Assisted Living in San Clemente, CA

Assisted Living Costs in San Clemente

Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study gathered senior care cost data nationwide. The study shows that monthly assisted living prices in San Clemente match the state median of $4,500 and are above the national average of $4,000.

Costs in nearby cities along the Pacific coast are similar at $4,575 in Oxnard and $4,500 in Los Angeles, while prices are lower inland in Riverside ($3,500) and El Centro ($3,650). 

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

The Cost of Assisted Living in Surrounding Areas

Care Cost Comparison

Senior care costs in San Clemente range from $1,733 per month for adult day health services up to $8,517 per month for nursing home care. This wide range of pricing is a reflection of the different types of care, the number of direct service hours provided weekly and what’s included with the service. The high price of real estate in coastal areas of California also impacts senior care costs in San Clemente. 

When comparing costs for different senior care options, it’s important to recognize that residential care services such as assisted living communities and nursing homes include room and board in the monthly fees. With community-based and in-home senior care services, seniors need to plan for ongoing expenses including groceries, home maintenance, utilities and property taxes. 

Senior Care Cost Comparison Chart

Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in San Clemente

Medicaid in California

Medicaid is the nationwide health coverage program that provides basic health services to low-income, low-asset Americans of all ages. It is jointly funded by the federal and state governments, and in California, Medicaid is known as Medi-Cal.  

To qualify for no-cost Medi-Cal coverage applicants must meet income and asset limits. Seniors aged 65 and older can earn no more than $1,242 per month and have $2,000 in countable assets, while senior couples can earn no more than $1,682 per month and own $3,000 in countable assets. 

Under Medicaid rules, income from all sources including employment, pensions, alimony and investment interest is included in the monthly income limit. Countable assets include all bank account balances, cash and real estate with the exception of the applicant’s principal residence. Applicants are also exempt from including one vehicle, a irrrevocable burial trust, clothing and household effects in their asset declaration.

Medi-Cal Share of Cost

California offers Medi-Cal coverage on a share of cost basis for seniors with incomes that exceed Medicaid limits. The SOC program allows enrollees to spend a predetermined portion of their monthly income on their medical expenses. Once the predetermined limit is reached, Medi-Cal coverage kicks in. An SOC cannot be used to dispose of assets that exceed Medicaid limits. 

Note that seniors who enroll in Medi-Cal on an SOC basis are ineligible for Medicaid waiver programs. 

To apply for Medi-Cal coverage, contact the County of Orange Social Services Agency Aliso Viejo Regional Center at (800) 281-9799. 

Assisted Living Waiver

Seniors who qualify for free Medi-Cal coverage and meet the criteria for nursing home placement may be eligible for the Assisted Living waiver, a Home and Community-Based Services Medicaid waiver.

The ALW is designed to reduce nursing home placement rates among seniors on Medicaid by funding enhanced care services delivered within an assisted living facility. These services are designed to help seniors remain as independent as possible and may include skilled intermittent nursing, medication management, transportation, medical supplies and personal care. 

Seniors in need of long-term care who prefer to reside in an assisted living facility rather than a nursing home can request an ALW assessment through the Care Coordination Agency serving Orange County. Seniors already living in a Medi-Cal-funded nursing home can also request a CCA assessment. 

If a senior is found to have care needs that meet the criteria for nursing home placement and can be supported through the ALW program, they’ll be referred to one of the ALW program’s participating facilities. 

Note that acceptance into the ALW program doesn’t guarantee placement. Program spots are limited and seniors may be placed on a waiting list. 

For more information about the ALW in San Clemente, contact the Orange County CCA, Access TLC Home Health Care, at (818) 551-1900. 

Other Financial Assistance Programs for Assisted Living

Optional State Supplementation

Seniors who reside in an assisted living facility and receive Social Security Income benefits may qualify for a higher monthly SSI payment through the Optional State Supplementation program. This SSI top-up program uses state funds to help seniors pay the room and board portion of their assisted living costs.  

Seniors can receive a maximum combined SSI payment of $1,194,37 per month when applying as an individual and up to $2,388.74 when applying with a spouse. Note that these amounts are linked to the federal SSI benefit amount and therefore subject to change each year. 

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

Assisted Living Bridge Loan

Seniors who need cash to transition from their home into an assisted living facility may qualify for an assisted living bridge loan from Elderlife Financial. 

Available in terms of up to 12 months and structured as a line of credit, these loans are designed for seniors who are planning to sell their house, waiting for long-term care insurance payments to begin or who need to fund their own assisted living placement for a short period of time. 

There are no upfront fees or costs to apply and up to six people can be listed on each bridge loan application. Monthly payments are interest only, and the loan can be paid off at any time without penalty. 

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

Assisted Living Resources in San Clemente

Senior Center

The Dorothy Visser Senior Center is a membership-based senior activity center that offers a wide variety of fitness and art classes, card games and social groups for adults aged 50 and older. Annual memberships are $100 for San Clemente residents and include daily access to the computer lab and wellness fitness gym. 

Dorothy Visser Senior Center of San Clemente
117 Avenida Victoria, San Clemente, CA 92672
(949) 498-3322

Community Aid Agencies

The Dorothy Visser Senior Center also offers support services for seniors including health insurance counseling and advocacy sessions, healthy cooking and brain health workshops and will counseling. Daily low-cost lunch meals are also available. 

Seniors who need nonemergency, barrier-free medical transportation can contact Age Well Senior Services, while the San Clemente Senior Mobility Program provides free, fixed-route transportation to the senior center and local grocery stores. 

Age Well Senior Services
24461 Ridge Route Dr., Ste. 200, Laguna Hills, CA 92653
(949) 855-8033

Services for Veterans

Outpatient VA health care services are available at the Laguna Hills VA Clinic, part of the VA Long Beach Healthcare System. Veterans and their survivors can contact the Orange County Veterans Service office for help with VA benefit applications and appeals, to access service records and learn about local veterans resources. 

Laguna Hills VA Clinic
23719 Moulton Pkwy., Laguna Hills, CA 92653
(949) 587-3700

South Orange County Vet Center
26431 Crown Valley Pkwy., Ste. 100, Mission Viejo, CA 92691
(949) 348-6700

Orange County Veterans Service Office
1300 S Grand Ave., Santa Ana, CA 92705
(714) 480-6555