RCFE (6 beds or fewer)
Small "board and care" homes, often converted single-family houses. High staff-to-resident ratio (~1:2–3), quiet and homelike — best for residents needing hands-on care.
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RCFE (7–15 beds)
Mid-size residential homes — same homelike, family-style model as small RCFEs, just slightly larger, often locally owned.
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RCFE (16+ beds — Assisted Living)
Purpose-built RCFE communities, sometimes marketed as "assisted living" — apartment-style rooms, on-site amenities, full activity calendars. Same CDSS-RCFE license as the smaller board-and-care homes above, just bigger, with a lower staff ratio (~1:8–15).
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Memory Care
A specialized RCFE or secured unit staffed by caregivers trained in dementia care, with structured routines and higher staff ratios for safety.
Browse RCFEs →Not yet a separate filter — browsing all RCFEs for now.
ARF (Adult Residential Facility)
A separate CDSS license from RCFE — not a type of RCFE. ARFs primarily serve adults under 65 with developmental disabilities, referred through California's Regional Center system, not the general senior population.
Search These →Listed here for completeness, but most families searching for senior care want RCFE instead.
CBAS / ADHC
Adult Day Health Care centers licensed by CDPH; certified as Community-Based Adult Services (CBAS) sites by the CA Dept. of Aging for Medi-Cal coverage. Healthcare, social activities, meals, and transportation during the day.
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Adult Day Program (ADP)
Non-medical social and recreational activities, meals, and supervision in a safe daytime environment. Licensed by CDSS — a separate, non-medical program from CBAS/ADHC above.
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Home Health Care
Skilled medical care provided at home by licensed nurses and therapists.
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Home Care Services
Non-medical assistance with daily activities, companionship, and personal care at home.
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Skilled Nursing & Rehab
24/7 medical care and rehabilitation services for short-term or long-term needs.
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Congregate Living Health Facility (CLHF)
A small, home-like, licensed step between skilled nursing and residential care for those needing ongoing nursing supervision but not a hospital-level setting.
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Hospice Care
Compassionate care focused on comfort, dignity, and quality of life for those with serious illness.
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Independent Living
Age-restricted communities for active seniors who need no help with daily activities. Many California "independent living" communities are wings of a larger campus and share the same RCFE license as its assisted living side — especially Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs).
Search RCFE / CCRC Campuses →Standalone, unlicensed apartment-only communities aren't in a government registry, but most communities marketed as "independent living" in CA are part of an RCFE-licensed campus — browse those above.
Senior Apartments
HUD Section 202 and LIHTC-financed housing — income-restricted, independent-living apartment communities for seniors, typically 62+. Not a licensed care facility and not a comprehensive list of market-rate 55+ communities; no on-site medical or personal care.
Search These →Who licenses what: RCFE and ARF are two separate license categories, both issued by the CA Dept. of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division (CDSS-CCLD) — ARF is not a type of RCFE. ARFs mainly serve adults under 65 with developmental disabilities referred through a Regional Center, not the general senior population. Adult Day Health Care (ADHC) centers and skilled nursing facilities are licensed by the CA Dept. of Public Health (CDPH); ADHC centers are additionally certified as CBAS sites by the CA Dept. of Aging (CDA) for Medi-Cal coverage. Home health, hospice, and Congregate Living Health Facilities (CLHF) are also licensed by CDPH. Non-medical Home Care agencies and Adult Day Programs (ADP) are licensed by CDSS-CCLD, separate from and non-medical versions of Home Health and CBAS/ADHC respectively. "Independent Living" isn't its own license type — when it's part of a larger campus (like a CCRC), it typically falls under that campus's RCFE license.