Glossary
Licensee
The licensee is the person or company that holds a care facility’s state license and is legally responsible for its operation.
The licensee may be an individual, a family business, or a large operator running many communities. When a community changes hands, the state closes the old license and issues a new one to the new licensee, so the inspection history may split across two license numbers.
Related terms
Administrator
The administrator is the person in day-to-day charge of a licensed care facility; in California an RCFE administrator must hold a state certificate and complete continuing education.
RCFE
RCFE stands for Residential Care Facility for the Elderly, the California license category that covers assisted living, memory care and board and care homes for residents aged 60 and over.
Definitions reviewed September 5, 2026. Rules vary by state and change over time; confirm specifics with the community and the licensing agency.