Assisted Living in Lake Forest, CA

Assisted Living Costs in Lake Forest

According to Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study, Lake Forest’s average monthly cost for assisted living is $3,500 per month. This is $500 less than the national average and $1,000 less than the state average, making Lake Forest one of the more affordable places in California for assisted living. Residential care costs in Lake Forest are slightly more than the comparably sized city of Madera ($3,323) and the much larger city of Bakersfield ($3,150).

Note: Senior care cost data wasn’t available for Lake Forest, so data for the closest city, Riverside, was used.

The Cost of Assisted Living in Surrounding Areas

Care Cost Comparison

Senior care costs are influenced by location, the type of care needed and the number of service hours required. In Lake Forest, skilled nursing care in a semiprivate room is more than double the cost of assisted living, while in-home care, such as home health aides and homemaker services, are significantly more than assisted living per month. Residential care costs typically include living expenses such as rent, utilities and food, while in-home care does not. Seniors should take these expenses into account when deciding on what type of care is best for their needs.

Senior Care Cost Comparison Chart

Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Lake Forest

Medicaid in California

Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program, offers medical care for low-income California residents. Medi-Cal is divided into numerous programs focused on serving certain demographic groups, including children, families, the elderly and the disabled. It provides eligible participants with physical and mental health care, prescriptions, referrals, maternal care, preventative health services and residential care assistance.

To qualify for Medi-Cal, applicants must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or legal resident
• Live in California
• Have an income of no more than $16,395 (per individual) or $22,108 (per couple) per year
• Be pregnant, blind, disabled or at least 65 years of age
• Have no more than $2,000 in countable assets for an individual or $3,000 for a couple

To apply for Medi-Cal, applicants can go to the Covered California website, visit their local SSA Center or call (800) 281-9799.

Assisted Living Waiver

Medi-Cal offers an HCBS waiver program that provides skilled nursing care to eligible seniors who wish to stay in assisted living facilities. It pays for care including housekeeping services, skilled nursing, medication management and assistance with daily living activities, such as eating, bathing and dressing. The waiver does not pay for room and board; participants are responsible for paying these costs themselves.

The Assisted Living waiver is not an entitlement and is only available in certain assisted living facilities, so there may be waiting lists. To be eligible for the waiver, applicants must:

• Be 21 years of age or over
• Require nursing-level care but be able to safely receive this care in an assisted living facility
• Have under $1,242 (per individual) or $1,682 (per couple) in monthly income
• Have no more than $2,000 in monthly assets for an individual or $3,000 for a couple
• Be eligible for full-scope Medi-Cal with zero share of cost

Those who are interested should visit the California Department of Health Care Services for more information on the ALW and a list of participating assisted living facilities. To apply for the ALW, contact the Orange County Office on Aging at (714) 480-6450.

Other Financial Assistance Programs for Assisted Living

Supplemental Security Income

California’s Supplemental Security Income program pays benefits to disabled residents with limited income and resources. The amount varies depending upon a participant’s income and is automatically added to their federal SSI payment.

To qualify for SSI in California, applicants must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or legal resident
• Live in California
• Be blind, disabled or over 65 years of age
• Have no more than $2,000 in assets (for an individual) or $3,000 (for a couple)

To apply for SSI, contact the local Social Security office to make an appointment or call (800) 772-1213.

Aid and Attendance and Housebound Supplements

Veterans and survivors who receive a military pension may qualify for a supplement if they meet certain requirements. Applicants are required to submit documentation of at least 90 days of active, wartime service and an honorable discharge.

The Aid and Attendance supplement is for veterans who need daily assistance from another person. To qualify, they must meet one of the following conditions:

• They are bedridden
• They need assistance from another person in order to perform daily living functions, such as dressing, toileting or adjusting prosthetic devices
• They are a patient in a nursing facility due to physical or mental incapacity
• Their eyesight is limited to a corrected 5/200 visual acuity or less in both eyes or concentric contraction of the visual field to 5 degrees or less

The Housebound pension supplement is for veterans and survivors who are confined to their immediate premises because of disability.

Veterans should contact their local VA benefits office for help in applying for VA pensions as the financial requirements are complicated. Contact the Orange County Veterans Service Office at (714) 480-6555 for assistance.

Assisted Living Resources in Lake Forest

Senior Centers in Lake Forest

There are several senior centers in and around Lake Forest that help area seniors stay active and engaged in the local community. These centers offer meals, social activities, card games, movies, transportation, computer lessons, crafting classes and wellness advice.

Lake Forest Community Center Clubhouse 
25550 Commercentre Dr, Lake Forest, CA 92630
(949) 461-3408

Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center
24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo, CA 92692
(949) 470-3061

Trabuco Center
5701 Trabuco Rd, Irvine, CA 92620
(949) 724-7300

Office on Aging

Orange County’s Office on Aging advocates for seniors residing in the county, providing them with information and support on the benefits and services available to them, including nutritional meals, legal assistance, affordable housing programs, transportation and veterans services.

Office on Aging, Orange County
1300 S. Grand Ave, Bldg B, Santa Ana, CA 92705
(800) 510-2020

Age Well Senior Services

Age Well Senior Services is a nonprofit organization that offers assistance to seniors throughout southern Orange County. It provides services to 10 senior centers in the area, personalized in-home assistance to frail, homebound residents and civic, social and fitness opportunities for active seniors. Age Well supplies home-delivered meals, transportation, social outings, educational classes, case management, legal and tax assistance, health screenings, and insurance, Medicaid and Social Security assistance.

Age Well Senior Services
24461 Ridge Route Dr, Suite 220, Laguna Hills, CA 92653
(949) 855-8033