In California, the term “assisted living facility” is synonymous with an RCFE or “residential care facility for the elderly”. These are non-healthcare facilities that are regulated by California’s Department of Social Services and not California’s Department of Health Services, which regulates healthcare facilities such as Skilled Nursing Facilities.
Assisted living facilities provide residents with: supervision and assistance with activities of daily living; coordination of services by outside health care providers; and monitoring of resident activities to help to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Assistance may include the administration or supervision of medication, or personal care services provided by a trained personnel. Assisted living is an elder-care alternative that provides care for residents who cannot live independently in a private residence, but who do not need the 24-hour medical care provided by a nursing home. Assisted living tries to provide care and services while also promoting a resident’s independence and dignity.
