A focused starting point for families considering assisted living or a residential care home.
Explore help with care services and income—not a promise that a program will pay the entire bill.
Care services Some programs pay for authorized support.Housing & meals Often remain a separate expense.Income support May help with the family’s overall budget.
FOUR PLACES TO START
Explore placement-related help.
Santa Clarita, Lancaster and Palmdale: Los Angeles County. Pine Mountain Club and Frazier Park: Kern County. County selection is a location guide, not an eligibility check.
01 · CARE SERVICES
Assisted Living Waiver
Los Angeles & Kern facility locations
May cover assessed care services in participating residential settings for eligible Medi-Cal members.
What to know
Room and board remain the resident’s responsibility. Enrollment is limited and a waitlist applies.
Where to start
Ask a participating Care Coordination Agency about assessment, eligibility and the waitlist. Ventura is not a participating facility county; check the county where the community is located.
Community Supports may help eligible members transition to assisted living or avoid a nursing-facility admission through authorized transition and care services.
What to know
Not a general housing grant. Room and board are excluded; plan availability, clinical criteria and authorization apply.
Where to start
Ask the health plan specifically about “Assisted Living Facility Transitions,” sometimes listed as nursing facility transition/diversion to assisted living. Confirm the provider and covered costs before committing.
California · Social Security determines eligibility
Monthly income assistance for eligible older adults and people who are blind or disabled. A nonmedical out-of-home care payment category may apply in qualifying living arrangements.
What to know
Income support, not a promise to cover a chosen community’s price. Confirm the applicable payment category and whether the community can accommodate the arrangement.
Where to start
Contact Social Security about eligibility and the planned living arrangement. Ask the community for a written cost breakdown before relying on benefits.
Additional monthly pension income for people who meet VA pension requirements and qualifying care needs or housebound criteria.
What to know
Not automatic for every veteran or surviving spouse. These two pension additions cannot be received together, and an award does not guarantee the full cost of placement.
Where to start
Review VA’s application instructions and required medical documentation. An accredited Veterans Service Organization representative can help with a claim at no charge.
Ask the community and the administering program to confirm these points.
Does this specific community participate in the program?
Which costs are covered—and what will the resident pay?
Is approval in place, or is there a waitlist or pending application?
What happens if care needs or benefit eligibility change?
A different setting or payment source?
If a skilled nursing facility is needed
Medi-Cal has a separate long-term-care benefit for eligible members needing nursing-facility care. It is not the same as assisted-living assistance. Ask the health plan and county eligibility office about coverage, authorization and any resident cost contribution.
Medicare generally does not pay for nonmedical long-term care, including help with daily activities in assisted living. Coverage for qualifying skilled care is different.
Ask the insurer for a written explanation of the existing policy’s coverage, waiting period and provider requirements. This is private insurance, separate from the public programs above.
Love & Patience is independent of the listed agencies. We do not determine eligibility, guarantee funding, prepare or submit VA claims, or provide legal, tax or financial advice. This is a curated starting point, not a complete list of assistance.
Apply through the official agency. No applications, medical records or financial documents are collected here. Confirm current requirements, availability and how benefits interact before making commitments.
