20 Assisted Living Communities in Pasadena, 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 ling care in the city, as well as financing options to pay for it. You'll find in-depth information on 20 Assisted Living Communities in Pasadena 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, Pasadena’s average monthly cost for assisted living is the same as the state average of $4,500 and higher than the national average of $4,000. Assisted living costs are similar in the nearby cities of Oxnard ($4,575) and San Diego ($4,500) while costs are significantly higher in other California coastal cities such as Salinas ($5,500), San Francisco ($5,500) and Santa Cruz ($5,595). 

Cost of Assisted Living Comparison Chart

 

Senior care costs are largely based on the location, the level of care provided and any additional services or amenities that may be included. In Pasadena, nursing home care is significantly more expensive than assisted living, and homemaker services and a home health aide are moderately more. In addition to the cost of service, seniors who are comparing in-home care with assisted living should also factor in the expenses of maintaining a home such as property tax, upkeep, utilities and food. 

 

Medicaid is a nationwide health insurance program that provides limited access to essential health services for low-income, low-asset Americans of all ages. The federal and state governments jointly fund it. 

In California, the California Department of Health Care Services administers Medicaid as Medi-Cal. Seniors aged 65 and older who meet the financial criteria are eligible for no-cost Medi-Cal coverage through the Aged and Disabled Federal Poverty Level Program. 

To qualify for Medi-Cal, seniors may earn a maximum of $1,242 monthly for an individual and $1,682 for a couple. They must also own no more than $2,000 worth of countable assets when applying as a single or $3,000 when applying with a spouse.

Cash, bank account balances and investments count as assets, while wages, pensions and stock dividends are included as income. Medi-Cal applicants may own one vehicle and a principal residence. Unlike other states, there is no limit on the principal residence value for Medi-Cal purposes as long as the applicant or their spouse continues to live in the home.

A 30-month look-back period for Medi-Cal applications assesses any assets that were sold or gifted prior to applying. If the assets were disposed of during this look-back period, they may be used to calculate a period of exclusion from Medi-Cal eligibility.

Optional State Supplementation

California seniors aged 65 and older who either receive or are eligible to receive Supplemental Security Income benefits may qualify for additional state-based funding toward the room-and-board portion of senior care at an assisted living facility under the Optional State Supplementation program. 

Also known as State Supplemental Payments, OSS is added to SSI benefits. As of 2019, the maximum total monthly combined federal SSI and state OSS payment for seniors living in an assisted living facility is $1,194.37 per month for singles and $2,388.74 for a couple. 

To learn more about SSI Optional State Supplementation in California, contact the Pasadena Social Security Office at (800) 772-1213. 

Veterans Aid and Attendance and Housebound Program

Veterans who receive a VA pension and are either housebound, living in a nursing home or have a disability that interferes with activities of daily living may qualify for either the Veterans Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefit. 

For the Aid and Attendance program, applicants must meet one or more of the following conditions: 

• Need daily assistance from a caregiver to bathe, dress, manage a prosthesis or toilet
• Be bedridden due to disability
• Live in a nursing home as a result of mental or physical impairment
• Have 5/200 vision in both eyes using corrective lenses

For the Housebound benefit, applicants must have a VA disability rating of 100 percent and be largely restricted to their principal residence as a result of their disability. 

To learn more about the Veterans Aid and Attendance and Housebound program, contact the Veterans Service Center at Patriotic Hall at (877) 452-8387. 

Veterans and their survivors in Pasadena can access information on veteran services, benefits and pensions at the County of Los Angeles Veterans Service Center at Patriotic Hall. For VA health services, eligible seniors can contact the VA West Los Angeles Medical Center. 

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

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

Pasadena Human Service and Recreation Department
100 North Garfield Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101
(626) 744-7311

Pasadena Social Security Office
104 North Mentor Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91106
(800) 772-1213

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