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Consumer Guide: Finding and Choosing a Residential Care Apartment Complex

In Wisconsin, the Division of Quality Assurance (DQA) licenses and regulates assisted living facilities. Each type has a directory. In the residential care apartment complex (RCAC) directory, you can find details about each RCAC.

There's also a Glossary for Assisted Living Directories that helps define complex terms.

View RCAC directory as a PDF

View RCAC directory in Excel

What is a residential care apartment complex?

An RCAC is a type of assisted living facility. It is an independent apartment complex where five or more adults live. The size of RCACs can vary.

To qualify as an RCAC, a space must have:

  • An entrance and exit that can lock.
  • A kitchen with a stove or microwave oven.
  • A personal bathroom.
  • Space to sleep and live.

An RCAC is not a nursing home or community-based residential facility, but it may be in the same physical building. RCACs aren't for people who have Alzheimer-related dementia or other aging conditions that require more in-depth care.

What services do RCACs offer?

RCACs provide a space for living. They also offer these services for no more than 28 hours per week:

  • Emergency assistance - Ensures all tenants are safe during an emergency. Emergency help is available 24 hours per day.
  • Nursing services - Includes health monitoring, medication administration, and medication management.
  • Personal assistance - Provides help with daily living activities. Examples include getting dressed, eating, and bathing. Many tenants of RCACs have a meal plan with two meals per day.
  • Supportive services - Helps with housekeeping and access to community services and recreation. RCACs give these services themselves or contract with other groups that offer them. The services must be part of a tenant's service agreement. All tenants sign an agreement before moving into an RCAC.

RCACs give these services themselves or contract with other groups that offer them. The services must be part of a tenant's service agreement. All tenants sign an agreement before moving into an RCAC.

How are RCACs regulated in Wisconsin?

In Wisconsin, RCACs must follow these laws:

An RCAC is either certified or registered:

  • Certified RCAC - Has both tenants who pay for the RCAC themselves and those who get Medicaid. Certified RCACs get inspected every two years or if there's a complaint.
  • Registered RCAC - Only has tenants who pay for the RCAC themselves. Does not get inspected, except if there's a complaint.

Residential care apartment complex resources

Expand the section that applies to you to view a list of resources. Select a link to learn more.

Last revised March 4, 2025