California Assisted Living

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California has some of the most pleasant weather in the nation, which makes it home to millions of people every year, and many more that want to relocate to the Golden State for retirement.

California is the largest state in America based on population, and a significant portion of that population is in retirement age. Seniors like California for its abundance of healthcare clinics and facilities, broad selection of assisted living centers, mild weather, Pacific coastline, and number of different things to do in the area.

The state is known for being crowded with the massive metro areas of Los Angeles and San Francisco dominating the landscape, along with a number of other big cities like San Diego, Sacramento, Fresno, San Jose, Oakland and Long Beach.

There are some mid-size to small communities sprinkled throughout the Pacific coast, as well as the inner valley of the state.

California Assisted Living Based on Costs

California is within the Top 10 for most expensive states for assisted living. It trends with the rest of senior housing in the state, that is notoriously expensive and highly sought after.

The median average for assisted living in California is just over $4,500 per month. The national average is $4,000 per month, which makes California approximately $500 higher per month.

Affordable units may begin as low as $2,300 per month, and some of the costliest run nearly $7,000 per month.

The most expensive cities for the state are Los Altos ($5,500 per month), Saratoga ($5,400 per month), Sunnyvale ($5,180 per month), and Palo Alto ($5,120 per month).

Affordable assisted housing for seniors is located in cities like Clearlake, Hemet, Twentynine Palms, Yreka and Sun City.

Lake County, Siskiyou County, Merced County, Tehama County, and Humboldt County are also known for their affordability in relation to assisted living. Santa Clara and Ventura County are known for being pricey.

California has over 40 million people. It is by far the largest state in the U.S. in terms of population. Texas, for comparison, is second yet with only 12+ million residents.

How to Pay for California Assisted Living

California’s Medicaid programs - Medi-Cal - can cover part of your expenses related to assisted living. Financial assistance is provided through the Assisted Living Waiver (ALW). The Assisted Living Waiver is only available in select counties in California.

California Assisted Living Types

California’s Department of Social Services licenses assisted living facilities in three different categories:

• Residential Care Facilities for the Chronically Ill
• Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFE)
• Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC)

There are also board and care homes throughout California that elderly adults can take advantage of.