Savings are running out. What happens to care?

Options, roughly from least to most disruptive

• A lower-cost setting. A board and care home in California typically runs $3,000 to $6,000 a month, often well below assisted living or 24-hour home care.
• VA benefits. Wartime veterans and surviving spouses may qualify for a VA pension with Aid and Attendance that helps pay for care.
• Medi-Cal. Medi-Cal can pay for care services in some homes through the Assisted Living Waiver or CalAIM Community Supports, but it does not pay room and board. Residents usually cover that from income such as SSI.
• Home equity. Selling or renting the house, or a reverse mortgage in some cases. Talk to a financial adviser.
• Nursing home Medi-Cal. For people who medically need a nursing home, Medi-Cal can cover the stay, with most of the resident's income going toward the cost.

Plan before the money is gone

The biggest mistakes happen when a family realizes in month 23 that the money ends in month 24. Ask the current home now whether it accepts residents who transition to Medi-Cal programs, because many do not. If it does not, a planned move is far better than a forced one.

Our Medi-Cal checker and guide to paying for care walk through the numbers. We also place families who are transitioning to Medi-Cal programs.

Reviewed October 2, 2026. General information, not medical or legal advice. Talk with your loved one's doctor about their health.