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Modesto is a modestly sized city in California with a population just over 215,000, and seniors aged 65 and older make up 13.8% of this population. Located directly in the center of California’s Central Coast, Modesto boasts numerous parks for peaceful walks and proximity to major attractions like Yosemite National Park and Lake Tahoe. Winters are mild with colorful foliage ushering in the fall season and reasonably warm weather year-round. Although the cost of living here is higher than the national average, it’s lower in Modesto than in coastal California’s metro areas.
Ranked #10 in U.S. News’ Best Places to Live in California list, Modesto is also a popular place to retire. Seniors needing some assistance with care who don’t require skilled nursing have a choice of assisted living communities in Modesto and throughout Stanislaus County. The average monthly cost of assisted living in Modesto is $4,250, but actual prices vary between facilities, based on the amenities and services offered.
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 >
With an average monthly rate of $4,250, the cost of assisted living in Modesto is $250 lower than the state average of $4,500, but $199 higher than the national average of $4,051. In comparison to neighboring states, Modesto’s cost is higher than Nevada’s, at $3,400, and Arizona’s, at $3,750, but $249 lower than Oregon’s average monthly assisted living cost of $4,499.
Assisted living costs in other California cities vary widely, with many nearby cities having much lower monthly costs than Modesto. To the immediate south, costs in Merced and Madera are much lower at $3,175 and $3,313, respectively. Prices increase farther south, with average costs in San Diego at $4,750 and El Centro at $4,850. North of Modesto, Stockton comes in lower at $3,532, but Sacramento comes in higher, at $4,500. To the west, costs skyrocket in Salinas, where assisted living costs $5,500 per month, and in San Jose, where the average cost is $5,853.
Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program, administers the Assisted Living Waiver, a Home and Community-Based Services waiver created to help low-income seniors cover their assisted living costs. To qualify, seniors must be Medi-Cal eligible, require a nursing facility level of care and be willing to live in an assisted living setting within one of the 15 counties providing ALW services. Stanislaus County isn’t a participating county, so recipients must be willing to move to an assisted living community in nearby Alameda, San Joaquin or Santa Clara County.
Learn more about the ALW, including its eligibility requirements and extensive application process, on our Assisted Living in California page.
| Contact | Description | |
| Stanislaus County Department of Aging and Veterans Services | (209) 558-8698 (Department of Aging)(209) 558-7380 (Veteran Services) | The Stanislaus County Department of Aging and Veterans Services helps seniors and veterans, usually aged 60 and older, obtain the assistance they need, including medical benefits and compensation for military service-related disabilities. This department also oversees various home and community-based resources, such as the Multipurpose Senior Services Program. |
| Senior Coalition of Stanislaus County | (209) 525-4670 | The Senior Coalition of Stanislaus County is a collaboration of individuals and organizations working together to create awareness of senior issues, such as fall prevention and long term services and supports, through leadership and relevant education. |
| Stanislaus County Community Service Agency | (209) 558-2500 | The Stanislaus County Community Service Agency offers a range of programs and services for older adults, including protection for victims of neglect or abuse, help applying for Supplemental Security Income and information about long-term care assistance through Medi-Cal. |
| Senior Advocacy Network – Senior Law Project | (209) 577-3814 | The Senior Advocacy Network provides free legal services to Stanislaus County residents aged 60 and older. The network advocates for the health, legal and social needs of seniors, and offers help with civil legal issues related to public benefits, housing, income maintenance, food adequacy, health needs, elder abuse and end-of-life decisions. |
| Senior Access Treatment Team | (209)-525-4920 | The Senior Access Treatment Team of the Behavioral Health and Recovery Services provides behavioral health service to older adults, including medication support services, mental health rehabilitation, depression screening and health care and mental health provider consultations. |
| Catholic Charities Senior Services | (209) 529-3784 | Catholic Charities’ Senior Services offers a variety of programs and services for seniors aged 60 and older, including rides for medical appointments and grocery shopping, outreach and advocacy through the Stanislaus Elder Abuse Prevention Alliance. The organization also administers the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program and helps seniors manage their Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits through its Representative Payee program. |
Modesto assisted living communities must comply with state laws and regulations, which are enforced by the California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division and Continuing Care Contracts Branch. To learn more about the regulations in place to ensure the quality of life, health and safety of seniors residing in these facilities, visit our Assisted Living in California page.