The Care Home Says Mom Has to Move: What to Do After a 30-Day Notice (Sacramento & Placer)

Quick answer: Take a breath. In California, a licensed care home usually has to give 30 days’ written notice, with the reason and the move-out date spelled out. Read the notice, ask the home what changed, talk with Mom’s doctor about her care needs, and start looking for a new home this week. You don’t have to do it alone.

You finally had Mom settled. Then the call came, or the letter: the home says she has to move. Maybe her care needs went up. Maybe there were problems with other residents, or the money ran short. Whatever the reason, it can feel like the ground just moved under you, and you’re already tired. This guide walks you through the next 30 days, one step at a time, so you can make a calm plan instead of a panicked one.

The short version

• A 30-day notice is common, and it’s usually enough time to find a good next home if you start now.
• California rules say the notice has to be in writing and explain the reason and the date.
• Ask the home if anything could let Mom stay, like more care or hospice.
• Nonna Placements can help you find a new home quickly, at no cost to your family.

Why would a care home ask Mom to move?

In California, most assisted living and board and care homes are licensed as Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFEs). State rules list the reasons an RCFE can evict a resident. In plain words, they are (Title 22, section 87224):

• Not paying. The basic monthly rate wasn’t paid within 10 days of the due date.
• Breaking a law. Not following state or local law after getting a written notice about it.
• Breaking house rules. Not following the home’s written policies, which must be part of the admission agreement.
• New care needs. After move-in, a need came up that wasn’t known before. The home did a new assessment (called a reappraisal), and the home and the person who did it believe the home is no longer the right fit.
• A change in how the home is used. For example, the home is closing or changing what it does.

The “new care needs” reason often comes after a fall, a hospital stay, or changes in memory or behavior.

What does California say a notice has to include?

This is general information, not legal advice. If you have questions about Mom’s rights, talk with an elder law attorney.

Under state law, the notice has to be in writing and include (Health and Safety Code 1569.683; Title 22, section 87224):

• The reason, with specific facts about what happened, when, and who was there
• The date the move-out takes effect
• Resources to help find other housing and care, like referral services and case management groups
• Information on the right to file a complaint with the state, with contact details for the local Community Care Licensing office and the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman
• A required statement about what happens if the resident stays past the date (see “The surprise” below)

The home also has to send a copy to the resident’s responsible person. If you’re Mom’s contact person and you only heard about it by phone, ask the home for a copy of the written notice.

Here’s how the main kinds of notice compare:

• 30-day notice. When it's used: Most reasons: unpaid rent, rules, new care needs. How much notice: 30 days, in writing.
• 60-day notice. When it's used: The home is closing or changing how it's used. How much notice: At least 60 days, in writing, with extra moving help required.
• 3-day notice. When it's used: Only for behavior that threatens someone's health or safety. How much notice: 3 days, and only after the state licensing agency approves it in writing first.

If a home is closing, it must also give each resident a relocation plan with a list of homes within 60 miles that meet their needs (Health and Safety Code 1569.682).

The surprise: A care home can’t just put Mom out on day 31. If a resident is still there after the date on the notice, California law says the home has to file an unlawful detainer case in superior court and get a written judgment signed by a judge. The resident has the right to contest it (Health and Safety Code 1569.683). That’s a safety net, not a plan. Most families are better off using the 30 days to find a home that truly fits.

What should you do in the first few days?

You don’t need to fix everything today. Start here:

• Read the notice slowly. Put the reason and the move-out date in your phone.
• Find the admission agreement. Look for the part about notices and any prepaid rent.
• Ask the home for Mom’s current care plan (sometimes called a service plan) and her medication list.
• Ask the home, kindly, what changed and what it would take for her to stay.
• Call her doctor. Share what the home said and ask for an updated look at her needs.
• Gather the papers you’ll need for a new home: ID, insurance cards, power of attorney or health care directive, and recent doctor’s notes.
• Tell anyone else who helps make decisions.

Is there any way Mom could stay?

Sometimes. Questions worth asking the home:

• If it’s her care needs, could extra help or an outside provider make it work?
• If she’s very ill, could hospice care let her stay? Some homes can keep a resident on hospice. Ask.
• If it’s behavior, could her doctor check for a new cause, like pain or a medication change?
• If it’s money, is there a smaller room or a payment plan for a short time?

Be honest with yourself, too. If the home truly can’t give Mom the care she needs now, a move to a better fit can make her days safer and calmer.

What kind of home should you look for next?

The reason for the notice often points to what Mom needs next. Her doctor can help you pin this down, and many California homes ask for a physician’s report before move-in anyway. We can’t give medical advice, and we won’t guess about her health.

• If her needs went up, look for a home with more hands-on staff. A small board and care home can sometimes give more one-on-one help. Our guide to board and care vs assisted living explains the difference.
• If memory changes are the issue, a memory care home may fit better. See our memory care guide for Roseville and Placer County.
• If she needs daily nursing, she may need a skilled nursing facility. Ask her doctor.
• If money ran short, a home with a lower monthly rate may help, and so might help paying for care (see below).

Most care homes in our area typically run $4,000 to $15,000 a month, depending on the type of home and how much care is needed. A few homes charge less, but a price under $4,000 a month is rare. A board and care home with a shared room typically runs $5,000 to $7,000 a month.

What if money is why she has to move?

This is more common than people think, and there’s no shame in it. Medicare doesn’t pay for long-term care in an assisted living or board and care home (Medicare.gov), but Medi-Cal (in some counties), VA benefits and long-term care insurance may help. Our family roadmap for paying for senior care covers each one. For money questions about Mom’s situation, talk with a financial advisor or elder law attorney.

How do you plan the 30 days? An if-then guide

• If you just got the notice, then read it, mark the date, and call her doctor this week.
• If the reason is new care needs, then ask the home what would let her stay, and get an updated look at her needs.
• If the home can’t meet her needs, then start looking at homes that can, right away.
• If the reason is money, then look at lower-cost homes and help paying for care at the same time.
• If you think the notice is wrong or unfair, then talk with an elder law attorney about Mom’s rights.
• If Mom is in the hospital and the home won’t take her back, then tell the discharge planner about the notice and read The Hospital Says Mom Can’t Go Home. Now What?
• If you’re overwhelmed or far away, then call or text us. We can do the searching with you.

A sample timeline for the next 30 days

Every family is different, but here’s a simple plan:

• Days 1 to 3. What to do: Read the notice, call the doctor, talk with the home, call or text us.
• Days 4 to 10. What to do: Get the doctor's input, compare a short list of homes, start tours (in person or by video).
• Days 11 to 20. What to do: Choose a home, send paperwork, plan the budget.
• Days 21 to 30. What to do: Pack, set the move date, give the old home notice of the move date, and settle in.

Local help in Sacramento and Placer counties

• Sacramento County: Medi-Cal’s Assisted Living Waiver can help pay for care in some licensed homes if she qualifies. There’s a waitlist (DHCS).
• Placer County: The waiver isn’t offered here, so some families look at homes in Sacramento County. We help families all over California, so crossing the county line is easy.
• Both counties: Agency on Aging Area 4 gives free information on senior programs and caregiver support. Call (916) 486-1876.

Want to see what’s around you? Look at our pages for senior living in Sacramento and senior living in Roseville.

How Nonna Placements helps after a notice

Tell us what happened and what Mom needs now. We suggest homes that fit her care, budget and location, and we only suggest homes we’ve seen ourselves. We can come on tours with you, and we offer video tours if you live out of state. If staying home makes more sense, call or text us and we can help you find in-home care options.

How Nonna Placements works: Nonna Placements is free to families. Licensed homes pay us a placement fee when someone moves in. You can choose any home. If the first home doesn’t work out, we find another one for free. This article is general information, not legal, medical or financial advice.

Let’s find Mom’s next home together

You don’t have to spend the next 30 days on the phone alone. Tell us what the notice says and what Mom needs. We’ll help you find homes that fit and walk with you through the move. It’s free to your family, and we reply within 1 hour, 24/7.

Call or text (916) 261-2644 or email roberto@nonnaplacements.com. If Mom is in the hospital and a discharge is coming up fast, tell us right away.

Related reading: The Hospital Says Mom Can’t Go Home. Now What? · Board and Care or Assisted Living? · Memory Care in Roseville and Placer County · How Will We Pay for Mom’s Care? · How Nonna Placements Gets Paid · Senior living in Sacramento

Sources

• California Code of Regulations, Title 22, section 87224, Eviction Procedures (checked October 24, 2026): law.cornell.edu
• California Health and Safety Code section 1569.683 (checked October 24, 2026): leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
• California Health and Safety Code section 1569.682 (checked October 24, 2026): leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
• California Department of Health Care Services, Assisted Living Waiver (checked October 24, 2026): dhcs.ca.gov
• Medicare.gov, Long-term care (checked October 24, 2026): medicare.gov
• Agency on Aging Area 4, (916) 486-1876: agencyonaging4.org

About the author

Roberto Hategan is the CEO & Founder of Nonna Placements, a senior placement service in Granite Bay serving families across California, with a focus on Placer and Sacramento counties. We only suggest homes we’ve seen ourselves. Contact: roberto@nonnaplacements.com