What a board and care home is
A board and care home is a regular house in a neighborhood that's licensed to care for a small group of older adults, usually six or fewer. You'll also hear them called residential care homes, care homes or six-bed homes. They hold the same state license as big assisted living communities: Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE), from the Department of Social Services.
Most of Fresno County's licensed care homes are this size. Most don't advertise and don't have a website, which is why families have a hard time finding the good ones.
Why Fresno families choose them
- More hands-on help for each person, with the same few caregivers every day
- Feels like a home, not a facility
- Usually costs less than a large community
- Many handle higher care needs, including dementia and hospice
- Often in the neighborhood where family already lives
What board and care costs in Fresno
Most Fresno board and care homes start around $3,700 a month. Seniorly lists a typical range of about $3,630 to $4,500 for shared and private rooms. Heavier care, private rooms and memory care cost more.
| Type of care | Typical Fresno cost | Best fit for |
|---|---|---|
| Board and care home | from about $3,700 a month | Needs hands-on help, does best in a small, quiet home |
| Assisted living | about $5,100 to $6,600 a month | Mostly independent, wants meals, activities and people around |
| Memory care | often $7,000+ a month | Dementia, confusion, wandering |
| In-home care (agency) | around $30 to $36 an hour | Wants to stay home, needs help some hours of the day |
What to check before you choose
- Look up every home on the state’s Care Facility Search. It shows the license, inspection visits, complaints and citations. We check this for every home we send you, and we’ll walk you through anything we find.
- Night staffing. Is a caregiver awake all night, or asleep on site? Ask directly.
- Who lives there now. Are their needs similar to your parent’s?
- Who runs the home day to day, and how often the administrator is there.
- Meals, the daily routine, and what they do for activities.
- Which languages the caregivers speak.
- What happens if care needs go up, and whether hospice can come in.
We visit the homes in person. Tell us what she needs and where, and We will text you 3 to 5 that fit, with prices.
Updated September 2026 by Shaun and Nick, co-founders of CalValley Senior Living Advisors.