Assisted Living Communities in Huntington Beach, California

The 2024 Genworth Cost of Care Survey finds that assisted living facilities in Huntington Beach charge around $5,748 per month. This rate surpasses the national median by about $400 but offers potential savings of around $500 over California’s norm. Local rates run lower than costs in Santa Maria and San Diego, where facilities charge respective monthly rates of around $6,500 and $7,250.

Assisted living residents in Huntington Beach have several options for paying for services, including private and public payments. Understanding the programs available and the avenues for paying for care from income and assets can help seniors and families make informed decisions.

• Medicaid: California’s Medicaid program houses the Assisted Living Waiver, which pays for assisted living services, such as personal care, meals and recreational activities.
• Medicare: Medicare doesn’t cover standard assisted living services through its regular benefits, Medicare Advantage plans or Medigap insurance. However, it pays for assisted living residents’ medically necessary skilled nursing services and durable medical equipment through Part B coverage, reducing overall monthly care expenses.
• VA Benefits: Two types of VA programs pay for assisted living services, including Aid and Attendance and Housebound benefits and the Geriatrics and Extended Care program. These programs help qualified veterans pay for assisted living services, such as help with bathing, dressing, eating and transportation.
• Private Payments: Seniors use their income and assets to pay for assisted living expenses, such as room and board and personal care. These assets include public and private pensions, Social Security benefits, Roth IRAs and 401(k) accounts, long-term care insurance and certain types of life insurance policies.

With rates near $5,748, assisted living ranks among the more cost-effective senior care solutions in Huntington Beach. This expense runs about $925 lower than the cost of in-home care and roughly $4,900 less than nursing home services. However, seniors save thousands of dollars by opting for adult day health care, which costs around $1,690.  

Assisted living facilities in Huntington Beach and the rest of California are governed by the state Department of Social Services. Its Senior Care Licensing Program conducts regular assessments of long-term care homes to ensure that the health and safety of residents is held at the highest priority.

• Residents of Huntington Beach incur living expenses that run approximately 41% higher than the national average. While this may drive up assisted living expenses, the city sits within the Medicaid Assisted Living Waiver’s service area.
• Huntington Beach seniors don’t pay state income taxes on their Social Security benefits, and they can claim a senior income tax exemption. This lets many seniors avoid the state’s high income tax rate and afford local assisted living expenses.
• Huntington Beach has limited variance in seasonal temperatures, with daytime temperatures ranging from 66 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter to 79 degrees Fahrenheit in the peak of summer. Warm temperatures promote an active lifestyle for assisted living residents who enjoy outdoor activities, such as walking and gardening.
• The AARP gives Huntington Beach a livability rating of 55 points, indicating a favorable environment for assisted living residents. Across the metrics the index measures, the city performs especially well in Health for its high access to exercise opportunities and low preventable hospitalization rate.

• Due to its population density, Huntington Beach reports about 177 property and violent crimes per square mile annually, compared to the U.S. norm of 27. The city has around 25 crimes per 1,000 people every year. Fortunately, seniors in assisted living benefit from security features such as monitored access, alarm systems and surveillance cameras.