The 10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Merced, CA for 2024

Assisted living facilities provide the ideal blend of personalized supportive care and independence in a residential setting for seniors who don’t require round-the-clock care in a nursing home but need some assistance. The average cost of assisted living in Merced is $3,750, lower than the national average and significantly lower than the state average, making it a great choice for retirees on a budget.

This guide covers assisted living in Merced, including comparisons of the average cost of assisted living in other California cities and the average cost of alternate senior care options. It also details some benefits and drawbacks of retiring in Merced and offers a list of free senior resources available through city or county providers.

The Senior Care Licensing Program, operated by the California Department of Social Services, monitors and licenses assisted living centers in Merced and throughout the state. Field staff from its Adult and Senior Care Program perform regulatory inspections at assisted living residences and all other residential care facilities for the elderly statewide.

• Social Security benefits aren’t taxed by the state, which helps Merced seniors financially. Unfortunately, most other retirement benefits are taxed, but income taxes are low for average seniors. Sales tax in California can also be high, but groceries and prescriptions are tax-exempt. Overall, California is considered relatively good tax-wise for seniors.
• California is noted for its high cost of living, and although Merced’s cost of living is nearly 5% higher than the national average, it’s lower than the state average by 45%. Housing costs are 12% higher than the national average but over 125% lower than the average cost statewide. Health care costs and utilities are slightly higher in Merced but lower costs elsewhere more than make up for it.
• Although violent and property crime rates in Merced are quite a bit higher than the national average, rates have dropped significantly compared to 2012. By 2019, violent crime had dropped by more than 35% and property crime by about 45%, which is a considerable improvement in a relatively short period. Seniors should also note that most assisted living facilities have security measures in place to keep residents safe.
• Retirees who dislike extremely cold weather and snow won’t have to worry because there isn’t any snow or days when temperatures fall below zero. Rainfall in Merced is well below the national average, with about 13 inches per year compared to 38 inches. Summertime temperatures can get high, with July’s average around 95 degrees, and occasionally humidity can become unpleasant. For those who love the sun, Merced gets 262 sunny days per year, almost 60 more than the national average.
• Merced has a local hospital with an on-site emergency department and medical-surgical ICU, which saves residents from traveling to a larger, nearby city. Mercy Medical Center Merced was rated high performing for treating COPD and has 264 providers practicing at the facility.

Merced’s average cost of assisted living is $3,750 per month, according to Genworth’s Cost of Care Survey. Unlike other cities in the state, Merced is $550 lower than the national average. It’s also $1,250 lower than the state average, making it less expensive than many nearby cities.

Thanks to a much lower than average assisted living cost, Merced is more affordable than other nearby cities. Fresno is closest in price, but its average is still $163 higher each month, and Modesto’s average is $250 more. Higher still are the averages for San Jose and Salinas, which run $2,125 and $3,350 more per month, respectively.

Seniors exploring other senior care options may consider adult day health care, which offers the lowest per month average at $1,804. Those who wish to remain in their homes and age in place may review homemaker services or home health aides, which both cost an average of $5,529 per month. Seniors with more extensive medical care needs may require nursing home care, which has the highest cost. Semiprivate rooms average $9,399 and private rooms average $9,870.

While many families use their own funds or personal assets to pay for assisted living, there are plenty of additional options to cover these costs. Some additional ways to finance assisted living costs include:

• Veterans Benefits
• Life Insurance Policy
• Long-Term Care Insurance
• Reverse Mortgage

For more information about different ways to finance assisted living, visit our Assisted Living in California page.