Assisted Living in California
The Golden State of California is the most populated state in the country and home to eight of the nation’s 50 most populous cities. California’s most notable attractions include the expansive Golden Gate Bridge, the mysterious and mystic Redwood National Forest and beautiful coastal waters, which offer residents breathtaking, year-round sunsets over the Pacific Ocean.
Seniors who choose assisted living in California will find themselves in good company as part of one of the fastest growing states in the nation, projecting over 150% growth for the elderly age group by 2020.
Assisted Living in California Defined
Communities of assisted living in California, also known as Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly, are state-regulated, (non-medical) long-term care options for seniors 60 years of age and older. Also known as retirement homes and board and care homes, assisted living facilities offer seniors a supervised residential alternative to nursing home care.
In assisted living care, residents are offered assistance with activities of daily living such as bathing and grooming, eating, medication management and more, depending on their needs. Residents are provided with transportation, housekeeping, recreational activities and 24-hour staff assistance. Seniors who have medical needs that require 24-hour skilled nursing supervision do not qualify for residential care assistance, and would instead seek care in a skilled nursing facility or a nursing home.
Regulation of Assisted Living in California
Communities of assisted living in California are licensed, monitored and regulated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services along with the California Department of Social Services. Facility inspections implemented by the California Department of Public Health occur randomly once every five years and take place yearly for those facilities with frequent complaints or poor inspection results.
Caregivers who work in communities of assisted living in California must complete a 40-Hour Initial Certificate Training Program and criminal background check. Upon receiving a certificate, the caregiver is given 60 days to pass a state mandated test. Within the first four weeks of employment, staff must complete 10 more hours of training and another four hours per year after that.
Cost of Assisted Living in California
Most assisted living communities in California charge a monthly fee that covers room, board, daily services and accommodations. Communities of assisted living in California average between $2500 and $3000 depending on location, size of community and services provided. Residents pay for assisted living care using personal savings and resources, but may take advantage of long-term care insurance, life insurance or annuities to help shoulder the cost.
Here is a list of the average monthly rates* broken down by city for a one-bedroom, single-occupancy apartment in a California assisted living facility:
| City | Minimum Cost | Maximum Cost |
| Bakersfield | $1,650 | $5,500 |
| Los Angeles County | $1,500 | $7,000 |
| Orange County | $1,450 | $8,100 |
| San Diego/Carlsbad/San Marcos | $1,400 | $6,746 |
| San Francisco | $2,250 | $7,500 |
| Rest of State | $2,500 | $4,955 |
*Genworth Financial 2011 Cost of Care Survey.
Because facilities of assisted living in California are considered non-medical, Medicare and Medi-Cal provide only limited support. But as of March 01, 2009 the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare services renewed the Assisted Living Waiver (ALW) that will provide benefits to seniors who are both Medi-Cal and nursing home eligible.
ALW will extend Medi-Cal benefits to qualified seniors living in assisted care in the counties of Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Sonoma, Fresno, San Bernardino and Riverside.
Find Assisted Living in California
You can find assisted living in Crescenta Valley, East Bay, Marin, San Diego, Santa Rosa and other parts of California.
Written by senior housing writer Chrysti Harrison.
