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Sacramento is the capital of California and home to 514,000 people. Nearly 13% of Sacramento’s residents are seniors aged 65 and over, a percentage that goes up above 14% in the surrounding areas of Carmichael and Fair Oaks. The Sacramento area has hundreds of assisted living and residential care homes for seniors, and the City of Trees has endless miles of densely wooded residential neighborhoods where seniors can stroll or jog. Outdoor activities, such as these, can be enjoyed almost year-round, as the capital region gets very little rain and has some of the mildest winters in the country.
Seniors in Sacramento pay an average of $4,500 monthly for board and care in the area’s assisted living facilities, according to Genworth Financial’s 2019 Cost of Care Survey. This is the same average rate seniors pay for similar services elsewhere in California, although both are somewhat more expensive than the $4,051 average nationwide.
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 >
Assisted living in California can be expensive, relative to costs in many nearby states. In Nevada and Arizona, for example, average costs for assisted living are $3,400 and $3,750, respectively. The higher cost is partly due to California’s overall higher-than-average cost of living. Some other states in the region have costs that are similar to or higher than California. Oregon, at $4,499 per month, has an average price for assisted living that is just $1 less than the California average, while similar services in Washington, at $5,500 a month, may cost up to $1,000 more.
Sacramento is close to the middle range of California’s assisted living prices. Along with Los Angeles, Sacramento has average assisted living costs that are identical to the state average of $4,500 per month. San Diego and San Francisco are somewhat more expensive at $4,750 a month each, while Silicon Valley’s San Jose tops the list for California prices at $5,853 per month. The San Joaquin Valley, south of Sacramento, has some of the lowest assisted living costs in the state. Stockton, for example, averages $3,532 per month, while Bakersfield seniors pay an average of $3,650 a month for assisted living.
Seniors in California who earn less than 300% of the Federal Benefit Rate may qualify for enrollment in the state’s Medicaid program, known as Medi-Cal. Medi-Cal offers an Assisted Living Waiver for eligible seniors who need help paying for assisted living. This waiver program works to help seniors remain in their communities, such as in an assisted living facility, instead of being placed in a nursing home. All seniors in California who qualify for Medicaid can apply to the waiver program and get needed support services that include caregiver help with activities of daily living, transportation services and adult day care.
Learn about California’s Assisted Living Waiver, eligibility criteria and how to sign up on our Assisted Living in California page.
| Resource Name | Contact Information | Description |
| Area Agency on Aging Area 4 | (916) 486-1876 | The Sacramento Valley Area Agencies on Aging support local seniors by funding various community projects, providing case manager support to help seniors find benefits they may qualify for and organizing social events for seniors aged 50 and over. Agency facilities are available at local senior centers for seniors who need help with office tasks, nutrition assistance and occasional health screenings. |
| Senior Legal Helpline | (916) 551-2140 | Senior Legal Helpline is a nonprofit legal aid service for seniors who need professional help from lawyers. Staff volunteers can assist seniors in preparing a will or a living trust, planning their estate or dealing with a landlord-tenant dispute. |
| Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program (HICAP) | (916) 498-1000 | HICAP helps seniors in the Sacramento region find the health insurance they need to stay fully covered. Staff can counsel seniors about their health insurance options, assist with applications for Medicare and Medicaid and identify standalone insurance and discount cards that help seniors with low or fixed incomes stay covered. |
| Alzheimer’s Aid Society | (916) 483-2002 | The Alzheimer’s Aid Society helps Sacramento seniors with dementia find memory care accommodations and transition into care. The society also organizes social events, conducts training for caregivers and offers referrals for adult day programs to area seniors. |
| Senior Companions Program | (916) 875-3631 | Seniors in Sacramento, Yolo and Nevada counties can join the Senior Companions program for companionship and some in-home assistance from volunteers. Applicants must be aged 60 or over and unable to leave home due to a disability. |
Sacramento’s assisted living facilities, similar to other residential care facilities in California, are regulated by the California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division (CCLD). The CCLD is responsible for setting policies assisted living communities must follow, as well as inspecting sites and taking reports of conditions from the public. Read about California’s assisted living regulations on our Assisted Living in California page.