What is an RCFE license and why should I care?
RCFE stands for Residential Care Center for the Elderly. RCFE is a special certification in the State of California. These facilities are also called board and care facilities. While other states have followed suit by developing similar licenses and certifications, California’s certification is somewhat unique. Having a certification in another state will not suffice in CA, and CA certifications in this category are not always recognized by other states.
What makes a Residential Care Facility for the elderly different from a typical nursing home? Well, nursing homes have nurses on staff and they can medicate and provide health care whereas residential care facilities or board and care facilities do not. RCFEs help with activities of daily living (ADLs). Things like bathing, grooming, dressing, and eating. They can also help with some medical services under special care plans and can advise the elderly when to take medication, but not administer it.
Why is all this important? Simple. Because there have been unfortunate cases of elder abuse, poorly maintained care and pension facilities, theft, fraud, and negligence resulting in deaths in the past. To prevent this from happening, the State of California took action after advocacy groups pressured the California Legislature in Sacramento to do something about it.
Their remedy was to make sure all RCFEs were registered, certified, and licensed, and to make sure facility managers were certified along with those who worked there. Things have changed drastically since then. Non-compliant boarding and care facilities are warned and if they do not comply, they are shut down forever, literally forever! The good of the elderly as well as that of families and insurers paying the expenses.
Is it difficult to stay in compliance? Not really once you know the rules, hire the right people, and have all the certifications. If the facility does not keep up with required standards for paperwork, cleanliness, or if there are complaints that result in subpoenas or notices, California regulators can be quite severe in their enforcement of established rules and laws.
That is why everyone who works there must be properly trained and educated on the rules and laws. They must also obtain the RCFE Certification. All of this is necessary to operate a Board and Care Center or RCFE. This is being done to ensure the safety, quality of life, and well-being of our seniors and to protect the families that pay the bill, the consumers.