What paperwork does a care home need before move-in?
The home needs a medical assessment made within the last year, signed by a licensed medical professional. Title 22 §87458(a) The admission agreement can be signed up to 7 days after move-in. Title 22 §87507(c)
Checked against Title 22, the Health and Safety Code and CDSS’s notice on form LIC 602AHow we check
- One medical assessment
- The state’s form is LIC 602A, and it includes the TB result.
- The agreement
- Nothing has to be signed to hold a room.
Ask a home for a blank admission agreement
This guide covers the state’s rules for every licensed care home for older adults. Each home may ask for more; ask it for its own list.
Checked against Title 22, the Health and Safety Code and CDSS’s notice on form LIC 602AHow we check
What paperwork does a care home need?
- A medical assessment, made within the last year, before the home accepts them. Title 22 §87458(a)
- The home’s appraisal of their needs, written before move-in, with them involved. Title 22 §87457(c) Title 22 §87457(c)(3)
- The admission agreement, signed by the resident or their representative and the home. Title 22 §87507(c)
No one may be admitted without their own consent, or their representative’s. Title 22 §87457(b)
How long is the medical assessment good for?
It must be made within the last year when the home accepts them. Title 22 §87458(a) One made within the last year meets the rule, so ask each home whether it will use the one you have. A home may need an updated one when the state requires it. Title 22 §87458(b)
A licensed medical professional signs it: a doctor, or another licensed medical professional acting within the scope of their practice. Title 22 §87458(a) The state’s form is LIC 602A, “Medical Assessment for Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly”. It used to be called the Physician’s Report. (CDSS notice, May 2025)
Is the TB test separate?
No. The tuberculosis result is part of the medical assessment, with the diagnosis and the results for other infectious and contagious diseases. Title 22 §87458(c)(1) One visit can cover it.
What is the pre-admission appraisal?
Before the move, the home must interview the person moving in, and you if you are their representative. It must give you enough information about the home to decide. Title 22 §87457(a) Then it writes an appraisal of their needs, compared with what the home may accept. Title 22 §87457(c)
The person moving in, or their representative, must be involved in writing it. Title 22 §87457(c)(3) This is the home’s work, not yours.
Do we have to sign before move-in?
No. The admission agreement may be signed up to 7 days after move-in. Title 22 §87507(c) Read it at home first. Any home must give you a blank copy before you commit. Health and Safety Code §1569.881(a)
Can the home charge a deposit or an admission fee?
- SSI/SSP: a home may not ask an SSI applicant for any admission fee or deposit. Health and Safety Code §1569.651(a)
- Damage deposits: no home may ask anyone for one. Health and Safety Code §1569.651(c)
- Other admission fees (“community fee”, “application fee”, and similar names) are allowed. The home must explain them in writing, with the conditions for a refund. Health and Safety Code §1569.651(e) Health and Safety Code §1569.651(b)
Refunds of an admission fee:
- All of it, if they decide not to move in before the home’s appraisal, or if the home did not explain the fee and its refunds in writing. Health and Safety Code §1569.651(g)
- Otherwise, the part above $500 comes back on a scale: at least 80% if they do not move in after the appraisal or leave in the first month, 60% in the second month, 40% in the third. Health and Safety Code §1569.651(h)
On a $3,000 fee, leaving in the first month brings back at least ($3,000 − $500) × 80% = $2,000.
What happens after move-in?
The home updates its appraisal at least every 12 months, and sooner when their needs change. Title 22 §87463(a)
If their needs grow beyond what the home can meet, read Your right to stay in a care home first.
Work out the paperwork dates
Answer two questions. You’ll see whether the doctor’s report still counts for the move, and the dates the rules set from move-in.
Your answers stay on this page. We don’t save or send them.
The rules this check uses
The law’s own words, with the day we last checked each one.
Prior to a person's acceptance as a resident, the licensee shall obtain documentation of a medical assessment, signed by a licensed medical professional acting within the scope of their practice and made within the last year, to be kept in the resident's record.
The licensee shall obtain an updated medical assessment when required by the Department.
A physical examination of the resident indicating the licensed medical professional's diagnosis or diagnoses and results of an examination for all of the following:
(A) Communicable tuberculosis.
(B) Infectious diseases.
(C) Contagious diseases.
(D) Other medical conditions.
Prior to admission, the prospective resident and his/her responsible person, if any, shall be interviewed by the licensee or the employee responsible for facility admissions.
(1) Sufficient information about the facility and its services shall be provided to enable all persons involved in the placement to make an informed decision regarding admission.
(2) The prospective resident's desires regarding admission, and his/her background, including any specific service needs, medical background and functional limitations shall be discussed.
Prior to admission a determination of the prospective resident's suitability for admission shall be completed and shall include an appraisal of their individual service needs in comparison with the admission criteria specified in Section 87455, Acceptance and Retention Limitations.
The prospective resident, or his/her responsible person, if any, shall be involved in the development of the appraisal.
Admission agreements shall be signed and dated, acknowledging the contents of the document, by the resident or the resident's representative, if any, and the licensee or the licensee's designated representative no later than seven days following admission. Attachments to the agreement may be utilized as long as they are also signed and dated as prescribed above.
The pre-admission appraisal, as specified in Section 87457, Pre-Admission Appraisal, shall be updated in writing as frequently as necessary or once every 12 months, whichever occurs first, to note significant changes in condition, as defined in Section 87101, Definitions, and to keep the appraisal accurate. For the purposes of this section, the updated pre-admission appraisal shall be referred to as the reappraisal.
Questions families ask · 5
Do I have to sign the admission agreement on move-in day?
No. It may be signed up to 7 days after move-in.
What form does the doctor fill out for assisted living in California?
Form LIC 602A, the medical assessment. A licensed medical professional signs it.
Can a nurse practitioner sign the medical assessment?
The rule asks for a licensed medical professional acting within the scope of their practice. Ask the home whether it will accept the signature you have.
Is a deposit normal?
Not for someone on SSI, and never against damage. Other admission fees are allowed, with refunds set by law.
Do we need a TB test first?
The TB result is part of the medical assessment.
Next, step 6 of 6: The first months, and your rights
- The first 90 days
The first weeks are often the hardest. Studies link feeling in control of the move with settling in.
- Your right to stay in a care home
A home may make a resident leave for only five reasons in the law, with written notice, usually 30 days.