Named for its location in a hidden valley, the city of Escondido offers seniors a warm climate, a relatively affordable cost of living and beautiful scenery. According to the U.S. Census, the number of adults aged 65 and older in Escondido is nearly 20,000, which is about 13% of the population. This is low for California and the United States, but the rate of seniors is expected to rise steeply in the next few decades.
Seniors who live at home in Escondido also have access to quality health care and helpful resources. Palomar Medical Center Escondido is a high-performing hospital within the city limits, and the city has a special department dedicated to the health and safety of older adults in the community. Escondido is within San Diego County, which is a member of the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities. This means the county is committed to making Escondido a friendly place for people of all ages.
According to the Genworth Cost of Care Survey for 2021, the average rate for home care in Escondido is $6,387 per month. The average for home health care is $6,473. These figures are based on 44 hours of caregiving per month. The hourly costs for in-home care and home health care are $33.50 and $33.95, respectively. These rates are a bit higher than the California averages of $6,101 for both types of home care and significantly more expensive than the national averages of $4,957 for in-home care and $5,148 for home health care.
When compared to nearby cities in California, Escondido has high home care costs. To the east in El Centro, prices are much lower: $3,432 for both in-home care and home health care. In Los Angeles, the monthly average for both types of home care is $5,911, about $400 less than in Escondido. The median rate for both in-home care and home health care in Riverside is $6,101 per month.
Nursing homes are the only type of senior care in Escondido that are more expensive than home care. A semiprivate room has an average price of $9,384 per month. The least costly option is adult day care, which costs $2,058 per month. Assisted living facilities can, in some cases, offer a similar level of service as home care but also provide room and board. These communities have a median price of $5,475.
Finding a home care provider for yourself or a loved one can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Below, we explain the process of how to find a home care provider in 5 simple steps. Use the infographic below to help guide your search for in-home care in Escondido, CA.
What You Should Know
Park Avenue Community Center is home to the Escondido Senior Center, which hosts bingo, shuffleboard tournaments, billiards and exercise classes. The library has an extensive collection of soft and hardcover books, and the Joselyn Lounge is the ideal spot for quiet conversations or games. Seniors who dine at the community center for lunch can get transportation to and from the facility for a very low cost. The center serves meals Monday through Friday in the adjacent Park Avenue Café dining room.
Who Is Eligible?
All adults aged 60 and older are welcome to reserve a dining seat and get low-cost transportation to and from the center. Reservations are required at least 24 hours in advance.
How To Get Started
To schedule a reservation for lunch, sign up for a class or learn more about the activities the Escondido Senior Center has to offer, call (760) 839-4688.
What You Should Know
Senior Service Council Escondido provides a wide range of services that may be helpful to older adults in the community living at home. These services include tax preparation, health insurance counseling and health screenings. Trained volunteers can visit you at home to teach you how to use various technologies, such as smartphones, tablets and computers. Taxi coupons are available for seniors in the city who can’t afford their own transportation. Senior Service Council Escondido has a convenient location right on Broadway in the heart of Escondido.
Who Is Eligible?
All seniors are welcome to request help from Senior Service Council Escondido. Taxi coupons have financial requirements, so you will need to show proof of income when requesting help.
How To Get Started
To speak with a staff member at the Senior Service Council Escondido, call (760) 480-0611. The events calendar on its website can tell you which day of the week a particular service is available. Each service requires an appointment except for taxi tokens.
What You Should Know
The Minor Home Repair Program is a free service from the City of Escondido that offers minor home rehabilitation and limited weed trimming. Skilled volunteers complete the work and are screened by the city before being sent to any home. You may be eligible for a wide range of services, including electrical and plumbing repairs, accessibility modifications, HVAC maintenance and repairs, minor roof repairs and carpentry projects. Also, you may qualify for additional work on a case-by-case basis. The program does not fund repairs for appliances. Funding is provided by the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant.
Who Is Eligible?
To qualify for repairs, you must be at least aged 62 or older or live in qualifying low-income neighborhoods.
How To Get Started
To schedule an appointment or learn more about the program, call (760) 839-4057 or send an email to [email protected].
What You Should Know
The Reappraisal Exclusion for Seniors is a tax savings program provided by Proposition 13 that transfers a sold home’s tax appraisal value to a newly bought home of equal or lesser value. This means seniors can downsize or relocate to a new home without suffering a big increase in property taxes. You can still qualify for this program if you move to a more expensive home, but you will have additional taxes for any value exceeding 100% of your original property. You can use this program up to three times. This program applies to both existing properties and new constructions.
Who Is Eligible?
To qualify for this tax savings program, you must be at least aged 55 or older and occupy the home receiving the exclusion. You must sell and buy within two years to get your tax savings.
How To Get Started
Request an application for a tax exemption by calling (619) 531-5481 or by mailing your request directly to the county’s tax office.
What You Should Know
Aging & Independence Services is San Diego’s Area Agency on Aging (AAA), making it responsible for providing a variety of programs and services mandated by federal law. Many of these services are designed for seniors aging in place at home, and others help their family caregivers. Low-income seniors may qualify for meal delivery, in-home supportive services, care coordination and other programs. Affordable respite is available for families dealing with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. This AAA partners with many local programs, including RSVP, Age Well San Diego, the Caregiver Coalition of San Diego and the San Diego Fall Prevention Task Force.
Who Is Eligible?
Eligibility for services provided by Aging & Independence Services in Escondido often depends on income and level of need. Contact the agency to find out about a specific program.
How To Get Started
Apply for help or learn more about this AAA’s programs by calling (800) 339-4661.