How to Check an Assisted Living License in California
Use the CDSS facility search to read license status, inspection reports, and citations, and learn how to file a complaint.
Before you tour, and again before you sign, look up the facility's license. California publishes licensing records for every Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE), and a few minutes of reading can tell you a great deal about how a facility has been run.
Where to look it up
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Community Care Licensing Division runs a free public Care Facility Search. You can search by facility name, city, county, ZIP code, or license number, and filter by facility type (choose Residential Care for the Elderly). Each facility page shows the license number, facility type, status, licensed capacity, the licensee (the person or company legally responsible for the facility), the administrator, the regional office, and a history of visits and complaints.
CDSS notes on its facility search information page that the site contains five years of information and cautions families never to rely on this information alone. For older records or the full facility file, you can contact the local regional office; the department's resources for residents and families explain that facility files contain licensing evaluation visits and complaints the department substantiated.
What each license status means
The official facility search glossary defines the statuses you are likely to see:
- Licensed: the facility holds a current license to operate.
- Pending: the department is processing an application, but the facility is not yet licensed.
- Provisional license: a temporary license, for no more than twelve months, issued when an initial application is in, there are no life-safety risks, and the facility is in substantial compliance.
- On probation: a period during which the facility must comply with specific terms and conditions to prevent revocation of its license. If all terms are met, probation is lifted after the specified date.
- Revocation action pending: the state has filed a legal action to revoke the license. The facility may remain open during this process.
- License suspended: the state has closed the facility due to an imminent risk of harm.
- Revoked: the license has been taken away because of serious or chronic violations.
- Closed: the facility is no longer operating under that license.
Probation is worth understanding in detail. Under Health and Safety Code section 1569.33, all RCFEs receive annual unannounced inspections, and a facility on probation is specifically listed among those that must be inspected annually. If a facility you are considering is on probation, ask the administrator why, what the terms are, and when they end.
Reading inspection reports and citations
Each visit (a routine inspection, a complaint investigation, or a follow-up) produces a report. When inspectors find a violation, they issue a citation, also called a deficiency, and the facility must correct it. The glossary describes two levels:
- Type A: the most serious violations, where there is an immediate risk to the health, safety, or personal rights of residents. Examples include lack of care and supervision, lack of a fire clearance, and access to dangerous chemicals. Type A citations are always issued, even if the problem is corrected on the spot.
- Type B: violations that, if not corrected, may become an immediate risk. Examples include faulty medical record keeping and lack of adequate staff training.
Look for patterns rather than single entries. One Type B citation for paperwork that was promptly corrected is different from repeated Type A citations about supervision or medications. Also note whether the same problem appears year after year.
Understanding complaint findings
Complaint investigation reports list each allegation and a finding:
- Substantiated: a preponderance of evidence shows the violation occurred.
- Unsubstantiated: there was not enough evidence to prove it occurred. This is not the same as saying it did not happen. (Before February 2017 this was called "inconclusive.")
- Unfounded: the allegation was false, could not have happened, or had no reasonable basis.
If a licensee successfully appeals a citation, the report may show it as dismissed.
How to file a complaint with Community Care Licensing
Anyone can file a complaint about an RCFE. According to the CDSS complaint hotline page, you can:
- Call 1-844-538-8766 (1-844-LET-US-NO).
- Email letusno@dss.ca.gov.
- Use the online complaint system at complaints.ccld.dss.ca.gov.
Your name stays confidential unless you give permission to use it. Under Health and Safety Code section 1569.35, complaints may be made orally or in writing, and the department generally must make an onsite inspection within 10 days of receiving a complaint. CDSS says the local office will make an unannounced visit, and if you provide contact information you will receive written findings when the investigation is complete. If you suspect abuse, also contact local law enforcement.
The Long-Term Care Ombudsman
The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, run through the California Department of Aging and local programs in each area, helps residents of long-term care facilities, including RCFEs, with problems related to day-to-day care, health, safety, and personal preferences. Its services are free and complaints are confidential. The statewide CRISISline, 1-800-231-4024, is available 24 hours a day, and every licensed facility must post the local ombudsman's contact information where residents can see it.
The licensing division and the ombudsman do different jobs. Community Care Licensing enforces the regulations and can cite or discipline a facility. The ombudsman advocates for the resident and can help resolve problems, explain rights, and assist with issues such as an eviction notice.
A quick checklist
- Confirm the license number on the facility's paperwork matches the state record.
- Check that the status is Licensed and that capacity matches what you see on the tour.
- Note the licensee and administrator, and ask about any recent changes.
- Read the last several inspection and complaint reports, not just the summary counts.
- Ask the facility directly about any Type A citations or substantiated complaints and what changed afterward.
This guide is general information, not legal advice.