Assisted Living Communities in Porterville, California

Assisted living facilities in Porterville charge an average monthly rate of $3,450 for care, making this city among the more budget-friendly options in the state and nation for those seeking long-term residential care. Local care costs come in about $1,000 below the national average and 34% lower than the California norm, and they’re economical compared to rates in surveyed cities nearby. For example, in Bakersfield, care costs are a few hundred dollars higher per month than in Portersville at $3,750, and in Fresno, rates exceed Porterville’s average by 13%. Assisted living facilities in Hanford charge higher monthly rates of $4,350, and in Salinas, care costs are about 74% higher than in Porterville.

In Porterville, seniors pay $3,450 per month for assisted living.

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.

Assisted living rates in Porterville come in at $3,450, making this the second-most affordable senior care option in the city after adult day health care, which costs $1,192 per month. Seniors who hire private caregivers to care for them in their own homes pay $5,339 per month on average, and for those with advanced medical needs, nursing home care starts at $8,517.

The California Department of Social Services licenses all assisted living facilities, officially called residential care facilities for the elderly, in Porterville and the rest of the state. The department enforces minimum standards related to staffing, building features and nutrition and medication services, and it investigates reports of inadequate care or substandard conditions.  

• The Porterville Transit System has a Half Fare Program for seniors aged 65 and over and Medicare cardholders in the city, helping older adults maintain their independence throughout retirement. This program is available for all hours of operation, making it a budget-friendly alternative to facility-based transportation services that assisted living residents may access. 
• California imposes some of the highest state income taxes in the nation, with rates ranging from 1% to 12.3%, depending on the taxpayer’s income bracket. However, Social Security is tax-free at the state level, benefiting those who rely primarily on this income for retirement expenses, and the state allows a senior income tax exemption. This may be a consideration for those planning for long-term care expenses in Porterville.
• Porterville is home to Sierra View Medical Center, a 167-bed hospital that specializes in a full range of inpatient, outpatient and emergency services. Seniors spend about 6% less on health care in this city compared to a typical U.S. city, and although there are only 97 doctors per 100,000 people compared to the national norm of 210, many assisted living facilities have on-call physicians.
• The overall cost of living in Porterville is consistent with the national norm and about 40% lower than the California average, which may make it a budget-friendly option for those considering assisted living in Central California. Housing costs are economical here compared to the rest of the state and nation, which may drive down the cost of residential care.
• Crime occurs at about the same frequency in Porterville as in the rest of the nation, which may appeal to active seniors. On a 100-point index that gives higher scores to cities with more criminal activity, the city scores 25.1 for violent crime and 36.6 for property crime. This is fairly consistent with the national respective norms of 22.7 and 35.4. To promote residents’ safety and peace of mind, many assisted living facilities have high-security locks, alarm systems and surveillance cameras.