The main goal of this page is to connect you to as many resources as possible for you and your loved ones when looking for a Board & Care, Assisted Living Facility (RCFE) and/or while taking care of a loved one at home.  If you have any resources that you believe can be helpful, please share them with us, and we will share them here on this page. Please help us grow our resources, as we empower and protect the senior community. Currently, this page gets over 13,000 hits every month, so there is a good chance we can help those in need find helpful resources.

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Firstly, I want to say that I understand that the process of finding a Board & Care/Assisted Living Facility (RCFE) is a very important step, something not to be taken lightly.  That is why I believe that doing as much legwork as possible prior to move-day is imperative.  Below I'll provide a few resources to help find a Board & Care a little easier. I really hope you will find this helpful.

Let's start with locating Board & Care/RCFE homes in your area.  There are a couple of things you can do:

1.  Google & Yelp:  You can Google and Yelp for the words: “Board and Care near me” or “Assisted Living Facility near me”, however you will quickly find that most Board & Care places do not have a website, and they are not easy to find via internet search. (+90% of all 6 bed Board & Care facilities do not have an online presence.) Only large RCFEs have an online presence.

2.  CDSS:  You can use the CDSS website.  Department of Social Services supervises all Assisted Living places and all Board & Care homes in California.  For that reason, on their website you can find all licensed Board & Care homes, and you will also be able to find their reports. CDSS does unscheduled visits, gives Citations and provides potential residents with relevant information regarding the standing of that particular location.  It's important that prior to moving your loved one you get very familiar with the Citations of that particular place.  Many of these reports will be very eye opening.  Click here for their website link. Next click on “Elderly Assisted Living”.  Under "City" select the city of your choice and press "Search".  You will now have access to all the RCFE reports in that city, along with the name and phone number of the owners.

3.  Placement agencies:  Many people turn to placement agencies to help them find a place for their loved ones.  It's not a bad idea, but there are a few things to keep in mind prior to choosing a placement agency.  One thing is that placement agencies will only show you places they have a contract with, and second I highly recommend an agency that will tour with you to every place, a support that is very helpful.  When touring with you, they can much better assist you in finding the right place for your loved one, compared to agencies that have never been to the locations they are recommending. 

4. Should you ever find yourself overwhelmed by all the decisions needed to be made for your loved ones, I would recommend http://www.petersandlove.com. They provide families support, information and resources that go far beyond a Placement agency.

If you are looking for a Nursing Home in Pasadena, your choices are wide: here is the Medicare website link just for zip code 91104 in Pasadena, CA: https://www.medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare/results.html#loc=91104&lat=34.1657707&lng=-118.1181199&dist=1

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  • When signing an Admission Agreement, Facilities will ask for 30 or 60 days notice to vacate. I believe that to be illegal if the facility did not separate the rental cost VS the care cost. It is not legal to ask for a blanket notice to vacate , as requiring notice when providing care does not fall under the same laws as renting an apartment. Only the “rental” part can have a notice required, not the “care’ part. I urge you to try to get that removed from the Admission Agreement when placing your loved one in a facility. Most of my residents come here from another facility, only to have to pay for another 30/60 days at the other facility. I am proud that our home that does not require any notice to vacate.

  • When you’ve located a Board and Care, always get to know the Administrator there. Owners are rarely around, and 99% of all the care will be provided by the caregivers and overseen by the Administrator on duty. Find out how many hours and how many days a week they work. Owners will have little knowledge about your loved one compared to the Administrator and caregivers.

  • While on the CDSS website, make sure to check out the report of any facility you might consider for your loved one! It will be a vital part of your assessment for that facility.

  • After you tour a facility that you like, feel free to ask for references from the current families that have their loved ones reside there. A facility owner should be able to give you all of them, just like we would happily.

After placing your loved one in an RCFE, a major hurdle families go through is the sale of the estate. You need a team that can represent your interest and your loved one’s best interest (the owner’s best interest). I have personally met and recommend Charles Picker and his team. As a fully licensed and highly experienced real estate agent since 1972, Charles completes every real estate transaction with a single principle in mind: “put the client’s best interests first and foremost with integrity and honesty.” With over 50 years of real estate experience in Los Angeles, Charles leverages expert knowledge, strategy, and negotiation tactics to deliver the best possible offer for clients. To drive the best outcome for his clients, Charles and his team operate with efficiency and integrity to make every deal as frictionless as possible. You can reach them at www.charlespicker.com or (626) 564-1888.

  • What Sets them apart:

    • Charles exclusively represents “Sellers Only”.

  • Something Special:

    •  No renovations, fixes, or repairs needed. No updating required.

    •  No city compliance issues to deal with.

    •  No termite work or repairs required.

    • 100% truly “as-is” deals 100% of the time without giving up top price.

    • Charles will arrange for you to have all items you do not want, taken away after close of escrow.

  • The cost associated with placing a loved one in our Board & Care is not something everyone can afford.  For those who only qualify for SSI as payments, there are a few places that will accept SSI.  While we are not in any way endorsing them, we hope they will provide families in need with the necessary resources:

  • 1: https://www.jasminterrace-elmolino.com/

  • 2: http://www.arcadiaretirementvillage.net

  • If you are a Medi-Cal recipient and wish to be in a community living, this government program is called “Assisted Living Waiver” (ALW) program. Whittier Glenn Assisted Living can help with Medi-Cal recipients. As always, it is always case by case: https://whittierglenassistedliving.com/

  • For additional resources on the Assisted Living Waiver (ALW), please go to Department of HealthCare Services. They have itemized resources sorted by city: https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/ltc/Pages/AssistedLivingWaiver.aspx

  • Brainstorming in ways to help your loved one with finances? Check out: Grants For Seniors. Their website contains help with: Housing and Rent Assistance, Health Assistance, Financial Assistance, Utility Bill Assistance & Food Assistance.



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Transportation:  When it comes to transportation, I'd like to direct you to two great resources:  Dial-a-Ride for Pasadena, and Access LA for transportation in & around Los Angeles ares:

For seniors still living at home https://www.convalescentaidsociety.com/ is a great company to use should your loved one need any type of in-home medical equipment.  They have an office right here in Pasadena.  They will lend their equipment for free, a great resource.

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  • For older adults, a fall can trigger a series of events that ultimately result in declining health and a loss of independence. Fortunately, most falls are preventable. Here is a link for Falls Prevention Resources for Older Adults and Caregivers acl.gov/FallsPrevention

  • I hope you'll never find yourself in a place where you feel like your loved one's rights are being violated.  Having someone that knows the law, especially RCFE law, is crucial in this case.  Michael S. Goryan is a legal expert in RCFE law and regulations, a person I trust with senior rights.  His website is: https://rfce4you.com/  

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  • Home Health Services provide in-home services to home-bound patients with acute and chronic medical conditions. Over all the years in business, I’ve come to depend on Relyable Home Health Care as my go-to company. Whenever a resident needs any type of Home-Health services, such as Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy or Nursing, I always ask for their team. Click here for their website: https://relyablehhc.com/

  • CA has a state registry where you can get proof of your vaccination on your phone. So if you ever loose your vaccination card, just click here and you will be able to get a copy of your vaccination record: https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov/

  • When trying to find senior resources in general for Pasadena, few places will compare to http://www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org/.  They provide classes & lectures, events, activities, social services, senior games, along with an informative blog.  

  • Safe and fun exercises are important with senior activity in mind. For obvious reasons, and maybe the not so obvious seniors need to take special care in how they exercise. The body is older and more fragile than a younger person’s is. The good news is there are many fun activities seniors can participate in to reap the many health benefits they deliver. Sports and Games for Seniors: Fun and Exercise in One

  • Should you desire brand new or more specialized equipment, you will need a medical equipment company. Edgar Gutierrez is the owner of United Plus Medical and he has been servicing all our medical needs. He is friendly, knowledgeable and is able to deliver and install all your medical equipment needs. His phone number is 310.339.7292

  • We often get asked what is the minimum age we can accept, and basically the answer is 60 (with some flexibility).  For any family out there looking for a Board & Care for a loved one younger, I suggest looking into Adult Residential Care Facilities, aka ARFs.  They specialize in taking care of adults under the age of 60, with all types of disabilities.  

  • Dr. McGavic is a Podiatrist. He has been seeing many of our residents and does a great job. He is professional and easy to communicate with. He is able to bill medicare, and is able to do house-calls for your loved one. I would highly recommend his services should your loved one need podiatry services at home. His phone number is 562.351.1111 and his website is: http://mcgavicpodiatry.com/

  • Hospice care is a necessity for most people at end-of-life.  Over the years we've worked with many Hospice providers and overall I find Caring Partners Hospice to be the best equipped with helping families & their loved one in their difficult times.  What sets them apart from other Hospice companies is that they are a family owned and operated Hospice. The level of attention they provide greatly surpasses those that have constant turnover and bureaucracy.   Their contact # is 888.550.9153  Their website is here.   

  • Chronic diseases can have a profound impact on the health and quality of life of elder Americans. Professionals in the industry are aware of the most common chronic conditions affecting the elderly population: Adult onset diabetes, Arthritis, Kidney/bladder problems and Dementia. Many people think Dementia and Alzheimer's are the same, but that's not necessarily true.  I find https://geriatricnursing.org/the-seven-stages-of-alzheimers-disease/ to be a wonderful resource to better understand the Alzheimer’s disease.

  • https://www.mesotheliomahope.com/ is committed to providing hopeful information and resources on top mesothelioma treatments, specialists, financial options, and more.

  • Understanding Medicare and how it works: If for any reason you have questions regarding Medicare, I found this website helpful: https://www.retireguide.com/medicare/

  • When it comes to improving life, some things are a sure hit, like puppies & kittens!  www.pawstoshare.com  is a company where you can rent amazing pets by the hour.  They are all trained, insured and they will come to you!

  •  It is not often that I can recommend another RCFE… For those families looking for a larger facility with fun outings and spacious luxury apartments, I recommend Pasadena Highlands. They offer residents 3 different levels of care: Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care. You may check out their website at https://wellquestph.com/

  • Inheritances and wills come with their own challenges. Birchgold does a great job in explaining many of these aspects, and I hope you find it helpful. They do a great job with:

    • Going over the importance of having a will

    • The tax implications of inheritance for spouses and other beneficiaries

    • The different scenarios that can occur in inheritance planning

    • The rights spouses and beneficiaries have in the process

    • Extenuating circumstances that could change the outcome of an inheritance

    • How inheritance works for different types of assets outside of an IRA

  • After a fall, finding a good occupation therapist is key to regaining and keeping as much independence as possible. I recommend Dr. Gwenn Petrillo OTD, OTR/L. She is kind, knowledgeable, and can travel to your loved one’s location for therapy. Here is a list of things she can address:

    •   Progress individuals towards improved independence with their activities of daily living (e.g., dressing, bathing, toileting, etc.)

    •  Improve overall safety with mobility 

    •  Develop individualized home exercise programs for strengthening, balance, and endurance

    •  Educate regarding proper use of equipment, body mechanics, safety measures, activity pacing/energy conservation strategies, deep breathing strategies, pain management, disease management, edema management, etc. 

    •  Recommend adaptive devices and durable medical equipment 

    •  Address cognitive impairments, increased/decreased sensation, range of motion and contractures, and visual impairments  

    •  Provide coping strategies for anxiety and depression 

  • It is too often that our loved ones may begin to suffer from weight gain as they approach their senior years. RenewBeriatrics offers some insight and assistance as to how best support our seniors with weight gain.

  • Moving carries its own set of challenges. StorageUnits offers a special, very detailed Senior Guide which covers advice on how to know you’re ready for a move, what to look for in a new home, and how to transition smoothly.

  • Substance abuse among the elderly (adults over the age of 60), particularly of alcohol and prescription drugs, is one of the fastest-growing health problems in the United States. Addiction Help does a great job at providing resources to those searching for the road to recovery, may it be for a loved one or self.

  • A happy Senior starts with good care. https://nursingeducation.org/resources/caregivers-guide-to-senior-health/ is great short read that offers a Caregiver’s guide to Senior Health.

  • Daycare programs offer socialization and stimulation for persons living with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, stroke, and related disorders. Family caregivers benefit from the respite, support, and consultation this program provides. A great resource is CAPS. For $70/day (Monday through Friday 9:00am to 3:00pm with extended hours 8:30am to 4:30pm) they offer a wide range of supportive services. Activities are tailored to provide cognitive and physical stimulation including:

    1. Music

    2. Arts and crafts

    3. Physical exercise

    4. Companionship

    5. Celebrations of life events, holidays, and special events

    6. Assistance with personal care needs

    7. Nutritious hot lunch and snacks

    8. Regular assessment and feedback to caregivers

    9. Transportation available on a limited basis

    10. Support groups for caregivers

    11. Information and referrals