The three primary types of long-term care facilities in California are: skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, and residential care homes. Skilled nursing facilities provide medical care and monitoring 24 hours a day, assisted living facilities aid with daily activities but promote an independent lifestyle, and residential care homes are small, home-like facilities. These three are typically referred to as the main types, but California also has memory care units, continuing care retirement communities, and adult day programs.
What Are the 3 Main Types of Long-Term Care Facilities in California?
If you’ve ever wondered what the three main types of long-term care facilities in California are, you’re not alone. Deciding where a loved one should live when they need a level of support beyond what is available at home is an important step for many families throughout the state.
With several types of facilities available in California’s long-term care system, it can be difficult to know which option fully meets the needs of the person you are caring for. Each type of facility is suited to meet different medical needs and levels of independence, as well as lifestyle and quality of life expectations.
Gaining an overview of the main categories of long-term care facilities in California can help you start making decisions about your loved one’s future.
Hire a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
Hunter Law, PC is committed to offering readers reliable legal information when it comes to making elder care and long-term care decisions in California. Our firm has been handling abuse and neglect cases for over 16 years, and we know how important it is to make sure your loved one is placed in the right facility.
We are dedicated to offering compassionate legal advice while also making sure readers have the correct, dependable information when researching long-term care facilities throughout California.
Skilled Nursing Facilities
Skilled nursing facilities, also known as nursing homes, offer the highest level of medical care outside a hospital setting. They are equipped to provide 24-hour supervision, rehabilitation services, or ongoing medical treatment.
Care services can include medication management, wound care, IV therapy, and access to licensed nurses and physicians. Skilled nursing is most appropriate for patients recovering from surgery, managing chronic conditions, or requiring long-term medical monitoring.
In California, skilled nursing facilities must be licensed by the Department of Public Health, which sets rigorous standards for patient care. California nursing homes have a higher average deficiency score than the rest of the nation.
According to the 2024 California Health Care Foundation scorecard, California nursing homes averaged 16 deficiencies per facility in 2023. This is almost twice the national average of 8.9. And 1 in 4 nursing homes in California were given a deficiency for causing actual harm or immediate jeopardy to a resident. When considering a skilled nursing facility for a loved one, families should carefully review quality ratings, staff-to-patient ratios, and inspection reports.
Assisted Living Facilities
Assisted living facilities are homes for seniors who don’t need round-the-clock skilled nursing care but do require assistance with some daily living activities such as bathing, dressing, or meal preparation. Assisted living offers some degree of independence with as much or as little support as needed.
Many residents have their own apartment or room along with shared spaces such as a dining room and recreation areas. Assisted living facilities in California are licensed by the Department of Social Services.
Some assisted living facilities also have memory care wings for seniors with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Assisted living focuses on socialization, safety, and wellness, so it is ideal for those who want the community of living with others, while still having some degree of independence. Careful touring of potential locations is advised to ensure services meet the needs of the family’s loved one.
Residential Care Homes
Smaller board-and-care homes, also known as residential care homes, are typically in neighborhood settings where six to ten, or fewer, residents live in a house, often with family members living in separate areas of the house.
These types of facilities may help with activities of daily living, meals, and light supervision, but cannot accommodate high-tech or skilled care for serious medical issues. California’s Department of Social Services licenses residential care homes. They are popular for their small, intimate setting.
FAQs About Types of Long-Term Care Facilities in California
California Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
Choosing the right long-term care facility is one of the most important decisions families face. Hunter Law, PC provides trusted guidance to help you understand options, protect your loved one’s rights, and act if abuse or neglect ever occurs in California facilities. Contact us today for a consultation.
If you’ve ever wondered what the three main types of long-term care facilities in California are, you’re not alone. Deciding where a loved one should live when they need a level of support beyond what is available at home is an important step for many families throughout the state.
With several types of facilities available in California’s long-term care system, it can be difficult to know which option fully meets the needs of the person you are caring for. Each type of facility is suited to meet different medical needs and levels of independence, as well as lifestyle and quality of life expectations.
Gaining an overview of the main categories of long-term care facilities in California can help you start making decisions about your loved one’s future.
Hire a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
Hunter Law, PC is committed to offering readers reliable legal information when it comes to making elder care and long-term care decisions in California. Our firm has been handling abuse and neglect cases for over 16 years, and we know how important it is to make sure your loved one is placed in the right facility.
We are dedicated to offering compassionate legal advice while also making sure readers have the correct, dependable information when researching long-term care facilities throughout California.
Skilled Nursing Facilities
Skilled nursing facilities, also known as nursing homes, offer the highest level of medical care outside a hospital setting. They are equipped to provide 24-hour supervision, rehabilitation services, or ongoing medical treatment.
Care services can include medication management, wound care, IV therapy, and access to licensed nurses and physicians. Skilled nursing is most appropriate for patients recovering from surgery, managing chronic conditions, or requiring long-term medical monitoring.
In California, skilled nursing facilities must be licensed by the Department of Public Health, which sets rigorous standards for patient care. California nursing homes have a higher average deficiency score than the rest of the nation.
According to the 2024 California Health Care Foundation scorecard, California nursing homes averaged 16 deficiencies per facility in 2023. This is almost twice the national average of 8.9. And 1 in 4 nursing homes in California were given a deficiency for causing actual harm or immediate jeopardy to a resident. When considering a skilled nursing facility for a loved one, families should carefully review quality ratings, staff-to-patient ratios, and inspection reports.
Assisted Living Facilities
Assisted living facilities are homes for seniors who don’t need round-the-clock skilled nursing care but do require assistance with some daily living activities such as bathing, dressing, or meal preparation. Assisted living offers some degree of independence with as much or as little support as needed.
Many residents have their own apartment or room along with shared spaces such as a dining room and recreation areas. Assisted living facilities in California are licensed by the Department of Social Services.
Some assisted living facilities also have memory care wings for seniors with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Assisted living focuses on socialization, safety, and wellness, so it is ideal for those who want the community of living with others, while still having some degree of independence. Careful touring of potential locations is advised to ensure services meet the needs of the family’s loved one.
Residential Care Homes
Smaller board-and-care homes, also known as residential care homes, are typically in neighborhood settings where six to ten, or fewer, residents live in a house, often with family members living in separate areas of the house.
These types of facilities may help with activities of daily living, meals, and light supervision, but cannot accommodate high-tech or skilled care for serious medical issues. California’s Department of Social Services licenses residential care homes. They are popular for their small, intimate setting.
FAQs About Types of Long-Term Care Facilities in California
What Are the Three Main Types of Long-Term Care Facilities in California?
The three primary types of long-term care facilities in California are: skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, and residential care homes. Skilled nursing facilities provide medical care and monitoring 24 hours a day, assisted living facilities aid with daily activities but promote an independent lifestyle, and residential care homes are small, home-like facilities. These three are typically referred to as the main types, but California also has memory care units, continuing care retirement communities, and adult day programs.
California Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
Choosing the right long-term care facility is one of the most important decisions families face. Hunter Law, PC provides trusted guidance to help you understand options, protect your loved one’s rights, and act if abuse or neglect ever occurs in California facilities. Contact us today for a consultation.
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