Understanding a facility's license
Every facility in this directory is licensed by the State of California. Understanding what that license means — and how to check it yourself — is one of the best ways to protect your loved one.
Who licenses what
- Assisted living & memory care are licensed as Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFE) by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS).
- Skilled nursing and home health are licensed by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).
What the status means
An active / licensed status means the facility is currently authorized to operate. You may also see statuses like pending (an application in progress), or — less commonly — probation, suspended, or closed. A license also lists the facility’s approved capacity (number of beds).
How to verify a facility
On every listing, the “View the official licensing record” link goes straight to that facility’s page on the state’s own website — not a search box. Open it to see the current license status, capacity, and any inspection or enforcement history the state publishes. If anything there doesn’t match the listing, trust the state record and let us know.
License status can change after we verify a listing. Always confirm a facility’s current status with CDSS or CDPH before making a decision.