I. What You Should Know About Home Care in La Mesa, CA
Nicknamed the Jewel of the Hills, La Mesa is a beautiful city set in the heart of San Diego County. Of its 61,000 residents, about 15% are aged 65 and over, promoting access to community-based services and supports. The city is home to the largest health care facility in the region, Sharp Grossmont Hospital, and health care costs, such as hospital stays and doctor’s office visits, cost about 15% less than in the typical U.S. city. A comfortable year-round climate and sunny skies offer a pleasant backdrop for retirement living, and a cost of living that’s comparable to the state norm may let you maintain your preferred lifestyle on a fixed income.
La Mesa is listed on the AARP Age-Friendly Network and ranks among the top 50% of cities in the nation for the environment it provides older residents. Over half the homes in the city have zero-step entries, and there are affordable housing options, including subsidized housing and multifamily units. Most people are happy with the medical services they receive here, and the rate of preventable hospitalizations is below the national norm. These factors make La Mesa a good long-term option for those seeking home care services.
II. What You Should Expect to Pay for Home Care in La Mesa, CA
The Genworth 2021 Cost of Care Survey shows that home care agencies in La Mesa charge about $6,387 per month for services. This rate assumes 44 hours of weekly care at an hourly fee of $33.50. If you need care on evenings and weekends, you may pay more, but if you access some services through community-based programs or family members, you may spend significantly less.
Home care includes nonmedical assistance with activities that may become challenging with age, including personal grooming, light housekeeping and transportation for errands and medical appointments. Home health care, on the other hand, is for those with more extensive care needs. It includes skilled nursing services, such as wound care and occupational therapy, and costs $6,473.
The Cost of Home Care & Home Health Care in Nearby Cities
Home care agencies in La Mesa charge $6,387, and home health care agencies charge $6,473 for skilled nursing. This exceeds the state norm of $6,101, and it’s over $1,000 higher than national respective rates of $4,957 and $5,148. You may save thousands of dollars monthly by obtaining this type of care in El Centro where agencies charge $3,432 for services. In Riverside, fees are a couple of hundred dollars lower than in La Mesa at $6,101, and in Los Angeles, seniors pay $5,911.
The Cost of Home Care Compared to Other Senior Living Options
At $6,387 monthly, home care is a relatively expensive senior living option in La Mesa. Even so, it costs about $100 less than home health care, which costs $6,473, and $3,000 less than nursing home care, which starts at $9,384 for semiprivate accommodations. Assisted living costs about $900 less than home care at $5,475 but doesn’t offer the same level of privacy and freedom. Adult day care is the cheapest local option at $2,058.
III. How to Find Home Care in La Mesa, CA
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 La Mesa, CA.
IV. Home Care Resources for Seniors in La Mesa, CA
San Diego County, Aging & Independence Services
What You Should Know
This local Area Agency on Aging has information specialists who can help you identify your needs and find affordable solutions in the community. These resources may reduce how much you rely on private-pay home care services. It operates the In-Home Supportive Services program, which provides in-home care to income-qualifying individuals, and it has the Family Caregiver Support Program to meet the needs of unpaid caregivers. The agency also provides home-delivered and congregate meals to meet your nutritional needs.
Who Is Eligible?
You’re eligible for information and assistance through the Area Agency on Aging if you’re at least 60 years old and you reside within the agency’s service area. Depending on the program you’re applying for, you may need to meet additional requirements related to your health status or income.
How to Get Started
For more information on the programs and services available through this agency, you can reach the call center at (800) 339-4661. The helpline is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
La Mesa Adult Services
What You Should Know
La Mesa’s Community Services Department operates the Adult Services division that provides you with a range of recreational activities and programs to help you avoid isolation. Most activities take place at the La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center. At this location, you may participate in a daily congregate meal program, social and cultural events, recreational activities and educational classes. The center also hosts health screenings and age-friendly fitness classes, and it provides information and referral services to help you identify other supportive services in the community.
Who Is Eligible?
You must be at least 55 years old to participate in La Mesa’s older adult programs. Some community-based services that you can access through the city have higher age requirements and qualifications related to income or functional needs.
How to Get Started
To learn more about these services, you can visit the Adult Enrichment Center in La Mesa at 8450 La Mesa Boulevard, or you can call the center at (619) 667-1322. The center is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Fridays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. You can also email the center at [email protected].
Meals on Wheels of San Diego County
What You Should Know
Meals on Wheels of San Diego County provides home-delivered meals to La Mesa area residents who are unable to shop for or cook nutritious meals themselves. Participants enjoy a main course, a grain and a vegetable, and there are options for those who prefer Latin cuisine or who need gluten-free, renal or vegetarian meal plans. The agency also provides daily check-ins to ensure the safety of recipients, and it can provide referrals for other programs and services in the community.
Who Is Eligible?
Meals on Wheels services are available to La Mesa area residents who are housebound due to age, illness or injury. Depending on your income, you may need to contribute to the cost of your meals.
How to Get Started
You can learn more about services available through Meals on Wheels San Diego by calling the main office at (619) 260-6110 or by emailing [email protected].
Property Tax Relief
What You Should Know
If your property taxes are unaffordable, you may be able to defer them through the State Property Tax Postponement Program. Through this program, you can defer the current-year property taxes on your residence. While the deferment is secured by a lien against your property that you’ll eventually need to repay, you generally don’t have to pay the lien until you sell the home.
Who Is Eligible?
You may save money on your property taxes if you’re at least 62 years old, blind or permanently disabled. You must own and occupy the house you’re filing for, and you must have at least 40% equity in the property. You also must meet income restrictions. As of 2022, applicants must have a total household income of no more than $49,017.
How to Get Started
To learn more about the State Property Tax Postponement Program, you can call the State Controller’s Office at (800) 952-5661. You can also email the office at [email protected].
211 San Diego
What You Should Know
211 San Diego is a free information and referral service that can help you find community-based resources that may help you stay in your own home. The agency can connect you with volunteer tax professionals who help you file income taxes and access deductions and exemptions that may help you keep more of your retirement income, and it provides referrals for energy assistance programs to help you avoid shutoffs. The agency can also help you find affordable chore and housekeeping services, transportation or home-delivered meals that may reduce your reliance on private-pay services.
Who Is Eligible?
Everyone living in San Diego County, including La Mesa residents, can get information on local programs through 211 San Diego. You may have to meet eligibility requirements related to age, income or health to qualify for programs that you find through this resource.
How to Get Started
You can speak with an information specialist by dialing 2-1-1 from your phone or by using the LiveChat tool on the program’s website.