According to Genworth Financials' 2021 Cost of Care Survey, the average cost of Assisted Living in Santa Monica is $4,500 per month, which is around 0% higher than the California average of $4,495. And as compared to the national monthly average of $4,000, Santa Monica Assisted Living cost is 13% higher.
Assisted Living rates in Santa Monica and the surrounding suburbs depend on multiple factors, including location, level of care, apartment size, and amenities offered in each community.
The nearest city to Santa Monica in terms of distance is Venice, where Assisted Living costs around $4,500 per month, The cost is similar to the monthly median Assisted Living in Santa Monica. Seniors in Pacific Palisades pay an average of $4,500 per month, which is similar to per month what their peers pay in Santa Monica.
Apart from assisted living, seniors have multiple care options in Santa Monica. The senior living you need depends on your required care level and medical conditions. For instance, if you require 24/7 medical supervision, a nursing home in Santa Monica could be the better choice than Santa Monica assisted living care.
Assisted living communities in Santa Monica are designed for seniors who need assistance with ADLs and IADLs. And independent living is for active older adults who can live independently. Thus, assisted living costs are higher than independent living in Santa Monica and lower than more intense medical care options through Santa Monica nursing home and memory care facilities in Santa Monica.
Senior living options with different levels of care available in Santa Monica are:
Independent Living: Independent living is for active older adults who want to downsize to a home in a retirement community but don't need help to live completely alone.
Nursing Home: Seniors who require specialized care and 24/7 supervision should look for nursing homes.
Memory Care: These communities are for seniors struggling with Alzheimer's or other advanced forms of dementia.
Home Care: Caregivers provide services to older adults in their home to provide primary healthcare, meal delivery services, meal preparation, and transportation to and from appointments.
Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC): A CCRC accommodates Assisted living, Independent living, and Nursing Home care. This means that you can live out the rest of your life in the same setting with on-site medical care.
The median home cost in Santa Monica comes at $1,814,300. This brings Santa Monica housing index to 734.7, which is higher than the California housing index of 239.1. The overall cost of living index in Santa Monica is 304.5 that is higher than the national average of 100 and higher than the state average of 149.9.
The population of Santa Monica is 90,024. The median age in the city is 40.5, and about 17% of its population is age 65 or older.
Santa Monica is quite diverse, with white, black, and Hispanic/Latino being the three most common ethnicities in the city, about 65% of residents identify as white alone.
The violent crime rate of 21.7 in Santa Monica is lower than the national average of 22.7. And the property crime rate of 56.9 seems higher than the national rate of 35.4.
Seasonal Temperatures: Santa Monica has a typical summer high of 74°F and a winter low of 49°F. And the yearly rainfall here is about 14 inches, while the snowfall is around 0 inch(es) on average.
Air Quality: The Average air quality index rating is usually 34, which is lower than the national average of 58.The index rating at or below 100 is considered satisfactory.
The health index of 89.4 indicates resourceful quality of healthcare services available for seniors, This index is lower than the state average of 92.4. The Santa Monica hospitals cater their services to meet treatment requirements of seniors and people of all ages. Therefore, you can rest assured of getting the best possible care in Santa Monica for any common or chronic health condition.
Different financial assistance options are available for seniors to pay the cost of Assisted living in Santa Monica. In addition to government programs, the Santa Monica area agencies and non-profit organizations provide helping hands towards better senior living in Santa Monica, CA.
Private Pay: Private pay is the safest way to pay for Assisted Living in Santa Monica. This is because you pay out-of-pocket for the low-income assisted living near you. Still, it might not be the easiest option for most seniors. In that case, you can use a combination of the following options.
Reverse mortgage: A reverse mortgage is a loan. An elderly homeowner with significant home equity can borrow against the value of their property and receive funds. The money can come in the form of a fixed monthly amount, a lump sum amount, or a credit line.
Medicaid and Medicare benefits: Every state has its own Medicaid program to help low-income residents with healthcare-related costs. In addition to medical care expenses, Medicaid covers certain long-term care costs for eligible seniors. However, you will need to meet the state-specific requirements to be approved for the Medicaid benefits in Santa Monica. To pay for assisted living in California, the state mainly uses HCBS Waivers (Home and Community Based Services). But this waiver does not finance the room and board costs in assisted living.
On the other hand, Medicare doesn't pay the cost of ADLs assistance for assisted living residents. Nevertheless, seniors can use Medicare benefits to pay for approved medical care needs in assisted living communities in Santa Monica.
Veteran benefits: The VA’s (Veteran Administration) Aid & Assistance program in Santa Monica, California pays monthly pensions to eligible veterans and their spouses to help with assisted living payments. Veterans can also use their other benefits to pay for assisted living costs in Santa Monica.
Read more about A&A Veteran Benefits
For more information about different ways to finance assisted living, visit our Assisted Living California page.
Santa Monica Assisted Living communities need to follow a comprehensive set of rules and regulations designed by California. These regulations ensure that the facilities maintain top-level and secure care services for seniors. For instance, the Assisted Living care facilities in Santa Monica go through extensive training and education for the caregivers. This enables caregivers to be skilled and professional while helping seniors with their daily needs. Visit our California Assisted Living page to find more information on the state-specific rules and regulations.
Several government and non-profit agencies work together in Santa Monica to provide seniors with more services. These services help seniors lead a better life in Santa Monica. Depending on the Santa Monica resources, they can include free meal delivery services, utility billing programs, medical programs, and others. Find out the available free resources for seniors from the Assisted Living California Page.
BoomersHub can change without notice any of its compiled cost data provided by senior living communities. This data is used for informational purposes only and may have inaccuracies. In addition, actual independent living costs may vary depending on personal choices and situations.