California Senior Living Facilities & Care Homes

What's available in California

• Assisted Living — 11 communities
• Memory Care — 11 communities
• Independent Living — 6 communities
• Skilled Nursing — 6 communities
• CCRC / Life Plan — 3 communities
• Respite Care — 2 communities

How California regulates senior care

Assisted living and residential care homes are licensed as RCFEs by the Community Care Licensing Division; skilled nursing facilities are certified by CMS and licensed by the California Department of Public Health.

Small homes: Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFE) — small homes are licensed for up to 6 residents — how to evaluate one.

California resources for families

• California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division — license & inspection lookup (how to read reports)
• Eldercare Locator — 1-800-677-1116 — free federal referral line to local aging services
• Your local Area Agency on Aging — options counseling and help paying for care
• Long-Term Care Ombudsman — resident advocates who know each facility's complaint history

New to this?

Start with how to choose a facility, levels of care, and what it really costs.