Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI) is a program funded by the federal and state government that guarantees a minimum monthly income to people who are over 65, blind or disabled, and have limited income and resources.
Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFEs) — sometimes called “Assisted Living” (e.g., 16+ beds) or “Board and Care” (e.g., 4 to 6 beds) — are non–medical facilities that provide room, meals, housekeeping, supervision, storage and distribution of medication, and personal care assistance with basic activities like hygiene, dressing, eating, bathing and transferring. RCFEs serve persons 60 years of age and older. This level of care and supervision is for people who are unable to live by themselves but who do not need 24 hour nursing care.
Consumers often contact us for assistance in selecting a long term care facility. CANHR does not provide referrals to specific RCFEs or other long term care facilities, but there are several resources to assist consumers in searching for an RCFE.*
Buyer Beware! An Admission Agreement is a legal contract. As a legal document, it states the responsibilities of both the facility and the resident.
One of the best ways to improve care is to organize and participate in a resident council. A resident council is an organized group of residents who meet regularly to discuss and address concerns about their rights, quality of care and quality of life.
One of the best ways to improve care is to organize and participate in a family council. A family council is an organized group of relatives and friends of residents who meet regularly to discuss and address concerns about residents’ quality of care and quality of life.
Some RCFEs are trying to pass along increased costs from the COVID-19 pandemic to their residents. The higher costs can take the form of a rate increase for current items and services, or charges for new items and services. Whether it is legal for the RCFE to increase a resident’s rates or add new charges depends on several factors discussed below.
Residents have a right to a safe environment. A safe environment is a place where one’s personal belongings such as clothes, jewelry, cosmetics, eyeglasses, hearing aids and dentures are not lost or stolen.
Consumers and their families are often confused and frustrated in obtaining refunds from Residential Care/Assisted Living facilities. Refunds are governed primarily by the admission agreement so carefully check the conditions for refunds.
The RCFE Relocation Protection Act of 2008 and subsequent legislation established relocation rights and protections for residents evicted when RCFEs close due to the sale of the business for different uses, or forfeit their license as a result of the sale of the property, surrender of the license or abandonment of the facility.