San Diego Assisted Living

Moving into assisted living facility is a big choice and can bring on a lot of questions. What will it cost? How will I fit in? What goes on there? Can I bring my dog? All are valid concerns when making this big transition. Luckily, California is one of the best states to move into an assisted living community and their rates are in line with the national average. San Diego has beautiful weather as well as plenty of activities, and there are award-winning facilities located in the city.

What Will It Cost Me?

This is usually the first question when it comes to assisted living. While you can find an average cost for California and each city, prices can vary greatly. In 2015, the national average cost for assisted living was $3,600 and for the whole state of California it was $3,750, so not much higher. For San Diego, that average cost was $3,500 per year, which is even less than the national average but that isn’t the whole picture.

You won’t necessarily have to pay $3,500 depending on which facility you choose and what type of accommodation and lifestyle you would like. For example, both Golden Living of Pt. Loma and Sunrise of La Jolla are located in San Diego. For the first community, you could pay about $1,650 for a semi-private room whereas at Sunrise you could easily pay $6,750 for a two-bedroom apartment. This just shows there is a wide range of price and living options to fit your budget and needs.

What Should I Expect?

You might wonder what actually goes on in an assisted living facility. Are you confined to your room or constantly watched by medical staff? Assisted living communities are whatever you choose them to be. San Diego is home to at least a dozen communities that each offer different activities, lifestyles, and accommodations.

If you need to have someone closely monitor a medical condition, you can find a facility that does that. You can also find a place that allows you to be active and explore, go on trips, take classes, or even have your own pet. The life you lead now doesn’t have to drastically change once you move. In fact, it might even get better.

How Do I Find The Right Place?

So you can have whatever lifestyle you would like, but how do you find that perfect community? Starting online can be a good way to see all of the options available and start to get a feel for what you like or don’t like. Make sure you choose reputable sites like SeniorAdvisor.com that can give you whole overviews of each facility.

Get information from your friends that might already live in an assisted living community or talk with a family member who has already done some research. Getting recommendations by word of mouth from people you trust is always a good option. Doctors are also a good source of information and if you do have a medical condition that needs monitoring, they can help you find the right place to do that.

The best thing to do though is to go and visit the places that catch your attention. Each facility will have a director or senior living advisor whose job it is to make sure that you find a home that fits you perfectly. They can answer all your questions, both about fees and rules, take you on a tour of the grounds and living spaces, and let you talk to residents.

How Will I Pay For Assisted Living?

If you’re worried about being able to afford assisted living, you might have a few options. First, you can contact Life Care Funding Group to discuss financial options for your long-term care and explore every avenue. A long-term care insurance policy is also going to be helpful at this point if you already have one. Talk with your agent to see exactly what is covered.

Medicaid is another option to explore, especially if you’re a low-income family. As long as you meet the eligibility requirements you could see a large portion of your care covered. Veterans also have the option of VA benefits and should check with their local office to see if they can receive financial support.

You could also consider things like a reverse mortgage or cash out a life insurance policy to fund your assisted living community. It’s important to talk to a trusted financial advisor as both of these options could have long-term ramifications.