Placement service · Los Angeles County
Placement for non-ambulatory and bedridden residents
For a parent who uses a wheelchair, cannot get out of bed alone, or needs two people or a lift to transfer. Many homes cannot legally take them. We know the ones that can.
What it is
California treats residents who cannot leave the building on their own in an emergency differently. A licensed home that accepts or keeps a resident who is bedridden, other than for a short illness or recovery, must hold an appropriate fire clearance and notify the local fire authority within 48 hours. People in the industry often call this being cleared or waivered for non-ambulatory residents.
That rule is why so many families are told no. A home without the right clearance cannot take your parent, however good it is. The homes that can are also the ones with the staffing, lifts, and training to do two-person transfers safely, every shift.
Signs this may be the right fit
- They use a wheelchair most or all of the time
- They need two people, or a hoyer lift, to move from bed to chair
- They are bedridden, or spend most of the day in bed
- They cannot get out of the house on their own in an emergency
- A home has already said no because of mobility
What to look for
- The fire clearance itself. Ask how many non-ambulatory or bedridden residents the home is cleared for, and how many it has now.
- Two awake caregivers on every shift if your parent needs two-person transfers.
- Equipment: a hoyer lift, a hospital bed, and space to use both.
- Pressure injury prevention. Ask how often residents in bed are turned, and how it is recorded.
What it costs and who pays
Expect the upper end of the board and care range, $4,600 to $6,000 a month in Los Angeles in 2026, because this level of care needs more staff time per resident. That is still well below the cost of round-the-clock care at home, which runs about $26,000 to $29,000 a month at $36 to $40 an hour.
How we help
No cost to your family, start to finish
We check the clearance first
Before anything else, so you never tour a home that legally cannot take your parent.
We confirm staffing for transfers
Two-person assist only works if two people are on shift. We ask.
We move fast
These are the placements hospitals struggle with most. We can often confirm a bed the same day.
Questions families ask
What does non-ambulatory mean?
A person who cannot leave a building unassisted in an emergency, because of a physical or mental condition. It includes people who use a wheelchair and people who are bedridden.
Why do so many homes say no?
Because accepting a bedridden resident requires a specific fire clearance under California rules. A home without it cannot legally accept them, regardless of whether they would like to.
Can a home take someone who is bedridden on hospice?
Yes, if it holds both the right fire clearance and a hospice care waiver. That combination is exactly what we look for.
Related services
Tell us about your situation
We will call you back the same business day. There is no cost to your family. The care home pays our placement fee.