50 Assisted Living Communities in Bakersfield, California

The average cost of assisted living in the city is $3,150 a month. This guide is a starting point covering the cost of assisted living care in the city, as well as financing options to pay for it. You’ll find in-depth information on 50 Assisted Living Communities in Bakersfield.

• Assisted living: $3,150
• Nursing home semiprivate room: $7,513
• In-home care: $4,385
• Adult day health services: $1,653

According to the Genworth 2018 Cost of Care study, assisted living facilities in Bakersfield have a monthly average cost that is $1,350 cheaper than the state average of $4,500 and $850 less than the national average of $4,000.

Compared to nearby areas, such as Visalia and Hanford, the cost of assisted living in Bakersfield is lower by approximately $500 a month. Oxnard, Los Angeles, and the Santa Maria area are all more expensive by over $1,000 a month, with the most expensive area being San Luis Obispo, where average costs are over $2,000 higher than Bakersfield.

Nursing home care is more than twice as expensive as assisted living in Bakersfield, which makes the distinction between these levels of care very important. However, there are generally more services and state or federal funding allocated for seniors in need of nursing facility placement which may help bring down the price. Another important choice is between assisted living and remaining at home with the help of health aides or homemaker services. Both categories of home health care are more expensive than assisted living by over $1,000 a month. This may make assisted living an even more economical choice than it first appears, as many of the regular household bills, such as food and utilities, are already covered in the cost of most facilities. Cost of Homemaker/Home Health Aide Comparison Chart

• Assisted living: $3,150

• Homemaker services: $4,385

• Home health aide: $4,385

• Adult day health: $1,653

• Nursing home care (semiprivate room): $7,513

 

The federal government provides funding for low-income people, the blind or disabled, and the medically-needy to help pay for a range of medical services from authorized providers. The state-run Medicaid program in California is known as Medi-Cal.

Services provided by Medi-Cal include in-home supportive services (IHSS) for seniors who wish to remain in their own home, doctor and hospital visits, prescription drugs, surgery, diagnostics, transportation for approved purposes, medical supplies and more.

There are over 90 different categories of Medi-Cal coverage available, and you may either qualify for full-scope or partial-scope coverage under one of these categories. The following list contains the three most common categories of Medi-Cal for seniors in Bakersfield.
 

• SSI-Linked Medi-Cal – If you have qualified for SSI benefits, you will be placed in the SSI-Linked Medi-Cal category
• Aged & Disabled Federal Poverty Level Medi-Cal – If you cannot qualify for SSI benefits but you have low income, you may be able to enroll in this category
• Aged, Blind, and Disabled – Medically Needy Medi-Cal – This category has a share of cost (SOC) and is for seniors who do not meet the financial requirements of other categories

 

The main eligibility requirements for Medi-Cal are as follows:

 

 

 

• Minimum 65 years of age, or disabled, or blind
• Legal California resident
• Income under the maximum allowed – currently 138% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) – $1,436 a month for individuals in 2019
• Assets under the maximum allowed – currently $2,000 in 2019. Excludes home, vehicle and other non-countable assets

 

The list of eligibility requirements above should only be used as a general rule to get started in your research of the many Medi-Cal options available which each have their own requirements.

In any case, no matter which category of Medi-Cal you qualify for, payments for assisted living are not an entitlement in California. This means that neither the federal or state Medicaid programs will pay for all costs related to assisted living, and there may be a waiting list to receive services. There is a workaround for this, however, which is known as the Assisted Living Waiver (ALW) program; this waiver will be explained below.

To read more about Medi-Cal and find out which category you could quality for, visit the C4Yourself website and create an account. Bakersfield residents can also contact the Kern County Department of Human Services at (661) 631-6000 to request more information on Medi-Cal.

Assisted Living Waiver (ALW) Program

As mentioned above, the federal and state Medicaid programs, including Medi-Cal, will not directly pay for assisted living. To bypass this restriction, many states have implemented what are known as Medicaid Waivers. In California, the only relevant waiver is the Assisted Living Waiver (ALW) program.

This waiver is for seniors who have been assessed and a determination made that they need a nursing facility level of care, but would prefer to live in assisted living. In doing so, the state saves money by keeping people out of expensive nursing homes for longer.

The Assisted Living Waiver (ALW) can only be used in conjunction with Medi-Cal coverage, which means that applicants must meet the eligibility requirements and already be enrolled in Medi-Cal.

Applications for the ALW can only be made through authorized Care Coordination Agencies (CCA) in various locations throughout the state. Residents of Kern County should contact Partners in Care Foundation at (818) 837-3775 or send a message via the website to begin the application process.

 

 

Optional State Supplement (OSS)

Most low-income seniors already receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits from the federal government. However, it is also possible to receive additional benefits in many states, including California, which are known as Optional State Supplements (OSS).

There are currently eight payment levels for OSS in California, with varying eligibility requirements based on age, living arrangements, disabilities, whether applying as an individual or couple, and so on. Applicants must be receiving federal SSI benefits before applying for OSS.

Contact your local Social Security Office or call (866) 476-1489 for the Bakersfield branch to find out more and begin the application process.

Veterans Affairs Aid and Attendance (A&A) Program

The Aid and Attendance (A&A) program is run by Veterans Affairs. It is designed to support veterans or their surviving spouse if they can no longer safely take care of themselves without assistance with activities of daily living. If eligible, A&A payments are given in addition to the regular pension.

At least one of the following requirements must be met for A&A eligibility:

 

 

• Assistance from another person required for activities of daily living
• Bedridden and disabled
• Living in a nursing facility for mental or physical health reasons
• Limited visual field or very poor eyesight




• All of the following requirements must be met for A&A eligibility:




• At least 90 days active duty, with at least 1 of those days considered during wartime
• Honorable discharge from service
• Income and asset limits ($22,577 for an individual in 2019)




• The exact requirements are more complex, so this should only be used as an initial guide for further research. Visit your local Vet Center to get help with eligibility and the application process or call the Bakersfield Vet Center directly at (661) 323-8387.

 

 

The local Area Agency on Aging for Bakersfield residents is Kern County Aging and Adult Services (AAS). This agency supports seniors and caregivers with education and services related to all things aging. Available services include counseling, healthcare advice, in-home supportive services, nutrition programs, and more. Kern County Aging and Adult Services (AAS)
5357 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93309
(661) 868-1000

The local Vet Center can help veterans or their surviving spouse in finding which benefits they may be eligible for in addition to the regular monthly pension. For example, payments from the A&A program in this guide can be used for assisted living.

Bakersfield Vet Center
1100 Golden State Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301
(661) 323-8387

Senior Homes has an extensive directory of senior living options, with care and living providers across the United States.