Assisted Living in Concord, CA

Assisted Living Costs in Concord

The Genworth 2018 Cost of Care study shows the average monthly cost of assisted living in Concord is fairly close to the state average of $4,500 and only $500 over the national average ($4,000). It also reveals that rates here sit about midrange on the cost spectrum for surrounding cities. Rates in Santa Rosa, San Francisco and San Jose are on the high end at $5,500, whereas costs in Stockton ($3,500) and Modesto ($3,200) are significantly lower.

Note: Senior care cost data wasn’t available for Concord, so data for the closest city, Vallejo, was used.

The Cost of Assisted Living in Surrounding Areas

Care Cost Comparison

Prices for senior care in the Concord area vary drastically depending on the level of care and where services are provided. Nursing home care is the costliest option, but it offers skilled nursing, medication management and other specialized services and 24-hour care. Assisted living doesn’t include medical care, so it costs about half as much per month. In-home care options cost about $200 more per month than assisted living, but they don’t include day-to-day living expenses, whereas assisted living includes room and board.

Senior Care Cost Comparison Chart

Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Concord

Medicaid in California

Medicaid was introduced by the federal government in 1965 to meet the health care needs of low-income Americans with limited resources. This jointly funded program is regulated at the federal level and administered by individual state governments.

California’s Medicaid program, called Medi-Cal, provides essential health care services to one in four Californians, including seniors over age 65 and those with disabilities. U.S. citizens and legal California residents are eligible for full-scope Medi-Cal coverage if they meet the program’s income and asset guidelines:

• Individuals are limited to $1,366 in monthly income and $2,000 in total assets.
• Married couples are allowed $1,842 income per month and up to $3,000 in assets.

Income from all sources counts, including earnings, investment dividends, pensions, Social Security and SS disability benefits and IRA and 401K distributions. Assets that count include cash, bank and retirement account balances, investments and real estate. Some assets are excluded including a main home, one vehicle, personal belongings and household furnishings.

California residents assessed as needing nursing home care can qualify for institutional Medi-Cal coverage at any income level if they meet the program’s asset limits. Seniors receiving federal Supplemental Security Income benefits are enrolled in Medi-Cal automatically and qualify for full-scope coverage.

There are options available to help other Concord seniors qualify for Medi-Cal coverage if they’re over the income and asset limits.

• Those with high medical bills may qualify through a share of cost. Based on a predetermined share amount, excess income can be spent down on medical bills to the required monthly qualification limit.
• Married seniors may receive coverage if only one spouse applies through allowed transfers of up to $3,160.50 in monthly income and $126,420 in joint assets to a non-applicant spouse.

Seniors can apply for Medi-Cal coverage online, by calling (800) 300-1506 or by visiting the Contra Costa County Employment and Human Services office at 300 Ellinwood Way in Pleasant Hills.

Medi-Cal HCBS Assisted Living Waiver

The Assisted Living waiver is a Medi-Cal home and community-based services program available to seniors and disabled adults who require an intermediate level of care normally provided in a nursing home or are at risk of admission if assistance isn’t received. The ALW is specifically designed to help seniors move to or stay in an assisted living setting to promote independence and quality of life. 

To qualify for the program, Concord residents must be aged 21 or older and:

• Enrolled in Medi-Cal with full-scope coverage and zero share of cost
• Be able to live in an assisted living setting safely with supports available through the waiver program

Approved program participants are responsible for paying room-and-board costs, but the waiver covers the cost of various services in an assisted living facility, including:

• Nursing home transition assistance
• Care coordination
• Medication administration
• Daily meals and snacks
• Personal care
• Assistance with daily living activities, such as bathing, dressing and eating
• Housekeeping and laundry
• Recreational and social programs
• Transportation

As a Medi-Cal pilot program, the ALW is only available at participating, state-licensed assisted living facilities in Contra Costa and 14 other California counties. There are a limited number of waiver slots available statewide, and qualified seniors may face a wait to receive services.

To learn more about the program or to schedule an assessment to determine medical eligibility, Concord seniors can contact the nearest Care Coordination Agency, Rehab Services of Northern California in Pleasant Hills, at (925) 682-6330.

Other Financial Assistance Programs for Assisted Living

VA Aid and Attendance Benefits and Housebound Allowance

VA pension recipients who suffer from a disability, chronic illness or mental impairment may be eligible for an additional monthly benefit through either the Aid and Attendance benefit or Housebound allowance program.

• To qualify for Aid and Attendance benefits, a senior veteran or their survivor must reside in a nursing home, be legally blind or bedridden or need daily help with dressing, eating, bathing or other daily living activities.
• To receive the Housebound allowance, an applicant must be primarily confined to their place of residence due to disability and have a 100% disability rating from the VA.

Those already receiving a VA disability pension aren’t eligible for these programs, but a disability doesn’t have to be related to military service to qualify.

For more information or help applying for these VA benefit programs, Concord veterans can contact the Contra Costa County Veterans Services office in Brentwood at (925) 313-1481.

State Supplemental Payment

Residents of Concord eligible for or receiving federal Supplemental Security Income benefits also qualify for a monthly State Supplemental Payment. This SSI add-on benefit can provide up to $160.62 for a single person or $407.14 for a couple to put toward assisted living room and board.

The financial eligibility criteria is the same for both programs:

• A maximum of $771 in monthly income and $2,000 in assets per individual
• Up to $1,157 per month in income and $3,000 in assets for a married couple

To apply for combined SSI and SSP benefits, seniors can call the Social Security Administration at (800) 772-1213.

Assisted Living Resources in Concord

Senior Center

The Concord Senior Center offers numerous life-enriching programs and activities for area residents aged 50 and older. The center’s full-time staff coordinates instructional classes, day trips, longer tours and a variety of workshops and special events. Concord senior club volunteers organize social activities such as billiards, bingo and card games, book and computer clubs and fun get-togethers including group dinners and birthday parties.

Concord Senior Center
727 Parkside Cir., Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3320

Senior Legal Assistance

Nonprofit Contra Costa Senior Legal Services provides older county residents with free assistance on issues such as debt relief, consumer protection and elder abuse as well as creating advance health care directives and powers of attorney.

Contra Costa Senior Legal Services
2702 Clayton Rd., Ste. 202 Concord, CA 94519
(925) 609-7900

Area Agency on Aging

The Contra Costa County AAA provides Concord seniors with a vital link to aging-related services and programs in the local area. The agency’s information and assistance call center is staffed with dedicated social workers who can assess a senior’s needs and connect them with resources such as health insurance counseling and advocacy, government benefit program assistance and nutritional or transportation support.

Contra Costa County Area Agency on Aging 
400 Ellinwood Way, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
(925) 602-4172