Who it fits
Someone who needs daily help with bathing, dressing, medications or meals, but not round-the-clock nursing.
How California regulates it
California licenses assisted living as a Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE) through the Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing. It covers 24-hour non-medical care and supervision for people 60 and older, from six-bed homes to large communities.
How it is paid for
Most families pay privately. Medicare does not pay for assisted living. In 15 counties, the Medi-Cal Assisted Living Waiver can pay for the care part for people who need a nursing-home level of care.
What to check
- The monthly rate, what it includes, and how it rises as care needs grow
- How many caregivers are awake and on site overnight
- Whether the home accepts residents with dementia, and can keep them if memory declines
- Recent state inspection and complaint reports
Largest cities
- Sacramento 206
- Fresno 172
- San Diego 172
- Mission Viejo 155
- Los Angeles 142
- San Jose 139
- Roseville 130
- Bakersfield 125
- Anaheim 97
- Elk Grove 96
- Concord 93
- Santa Rosa 91
Compare with related options
Memory care Secured care for people living with dementia, often a unit within assisted living. Read the guide Home care Non-medical help at home: personal care, companionship, meals, errands. 2,236 in California Nursing homes 24-hour nursing care for long stays or short rehab stays after a hospital visit. 1,165 in California