The 5 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Eureka, CA for 2023

Eureka is a sleepy seaport city on the Humboldt Bay, along the northern coast of California in Humboldt County. It’s home to about 26,500 residents, including over 4,600 seniors aged 65 or older. Nestled between extensive stands of redwood trees, Eureka offers dynamic scenery and plenty of outdoor activities, including hiking, fishing and birdwatching. History buffs may enjoy Eureka’s historic downtown, architecture and 13 districts that meet the criteria for the National Register of Historic Places. Eureka is a bit isolated but still offers everyday amenities, which could be considered a perk for seniors who’ve grown weary of the bustle of metropolitan areas.

Assisted living costs an average of $4,500 per month in Eureka, which is less than the state average but slightly higher than the national average. Assisted living facilities can be ideal for seniors who wish to remain active and engaged through social events but require some assistance with daily tasks.

This guide covers various aspects of assisted living in Eureka, including comparisons of the average cost of assisted living compared to other senior care options and other California cities. It also lists several benefits and drawbacks of retiring in Eureka and some free resources for seniors.

Assisted living facilities in Eureka and throughout California are monitored and licensed by the Senior Care Licensing Program, which is part of the California Department of Social Services. This program sends field staff to do regulatory inspections of residential care facilities for the elderly, such as assisted living residences, throughout the state.

• California exempts Social Security income from state income tax, which is highly beneficial to seniors in Eureka. While most other retirement benefits are taxed, only seniors with substantial incomes pay the highest income tax rate. California’s income tax ranges from 1% to 13.3% with the high end of that scale for millionaires.
• California’s combined state and local sales taxes average 8.82% but can be as high as 9.75%. Eureka’s seniors benefit from Humboldt County’s combined sales taxes being lower than 68.5% of other California cities and counties. Humboldt County’s rate is 7.75% and seniors won’t pay taxes on groceries and prescription drugs.
• Being up north, Eureka’s climate isn’t the typical California weather. It’s rainier with an average of 46 inches per year, compared to the statewide average of 22 inches and a national average of 38 inches. Winters are still mild, but Eureka sees a little snow, about an inch a year. Summers are extremely temperate with an average high of 66 degrees in the hottest month and a wintertime low of about 41 degrees in January. Overall, seniors benefit from weather that doesn’t get too hot or too cold.
• Unlike much of California, Eureka’s cost of living is 1% lower than the national average, making it one of the more affordable places to retire in the Golden State. While this doesn’t seem like much, it’s an amazing feat in California where the statewide cost of living is about 50% higher than the national average. In comparison, Santa Barbara, a popular retirement community, has a cost of living that’s 123% higher than the national average.
• Outdoorsy seniors in Eureka benefit from its consistently good air quality as indicated by the Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Quality Index. Eureka’s air quality is usually within the zero to 50 range, on a scale that runs to 500, which means it’s satisfactory and air pollution poses little to no risk to those spending time outdoors.

According to the Genworth 2020 Cost of Care Survey, the average cost of assisted living in Eureka is $4,500. While this is $500 less than the state average, it’s still $200 higher than the national average.

Eureka’s lower-than-average cost of assisted living makes it lower than many other cities’ monthly costs but not all. Its cost is higher than Yuba City’s by $157 per month. However, it’s lower than Chico’s by $500, Santa Rosa’s by $1,500 and Napa’s by $1,750.

Besides assisted living, seniors in Eureka have other senior care options. Adult day health care is the lowest cost option. Cost data isn’t available for Eureka for this type of care, but the average cost in California is $1,733. Receiving care at home is a bit higher than assisted living, averaging $5,386 for either homemaker services or home health aides. Nursing home facilities provide the most extensive care, so these cost the most. In Eureka, semiprivate rooms cost an average of $10,357 per month, and private rooms cost $13,840.

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.