10 Assisted Living Communities in Pleasanton, 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 10 Assisted Living Communities in Pleasanton and several in surrounding areas. The Cost of Senior Care in Pleasanton, CA

• Assisted Living: $5,500
• Nursing Home Care: $9,125
• In-home Care: $5,720
• Adult Day Health Services: $1,993

According to Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study, the average monthly cost of assisted living in Pleasanton is $5,500, which is $1,000 above the state average and $1,500 above the national average. Prices are the same in nearby San Francisco ($5,500) and Salinas ($5,500) and slightly higher in Santa Cruz ($5,595). 

Statewide, assisted living costs are highest in the Bay Area and lowest in cities located inland, such as Bakersfield ($3,150), Modesto ($3,200) and Yuba City ($3,679).  

Note: Senior care cost data wasn’t available for Pleasanton, so data for the closest city, San Jose, was used. 

Nursing home care includes 24/7 medical care in a state-licensed facility, making it the most expensive senior care option in Pleasanton at $9,125 per month (semiprivate). The other residential care option is assisted living, which costs an average of $5,500 per month and includes room and board.  In-home care for 44 hours weekly costs $6,006 for a home health aide and $5,720 for homemaker services. Seniors who opt to stay in their homes may also need to attend an adult day health program on weekdays at a cost of $1,993 per month. 

 

Medicaid is a federally mandated, state-administered government health plan for low-income children, adults with disabilities and seniors. It was established in 1965 and includes a number of mandatory benefits, such as hospital and nursing home care, primary physician care, X-rays, blood tests and home health services. 

Each state has the option to provide additional, state-specific Medicaid benefits through special programs and waivers. These benefits may include prescription drug coverage, personal care, prosthetics, dental and vision care and hospice services. 

In California, a Medicaid-expansion state, the program is called Medi-Cal, and it’s administered through the Department of Health Care Services. 

Qualifying for Medi-Cal 

California seniors who collect Supplemental Security Income benefits are automatically qualified for Aged, Blind and Disabled Medi-Cal coverage. 

To be eligible for Medi-Cal Aged and Disabled Federal Poverty Level coverage with access to home and community-based waiver programs, seniors aged 65 and older must: 

• Be permanent residents of California
• Have valid U.S. citizenship or qualifying immigration status
• Have a monthly income of $1,242 or less (individual), or
• Have a monthly combined income of $1,682 or less (couple applying together)
• Own $2,000 or less worth of countable assets, or
• Own $3,000 or less worth of joint countable assets when applying with a spouse

Some personal assets are not counted, such as:

• The home of the applicant and/or their spouse
• One vehicle
• A life insurance policy with a face value of $1,500 or less
• An irrevocable, prepaid burial plan and plot of any value
• A revocable, prepaid burial plan worth up to $1,500
• Furniture and household goods
• Clothing and personal items

Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance

Special rules apply to married couples when only one spouse needs Medi-Cal coverage to ensure the non-applicant spouse, called the community spouse, has enough money to live on. 

If the community spouse earns less than $3,161 per month, money can be transferred from the applicant to raise the community spouse’s income up to $3,161. This is known as the minimum monthly maintenance needs allowance, and money the applicant transfers under the MMMNA can reduce their countable income on their Medi-Cal application. 

The community spouse can also retain up to half of the couple’s countable joint assets at a maximum value of $126,420 under the community spouse resource allowance. 

Medi-Cal Share of Cost

Seniors who meet the asset limits for Medi-Cal enrollment, but are otherwise excluded due to excess income may be able to achieve Medi-Cal eligibility by entering into a Share of Cost agreement. 

SOC works like an insurance deductible. Each month, participants must spend a predetermined amount of their excess income on approved medical expenses. Once they have spent their SOC limit for the month, Medi-Cal coverage is in effect for the remainder of that month. 

For more information on Medi-Cal enrollment and SOC, contact the Alameda County Social Services Agency, Livermore Outstation, at (925) 455-0747. 

Optional State Supplementation

Seniors eligible for Supplemental Security Income benefits and live in an assisted living facility as a result of physical and/or cognitive impairment may qualify for the Optional State Supplementation program. 

The OSS uses State funds to top up monthly federal SSI payments for use towards the room-and-board portion of assisted living costs. Eligible seniors can receive up to $1,194.37 ($2,338.74 for a couple) in monthly OSS/SSI benefits. 

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

Elderlife Financial Reverse Mortgage

Senior couples aged 62 or older who own their own homes may be able to access the money needed to pay for assisted living for one spouse with an Elderlife reverse mortgage.

A reverse mortgage lets qualified homeowners borrow money against their home’s equity if only one of the homeowners needs care, and the other homeowner plans on remaining in the home. The reverse mortgage is repayable when both homeowners no longer live in the home or when the home is sold. 

The amount of money that can be borrowed depends on the assessed value of the home minus any existing mortgages or liens on the property. There are no payments, however, interest is calculated on the balance. 

For more information, call Elderlife Financial at (888) 228-4500. 

The Alameda County Veterans Service Office works to ensure all veterans and survivors receive their maximum benefits and entitlements from the VA and State. Services include benefits counselling, claims assistance and help with appeals. 

Comprehensive VA health services are available at the nearby Livermore Division of the Palo Alto VA Medical Center.

Alameda County Veterans Service Office
6955 Foothill Blvd., Oakland, CA 94605
(510) 577-1926

Palo Alto VA Medical Center – Livermore
4951 Arroyo Rd., Livermore, CA 94550-9650
(925) 373-4700

The Senior Support Program of the Tri-Valley is a nonprofit organization for seniors. Services include a friendly volunteer visitor program, home safety screenings, fall prevention classes and a free 7-week Finding Wellness workshop series.  Seniors who need a ride to a nonurgent medical appointment anywhere in the Greater Bay area can register for the Volunteers Assisting Seniors with Transportation program.  Senior Support Program of the Tri-Valley
5353 Sunol Blvd., Pleasanton, CA 94566
(925) 931-5379

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