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California Assisted Living by the Numbers
Patriot Angels partners in California are concentrated in Sacramento, Escondido and Los Angeles, with 126 cities in total.
What Assisted Living Costs in California, and How Far Aid & Attendance Goes
The California median for assisted living is $7,000 a month ($84,000 a year), according to the CareScout (Genworth) 2025 Cost of Care Survey. That is 13% above the national median of $6,200. At the maximum benefit of up to $3,845 a month, a qualifying California family would have roughly $3,155 a month left to pay from income or savings.
| Setting | California median per month | U.S. median per month | Covered by up to $3,845 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assisted living | $7,000 | $6,200 | 55% |
| In-home care (non-medical) | $7,627 | $6,673 | 50% |
| Adult day care | $2,037 | $2,058 | 100% |
| Nursing home, semi-private room | $12,167 | $9,581 | 32% |
| Nursing home, private room | $15,178 | $10,798 | 25% |
Statewide medians for California from the CareScout (Genworth) Cost of Care Survey 2025. Prices at individual communities depend on apartment size and care level.
Related Patriot Angels guides
GuideHow to Pay for Assisted LivingComing soon
GuideCan a Veteran Qualify for Aid & Attendance After Moving Into Assisted Living?Coming soonCheck California Aid & Attendance Eligibility
At the California median of $7,000 a month, up to $3,845 in Aid & Attendance would pay about 55% of the cost for a qualifying veteran or surviving spouse. Tell us about your California veteran and we will help you see what is possible.
Prefer to talk it through? Call (844) 757-3047
1,305,453 California Veterans and Their Families
California is home to 1,305,453 veterans, 665,021 of them 65 or older, according to the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024). In California, as everywhere, wartime service counts, not combat, so a veteran who served stateside during Vietnam may still qualify.
Veteran-Approved Assisted Living Across California
Patriot Angels works with 186 California assisted living partners. These cities have the most:
| City | Partner communities | Also offer memory care |
|---|---|---|
| Sacramento | 5 | 3 |
| Escondido | 4 | 4 |
| Los Angeles | 3 | 3 |
| Orangevale | 3 | 3 |
| Whittier | 3 | 1 |
| Santa Rosa | 3 | 2 |
| Bakersfield | 3 | 3 |
| Fremont | 3 | 1 |
Among California partners, the most common operators are Discovery Senior Living (37), Brookdale (25), Cogir Senior Living (20).
Featured California Partners
How California Licenses Assisted Living
California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division (CDSS) licenses Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFEs) in California. License categories in California:
- Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE)
- Dementia care and hospice care waivers within RCFE licensing
What it means for your family: RCFEs that advertise or provide dementia care must meet California's added dementia training and care requirements. Because 126 of 186 California partners run memory care too, ask early whether a community can keep your loved one as needs change.
You can look up inspection results for any California community through the CDSS Care Facility Search.
How California Families Combine VA Benefits With Other Sources
Assisted Living Waiver (ALW)
The ALW is available in participating counties and often has a waitlist.
Aid & Attendance in California
The benefit is paid to the California veteran or surviving spouse, not the community, so it can go toward any assisted living bill. It is not federally taxable.
The family home
Many California families rent out or sell the house. VA counts sale proceeds as assets, so plan the timing.
Long-term care insurance
If your California parent bought a long-term care policy years ago, it may pay a set daily amount toward assisted living.
Find Assisted Living in Your California City
135 California cities have an assisted living page. Counts show partner communities.
Veteran Families We’ve Helped
Families in California and across the country rate Patriot Angels 4.9 on Google (465 reviews). BBB A+ accredited. See all reviews
California Assisted Living Questions, Answered
How much is assisted living in California?
The California statewide median is $7,000 a month, or $84,000 a year (CareScout 2025). Each community sets prices by apartment and level of care.
Can Aid & Attendance pay for assisted living in California?
Yes. A qualifying wartime veteran or surviving spouse can receive up to $3,845 a month and use it toward a California assisted living bill, about 55% of the state median.
Who licenses assisted living in California?
California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division.
Does California Medicaid cover assisted living?
Assisted Living Waiver (ALW): The ALW is available in participating counties and often has a waitlist.
How many Patriot Angels partners are in California?
186 assisted living partners in 126 cities, and 126 of them also offer memory care.
New to Assisted Living? Start Here
For services, care levels and tour questions that apply in California and every other state, see the national guide.
Related Patriot Angels guides
GuideTypes of Senior Care ComparedComing soon
GuideSenior Living Tour ChecklistComing soon
GuideVA Benefits for Senior Living: Assisted Living and BeyondRead guide →Other Care Options in California
Independent living in California
For California veterans who don’t need daily care yet. 79 of these partners offer it too.
Memory care in California
Secure dementia care in California, offered by 126 of our partners here.
In-home care in California
Help at home in California; the state median is $7,627 a month.