Glossary
Skilled nursing facility (SNF)
Also called: Nursing home, SNF
A skilled nursing facility is a licensed medical setting providing 24-hour nursing care and rehabilitation, for short-term recovery after a hospital stay or for long-term care of people who need continuous nursing.
In California, SNFs are licensed by the Department of Public Health and certified by Medicare and Medi-Cal, separate from the RCFE system that licenses assisted living. Medicare covers short-term skilled stays; long-term custodial care is private pay or Medi-Cal.
Related terms
Medicare
Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people 65 and over; it covers hospital and medical care and short-term skilled nursing or home health, but not assisted living, memory care, or long-term custodial care.
Medi-Cal
Medi-Cal is California’s Medicaid program, the joint state and federal health coverage for people with limited income and assets, and the payer of last resort for long-term care.
Assisted living
Assisted living is a licensed residential setting where older adults live in their own apartment or room and receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, meals and medications, without the medical supervision of a nursing home.
Definitions reviewed September 5, 2026. Rules vary by state and change over time; confirm specifics with the community and the licensing agency.