Is an RCFE the same as Independent Living?

No. Independent living means a place where a person lives independently, making independent choices about how they live, what they do, and when they do it. A person living independently can have services such as care, supervision, help with medications, food preparation, or help in handling money from a third-party provider. The independent living setting is usually a house where several people live together. They share common rooms, but they have private or shared bedrooms. Independent living facilities are not licensed. When independent living units are attached to a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC), they become part of the licensed RCFE.