7 Assisted Living Communities in Woodland, California

The average cost of assisted living in the city is $4,473 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 7 Assisted Living Communities in Woodland and several in surrounding areas.

• Assisted living: $4,473
• Nursing home semiprivate room: $8,517
• In-home care: $4,767
• Adult day health services: $1,733

According to Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study, Woodland’s average monthly cost for assisted living is above the national average of $4,000 and just below the state average of $4,500. Assisted living prices are lower in nearby inland areas, including Yuba City ($3,679) and Stockton ($3,500), while assisted living costs more in coastal cities, such as San Francisco ($5,500), Santa Cruz ($5,595) and Salinas ($5,500), where real estate values are among the highest in the state. 

Note: Senior care cost data wasn’t available for Woodland, so data for the closest city, Sacramento, was used. 

The large range of prices for senior care is a reflection of the different types of care available. Costs for senior care are also influenced by the overall cost of living in a particular area. In Woodland, assisted living is nearly half the price of nursing home care, while both homemaker services and home health aides are higher than assisted living. When comparing the monthly cost of different senior care options, it’s important to factor in additional day-to-day living expenses, such as utilities, home upkeep and groceries, that are an addition to in-home care prices, as room and board is generally included in residential care services for seniors.  Cost of Homemaker/Home Health Aide Comparison Chart

• Assisted living: $4,473

• Homemaker services: $4,767

• Home health aide: $4,957

• Adult day health: $1,733

• Nursing home care (semiprivate room): $8,517

 

Low-income children, families, adults and seniors who own very few assets, often have difficulty accessing health care due to costs. In 1965 the federal government created Medicaid – a nationwide health insurance program, to provide more than 70 million Americans with basic health coverage. 

Medicaid is jointly funded by the federal and state government, and individual states have the option to administer Medicaid through a government agency or contract out the services to an insurance company. 

In California, Medicaid is known as Medi-Cal, and seniors make up about 16 percent of all California Medicaid enrollees. Adults aged 65 and older who meet the income and asset criteria for Medi-Cal coverage may also be eligible for extended benefits that cover the cost of assisted living. 

To qualify for free Medi-Cal, seniors must meet the following criteria: 

• Earn less than $1,242 a month as a single applicant 
• Earn less than $1,682 when applying as a couple
• Currently live in California and intend to remain in California on an indefinite basis

Additionally, applicants may own no more than $2,000 in countable assets when applying as a single or $3,000 with a spouse. 

Under Medicaid rules, income from all sources must be reported. This includes wages, alimony payments and pensions. Countable assets include cash and bank account balances, investments and all real estate except for the applicant’s principle residence. Note: There is no upper limit on the value of an applicant’s home in California. 

Other assets that are Medi-Cal exempt include: 

• One vehicle
• Personal belongings
• Household furnishings
• A non-revocable burial trust 

If a senior has assets that exceed the $2,000/$3,000 asset limits, they will be required to spend down the excess amount towards their care prior to receiving any coverage through Medi-Cal.

Medi-Cal also has a 30-month look-back period that audits any assets an applicant has gifted, sold or otherwise liquidated during the 30-month period prior to seeking Medi-Cal coverage. If a disqualifying asset transfer was made, the applicant is disqualified from Medi-Cal for a period of time that’s determined by dividing the value of the asset by the average monthly cost for nursing home care in the state. 

If approved for no-cost Medi-Cal, seniors can maintain a property reserve of $2,000 cash for an individual and $3,000 per couple that can be used at their discretion. 

California Medi-Cal Assisted Living Waiver

Seniors who are both eligible for free Medi-Cal coverage and need the type of care normally provided in a nursing home may be eligible for additional services under the Assisted Living Waiver program. 

The ALW reduces nursing home placement rates among seniors covered through Medi-Cal by funding additional services and supports, helping seniors live in an assisted living facility rather than a nursing home. 

To apply for the ALW program, seniors should contact a Care Coordination Agency to request an ALW assessment. If approved, seniors are assigned services based on their individual service plan. 

ALW services may include: 

• Medication management and administration
• Wound care
• Meal preparation
• Homemaker services
• 24-hour access to an on-site support person (in facilities with 7 or more beds) 
• Recreational programming
• Assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, and toileting
• Transportation coordination
• Provision of a wearable call button to summon assistance

Note: seniors who receive Medi-Cal coverage on a Share of Cost basis are not eligible for services through the ALW. 

To enroll in Medi-Cal or learn more about the ALW, call the Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency at (530) 661-2750. 

Optional State Supplementation

Seniors aged 65 and older who receive Supplemental Security Income and reside in an assisted living facility may qualify for a state supplement to use towards their room-and-board costs. 

Known as the Optional State Supplementation program, these benefits can provide seniors with a maximum monthly SSI/OSS combined payment of $1,194.37 per individual and $2,388.74 per couple. 

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

Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefit and Housebound Allowance

The VA offers a pension top up program for veterans and their survivors who are pension eligible and either housebound or need daily care due to a disability. 

To qualify for the Housebound Allowance benefit, applicants must be largely confined to their home due to a disability. 

To qualify for the Aid and Attendance Benefit, applicants must meet one of the following conditions:

• Be bedridden

• Have severe visual impairment

• Need daily assistance from a caregiver

• Live in a nursing home 

For more information and application assistance, contact the Yolo County Veteran’s Service Office at (530) 406-4850.

Veterans can access VA medical services at the Sacramento VA Medical Center, a 60-bed inpatient facility that provides both specialized and primary care. The Yolo County Veterans Service Office offers assistance with VA benefits and claims, and they operate a volunteer driver program to transport Woodland vets to medical appointments. 

Woodland is also home to a VFW Post and an American Legion Auxiliary Unit. 

Sacramento VA Medical Center
10535 Hospital Way, Mather, CA 95655-4200
(916) 843-7000

Yolo County Veterans Service Office
120 West Main Street, Suite A, Woodland, CA 95695
(530) 406-4850

Seniors in Woodland who need help travelling to and from local medical appointments, require free medical equipment or want information about Medicaid, Medicare and long-term care insurance can contact Woodland Resources for Seniors through the Woodland Senior Center. Legal Services of Northern California also offers free and low-cost legal advocacy, information and assistance to older adults in Woodland.  Woodland Senior Center – Resources for Seniors
2001 East Street, Woodland, CA 95776
(530) 661-2001 SeniorLink – Yolo County, Legal Services of Northern California
619 North Street, Woodland, CA 95695
(877) 883-4927

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