According to recent data, 7 out of 10 people will require assisted living care at some point during their lifetime. In California, residential care communities often offer amenities  and services such as meals, housekeeping, and round-the-clock caregiving assistance. However, it’s not as simple as finding a community, paying, and moving in.

For seniors in California seeking to relocate to a residential care community, completing the 602a form is a crucial step required by state law to be admitted. Unfortunately, not all seniors or their families are aware of this requirement. 

This guide addresses the ins and outs of California’s 602a form, from what it is to how it must be completed and how family members can help. Additionally, it addresses common questions seniors and their families may have about residential care facilities for the elderly in California.

What Is a Residential Care Facility for the Elderly?

What Is a Residential Care Facility for the Elderly?

In California, a residential care facility for the elderly (RCFE) is a state-licensed facility that provides nonmedical daily living care, supervision and memory care in a residential setting based on specific licensing qualifications. According to state policy, at least 75% of residents of an RCFE must be aged 60 or older, and varying levels of care and supervision must be provided.  

In RCFEs, seniors receive assistance with activities of daily living that they would otherwise not be able to perform on their own. Communities can vary widely both in the scope of care and amenities provided. Some offer resort-style living on expansive grounds, while others exist in large single-family homes.

In California, RCFEs are licensed by the Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division. A specific Senior Care Licensing Program exists within the division that licenses and monitors all RCFEs and continuing care retirement communities.

What Is the California Form 602a?

Form 602a, formally known as the Physician’s Report for Community Care Facilities, is a crucial report that RCFEs use to get a bigger picture of a senior’s specific care needs. RCFEs in the state must ensure that residents meet their admission criteria and that the community is equipped to provide the necessary care. This form allows a facility’s admissions team to know exactly what a potential resident may need.  

California’s 602a form contains pertinent medical information, including:

  • Facility information: This includes basic identifiers, such as the facility’s name, address, phone number and license number.
  • Senior’s identifying information: This includes the senior’s name, address, phone number, Social Security number, next of kin and the name of the person responsible for their finances.
  • Senior’s diagnostic information for any medical conditions: This includes a list of medical conditions, age, height, weight and whether the physician believes the individual may require skilled nursing care.
  • Tuberculosis information: Prior to admission, seniors must not have an active tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis. The physician must complete a TB skin test or chest X-ray to ensure there is no active infection.
  • Medications and treatments: This dictates treatments and medications, as well as doses of prescribed medications.
  • Ambulatory status: This describes how independently mobile a senior is, including whether they can independently transfer to and from a bed and if they are considered nonambulatory or bedridden, for the purpose of a fire clearance.
  • Physical health status: This describes how a physician rates the senior’s general physical health, including evaluations of impairments and assistive devices required.
  • Mental health status: This describes how a physician rates a senior’s mental health and whether they can communicate and follow directions or if they present as confused or depressed.
  • Capacity for self-care: This describes a senior’s ability to complete activities of daily living, including the ability to groom and feed themselves, leave the facility unassisted or take and manage their own medications.  

After undergoing an evaluation in which their abilities and overall health are assessed, seniors are required to have this form filled out by a physician. The results allow facilities to understand the level of care the senior may need. If the applicant qualifies based on what the facility is licensed to provide, then they may be admitted. Those who require more assistance than an RCFE can give may need admission into a medical facility, such as a skilled nursing facility.

How Do You Complete the 602a Form?

Because the 602a form must be completed by a physician, you don’t need to fill it out. However, you do need to request that the form be completed by a doctor. This can take time to be filled out and returned, so it’s good practice to start the process as soon as possible. 

Ideally, a senior’s primary physician will complete this form, though if they are in a skilled nursing community or a hospital, it’s acceptable to have the attending physician fill it out.

To begin, follow the normal process for scheduling an appointment with your or your senior loved one’s primary care provider. While scheduling, make sure it’s noted that the purpose of the appointment is to complete the 602a form. This way, the office can accommodate the lengthier appointment and examination process.

How Can I Help My Loved One Complete the California Form 602a?

How Can I Help My Loved One Complete the California Form 602a?

If you are a caregiver or family member of a senior loved one, your primary role in this process is to be an advocate. Here are some ways to offer support:

  • Schedule the appointment for your senior loved one.
  • Attend the appointment with them.
  • Talk to the physician if you have any concerns about your loved one’s health and wellness that may be relevant to the form. Your insight may prove valuable.
  • Reiterate to the doctor that the 602a form needs to be completed as thoroughly and accurately as possible.
  • After the appointment, follow up with the doctor’s office to see if the form has been completed yet.
  • Once the form has been completed, you can review it to ensure it’s been filled out correctly.
  • Later, touch base with the RCFE to ensure they have the form.

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