Resources for Residents and Families

Senior Care Facility Types Licensed by CDSS

• Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) Offer a long-term continuing care contract that provides for housing, residential services, and nursing care, usually in one location, and usually for a resident’s lifetime.
• Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFE) A housing arrangement for persons, 60 years of age and over, where 24-hour non-medical care and supervision is provided. Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly are often referred to as assisted living facilities, or board and care homes.

Facility Search Website

The Facility Search website contains information about licensed facilities throughout California. This information is intended to help individuals and families learn more about a facility they might be considering.

How to Review a Facility File

Are you interested in finding out if a facility meets licensing requirements? If so, you may contact your local Regional Office and make a request to review the licensee’s facility file. The file will contain information related to evaluation visits conducted by the licensing agency and any complaints against the facility that were substantiated by the Department. You can also review a facility’s licensing reports, which are part of the facility file, by using the Facility Search website.

Choosing Residential Care for Seniors

The Department of Social Services has published the Resource Guide for Choosing Residential Care for Seniors

• Resource Guide for Choosing Residential Care for Seniors in California (English)

Reporting Fraud

• The Social Security Administration (SSA), Office of the Inspector General (OIG), Fraud Hotline provides an avenue for reporting fraud, waste, and abuse within SSA's programs and operations.

Elder Abuse and Neglect Reporting

To report Elder Abuse or Neglect contact the local Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, the Long-Term Care Ombudsman CRISISline at 1-800-231-4024 or the local police or sheriff’s department. You may also contact the California Department of Social Services at 1-844-538-8766.

Resident Advocacy

Long-Term Care Ombudsman representatives also assist residents in long-term care facilities with advocacy related to day-to-day care, health, safety, and personal preferences. Problems can include, but are not limited to:

• Violation of residents' rights or dignity
• Physical, verbal, mental, or financial abuse
• Poor quality of care
• Dietary concerns
• Medical care, therapy, and rehabilitation issues
• Medicare and Medi-Cal benefit issues
• Improper transfer or discharge of a resident
• Inappropriate use of chemical or physical restraints

For more information visit the Long-Term Care Ombudsman website.