Assisted Living Communities in Escondido, California

Escondido’s assisted living costs are an attractive $4,525 per month, which is lower than almost every other city in the region, with the exception of Riverside, which averages $3,900. Similar services in Los Angeles, for example, cost $5,000, while in El Centro, they’re $5,825.

For most Escondido seniors, paying for assisted living involves a mix of public and private payment strategies. To make long-term care accessible, residential care communities typically accept financial assistance programs such as Medicaid, Medicare and veterans’ benefits.

• Medicaid: California Medicaid’s Assisted Living Waiver pays for assisted living expenses such as meals, transportation services, personal care and case management for qualified residents  in participating counties.
• Medicare: Medicare pays for covered medical services assisted living residents receive while living in long-term care facilities, including medication administration, medical transportation and skilled nursing. However, this health insurance program doesn’t pay for standard assisted living services, such as housing or personal care.
• VA Benefits: Two VA programs — Aid and Attendance and the Geriatrics and Extended Care program — help cover assisted living expenses such as housing, meals and personal care. According to our proprietary Caring.com database, over three dozen assisted living facilities in Escondido accept veterans’ benefits.
• Private Payments: Assisted living residents use private funds to cover all types of assisted living expenses, including recreation, housing, meals and personal care. This money comes from retirement benefits and savings accounts, home equity and long-term care insurance. 

Homemaker and home health aide services both average at $5,716 per month, even though the latter also provides basic medical aid. However, assisted living is $1,191 less costly, despite providing accommodation with senior care support. Adult day health care centers are the most affordable option, at $1,733. The most expensive is nursing home facilities, which typically charge $10,722 for a semiprivate room and an additional $3,711 for the convenience of a private one.

• Escondido reports around three violent crimes and 19 nonviolent offenses per 1,000 people every year. This runs well below statewide norms, particularly among similarly sized cities, marking Escondido as a safe option for those seeking residential care.
• Although California’s income tax runs high compared to most other states, topping out at 13.3%, Escondido seniors benefit from the state’s full exemption for Social Security benefits as well as the senior income tax exemption. Additionally, California has the highest sales tax rate in the country, but goods such as prescription drugs and most types of groceries are tax-exempt.
• Escondido’s subpar air quality exacerbates certain heart and lung conditions. However, many local assisted living facilities organize indoor activities and have air purification systems to support residents’ health and comfort.
• San Diego County outperforms the state and nation in health factors and outcomes, indicating high access to robust medical services for Escondido seniors. For example, the region’s preventable hospital rate among Medicare beneficiaries is approximately 1,965 per 100,000 patients, versus 2,681 nationally, and there is one doctor per 1,190 patients in this region compared to a national ratio of 1:1,330.
• Escondido’s cost of living exceeds the national median by about 50%, impacting long-term care affordability. Fortunately, many local assisted living communities offer all-inclusive pricing and accept the Assisted Living Waiver.