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The average cost of assisted living in the city is $4,500 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 15 assisted living facilities in San Marcos and 30 in surrounding areas.
Call 1-800-991-9257 for details
Sitting 15 minutes away from the ocean, Brookdale San Marcos provides accommodations for seniors seeking assisted living.
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At Silvergate San Marcos every day matters, which is why we provide our residents with a full-service lifestyle so they can create the retirement they always imagined in sunny San Marcos.
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For families seeking care for loved ones suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia, Nightingale Assisted Living Center has a quiet, calm atmosphere within a homelike environment.
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Located in a quiet residential area of San Marcos, Chardonnay Home Care of San Marcos offers a safe, secure setting for seniors who need assistance with activities of daily living.
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Sapphire Pacific III located in San Marcos, provides seniors with a selection of amenities to encourage an enjoyable senior living experience.
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Whether looking for independent living, assisted living or memory care, seniors can rest assured that life at The Meridian at Lake San Marcos will be fun and hassle-free.
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San Marcos Cottage is an inviting home offering a selection of amenities and supportive services for San Marcos seniors to consider.
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Astoria Villa offers a haven of better living for your loved one because our qualified staff is dedicated to providing the care and services necessary to create a fulfilling life.
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Owned and operated by a Register Nurse with nurses in all locations, Mary Katherine’s Homes operates a total of 4 locations in San Diego County, California. We offer a range of personalized Assisted Living senior services, including independent living, as…
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At Twin Oaks Garden III, our goal is to provide our residents with the best in senior living. Our high quality care and dedicated staff ensure that the health needs of all our residents are supported, while our wide variety…
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Twin Oaks Garden II is an inviting home offering a selection of amenities and supportive services for San Marcos seniors to consider.
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A provider of supportive living options, Twin Oaks Garden offers services and amenities San Marcos seniors seeking an inviting environment.
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Lovely views of the San Marcos Mountains await new residents when they join Anne’s Place I, a lovely care home that provides assisted living services within a homelike atmosphere.
Call 1-800-705-4148 or Request a call
Call 1-800-991-9257 for details
Call 1-800-991-9257 for details
Brookdale always strives to make the experience for their residents the best. The staff here is amazing, and the property is beautiful.
Read more Brookdale San Marcos reviewsBrookdale San Marcos is beautifully located within a few miles of the Pacific Ocean and within walking distance of many shops. This facility has style and is well maintained in and around the property. The many amenities include a game/activity room, dining, the Corner Market, and physical therapy. This facility i...
Read more Brookdale San Marcos reviewsWe went to Brookdale San Marcos with my mother-in-law and saw an apartment available on the first floor, which was what we needed. We had a very good lunch. It was a bigger, very clean, and very nice place. Everybody was very professional and very friendly, but my mother-in-law didn't think she could walk to the dining...
Read more Brookdale San Marcos reviewsBrookdale San Marcos is good. The staff is very nice. They have a lot going on like exercise programs and get-togethers. My father is in a one-bedroom apartment and it's very nice and spacious. I'm not too crazy about the dining area, but it's nice. They have housekeeping and laundry, and they take them to the doctor, ...
Read more Brookdale San Marcos reviewsThe apartment at Brookdale San Marcos had a kitchen, a living room, and a bathroom. The place was clean and looked nice. Meals were included and they provide activities. The staff member was very helpful, very pleasant, has followed up a couple of times, and is very thorough. I was happy and pleased. The dining hall wa...
Read more Brookdale San Marcos reviewsThe Meridian at Lake San Marcos was gorgeous, and the food was all done by chefs and dieticians. When you first drive up, it's beautiful. When you first walk in, it's absolutely spectacular, with high ceilings and Italian villa décor that was warm and inviting. The people were very gracious and professional. They had a...
Read more Meridian at Lake San Marcos reviewsIn its 2018 Cost of Care Survey, Genworth reveals San Marcos’ average monthly cost of assisted living to be $4,500 per month. This is $500 more per month than the national average of $4,000 but equal to the California state average. While surrounding cities, such as El Centro ($3,650), Riverside ($3,500) and Bakersfield ($3,150), enjoy much lower assisted living costs, the fees in nearby Santa Maria, Los Angeles and Oxnard are the same or higher than those in San Marcos.
Note: Senior care cost data wasn’t available for San Marcos, so data for the closest city, San Diego, was used.
Cost of Assisted Living Comparison Chart
As in many cities, the cost of nursing home care in San Marcos is much higher than those of an assisted living home. The cost of at-home care, including homemaker services and home health aides, is slightly more expensive than assisted living (about $300 more per month) but doesn’t include the additional living expenses of utilities, home maintenance and room and board. For San Marcos residents who don’t require full-time care, adult day health is the least expensive care option with an average cost of $1,733 per month.
Cost of Homemaker/Home Health Aide Comparison Chart
California’s Medicaid program, also known as Medi-Cal, is jointly funded by state and Federal funds. Medi-Cal provides low-income California residents with a wide range of medical care and services, including hospitalization, physical therapy, outpatient and emergency services, chronic disease management and mental health services.
There are several ways San Marcos seniors can qualify for Medi-Cal. One is to earn below the annual income limits, which are $16,395 for individuals and $22,108 for married couples. Seniors must also have less than $2,000 (individual) or $3,000 (couple) in assets. These asset limits exclude the applicant’s home, furnishings, personal items and one vehicle.
Seniors may also qualify if they:
San Marcos residents can apply for Medi-Cal online or call (866) 262-9881 for more information.
Assisted Living Waiver
Within the larger Medi-Cal program, smaller programs exist to aide residents of varying ages and needs. One such program for seniors is the Assisted Living Waiver (ALW). Participants have access to three waiver benefits within the ALW, including care coordination, assisted living services and nursing facility transition care coordination.
The ALW is available to California seniors enrolled in Medi-Cal who require a nursing home level of care but prefer to live in the community. To participate in the ALW program, seniors must first request an assessment with a nurse employed by their local Care Coordination Agency (CCA).
Some assisted living services offered through the ALW include laundry, housekeeping, help with activities of daily living, skilled nursing, recreational activities and three meals per day.
Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP)
San Marcos residents may also be eligible to receive services through the Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP), a program offered to certain Medi-Cal seniors through the federal Home and Community Based Services Medicaid waiver. The program aims to help seniors remain at home or in the community and includes services, such as personal care assistance, adult day health centers, care management, meals, transportation, respite and housing assistance.
To be eligible for the MSSP, seniors must be over age 65, qualify for Medi-Cal and certify as needing nursing home level care. The cost of services must also remain below that of nursing home care. Because services provided are not entitlements, those wishing to enroll may be put on a waiting list. The San Marcos MSSP program is offered through San Diego County’s Aging and Independent Services agency and can be contacted by calling (800) 339-4661.
Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefit
Financial assistance from the national Veterans Aid and Attendance program may be available to qualified San Marcos veterans or their surviving spouses. To qualify, applicants must already receive or be eligible to receive a VA pension, and they must also require the aid of a caregiver to perform personal activities of daily living. Seniors requiring aid may also qualify if they are legally blind, bedridden or live in a nursing facility.
To be eligible, veterans must earn below $22,577 in annual income as an individual (no dependents) and below $26,765 if married or caring for a dependent. A surviving spouse must earn below $14,529. Assets may not exceed $126,000 including annual income (excluding homes and vehicles). When calculating income, unreimbursed medical expenses should be deducted.
Senior San Marcos veterans or surviving spouses can apply by visiting their local benefit office, calling (855) 898-6050 or writing their regional pension management center.
Supplemental Security Income
California provides Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to people with disabilities and certain seniors who are at least 65 years old. Eligible seniors can receive monthly financial benefits for nonmedical out-of-home care up to $1,194.37 for an individual or $2,388.74 for a married couple.
To meet the low-income and asset requirements, seniors must:
In addition to financial assistance, some seniors may qualify to receive protective services or an additional allowance for a service dog if the individual is blind or disabled.
San Marcos residents can apply for SSI online or call (800) 772-1213.
Several community and senior centers provide free programs to enrich the quality of life for seniors, their caregivers and families. These centers often provide free classes, information and social activities on issues relevant to seniors lives and needs.
San Marcos Senior Activity Center
111 Richmar Ave., San Marcos, CA 92069
(760) 744-5535
Alzheimer’s San Diego
6632 Convoy Ct., San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 492-4400
This center offers free programs, support groups and resources to help people with dementia and their families
The Foundation for Senior Wellbeing
131 Richmar Ave., San Marcos, CA 92069
(760) 891-8176
The foundation’s Information Resource Center provides seniors, their caregivers and families with resources and information on topics including housing, meals, medical issues and transportation.
Veterans resource centers in and around San Marcos provide benefits counseling, claims processing, pension filing, loan assistance and many other services to veterans and their families.
San Marcos Veterans Center
1 Civic Center Dr. #150, San Marcos, CA 92069
(855) 898-6050
Escondido Military and Veterans Affairs Resource Center
649 W Mission Ave., Escondido, CA 92025
(760) 740-5573
San Marcos’ Area Agency on Aging provides resources and programs designed to help seniors and family members live healthy, more independent lives. Services include care coordination, in-home support, an ombudsman program, nutrition, mental health care and legal services.
Aging and Independence Services (AIS)
151 Van Houten Ave., El Cajon, CA 92020
(800) 510-2020
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