88 Assisted Living Communities in Sonoma County, California

The average cost of assisted living in the city is $5,425 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 88 Assisted Living Communities in Sonoma and several in surrounding areas. The Cost of Senior Care in Sonoma County, CA

• Assisted Living: $5,425
• Nursing Home Care: $9,962
• In-home Care: $5,911
• Adult Day Health Services: $2,167

According to Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study, the average price of assisted living in California is $4,500 per month. This is $500 more than the national average of $4,000. At $5,425 per month, Sonoma’s assisted living prices are high even by California standards.

The state’s priciest assisted living, found in Santa Cruz ($5,595), is only slightly more expensive than Sonoma. Budget-conscious seniors may consider relocating to San Diego ($4,500) or Sacramento ($4,473), where assisted living prices are close to the state average. The two most affordable cities in the state are Bakersfield ($3,150) and Modesto ($3,200).

Note: Since senior care cost data for Sonoma was not available, data for the closest city, Napa, has been used.

The monthly cost of senior care varies depending on many factors, including the type of care that is needed. Sonoma’s most affordable care, adult day health services, costs $2,167 per month, nearly $3,300 less than assisted living. Nursing home care, at $9,962 per month for a semiprivate room, is over $4,500 more than assisted living. Home health aides cost nearly $400 less than assisted living, while homemaker services are about $500 more. When considering either of these in-home options, remember to budget for the other costs of remaining at home, such as property taxes, maintenance, meals and utilities.

Medicaid is a public health insurance program that helps low-income Americans pay for the medical care they need. Across the country, over 65.5 million people rely on Medicaid for health coverage, and about 10.5 million of them are in California. These people include seniors, children, pregnant women and other eligible groups.

In California, Medicaid is known as Medi-Cal. Some of the health benefits offered through this program include physician services, inpatient and outpatient hospital services, emergency services, mental health services and preventative services.

People who are 64 or older may qualify for Medi-Cal if they are California residents with low incomes. The yearly income cut-off is $16,612 ($22,491 for couples). In addition, there is an asset limit to receive Medi-Cal. For individuals, the limit is $2,000, and for couples, it’s $3,000. The state doesn’t count some necessary assets, such as a primary residence or one car, toward this limit.

The Share of Cost program may help people who earn more than the Medi-Cal income limit pay for their health care needs. Each month, participants take full responsibility for a predetermined amount of medical costs, and once they pay that amount, Medi-Cal kicks in for the rest of the month.

Visit the Covered California website to quickly apply for Medi-Cal coverage. To apply over the phone, call the Covered California Service Center at (800) 300-1506.

In-person applications are accepted at any enrollment center listed in the Covered California Storefront Finder. Sonoma residents will notice many centers in nearby Napa, including the OLE Health Clinic, located at 1141 Pear Tree Ln., Napa, CA 94558. Seniors can call this center at (707) 254-1777.

Applicants should be prepared to provide their income and federal tax information. Noncitizens need to show their immigration documents, while citizens need their Social Security numbers.

For more information about Medi-Cal, call (800) 300-1506 to speak with a Covered California representative.

Assisted Living Waiver

This home and community-based services waiver is available in several California counties, including Sonoma County. Through the Assisted Living waiver, seniors receive services in their homes or in assisted living facilities, which helps them stay out of nursing homes.

One of the waiver’s benefits is care coordination. Seniors receive individualized service plans then a care coordinator helps them access the care they need. Another advantage is nursing facility transition care coordination, which helps seniors in nursing homes move back into an assisted living setting. The third waiver benefit is assisted living services. Seniors can access a number of services through this benefit, including personal care, housekeeping and skilled nursing.

Seniors may be able to participate in this program if they:

• Are eligible for Medi-Cal with no spend-down requirement
• Need the same amount of care as Medi-Cal-funded nursing home residents
• Can safely live in an assisted living facility
• Are willing to live in an assisted living setting instead of in a nursing home

Care Coordination Agencies provide ALW services and handle all enrollments for the program. Medi-Cal members who are interested in this waiver can contact one of the CCAs that serves their county. The NorCal Care Coordination Agency, located in Citrus Heights, is the closest CCA for Sonoma residents. To set up an assessment or to learn more about the program, call this provider at (916) 385-2784.

Seniors should note that the ALW program is not an entitlement. CCAs add eligible seniors to the program’s waiting list.

Optional State Supplementation

Eligible low-income seniors can receive up to $771 per month from the federal Supplemental Security Income benefit. For couples, the maximum SSI benefit is $1,157. The state of California adds money, called optional state supplementation, to the federal benefit. At the beginning of each month, seniors receive a payment that includes both the state and federal amounts.

Individuals in assisted living may receive a combined SSI and OSS payment of $1,194.37 per month. The combined amount for couples can be as much as $2,388.74. This additional funding can make it easier for seniors to pay for assisted living care.

To find out more about the OSS program or to make an appointment to apply in person at a local Social Security office, call the Social Security Administration at (800) 772-1213.

Veterans Affairs Aid and Attendance

Veterans and survivors with limited incomes may receive monthly VA pension benefits. Seniors who receive a VA pension may be able to receive additional funding from the VA if they need help from someone else to eat, bathe or do other daily activities. This funding is offered through the Aid and Attendance program, and depending on a senior’s income, it can be as much as $9,042 per year ($751 per month).

Aid and Attendance benefits are only offered to seniors who are eligible for a basic VA pension. Seniors need to have a verified physical or mental impairment that prevents them from completing activities of daily living without help, or they must be bedridden, legally blind or living in a nursing home.

To apply, visit the Oakland Regional Benefit Office or send a written request to the St. Paul VA Regional Office. Seniors who want to learn more about Aid and Attendance benefits can call the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at (844) 698-2311.

Seniors can visit the Sonoma County AAA for information and support. The AAA maintains an extensive database of local resources to help seniors find the help they need. The AAA’s programs include fall prevention classes, senior lunch programs and case management services. Sonoma County Area Agency on Aging
3725 Westwind Blvd., 1st Fl, Santa Rosa, CA 95403
(707) 565-5950

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