9 Assisted Living Communities in Burlingame, California

The average cost of assisted living in the city is $5,500 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 9 Assisted Living Communities in Burlingame and several in surrounding areas: The Cost of Senior Care in Burlingame, CA

• Assisted Living: $5,500
• Nursing Home Care: $9,148
• In-home Care: $5,625
• Adult Day Health Services: $1,733

Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study reviewed senior care costs throughout the country. The study shows that monthly assisted living prices in Burlingame are higher than the state ($4,500) and national ($4,000) averages. Prices are similar in nearby areas such as San Jose ($5,500), Napa ($5,425) and Santa Rosa ($5,500), while costs are lower in Vallejo ($4,350) and many inland areas, including Stockton ($3,500) and Modesto ($3,200). 

Nore: Senior care cost data wasn’t available for Burlingame, so data for the closest city, San Francisco, was used. 

The wide range of prices for senior care is due to differences in the type of care, the number of direct service hours provided each week and what’s included in the cost. In Burlingame, real estate values are significantly higher than many inland areas of the state, which also impacts senior care costs.  Nursing home care costs are the highest, followed by in-home services from a homemaker or home health aide and assisted living prices that average about $125 less than 44 hours of in-home service. It’s important to recognize that residential care costs for seniors include room and board, while seniors who opt to remain in their homes need to continue paying for utilities, home maintenance and food. 

 

Medicaid provides 25% of California residents with access to basic health care services, including long-term care for seniors, using funds provided by the state and federal governments. 

California’s Medicaid program is called Medi-Cal. Seniors who receive Supplemental Security Income payments are automatically registered in Medi-Cal, while all other applicants must meet income and asset limits. 

To qualify for free Medi-Cal coverage, seniors 65 and older can earn a maximum of $1,242 a month and own no more than $2,000 worth of countable assets. Seniors applying with a spouse can earn a combined maximum of $1,682 and own no more than $3,000 in countable assets. 

Income from all sources is considered under Medi-Cal rules, however, some assets are exempt such as personal effects, one vehicle and a home that’s the principle residence of the applicant. Unlike other states, California doesn’t have a maximum allowable value for homes to be considered exempt. 

For more information or to apply for Medi-Cal, visit a County of San Mateo Human Services office in person or call (800) 223-8383. 

Assisted Living Waiver

Seniors who qualify for full-scope Medi-Cal coverage with no share of cost requirement and have care needs that would normally require placement in a nursing home may qualify for the Assisted Living waiver. 

This home and community-based services Medicaid waiver is designed to reduce the number of low-income seniors in nursing homes by providing additional supports within an assisted living setting. To qualify, seniors must be screened for eligibility by a registered nurse through their local care coordinator agency. 

If a senior is accepted into the ALW program, they must be willing to live in a state-designated participating facility. Once placed, seniors may be provided with personal care services, physical therapy, homemaker services, medication management, skilled nursing and other supports deemed medically necessary. 

For more information about the ALW program, contact the local San Mateo County care coordination agency at (650) 285-6432.

Optional State Supplementation

Seniors 65 and older who receive Supplemental Security Income payments and are unable to live independently due to a disability or age-related impairment can apply for SSI top-up funds through the California Optional State Supplementation program. 

OSS provides a maximum combined monthly SSI payment of $1,194.37 for a single person and up to $2,388.74 for a couple. 

For more information, contact the Social Security Administration at (800) 772-1213. 

VA Aid and Attendance and Housebound 

Veterans and survivors who receive a regular VA pension may be eligible for a higher annual pension rate under the Aid and Attendance and Housebound programs if they have disabilities that significantly impact their ability to perform activities of daily living.

These two programs are not open to veterans who already receive a VA disability pension, and benefits are only provided through one of the two programs. Veterans who were previously disqualified from a VA pension due to excess income may qualify with the increased combined pension rates provided by these programs. 

To qualify for Aid and Attendance, at least one of the following criteria must be met by an applicant: 

 

 

• Reside in a nursing home as a result of physical and/or cognitive impairment 
• Be bedridden except to participate in medically-prescribed treatments
• Have corrected eyesight in both eyes that tests at 5/200 or worse
• Need assistance to perform one or more activities of daily living such as bathing, eating, dressing, grooming, using the toilet and/or managing a prosthetic device
• Suffer from concentric contraction of the visual field to 5 or fewer degrees




• The maximum annual pension rates available through Aid and Attendance for those approved are:




• $22,577 for a veteran without dependents
• $26,766 for a veteran with one dependent
• $14,509 for a surviving spouse without dependents
• $17,309 for a surviving spouse with one dependent




• To qualify for Housebound benefits, applicants must spend the majority of their time restricted to their principal residence, which may be an assisted living facility, due to a permanent disability. 
  
  The maximum annual VA pension rates provided with the Housebound allowance are:




• $16,540 for a veteran without dependents
• $20,731 for a veteran with one dependent
• $11,095 for a surviving spouse without dependents
• $13,893 for a surviving spouse with one dependent




• To apply for Aid and Attendance and Housebound benefits, contact the San Mateo County Veterans Services office at (650) 802-6598. 

 

 

Health services are available at the nearby San Bruno VA Clinic, an outpatient clinic affiliated with the San Francisco VA Health Care System. Veterans and survivors can contact the San Mateo County Veterans Services Office to submit benefit applications and appeals and obtain service records. There’s also an active American Legion branch in nearby San Mateo. 

San Bruno VA Clinic
1001 Sneath Ln., Ste. 300, San Bruno, CA 94066-2349
(650) 615-6000

San Mateo County Veterans Services Office
550 Quarry Rd., San Carlos, CA 94070
(650) 802-6598

American Legion Post 82 San Mateo
130 South Blvd., San Mateo, CA 94402
(650) 345-7388

NorCal Armenian Senior Services provides American-Armenian seniors in Burlingame and Northern California with referrals to local aid agencies, help with Medi-Cal issues and friendly visits for seniors living at home or in assisted living.  NorCal Armenian Senior Services
1818 Gilbreth Rd., #132, Burlingame, CA 94010
(659) 697-7474

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