Gilroy is a vibrant city of about 60,000 residents, almost 11% of whom are aged 65 and older. It’s prized for its exceptional year-round climate, modest crime rates and numerous healthcare providers, promoting an environment that supports safe and comfortable retirement. The city lies within Santa Clara County, one of AARP’s Age-Friendly States and Communities, and is listed among the World Health Organization’s age-friendly cities for the services and amenities available to older adults. It features a walkable historic downtown district that hosts a mix of old and new restaurants and shops, antique stores and specialty boutiques, along with events such as free concerts, age-friendly yoga classes and the Gilroy Garlic Festival. Older adults can enjoy a local senior center and a large library with public computers, meeting rooms and free wireless internet.
There are half a dozen licensed assisted living facilities in Gilroy and over 200 more in nearby cities, offering a wide range of options for older adults. This city is a relatively expensive option for this type of care, with facilities charging approximately $5,875 per month for services.
Hundreds of thousands of American seniors utilize assisted living, a figure that is only growing. For these seniors, assisted living combines residential housing,assistance in daily activities, and some healthcare. These communities also strive to provide an atmosphere that is comfortable and engaging for their residents… Read More >
The Genworth 2020 Cost of Care Survey discloses that assisted living fees in Gilroy average $5,875 per month. This exceeds both the state average of $5,000 and the national median of $4,300. The city’s care costs are also high compared to averages in neighboring states. In Oregon, monthly rates are higher than the national average at $4,659. Arizona, Nevada and Utah are more budget-friendly options, with monthly averages of $3,900, $3,595 and $3,400, respectively.
While California tends to be a pricier state for assisted living, some cities are affordable even compared to the national average. In Stockton, rates are the lowest statewide at $3,500, and in Bakersfield, the average is $3,613. Monthly assisted living fees in Fresno average $4,750, and in Chico, care costs are equal to the state median at $5,000. Sacramento seniors pay $5,395, and Gilroy’s monthly rates average $5,875. In Salinas, care costs are among the highest in the state at $7,100.
Note: Data for Gilroy was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, San Jose, was used instead.
Gilroy seniors who meet Medi-Cal’s financial guidelines and require a nursing home level of care but prefer to live in an assisted living facility may qualify for Medi-Cal’s Assisted Living Waiver. This Home- and Community-Based Services Waiver covers assisted living expenses such as personal care, housekeeping and laundry services, meals and housing. This program has limited availability, so qualifying seniors may be placed on a waitlist until open waiver slots are available.
For more information on Medi-Cal’s Assisted Living Waiver, refer to our Assisted Living in California page.
Contact | Description | |
Sourcewise | (408) 350-3200 | Sourcewise is the local Area Agency on Aging for the Gilroy region. This nonprofit agency administers several direct support services for older adults, including Information & Awareness, which helps seniors connect with services in the community, and the Multipurpose Senior Services Program, which enables seniors to avoid nursing home placement by arranging services such as money management, transportation and legal services. |
Long-Term Care Ombudsman | (408) 944-0567 | The county’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program advocates on behalf of seniors in assisted living. Through this program, seniors and their families can receive one-on-one help with comparing costs and amenities at local assisted living facilities, finding options for covering monthly fees and understanding residents’ rights. |
Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program | (408) 350-3200 | HICAP is a free statewide program that provides health insurance options counseling for those aged 65 and over. It’s staffed by trained volunteers who can answer questions about Medicare, Medicaid and long-term care insurance. They can also help seniors review and understand their medical bills, identify and resolve discrepancies and billing errors and dispute denied health insurance claims. |
Senior Adults Legal Assistance | (408) 295-5991 | Senior Adults Legal Assistance is a local nonprofit organization that provides free civil legal services to those aged 60 and over in Santa Clara County. Legal professionals meet one-on-one or provide over-the-phone counseling to handle matters such as elder abuse, termination of public benefits including Medicaid or Social Security Disability Income and assisted living intake and discharge procedures. |
Gilroy Senior Center | (408) 846-0414 | The Gilroy Senior Center is operated by the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. This wheelchair-accessible community center is reservable and features restrooms, meeting rooms and a multiuse area. |
County of Santa Clara Office of Veterans Services | (408) 918-4980 | Santa Clara County’s Office of Veterans Services provides supportive services and advocacy for veterans and their families and helps them access the local, state and federal benefits they’re eligible for. Through this office, veterans are screened for eligibility for pensions and the Aid and Attendance benefit, which can be put toward their monthly care expenses, as well as VA healthcare and assisted living placement. |
Santa Clara County Department of Aging and Adult Services | (408) 755-7600 | The county’s Department of Aging and Adult Services administers a broad range of programs to area seniors, including nutrition services, elder abuse prevention and conservatorship. |
The Department of Social Services, Senior Care Licensing Program, licenses and monitors assisted living facilities in Gilroy. This department enforces licensure requirements and regulations at the local level via the San Jose Adult & Senior Care Unit.
To learn about the regulations assisted living facilities in Gilroy must comply with, see our Assisted Living in California page.