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15 Assisted Living Communities in La Mesa, California

The average cost of assisted living in the city is $4,500 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 15 Assisted Living Communities in La Mesa and several in surrounding areas.

  • Assisted living: $4,500
  • Nursing home semiprivate room: $8,517
  • In-home care: $4,767
  • Adult day health services: $1,733

Assisted Living Facilities near La Mesa, California

Compare Costs, Photos, & Reviews of All Your Options Near La Mesa

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Map of La Mesa, California

Assisted Living Costs in La Mesa

According to Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study, the cost of assisted living in La Mesa is the same as the state average of $4,500 and moderately higher than the national average of $4,000.

Assisted living costs here are similar to costs in other areas in Southern California, including Los Angeles ($4,500) and Oxnard ($4,575), while prices for assisted living are notably higher further north along the Pacific Coast in cities that include San Francisco ($5,500) and Santa Cruz ($5,595). 

Note: Senior care cost data wasn’t available for La Mesa, so data for the closest city, San Diego, was used. 

Cost of Assisted Living Comparison Chart

La Mesa

$4,500

National average

$4,000

State average

$4,500

Los Angeles

$4,500

Oxnard

$4,575

Riverside

$3,500

El Centro

$3,650

San Francisco

$5,500

Santa Cruz

$5,595

Care Cost Comparison

There is a wide range in senior care services in La Mesa, where adult day health care costs are about one-third the cost of assisted living and in-home care options. The differences in costs are due to the skill and training of the staff, the senior-to-staff ratios and the number of hours of direct service provided every month.  The most expensive senior care option is nursing home care, which costs nearly double that of assisted living and in-home care, because nursing home care includes skilled nursing and a higher staff-to-senior ratio than assisted living.   Cost of Homemaker/Home Health Aide Comparison Chart

  • Assisted living: $4,500
  • Homemaker services: $4,767
  • Home health aide: $4,799
  • Adult day health: $1,517
  • Nursing home care (semiprivate room): $8,517

 

Cost of Homemaker/Home Health Aide Comparison Chart

Assisted living

$4,500

Homemaker services

$4,767

Home health aide

$4,799

Adult day health

$1,517

Nursing home care (semiprivate room)

$8,517

Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in La Mesa

Medicaid in California

Approximately 14 million children, families and adults are covered under Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program. Established by the federal government on July 30, 1965 to improve health care for low-income Americans, Medicaid is funded by both the federal and state governments and every state has participated in Medicaid since 1982. 

No-cost Medi-Cal coverage is automatically provided for all California seniors who receive Supplemental Security Income, while low-income seniors who own few assets may also be eligible for free or low-cost Medi-Cal health coverage. 

Adults who are 65 and older need to meet the following requirements to qualify for free Medi-Cal coverage: 

  • Earn a maximum of $1,242 a month as an individual applicant or $1,682 a month when applying as a couple
  • Own less than $2,000 (individual) worth of countable assets or $3,000 for a couple


All types of income are considered under Medi-Cal rules and countable assets include cash, investments and all real estate except for the applicants’ principal residence. Household furnishings, clothing, personal effects and one vehicle are exempt from the Medi-Cal asset limits. 

There is a Medicaid look-back period in California that audits any assets an applicant has sold, gifted or otherwise disposed of during the 30-month period prior to seeking Medi-Cal coverage. This audit is designed to ensure that seniors use all their own resources to pay for their care before seeking government assistance. If assets are discovered during the audit, Medi-Cal applicants may be ineligible for a period of time that is determined based on both the value of the assets and the current monthly price of private nursing home care. 

Seniors who have income or assets that exceed the limits for Medi-Cal coverage can opt to enroll in Medi-Cal on a Share of Cost basis that requires them to pay their own medical bills up to an agreed limit before Medi-Cal will become effective. In many cases, this option is more costly than purchasing a private insurance plan. 

California Assisted Living Waiver 

The ALW is available to Medi-Cal eligible seniors who need the level of care provided in a nursing home. This program reduces the rates of nursing home placement among Medi-Cal covered seniors by providing additional care and medical services in an assisted living setting. Medi-Cal reimburses the cost of services provided in an assisted living setting except for the expense of room and board.

To enroll in the ALW seniors need to request an assessment through the San Diego Care Coordinator Agency. If accepted into the ALW program, seniors may be placed on a waiting list, as the demand for ALW services currently exceeds the number of statewide waivers offered.

Note: ALW is not available to seniors who are enrolled in Medi-Cal on a Share of Cost basis. 

For more information about Medi-Cal coverage, contact the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency at (866) 262-9881. 

To request as assessment for the ALW program, contact the San Diego County Care Coordinator Agency at (888) 681-1559. 

Other Financial Assistance Programs for Assisted Living

Optional State Supplementation

Seniors who receive Social Security Income benefits and are 65 or older may qualify for the California Optional State Supplementation program. The state-funded program increases SSI payments to help seniors pay for the room and board portion of assisted living costs. 

Under the OSS program, eligible seniors may have their total SSI monthly income increased to $1,194.37 for a single applicant, and a maximum of $2,388.74 for a couple applying together. 

For more information about the OSS program, contact the San Diego Social Security office at (800) 772-1213. 

Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefits and Housebound Allowance

Veterans and their survivors who qualify for the regular VA pension and either need assistance with activities of daily living, are visually impaired, bedridden or housebound or live in a nursing home, may be eligible for funding through the VA Aid and Attendance Benefits and Housebound Allowance

This program tops up the regular VA pension, and qualifying disabilities or illnesses do not need to be service-related. 

For more information about the VA Aid and Attendance Benefits and Housebound Allowance, contact the San Diego Vet Center at (858) 642-1500.

Assisted Living Resources in La Mesa

Senior Centers in La Mesa

The City of La Mesa’s Community Service Department operates the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center where area seniors can join social clubs, participate in weekly exercise classes and take part in escorted outings to area attractions. 

City of La Mesa – Adult Enrichment Center
8450 La Mesa Boulevard, La Mesa, CA 91942
(619) 464-0533

Veteran Centers and Clinics

Veterans can contact either the San Diego Vet Center or the VA San Diego Regional Office for information about VA pensions and benefits. 

La Mesa is also home to an active Veterans of Foreign Wars Post where veterans can socialize, learn about local services and participate in special events. 

San Diego Vet Center
2790 Truxtun Road, Suite 130, San Diego, CA 92106
(858) 642-1500

San Diego Regional Office – Veterans Benefits Administration
8810 Rio San Diego Drive, San Diego, CA 92108
(800) 827-1000

Community Aid Agencies

Area seniors who need assistance with accessing health care, completing a legal will or finding information on Medicaid, can contact Elder Law and Advocacy, a non-profit organization that provides free and low-cost legal services to seniors. Seniors who need preventative health care can call the Sharp Grossmont Hospital Senior Resource Center, which offers free health education classes, seniors’ health screenings and information on area health services for older adults.  Elder Law and Advocacy
5151 Murphy Canyon Road, Suite 110, San Diego, CA 92123
(858) 565-1392 Sharp Grossmont Hospital Senior Resource Center
9000 Wakarusa Street, La Mesa, CA 91942
(619) 740-4214

Nearby Assisted Living Communities

Go a bit further out to explore pricing and amenities.

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Other Senior Living in La Mesa, CA

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Compare Costs, Photos, & Reviews of All Your Options Near La Mesa

Who are you looking for?

Full Name

Phone

Email

By clicking "Get Costs" I am providing express written consent to receive calls including automated/pre-recorded calls and automated texts for which I may incur a cost, as well as emails from Caring and its partners. I understand I am not obligated to provide this consent to utilize Caring’s service(s). I acknowledge I was able to review the Agreement to be Contacted, Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.

SeniorHomes.com

Those with certain disabilities or diseases have more obstacles to overcome when searching for a quality assisted living home. If you have questions, we are here to help provide the answers. Give our senior care advocates a call and read our guides for specific information and resources related to your or your loved one’s condition.

SeniorHomes.com

Those with certain disabilities or diseases have more obstacles to overcome when searching for a quality assisted living home. If you have questions, we are here to help provide the answers. Give our senior care advocates a call and read our guides for specific information and resources related to your or your loved one’s condition.

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  • Independent Living

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