24 Assisted Living Communities in Long Beach, California

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 24 Assisted Living Communities in Long Beach and several in surrounding areas.

• Assisted living: $4,500
• Nursing home semiprivate room: $7,604
• In-home care: $4,767
• Adult day health services: $1,565

According to Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study, assisted living in Long Beach costs are the same as the state average of $4,500 and higher than the national average of $4,000. Prices in the nearby cities of San Diego ($4,500) and Oxnard ($4,575) are similar, while costs are notably higher in San Luis Obispo ($5,450), Santa Cruz ($5,595) and San Francisco ($5,500).

Costs for senior care vary widely depending on the level of care, the location and the number of direct-service hours each week. In Long Beach, nursing home care costs are significantly higher than assisted living. Prices for both homemaker services and a home health aide are comparable to assisted living costs. Adult day health is the least expensive senior care service in the area.

Seniors who want to compare the costs of various types of care need to factor in expenses associated with maintaining a home, such as upkeep, utilities and rent payments. Generally speaking, residential senior care services such as assisted living include room and board. 

 

Medicaid is a national health insurance program that is jointly funded by the federal and state governments. It provides limited access to essential health services for low-income, low-asset Americans.

In California, Medicaid is known as Medi-Cal. Seniors who earn less than $1,242 and senior couples who make less than $1,682 may qualify if they hold less than $2,000 and $3,000 in assets respectively. 

Like all other states, Medi-Cal has a retroactive look-back period that assesses all transferred assets and money toward Medi-Cal-eligibility. In California, the look-back period is 30 months. 

Applicants must declare earnings from all sources when applying for Medi-Cal, including wages, pension income and interest earned on investments. Countable assets include all real estate except the applicant’s principal residence as long as either the applicant or their spouse continues to live in the home.

Personal belongings such as clothing, household furniture, one vehicle and collectibles are exempt from Medi-Cal asset counts. In California, there is no upper limit on the value of the applicant’s principal residence. 

Seniors who have incomes that exceed Medi-Cal limits may qualify for coverage on a Share of Cost basis that calculates Medi-Cal premiums based on the current income of the senior. In many cases, Share of Cost fees are higher than private health insurance premiums. 

Optional State Supplementation

Seniors in California aged 65 and older who either receive or are eligible for Supplemental Security Income benefits may qualify for additional Optional State Supplementation funding from the state for use toward the room-and-board portion of assisted living costs. 

The OSS program provides seniors who reside in an assisted living facility with a maximum of $1,194.37 per month in combined SSI benefits for individuals and $2,388.74 for a couple. 

For more information on SSI Optional State Supplementation in California, contact the Long Beach Social Security Office at (800) 772-1213. 

Veterans Aid and Attendance and Housebound Program

Veterans and their survivors who receive a VA pension and are housebound or limited in their ability to complete daily living activities independently may be eligible for VA pension top-up funds through the Aid and Attendance and Housebound program. 

For Aid and Attendance benefits, applicants must meet one of the following criteria: 

• Have vision in both eyes of 5/200 or worse when using corrective lenses
• Live in a nursing home due to physical or mental deterioration
• Require daily assistance with eating, bathing, dressing or managing a prosthetic device
• Be largely bedridden due to a disability

For the Housebound benefits, applicants must be assessed as 100 percent disabled under VA guidelines and largely limited to their primary residence as a result of the disability. Note that applicants cannot receive both the Aid and Attendance and Housebound allowance concurrently, and disabilities do not need to be related to military service. 

For more information on the Aid and Attendance and Housebound program, contact the Los Angeles County Veterans Service Center at Patriotic Hall at (877) 452-8387. 

Veterans and their survivors who need help with VA pension applications, veterans benefits and services for veterans can contact the Los Angeles County Veterans Service Center at Patriotic Hall. Local VA health services are available at the VA West Los Angeles Medical Center. 

Veterans Service Center at Patriotic Hall
1816 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015
(877) 452-8387

VA West Los Angeles Healthcare System
11301 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90073-1003
(310) 478-3711

Seniors in Long Beach who need assistance in navigating senior care options, accessing medical transportation or applying for government benefits can contact Long Beach Health and Human Services. 

Long Beach Health and Human Services – Main Health Facilities Center
2525 Grand Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90815
(562) 570-7979

Long Beach Social Security Office
2005 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90806
(800) 772-1213

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