Assisted Living in Upland, CA

Assisted Living Costs in Upland

Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care survey states that seniors in Upland pay approximately $3,500 per month for assisted living care. This is well below the $4,000 national average and $1,000 below California’s monthly median. Assisted living expenses in Upland are also significantly less than those in nearby coastal areas, such as Los Angeles ($4,500), San Diego ($4,500) and Oxnard ($4,575). Seniors living near inland cities, including Bakersfield ($3,150) and El Centro ($3,650), see lower or more comparable costs.  

Note: Senior care cost data wasn’t available for Upland, so data for the closest area, Riverside, was used. 

The Cost of Assisted Living in Surrounding Areas

Care Cost Comparison

In Upland, the average monthly cost of full-time, skilled nursing home care ($7,559) is more than double that of assisted living. Home health aides ($4,576) and homemaker services ($4,481), which provide care within a senior’s private home, are also significantly more expensive than assisted living. Additionally, one should note that these upfront costs of home health care don’t include common living expenses, such as rent or mortgage payments, utilities or home maintenance. As the least costly type of senior care, adult day health services ($1,668) offer mobile seniors daytime care in a social setting outside the home.

Senior Care Cost Comparison Chart

Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Upland

Medicaid in California

In California, Medicaid is known as Medi-Cal, a public health insurance program providing free and low-cost health care services to qualified low-income adults, children and families across the state. 

To qualify for Medi-Cal, Upland residents must meet certain income and eligibility requirements. Individuals may qualify if they are:

• At least 65 years old or under age 21
• Blind or disabled
• Living in an intermediate care facility or nursing home
• In a refugee assistance program or have a qualifying refugee status 
• Receiving Supplemental Security Income
• Receiving breast or cervical cancer treatment after proper screening

Upland seniors aged 65 and older may qualify for Medi-Cal based on income if they earn no more than $1,242 in monthly income for an individual and $1,682 for a married couple if both are applying.

Essential health benefits provided through Medi-Cal include:

• Doctors and hospital visits
• Transportation services
• Prescription drugs
• Mental health services
• Laboratory services
• Chronic disease management
• Physical, speech and occupational therapies 

Along with receiving essential health benefits, some Medi-Cal eligible seniors may also qualify to receive long-term care through the Assisted Living waiver.

Assisted Living Waiver
The Medi-Cal Assisted Living waiver helps certain seniors and people with disabilities delay entry into nursing homes and live in assisted living facilities or other community settings. To qualify for the ALW, interested Upland residents should meet each of the requirements below:

• Be willing and able to live in an assisted living facility
• Need a nursing home level of care
• Be at least 21 years old and eligible for Medi-Cal

Benefits of the ALW include:

• Care coordination with the creation of an individualized service plan
• Assistance with activities of daily living, such as eating, dressing and bathing
• Laundry and housekeeping assistance
• Meal provision and coordination and medication assistance
• Recreational activities
• Skilled nursing care as needed

While ALW beneficiaries must pay for room and board in their chosen assisted living setting, the fees are standardized and limited. For example, in 2018, SSI recipients with an income of $1,173.37 must pay $1,039.37 for room and board, while those with a monthly income of $1,193.37 or greater must pay $1,059.37. 

To apply for the Medi-Cal program, seniors can complete the online application, call (800) 300-1506 or visit a nearby enrollment center.

Those interested in ALW services should call a nearby Care Coordination Agency, such as Archangel Home Health Inc. at (562) 861-7047, to request an assessment of care for consideration into the program.

Other Financial Assistance Programs for Assisted Living

Veterans Aid and Attendance
Veterans or their surviving spouses living in Upland may be eligible to receive monthly financial payments in addition to their current pension through the federal Veterans Aid and Attendance program. 

To qualify, interested individuals should meet at least one of the below criteria:

• Be confined to a bed except when receiving treatment for a disability
• Live in a nursing home and require skilled nursing care
• Be legally blind
• Need a caregiver’s assistance for activities of daily living, such as bathing, feeding and dressing

To apply for A&A, vets and survivors should visit a local benefit office, such as the Los Angeles Regional Benefits Office at 11000 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90024, to complete a request or call (800) 827-1000 for more information.

Individuals may also mail a detailed written description of their disabilities, daily habits, means and level of mobility to their designated Pension Management Center. For Upland residents, this address is:

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

Elderlife Bridge Loans
Short-term financial assistance may be available to Upland seniors through an Elderlife Financial Bridge Loan. These low-interest loans can be used to pay for room and board in an assisted living home and related moving fees, and funds can be disbursed for terms up to 12 months.

When considering eligibility, Elderlife Financial examines a senior’s financial information, such as credit scores, income and assets. Multiple family members are allowed to apply together, so seniors with low-credit scores may still be eligible through the combined scores of co-applicants. This type of loan may be ideal for seniors who are in the process of selling a home or waiting for benefits to begin, and those who apply should have a financial plan in place for long-term care after the loan term ends.

To apply, seniors can complete the online application or call Elderlife at (888) 228-4500.

State Supplemental Payment
California residents eligible for SSI can also receive an additional State Supplemental Payment of $423.37 per month on top of the $771 individual federal SSI benefit rate to pay for assisted living costs.

To qualify for SSI, one must:

• Be at least 65 years old, disabled or blind
• Have countable assets totalling no more than $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a married couple (These amounts don’t include one’s home or personal vehicle)
• Be a U.S. citizen

Upland residents can apply for SSI and SSP by calling (800) 772-1213 or visiting their local Social Security office at 1100 E. Holt Blvd., Ontario, CA 91761.

Assisted Living Resources in Upland

Senior Centers

Senior centers in and around Upland provide San Bernardino County residents with various services, including low-cost hot meals, fun social events and computer and exercise classes. They also offer wellness checks, legal services and tax assistance.

George M. Gibson Senior Center
250 N. 3rd Ave., Upland, CA 91786
(909) 981-4501

Blaisdell Senior Center
440 S. College Ave., Claremont, CA 91711
(909) 399-5367

Ontario Senior Center
225 E. B St., Ontario, CA 91764
(909) 395-2021

James L. Brulte Senior Center
11200 Base Line Rd., Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91701
(909) 477-2782

Veteran’s Resources

Veterans organizations in San Bernardino County offer benefits application assistance along with counseling services and life enriching activities, such as yoga classes. VNA SoCal Upland provides area vets with funeral benefits education, hospice services and nursing facility placement assistance.

San Bernardino County Office of Veterans Affairs
222 W. Hospitality Ln., 3rd Floor, San Bernardino, CA 92415
(909) 382-3290 

VNA SoCal Upland
1317 West Foothill Blvd., Ste. 130, Upland, CA 91786
(800) 969-4862

San Bernardino Vet Center
1325 E. Cooley Dr., Ste. 101, Colton, CA 92324
(909) 801-5762