The Average Cost of Assisted Living in Santa Rosa

The cost of assisted living in Santa Rosa may surprise you. Many 6-bed Santa Rosa assisted living facilities charge more than $3,500 per month, while some larger assisted living facilities charge more than $8,000 per month. Pricing models also vary between facilities. Some assisted living facilities charge a flat daily rate, but many larger facilities charge a base rate and itemize additional charges for different care tasks performed on a daily basis. For instance, larger facilities may charge every time incontinence care is performed.

According to a national study on the cost of elder care, the median monthly cost of assisted living in Santa Rosa is $4,125. In other words, the median cost of assisted living in Santa Rosa is $137 per day.

In Sonoma County there are over 150 assisted living facilities, most of which are considered “small” with 6 or fewer beds. These “mom-and-pop” assisted living facilities usually charge less than larger facilities, so the median figure of $137 per day may not reflect the rates charged by larger facilities in Santa Rosa.

Some of the best facilities in Santa Rosa charge more than $7,500 per month, but provide 24-hour care and accept seniors with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Daily Rate vs. Itemized Billing

Not all assisted living facilites bill in the same manner. Some assisted living facilities charge a flat monthly rate regardless of how many days are in the month. Other facilities charge a flat daily rate regardless of the level of care on any given day. However, some facilities charge a daily base rate and itemized charges for each service performed on a given day. For instance, a facility may charge $10 for each instance of incontinence care. If a resident requires 3 instances of incontinence care on a certain day (which is very common), the resident would be billed an additional $30 for incontinence care services. Itemized billing can lead to large bills that fluctuate every month, making budgeting difficult. Accordingly, many prospective residents are better off selecting an assisted living facility with flat daily rates and predictable billing.