Over 106,200 residents call El Cajon home, 11.7% of which are seniors aged 65 and older. The region has a semiarid Mediterranean climate that features very warm summers and comfortable winters with most rainfall occurring during the winter and spring months.
With the cost of a semiprivate nursing home room being nearly $3,000 higher than the national average according to the Genworth 2020 Cost of Care Survey, many seniors will look for more affordable options. Nursing homes are ideal for seniors who need help with activities of daily life along with specialty services to manage chronic conditions, such as palliative care. Although seniors who don’t require such high levels of care can find help with personal care in an assisted living facility, home health care is another option that allows seniors to remain in their home while receiving assistance with personal care and housekeeping.
In this guide, seniors and their loved ones can find a few sections comparing the cost of care to other cities in the state. There’s also a short list of resources for seniors looking for information about nursing homes and alternative long-term care options.
42 Results
622 SOUTH ANZA STREET, El Cajon, CA, 92020
4.7
(6 reviews)
"My 91-year-old father went to Villa Las Palmas for 7 weeks to recover from injuries after a bad fall. Our experience there was really good. The caregivers were helpful, kind and polite. The facility is well maintained and very clean. My father ..."
READ MORE654 S Anza, El Cajon, CA, 92020
4.5
(2 reviews)
"I loved this facility for my father ! Everyone was caring and on it. The cna's took good care of the patients there. Jojo is so wonderful she and my father bonded very well and he was always happy to see her she would always come in with good energy ..."
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510 E Washington Avenue, El Cajon, CA, 92020
2.9
(10 reviews)
"I love this place. This is my home. The staff is my family. I kick them in the butt and tell to be nice or mama will get them. I love these people so much and there's nothing I wouldn't do for them. They are marvelous people. I was the first pati..."
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151 Claydelle Avenue, El Cajon, CA, 92020
3.5
(2 reviews)
"My brother is in Somerset for a month and a half now. The place is very convenient, and we go there twice a day. The staff and caregiver were very nice and pretty attentive to everybody. The room is fine -- typical two to a room -- and they keep it c..."
READ MORE1580 BROADWAY, El Cajon, CA, 92021
3.3
(4 reviews)
"My cousin is at Country Hills. I have never physically seen it other than the outside of the building and the corridor. It looks like a hotel, so it's very pleasant looking. I didn't smell urine, and it looks like everybody gets a window too. I had a..."
READ MORE1340 E. Madison Avenue, El Cajon, CA, 92021
3.3
(4 reviews)
"My brother is in Granite Hills Healthcare and Wellness Centre. The staff has been very attentive to our request. When we need to talk to the nurse's station, we get our request met. Talking to the social worker has been very helpful in terms of getti..."
READ MORECaring's Family Advisors are here to help you with questions about senior living and care options.
444 W. Lexington Avenue, El Cajon, CA, 92020
3.3
(3 reviews)
"my sister is living at parkside,i apprediate the care, patients, they show in caring for my sister during her ajusting from a vey independent lady, now a bit confused, needing her lifes needs in the hands of trusting caring trained people.the facili..."
READ MORE1201 South Orange Avenue, El Cajon, CA, 92020
2.5
(2 reviews)
"My mom is in a skilled nursing facility in Chase Care Center. The facility itself is an older building and it definitely needs upgrade. They have small rooms. My mom is in a room with another lady and it is really crowded. Most of the staff is involv..."
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3780 Massachusetts Avenue, La Mesa, CA, 91941
4.6
(15 reviews)
"My room was clean and comfortable. The therapy staff were so patient and helped me recover. They had a nice menu and I enjoyed the food. Overall it was a great experience...."
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2575 E. EIGHTH ST., National City, CA, 91950
4.8
(10 reviews)
"I can't say enough about this facility. They treated my 102 year old mother with such compassion and dignity. Everyone from administration, nursing, nutrition, activities, and therapy were exceptional. The therapists were incredible and were instru..."
READ MORE6061 BANBURY ST., San Diego, CA, 92139
4.2
(9 reviews)
"I could not have asked for better accommodations. My bed overlooked a lovely patio area with grass and trees,it was very peaceful. The staff here was fantastic, and a few of them stand out for being especially kind and helpful with my rehabilitatio..."
READ MORE325 Kempton Street, Spring Valley, CA, 91977
4.4
(7 reviews)
"The staff at Mount Miguel Covenant Village is competent, caring, and skillful. My brother was in a 2-bedroom; the rooms were not huge, but they were adequate. There was enough space for a visitor to come and for him to get in and out of bed. There’s ..."
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8060 Frost Street, San Diego, CA, 92123
5.0
(1 reviews)
"I had an in-person tour of the Abby Gardens, and it was a good tour. For long-term care, it seemed pretty good. I just felt it was for someone who needed much more care than my mom needed. It's very sterile. They have two beds in the room. The facili..."
READ MORE8665 LAMESA BLVD, La Mesa, CA, 91941
5.0
(1 reviews)
"This facility was amazing,everyone was helpful and nice. I was visiting a family member and was surprised to see how well he was treated. the staff is very welcoming and have such outstanding attitudes. there is alot of activities to do wich accomada..."
READ MORE5602 UNIVERSITY AVE, San Diego, CA, 92105
5.0
(1 reviews)
"I was very impressed with University Care Center in San Diego. They had a very nice facility with professional Cali-style landscaping, and a very clean interior with a welcoming atmosphere that was nothing like a "typical nursing home." They were lo..."
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9825 Glen Center Dr., San Diego, CA, 92131
5.0
(1 reviews)
"We liked Ridgeview Health Center. Everything looked good. The person who gave the tour was excellent except the price was almost out of reach. The rooms were very nice and it's got nice windows. If you get a private room, it's $500 a day, and if they..."
READ MOREIn El Cajon, a semiprivate room in a nursing home costs $10,722 per month, and a private room costs $14,433 per month.
The average cost of a semiprivate room in a nursing home in El Cajon is $1,475 more than the state’s average. It’s also $2,966 higher than the national average.
San Jose is the most expensive city in the state and is $1,825 higher than a semiprivate room in a nursing home in El Cajon. Los Angeles costs $2,662 less than El Cajon. Visalia is the cheapest metropolitan area in the state and is $3,878 less than El Cajon.
El Cajon
$10,722
California
$9,247
United States
$7,756
San Jose
$12,547
Los Angeles
$8,060
Visalia
$6,844
When considering long-term care options, cost can be a major factor. Home care and home health aide services in Lancaster are $5,434 and $5,529 per month, respectively, making them both around $2,600 less than a semiprivate room in a nursing home. Adult day health care is the cheapest option and is $6,413 less than semiprivate room. Assisted living is $3,060 less than a semiprivate room, with an average of $5,000. Finally, a private room in a nursing home costs $2,510 more than a semiprivate room.
Home care
$5,716
Home health care
$5,716
Adult day health care
$1,733
Assisted living
$4,525
Nursing home (semiprivate room)
$10,722
Nursing home (private room)
$14,433
Note: Data for El Cajon was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, San Diego, was used instead.
Many seniors and their families use some form of financial assistance to help them pay for nursing care. The main options available are Medicare, Medicaid, and veterans benefits. These programs can be complicated, especially when it comes to benefit terms. Below, we give a brief overview of how these programs may be used towards paying for skilled nursing care.
If these options aren’t available to you, check if your loved one has long-term care insurance or contact your Area Agency on Aging to ask about any local financial assistance programs for seniors.
Below are a few resources to help seniors age in place in the comfort of their own home by providing free alternatives to nursing home care for qualifying individuals. Seniors already residing in nursing homes may find long-term ombudsman and health insurance counseling services helpful during their stay.
| Resource | Contact | Service |
|---|---|---|
| In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) | (800) 339-4661 | Serving seniors aged 65 and older, the IHSS program provides assistance with personal assistance and housekeeping. Covered by Medi-Cal, the program enables seniors to live at home safely and delay placement in a long-term care facility, such as a nursing home. Seniors and their caregivers can apply for the program over the phone or in-person at any of the IHSS regional offices, including the one located in El Cajon. |
| California Home- and Community-Based Alternatives (HCBA) Waiver Program | (833) 503-5910 | Formerly known as the Nursing Facility/Acute Hospital (NF/AH) Waiver, the HCBA Waiver can be used for services that can delay placement in a nursing home whether those services include home-based personal care or care from providers in the community. This can also involve training a family member to be a caregiver and installing personal emergency response systems in the home. |
| California's Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program | (800) 231-4024 | Long-term care ombudsmen investigate complaints against long-term care facilities, including nursing homes, on behalf of residents or their loved ones. Ombudsmen can act as mediators with concerns involving a lack of quality personal care and healthy meal options that fit seniors’ dietary needs. Residents and family members can reach out to their local ombudsman with concerns regarding their Medicare and Medi-Cal benefits. |
| California's Health Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program (HICAP) | (800) 434-0222 | HICAP provides free and unbiased insurance counseling for Medicare beneficiaries and individuals who are turning 65. Whether seniors have questions about their coverage options or need assistance filing an appeal, certified counselors can explain the process and help them compare policies that best fit their needs and long-term goals. Counselors can also offer legal referrals for long-term care insurance-related issues. |
Nursing Homes
grampajake
5
Review of Villa Las Palmas Healthcare Center
My 91-year-old father went to Villa Las Palmas for 7 weeks to recover from injuries after a bad fall. Our experience there was really good. The caregivers were helpful, kind and polite. The...
Nursing Homes
vanyah a
5
Review of Victoria Post Acute Care
I loved this facility for my father ! Everyone was caring and on it. The cna's took good care of the patients there. Jojo is so wonderful she and my father bonded very well and he was always happy...
Nursing Homes
Bobby
4
Review of Granite Hills Health and Wellness Center
My brother is in Granite Hills Healthcare and Wellness Centre. The staff has been very attentive to our request. When we need to talk to the nurse's station, we get our request met. Talking to the...
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