Question: What is the deciding factor on the size of the facility? What determines if a facility is small or large?
Answer: Interesting question. The deciding factor on the size of a facility is typically the number of beds it is licensed for. Each state is different, but in California, for example, licensing for assisted living (also known as a Residential Care Facility for the Elderly [RCFE]) requires different services to be available, depending on the number of beds that are licensed. Smaller facilities are typically six to 15 beds, while other facilities may have 50 or 100 or more beds.
According to the California Registry, more than 90% of California facilities are licensed for six or fewer beds. All facilities must abide by certain regulations for medication management and fire safety, provide services for activities of daily living, and offer three nutritious meals and snacks daily, to name a few. The smaller facilities do not have to provide the same level of services as the larger facilities, such as transportation to doctor’s appointments.
