Assisted Living in San Juan Capistrano, CA

Assisted Living Costs in San Juan Capistrano

Senior residents of San Juan Capistrano, according to Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care survey, pay assisted living costs in line with the California state average of $4,500 per month. This is significantly over the $4,000 national average and much higher than the cost in more inland California cities, such as the Riverside area ($3,500) and El Centro ($3,650). Seniors in other areas along the Southern California coast pay about the same or much more, such as in San Louis Obispo ($5,450), Santa Maria ($4,825) and San Diego ($4,500).

Note: Senior care cost data wasn’t available for San Juan Capistrano, so data for the closest area, Los Angeles, was used.

The Cost of Assisted Living in Surrounding Areas

Care Cost Comparison

San Juan Capistrano’s costs for senior care vary significantly based on the type of care received. A semiprivate room in a skilled nursing home, for example, is approximately $3,100 more expensive than the cost to reside in an assisted living facility. The upfront costs of homemaker services and home health aides ($4,767) are also higher than those of assisted living and don’t include the basic living expenses, such as rent, meals, utilities and maintenance, one must pay while living at home. With an average monthly cost of $1,565, adult day health services is the least expensive care option and only includes part-time care received at a center outside the home.

Senior Care Cost Comparison Chart

Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in San Juan Capistrano

Medicaid in California

Medi-Cal is California’s Medicaid program and offers free and low-cost health care services to eligible people living throughout the state. Services provided include the following essential health benefits:

• Emergency services and hospitalization
• Doctors visits and outpatient care
• Preventative, wellness and rehabilitative services
• Chronic disease management
• Prescription drugs 
• Mental and behavioral health services, including treatment for substance use disorders

Adults over age 18 may qualify for Medi-Cal if their annual income is equal to or below the specified limits. For individuals, the annual income limit is $16,395, and for married couples, it’s $22,108.

Seniors may also be eligible if they’re:

• Blind, disabled or at least 65 years old
• Residing in a skilled nursing facility
• Single with a monthly income of less than $1,242 and assets less than $2,000
• Married with a monthly income of less than $1,682 and assets less than $3,000
• Diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer upon official screening
• On refugee status or participating in a refugee assistance program
• A Supplemental Security Income/State Supplemental Payment recipient
• The caretaker for a child under age 21 whose parent is deceased or unable to serve as the primary caregiver due to limited or no employment or incapacity

San Juan Capistrano residents can apply for Medi-Cal online, over the phone at (800) 300-1506 or in person at a nearby enrollment center, such as the CHEC Family Resource Center at 27412 Calle Arroyo, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675.

Within Medi-Cal, an additional program exists for seniors and people with disabilities who would like to live in an assisted living facility.

Assisted Living Waiver
The Assisted Living waiver is a Medi-Cal program created to help lessen the need for skilled nursing home care among elderly and disabled individuals. As Orange County residents, seniors in San Juan Capistrano may be eligible to participate if they are:

• Fully qualified for Medi-Cal
• Willing and able to live in an assisted living or subsidized housing facility
• In need of skilled nursing level care equivalent to Medi-Cal enrolled nursing home residents

The ALW is not an entitlement program, so qualified seniors may be placed on a waiting list before receiving services. Those who are enrolled, however, can expect benefits including:

• Care coordination and an individualized service plan
• Assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing, feeding and dressing
• Medication assistance and transportation services
• Facilitated recreational activities
• Laundry and housekeeping assistance
• Access to three meals per day with snacks

San Juan Capistrano seniors interested in the ALW program should call their local Care Coordination Agency to speak with a registered nurse about an assessment. For Orange County residents, this is Access TLC Home Health Care at (818) 551-1900.

Other Financial Assistance Programs for Assisted Living

Elderlife Bridge Loans
Elderlife Financial provides short-term bridge loans with terms up to 12 months for qualifying individuals who wish to live in an assisted living facility. It’s best for those who have a long-term plan in place to pay for care, such as upcoming benefits assistance or proceeds from the sale of a home. The loans have a low monthly interest rate and a quick application process. 

To determine an applicant’s eligibility, Elderlife considers financial factors, such as income, assets and credit scores. Because they allow more than one co-applicant on a loan, seniors with low-credit scores may still be approved based on the combined scores of all applicants.

According to Elderlife, the application takes approximately 20 minutes to complete and can be done over the phone at (888) 228-4500 or online. Once approved, seniors can request funds to be distributed as needed and directed to their assisted living facility of choice.

Veterans Aid and Attendance
The Veterans Aid and Attendance program is a federal initiative providing eligible incapacitated or blind veterans or surviving spouses with financial assistance in addition to their monthly pension. 

To qualify for this program, individuals must be one or more of the following:

• Bedridden except for when receiving medical treatment
• Dependent on the aid of a caregiver for activities of daily living, such as eating, dressing and bathing
• disabled to the level of requiring skilled nursing home care
• Legally blind

Seniors who meet at least one of these requirements should call (800) 827-1000 or apply in person at the Los Angeles Regional Benefits Office at 11000 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90024. 

To apply by mail, individuals should create a written report that includes their level of incapacity, how well they get around and descriptions of their daily habits to the St. Paul VA Regional Office at the following address:

Department of Veterans Affairs
Claims Intake Center
Attention:  St. Paul Pension Center
P.O. Box 5365
Janesville, WI  53547-5365

Assisted Living Resources in San Juan Capistrano

Veteran’s Resources

While the Laguna Hills VA Clinic provides area veterans with outpatient health care services, the South Orange County Vet Center offers employment training, legal clinics and benefits assistance.

South Orange County Vet Center
26431 Crown Valley Pkwy., Mission Viejo, CA 92691
(949) 348-6907

Laguna Hills VA Clinic
23719 Moulton Pkwy., Laguna Hills, CA 92653-5422
(949) 587-3700

Senior Centers in Orange County

Orange County senior centers help educate and enrich the lives of area seniors through nutrition and exercise classes, entertaining card games, social gatherings and community meals. 

San Juan Capistrano Community Center
25925 Camino Del Avion, San Juan Capistrano, CA
(949) 493-5921

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

Florence Sylvester Memorial Senior Center
23721 Moulton Pkwy., Laguna Hills, CA 92653
(949) 380-0155