Assisted Living in California

With the senior population in the United States, California is also one of the most expensive places to retire according to U.S. Census 2010 cost of living index. Finding the best assisted living for your budget and care needs is all the more important.

Cost of Assisted Living in California
According to the 2012 A Place for Mom Senior Living Costs Survey, the median monthly cost to live in an assisted living one bedroom apartment in California is $3,341.

California Assisted Facility Licensing and Regulation
Assisted living facilities in California are licensed, monitored and regulated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services along with the California Department of Social Services. The California Department of Public Health inspects properties only once every five years. However, if the facility has frequent complaints or poor inspection results, it will be inspected annually.

File a complaint about a residential care facility for the elderly.

Best Places to Retire in California
Napa California: Median home price: $363,100 (Fortune Magazine 2012)

Top Cities in California

Assisted Living Rules and Regulations in California

Assisted Living Terms Used in California

• Assisted Living
• Residential Care Facility for the Elderly

Required Training for Staff

• Direct care staff members must have ten hours of initial training and four hours of continuing education annually.
• Training should include the aging process, physical limitations of the elderly, personal care services, residents rights, medication policies, psychosocial needs of the elderly and recognizing sings of dementia.
• All direct care staff must be trained in first aid.

Overnight Staffing Laws

Staffing must be adequate to meet the needs of the residents. Depending on the number of residents, each facility must have one to three staff members on duty overnight.

Eviction Laws and Resident Protections

• A resident can be evicted if he or she develops communicable tuberculosis, a need for 24 hour nursing care, assistance with all activities of daily living, a stage 3 or stage 4 pressure sore, gastrostomy, nasogastric tube, a staph infection or a tracheostomy.
• In the state of California, residents have a bill of rights. These rights include basic rights, admission rights, a right to confidentiality, quality care, quality of life, protection of assets and a life free from abuse or neglect.

Service Fees

Facilities are allowed to charge for extra services such as incontinent care, extra baths or showers or extra supervision if they are listed on the admissions agreement.

Inspection Laws

The California Department of Social Services inspects each licensed Residential Care Facility for the Elderly at least annually.

Private Payment Laws

Most Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly in California only accept private payment.

Links and Sources

• California Long-Term Care Ombudsman
• Residents’ Rights
• Regulations for California Residential Care Care Facilities (Part 1)
• Regulations for California Residential Care Care Facilities (Part 2)
• Regulations for California Residential Care Care Facilities (Part 3)
• Regulations for California Residential Care Care Facilities (Part 4)