RCFE - Residential Care Facility for the Elderly Facility Operations and Management 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under California Title 22, an RCFE with 16 or more residents must meet which nighttime staffing requirement between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.?
- At least one licensed nurse must be on duty inside the facility
- At least one awake staff member must be on duty at all times (Correct answer)
- A staff-to-resident ratio of 1:20 must be maintained throughout the night
- The administrator must be reachable by phone within 15 minutes
Correct answer: At least one awake staff member must be on duty at all times
Title 22, Section 87411 requires that RCFEs with 16 or more residents have at least one awake staff member on duty during nighttime hours to ensure continuous supervision and the ability to respond to resident emergencies.
Question 2: How frequently must a California RCFE administrator renew their Administrator Certificate issued by CDSS?
- Every year, with 20 hours of continuing education
- Every two years, with 40 hours of continuing education (Correct answer)
- Every three years, with 60 hours of continuing education
- Every five years, with a written recertification exam
Correct answer: Every two years, with 40 hours of continuing education
California law requires RCFE administrators to renew their certificate every two years and complete 40 hours of approved continuing education as a condition of renewal, ensuring administrators stay current with regulatory and care standards.
Question 3: Under Title 22, how often must an RCFE conduct fire and emergency evacuation drills?
- Once per year
- Twice per year
- Once every three months (quarterly) (Correct answer)
- Once per month
Correct answer: Once every three months (quarterly)
Title 22, Section 87705 requires RCFEs to conduct fire and evacuation drills at least once every three months (four times per year) so that staff are practiced in evacuation procedures and residents can be safely and efficiently moved in an emergency.
Question 4: For how long must an RCFE retain the records of a resident after that resident is discharged or deceased?
- One year
- Two years
- Three years (Correct answer)
- Seven years
Correct answer: Three years
Under Title 22, Section 87506, an RCFE must retain resident records for a minimum of three years following a resident's discharge or death. This ensures records are available for audits, complaints, or legal proceedings that may arise after a resident's departure.
Question 5: Within how many days must an RCFE licensee notify CDSS when there is a change in the facility's administrator?
- 10 days
- 30 days (Correct answer)
- 60 days
- 90 days
Correct answer: 30 days
CDSS must be notified within 30 days of any change in the RCFE's administrator. This allows the licensing agency to verify that the incoming administrator holds a valid Administrator Certificate and meets all qualifications required by Title 22.
Question 6: An RCFE licensee wants to increase the number of residents beyond the facility's current licensed capacity. What is the correct procedure?
- The licensee may admit additional residents immediately as long as staffing ratios are maintained
- The licensee must submit a capacity increase application to CDSS and receive written approval before admitting additional residents (Correct answer)
- The licensee must notify the local fire marshal and may expand capacity after a fire inspection is passed
- The licensee must notify CDSS within 30 days after the additional residents are admitted
Correct answer: The licensee must submit a capacity increase application to CDSS and receive written approval before admitting additional residents
Under Title 22, an RCFE may not exceed its licensed capacity at any time. To increase capacity, the licensee must apply to CDSS, which will evaluate the physical plant, staffing plan, and safety conditions before issuing written approval for the change.
RCFE - Residential Care Facility for the Elderly Facility Operations and Management 1
Under California Title 22, an RCFE with 16 or more residents must meet which nighttime staffing requirement between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.?