Residential Care Homes (RCHs)

Residential Care Homes (RCHs), also known as rest homes, are defined in Connecticut General Statutes, Section 19a-490(c) as community residences that provide food and shelter to two or more persons unrelated to the proprietor. In addition to these basic services, RCHs offer support that meets needs beyond food, shelter, and laundry, and may qualify as settings for home and community-based services funded by state and federal programs.

Licensing and Oversight

RCHs operate under a social model of care and are licensed by the Department of Public Health (DPH) every three (3) years. Facilities are assessed for compliance with the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies, Section 19-13-D6, which apply to homes for the aged and rest homes.

The DPH Facility Licensing and Investigations Section (FLIS) conducts:

  • Initial and renewal licensure inspections
  • Investigations in response to complaints from residents or consumers

To file a complaint electronically, visit the DPH’s Submitting a Healthcare Complaint webpage.

Medication Administration

Connecticut law allows trained and certified unlicensed personnel to administer medications in RCHs. Training is available on the CT TRAIN platform:

  • Course Title: State of Connecticut Medication Administration Training – Phase 1
  • Eligibility: Eligibility: Only for employees of facilities/group homes licensed by the Department of Children and Families (DCF), Department of Developmental Services (DDS), or DPH.

Involuntary Discharge Requirements

Recent legislation (2022 and 2025 sessions) revised Connecticut General Statutes, Section 19a-535a, to strengthen protections for RCH residents undergoing involuntary discharge.

New requirements include:

  • Written notice to residents of an involuntary discharge
  • A discharge plan provided to the resident in a form and manner prescribed by the Commissioner of Public Health
  • Electronic notification to the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP) via the LTCOP Portal

Once the required information is submitted to the LTCOP portal, a Commissioner-approved form will be generated for delivery to the resident.

Discharge Plan Requirement:
Please use the following link to access the required discharge plan form:
Residential Care Home Discharge Plan – Form and Manner Approved by the Commissioner

For questions or additional guidance, please contact:

Karen Gworek
Supervising Nurse Consultant
karen.gworek@ct.gov