart at a Windows workstation and whose pharmacy already supports QuickMAR.

Strengths, as the vendor describes them
  • Barcode scanning and flags for missed PRN follow-ups, per PointClickCare.
  • More than 700 pharmacies across the United States and Canada provide QuickMAR, per PointClickCare.
  • Med passes continue offline for up to seven days, per PointClickCare.
Worth checking in a demo
  • ?Can DSPs chart on a phone? Its technical specifications say it does not run on non-Windows devices.
  • ?How do notes, incidents, and plans connect to the MAR?
  • ?What does it cost for your number of homes?
Compare with the Sereniq eMAR
06 · Assisted living, also IDD

ECP

An assisted-living-first platform whose FAQ says it also supports IDD and group home operators, with a pharmacy-connected eMAR.

Staff device
iOS, Android, Windows apps
Offline
Yes, per vendor
Pharmacy link
850+ partners
Published price
Not published
Fits best

Operators whose homes run like assisted living and whose pharmacy is one of ECP’s partners.

Strengths, as the vendor describes them
  • PRN follow-ups tracked with over-dispensing alerts, and refusals and errors logged with context, per ECP.
  • Apps on the App Store, Google Play, and Microsoft Store, with offline charting.
  • A large pharmacy partner network; its FAQ cites 850+ and 900+ partners on the same page.
Worth checking in a demo
  • ?Which IDD workflows ship, such as plan goals, DSP notes, and waiver forms?
  • ?Its Texas page covers assisted living forms. Which HCS forms does it print?
  • ?What does it cost for your homes?
Compare with the Sereniq eMAR
07 · IDD and HCBS

Giv (GIV Healthcare)

An IDD and HCBS platform with a built-in MAR in its Essential Suite and published per-client pricing.

Staff device
Not published
Offline
Not published
Pharmacy link
Add-on, $8/client
Published price
$18/active client
Fits best

Agencies that want simple per-client pricing with the MAR included.

Strengths, as the vendor describes them
  • Published pricing: the Essential Suite, which lists the eMAR, at $18 per active client, with unlimited users and free setup.
  • Pharmacy integration from $8 per client using it, where the pharmacy agrees to work with Giv.
  • Medication refusal tracking, per Giv.
Worth checking in a demo
  • ?How do PRN doses and their follow-up work?
  • ?How does a DSP chart a dose on a phone, and does it work offline?
  • ?Which Texas forms print in HHSC’s layout?
Sereniq vs Giv
08 · Medication system beside your EHR

CaraSolva MedSupport

A medication administration system for IDD, behavioral health, and senior care that other platforms pair with; SETWorks lists it as an eMAR partner.

Staff device
Windows, Apple, Android
Offline
No, by design
Pharmacy link
89 to 180+ pharmacies
Published price
Not published
Fits best

Agencies that already use another platform for notes and want a dedicated medication system beside it.

Strengths, as the vendor describes them
  • PRNs managed by symptom or diagnosis, with thresholds, per CaraSolva.
  • Instant alerts for refusals, per CaraSolva.
  • A pharmacy interface; one page cites 89 pharmacies and another over 180.
  • Runs on Windows, Apple, and Android devices, with optional barcode scanning of prescription labels.
Worth checking in a demo
  • ?How do refusals and PRN doses reach the notes and incidents in your main system?
  • ?Health information is not available offline by design. How will homes with dead spots chart?
  • ?What does it cost for your number of individuals?
Compare with the Sereniq eMAR
04 / Buyer questions

What group homes ask while comparing.

What is the best eMAR software for IDD group homes?

It depends on who passes the meds and where. In IDD group homes, DSPs pass most doses on the floor, so the best eMAR is one DSPs can chart on a phone, that tells the nurse about refusals and PRN doses, and that keeps the MAR in the same record as notes and incidents. Sereniq is built for that shape. If you want a medication system with a live pharmacy interface or barcode scanning, Therap, iCareManager, QuickMAR, or CaraSolva publish those features.

What should an eMAR for a group home include?

Phone charting for DSPs, written reasons on refused and missed doses, alerts to the supervisor and nurse, PRN doses checked against order limits with a result recorded later, controlled counts, offline charting, a way to bring in pharmacy orders that a nurse confirms, and a monthly print your state surveyor accepts.

How much does eMAR software cost?

Among the vendors above, Therap publishes a starting price of $130 per month for small agencies, AL CloudCare publishes $10.00 per bed per month for its eMAR and EHR package, and Giv publishes $18 per active client for a suite that includes its eMAR. The others quote. Sereniq pricing is quoted after a demo and includes the eMAR.

Can DSPs use an eMAR on their own phones?

With some systems. Sereniq, Therap, iCareManager, and ECP publish phone apps. AL CloudCare runs in a browser, CaraSolva runs on Windows, Apple, and Android devices, and QuickMAR runs on Windows computers only.

Does Sereniq connect to pharmacies?

Sereniq does not run a live pharmacy interface. Instead, you upload a photo or PDF of the pharmacy MAR or medication list, Sereniq’s AI reads it into a checklist, and a nurse or supervisor confirms each line before anything reaches the MAR. AI is included for every agency.

Does Sereniq print HHSC Form 3092?

Yes. Each individual’s month prints on HHSC Form 3092, Medication Administration Record, the MAR Texas HCS and HCBS providers use, with refusal reasons and PRN doses on page 2. Outside Texas, Sereniq adapts its forms and terms to your state.

eMAR

eMAR software for IDD group homesNursing documentation softwareNursing delegation software

Compare

Best IDD software 2026Sereniq comparison tableSereniq vs Therap

Guides

Guide: What is an eMAR?Guide: How to fill out a MARGuide: Can DSPs pass medications?

Put Sereniq through the same demo test.

Watch a DSP pass a dose, log a refusal, and give a PRN on a phone, then print the month on Form 3092. We reply within one business day.

Have a quick question first? Ask it here
Book a demoSee the Sereniq eMAR