Glossary term
RCFE
Residential Care Facility for the Elderly
A California-licensed non-medical residence for adults 60 and older that provides room, board, personal care, and supervision. Licensed by CDSS Community Care Licensing, not by CDPH.
RCFE is the license behind almost every assisted-living, board-and-care, and memory-care setting in California. It is non-medical and is overseen by CDSS Community Care Licensing, whose inspection and complaint records are public. When care needs become primarily medical, the correct setting shifts to a skilled nursing facility, which is licensed separately by CDPH.
Related terms