What is RCFE? Forms, requirements and more

Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly, also known as RCFEs, include assisted living communities and board and care homes. These senior living communities help with activities of daily living, such as dressing and bathing, but they don’t provide skilled medical care as a skilled nursing community would.

In California, RCFEs are licensed and monitored by the California Department of Social Services. This means community staff must maintain specific documentation related to every resident. You’ll be asked to complete some of these forms for RCFE requirements before moving into one of these senior communities. 

Here’s an overview of the required RCFE forms you may encounter before your move. Some communities may also ask you to complete additional documents as part of the process. 

Identification and emergency information 

This form includes basic information about you. It also asks for contact information for family members and other people who help with your finances or should be contacted on your behalf in an emergency. 

Physician’s report 

Your doctor completes this form to provide basic medical information about you. Because RCFEs don’t provide skilled nursing care, the information helps determine whether the community is appropriate for your needs. You, or your legal representative, will need to sign the form to give your doctor permission to provide all the requested information. 

Resident appraisal 

You, or someone you authorize, will need to complete this form. Like the physician’s report, it provides information about your health, but from your perspective rather than your doctor’s. It also asks you to share details about your interests, activities, likes, dislikes, the type of help you think you need, and anything else that may help staff determine whether the community is appropriate for you. 

Release of resident medical information 

You, or someone you authorize, will need to complete and sign this form for each relevant medical professional who may have information about you to share with the senior community. 

Personal rights

This RCFE form outlines your rights as a resident in the senior community. Community staff must review these rights with you, answer any questions you may have, and explain whom to contact if you have a complaint or believe your rights have been violated. You, or someone you authorize, will need to sign the form to confirm that you’ve been informed of your personal rights and received a written copy. 

Resident personal property and valuables 

Senior communities are responsible for keeping the personal property and valuables you bring with you safe. This form provides a list of all those items. You, or someone you authorize, will be asked to sign next to each item listed, and you’ll receive a copy of the completed list. The list will be updated as needed whenever you remove or add items. 

Appraisal of needs and services plan 

The senior community must work with you and anyone else you choose to identify your needs and develop a plan for meeting those needs. This detailed plan covers your social, emotional, mental, health, and functional needs. For each need, it identifies the time frame for addressing it, who will be responsible for helping you, and how your progress will be evaluated. You, or someone you authorize, will need to sign the form after the assessment and plan are completed. 

Consent for emergency medical treatment 

You, or someone you authorize, will be asked to complete this RCFE form. It gives the senior community permission to provide emergency medical treatment if you need it. 

Telecommunications device notification 

Senior communities must provide the equipment or services you may need to use the telephone if you’re deaf or have a hearing impairment. You, or someone you authorize, will be asked to sign this form to confirm that you’ve been informed of this right and understand the steps you need to take to get the equipment if needed. 

Completing all this paperwork may feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to manage the process alone. In addition to getting support from the senior community’s staff, you can ask them to walk you through each form, explain what information you need to provide, and answer any questions you have before you sign. Taking the required forms one at a time can help make the transition into the community feel more manageable.