Assisted Living in Pasadena, CA

Assisted Living Costs in Pasadena

According to Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study, Pasadena’s average monthly cost for assisted living is the same as the state average of $4,500 and higher than the national average of $4,000. Assisted living costs are similar in the nearby cities of Oxnard ($4,575) and San Diego ($4,500) while costs are significantly higher in other California coastal cities such as Salinas ($5,500), San Francisco ($5,500) and Santa Cruz ($5,595). 

Cost of Assisted Living Comparison Chart

• Pasadena: $4,500
• National average: $4,000
• State average: $4,500
• San Diego: $4,500
• Oxnard: $4,575
• Salinas: $5,500
• San Francisco ($5,500) 
• Santa Cruz ($5,595) 
• Bakersfield ($3,150) 

Care Cost Comparison

Senior care costs are largely based on the location, the level of care provided and any additional services or amenities that may be included. In Pasadena, nursing home care is significantly more expensive than assisted living, and homemaker services and a home health aide are moderately more. In addition to the cost of service, seniors who are comparing in-home care with assisted living should also factor in the expenses of maintaining a home such as property tax, upkeep, utilities and food. 

Note: Senior care cost data wasn’t available for Pasadena, so data for the closest city, Los Angeles, was used. 

Cost of Homemaker/Home Health Aide Comparison Chart

• Assisted living: $4,500
• Homemaker services: $4,767
• Home health aide: $4,767
• Adult day health: $1,565
• Nursing home care (semiprivate room): $7,604

Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Pasadena

Medicaid in California

Medicaid is a nationwide health insurance program that provides limited access to essential health services for low-income, low-asset Americans of all ages. The federal and state governments jointly fund it. 

In California, the California Department of Health Care Services administers Medicaid as Medi-Cal. Seniors aged 65 and older who meet the financial criteria are eligible for no-cost Medi-Cal coverage through the Aged and Disabled Federal Poverty Level Program. 

To qualify for Medi-Cal, seniors may earn a maximum of $1,242 monthly for an individual and $1,682 for a couple. They must also own no more than $2,000 worth of countable assets when applying as a single or $3,000 when applying with a spouse.

Cash, bank account balances and investments count as assets, while wages, pensions and stock dividends are included as income. Medi-Cal applicants may own one vehicle and a principal residence. Unlike other states, there is no limit on the principal residence value for Medi-Cal purposes as long as the applicant or their spouse continues to live in the home.

A 30-month look-back period for Medi-Cal applications assesses any assets that were sold or gifted prior to applying. If the assets were disposed of during this look-back period, they may be used to calculate a period of exclusion from Medi-Cal eligibility. 

California Medi-Cal Assisted Living Waiver

Seniors who qualify for Medi-Cal coverage and require care normally provided in a nursing home may be eligible for the Assisted Living Waiver program. 

The ALW is designed to reduce the rates of nursing home admission among California seniors by providing supports in an assisted living environment. Seniors are automatically screened for the ALW when they enroll in Medi-Cal. Registered nurses with the Care Coordination Agencies assess the care needs of each senior, and if eligible, the senior receives an individualized service plan and supports within an assisted living setting. 

Note that Medi-Cal members on a Share of Cost basis are ineligible for the ALW.  

To learn more about Medi-Cal coverage and the Assisted Living Waiver, contact the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services, Customer Service Center at (866) 613-3777. 

Other Financial Assistance Programs for Assisted Living

Optional State Supplementation

California seniors aged 65 and older who either receive or are eligible to receive Supplemental Security Income benefits may qualify for additional state-based funding toward the room-and-board portion of senior care at an assisted living facility under the Optional State Supplementation program. 

Also known as State Supplemental Payments, OSS is added to SSI benefits. As of 2019, the maximum total monthly combined federal SSI and state OSS payment for seniors living in an assisted living facility is $1,194.37 per month for singles and $2,388.74 for a couple. 

To learn more about SSI Optional State Supplementation in California, contact the Pasadena Social Security Office at (800) 772-1213. 

Veterans Aid and Attendance and Housebound Program

Veterans who receive a VA pension and are either housebound, living in a nursing home or have a disability that interferes with activities of daily living may qualify for either the Veterans Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefit. 

For the Aid and Attendance program, applicants must meet one or more of the following conditions: 

• Need daily assistance from a caregiver to bathe, dress, manage a prosthesis or toilet
• Be bedridden due to disability
• Live in a nursing home as a result of mental or physical impairment
• Have 5/200 vision in both eyes using corrective lenses

For the Housebound benefit, applicants must have a VA disability rating of 100 percent and be largely restricted to their principal residence as a result of their disability. 

To learn more about the Veterans Aid and Attendance and Housebound program, contact the Veterans Service Center at Patriotic Hall at (877) 452-8387. 

Assisted Living Resources in Pasadena

Senior Centers in Pasadena

Pasadena seniors who are looking for low-cost recreational, social and educational activities and events geared toward older adults can visit a senior center in Pasadena and the surrounding areas. These community centers for seniors offer a range of exercise classes, special events and hosted lunches where seniors can connect with their peers. 

Pasadena Senior Center
85 East Holly Street, Pasadena, CA 91103
(626) 795-4331

South Pasadena Senior Center
1102 Oxley Street, South Pasadena, CA 91030
(626-403-7360

Community Assistance Agencies

Seniors who need help applying for Medi-Cal coverage, accessing affordable transportation or navigating senior care services can contact the Pasadena Human Service and Recreation Department. Services include assistance with government programs for seniors, no-fee legal clinics and consumer action services. To apply for Social Security or the Optional State Supplementation program, contact the Pasadena Social Security Office. 

Pasadena Human Service and Recreation Department
100 North Garfield Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101
(626) 744-7311

Pasadena Social Security Office
104 North Mentor Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91106
(800) 772-1213

Veteran Centers and Clinics

Veterans and their survivors in Pasadena can access information on veteran services, benefits and pensions at the County of Los Angeles Veterans Service Center at Patriotic Hall. For VA health services, eligible seniors can contact the VA West Los Angeles Medical Center. 

County of Los Angeles – Veterans Service Center at Patriotic Hall
1816 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015
(877) 452-8387

VA West Los Angeles Medical Center
11301 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90073-1003
(310) 478-3711