Assisted Living in Modesto, CA

Assisted Living Costs in Modesto

According to Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study, the average monthly cost for assisted living is substantially more affordable in Modesto ($3,200) than it is on a national scale ($4,000). Modesto’s monthly costs also compare favorably to the California state average ($4,500), which exceeds the city’s median by more than $1,000. Cities such as Napa ($5,425), San Francisco ($5,500) and Santa Rosa ($5,500) are above the state-wide average. While facilities in the Los Angeles and Bay Area regions tend to be expensive, facilities outside the major metros can be affordable. Cities with low monthly costs include Bakersfield ($3,150), Riverside ($3,500) and Stockton ($3,500).

Cost of Assisted Living Comparison Chart

• Modesto: $3,200
• National average: $4,000
• State average: $4,500
• Napa: $5,425
• San Francisco: $5,500
• Santa Rosa: $5,500
• Bakersfield: $3,150
• Riverside: $3,500
• Stockton: $3,500

Care Cost Comparison

When seniors devise their long-term care plan, they should consider the type of care they need. This factor influences the cost of care more than any other, and California is no exception. In Modesto, for example, the monthly costs of home care ($4,576) exceed the costs of assisted living ($3,200) by more than $1,300 per month. For seniors with a limited budget or extensive needs, the low costs of assisted living may win out over the comforts of home care. Nursing home care is far and away the most expensive care type in the city, with costs nearly triple that of assisted living.

Cost of Homemaker/Home Health Aide Comparison Chart

• Assisted living: $3,200
• Homemaker services: $4,576
• Home health aide: $4,576
• Adult day health: $1,517
• Nursing home care (semiprivate room): $8,882

Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Modesto

Medicaid in California

California’s Medicaid program, Medi-Cal, provides low-income residents with comprehensive health coverage. To qualify for the Medi-Cal program, seniors must not exceed certain income limitations. For individual seniors, the maximum income level is $16,146 per year. For seniors living in two-person households, the maximum income is $21,892. Potential applicants over the age of 65 must also be currently residing in California and be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or legal alien. Seniors who are SSI recipients or enrolled in a state refugee program automatically qualify for Medi-Cal.

If seniors qualify for Medi-Cal, they receive access to a variety of outpatient, emergency, hospital, mental health, prescription and rehabilitative services. Medi-Cal also provides dental and vision services, including dentures, dental implants and routine eye exams. While the program covers some forms of long-term care, such as skilled nursing facility services and personal care services, it does not include assisted living facilities. Most California seniors who reside in assisted living facilities pay their costs out of pocket. The few financial assistance programs will be discussed in greater detail below.

Seniors who don’t meet the income requirements for Medi-Cal may be able to receive benefits via the share-of-cost program. When enrolled in this program, seniors incur a monthly shared cost of health care expenses before they receive financial assistance from Medi-Cal.

For more information about the Medi-Cal program and its benefits, seniors can call (209) 558-2500.

Other Financial Assistance Programs for Assisted Living

Assisted Living Waiver

The standard Medi-Cal program does not cover the costs of assisted living facilities, often referred to in California as Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly. In the 2000s, the California Department of Health Care Services established the Assisted Living Waiver pilot program to redress this situation. The ALW started in three counties and has since expanded to include 15 counties across California, spanning from San Diego to Sonoma. Unfortunately, the ALW has not yet expanded into Stanislaus County, so seniors cannot use the ALW to finance the costs of assisted living facilities in Modesto. However, Modesto seniors can still apply to the program if they’re willing to move to a facility in one of the approved counties.

The ALW seeks to give seniors with significant health needs access to community-like settings. To meet the eligibility requirements, seniors first need to qualify for full-scope Medi-Cal — seniors with share-of-cost coverage are not eligible for ALW. Seniors must also demonstrate that they require the level of care provided by a nursing home. Medi-Cal Care Coordination Agencies oversee the approval process. A registered nurse assesses every applicant’s health needs. Seniors enrolled in the ALW program have access to three waiver benefits: assisted living services, care coordination and nursing facility transition care coordination.

Supplemental Security Income

Seniors who qualify for Medi-Cal may also be eligible for California’s Supplemental Security Income, which provides low-resource seniors with a guaranteed monthly income. Seniors who receive SSI are automatically enrolled in Medi-Cal.

California’s SSI program offers a special rate known as the Non-Medical Out-of-Home Care Rate. The NMOHC stipulation provides a larger monthly income to seniors living in an out-of-home facility, including assisted living facilities. This helps seniors fund the monthly costs of their preferred out-of-home care treatment.

Assisted Living Resources in Modesto

Aging and Veterans Services

The Stanislaus County Department of Aging and Veterans Services offers home and community-based services to the local senior population. At the local office, seniors can find resources about California’s Medicaid programs and Modesto’s nonprofit agencies. The office can also help veterans obtain health and housing benefits.

Stanislaus County Department of Aging and Veterans Services
3500 Coffee Rd. Suite 19, Modesto, CA 95354
(209) 558-8698

Community Services Agency

Seniors can apply for Medi-Cal in person at their local Community Services Agency. This agency also offers a number of programs for seniors, including APS, which protects against elder abuse, and IHSS, which provides seniors with in-home safety assistance.

Community Services Agency
251 Hackett Rd. Modesto, CA 95358
(209) 558-2500

Central Valley Opportunity Center

The Central Valley Opportunity Center oversees Social Security Benefits and assistance programs for low-income seniors. Seniors may be eligible for free training and emergency services.

Central Valley Opportunity Center
1801 H Street, Suite A 4-6, Modesto, CA95354
(209) 577-3210