Difference between CBRF's, RCAC's and Nursing Homes

The website for the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services (DHFS) titled "Wisconsin Assisted Living Facilities and Programs" contains a wealth of information on this topic.

To Summarize: A Community Based Residential Facility (CBRF) is a place where five or more unrelated people live together in a community setting. Services provided include room and board, supervision, support services, and may include up to three hours of nursing care per week. Our facility is a CBRF and one of the very few that can claim that Our Care Giving Team consists of all licensed registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and certified nursing assistants available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

A Nursing Home is a residential facility that provides 24-hour services, including room and board to three or more unrelated persons. These persons require more than seven hours a week of nursing care due to their physical or mental condition.

An Residential Care Apartment Complex (RCAC) are independent apartment units in which the following services are provided: room and board, up to 28 hours per week of supportive care, personal care, and nursing services. These were formerly known as "Assisted Living Facilities." There are two types of RCACs:

• Certified RCAC: house both private pay tenants and those eligible for Medicaid waiver, and are inspected every two years, plus complaints investigated.
• Registered RCAC: house only private pay tenants, are not inspected, and only complaints are investigated.