California licenses two main types of residential senior care: the RCFE (for most seniors) and the Adult Residential Facility (ARF). Here's the difference and why it matters for placement.
By Diane Whitfield, CSA · May 7, 2026
California's Community Care Licensing Division (CCLD) within CDSS licenses two types of small group-home care: the Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE) under Health & Safety Code §1569, and the Adult Residential Facility (ARF) under Health & Safety Code §1500. RCFEs serve seniors 60 and older who need assistance with daily living; ARFs serve adults 18–59 with developmental disabilities, mental health conditions, or other non-age-related needs.
The distinction matters because moving a senior into an ARF by mistake — or an ARF resident into an RCFE — can lead to a poor care fit, licensing violations, and a difficult, disruptive move.
An RCFE can provide non-medical personal care: assistance with bathing, dressing, grooming, medication management, and mobility. A facility with a CCLD 'memory care' or 'dementia care' endorsement can operate a secured unit under the same RCFE license — memory care in California is not a separate license type, unlike some other states.
An RCFE can also hold a 'special care unit' designation and, for higher-acuity residents, a Hospice Waiver that allows a licensed hospice to co-provide services on-site. Always verify a facility's specific CCLD license at the CDSS Care Facility Search.
Go to the CDSS Care Facility Search at ccld.dss.ca.gov, search by facility name or county (San Diego is county 37), and review the license type, status, capacity, and any deficiency citations. A provisional or suspended license is a serious warning sign.
A free local advisor checks CCLD licensing for every community before recommending it — including any open citations or enforcement actions.
Free, no-pressure call. We work for families, not facilities.