A guide for California families, built on radical fee transparency
Finding good care for an aging parent in California.
Medi-Cal, CalAIM, IHSS, and the licensed-facility landscape, sourced from CDPH, CDSS, and DHCS public records and cited line by line.
How we help
Free help finding senior care in California.
We help families find the right care: assisted living, memory care, help at home, nursing homes, and the programs that pay for them, like Medi-Cal and the Assisted Living Waiver.
Answer a few questions
About two minutes: what is happening, where care is needed, and how it would be paid for. For a parent, or for yourself.
A real person calls you
Someone from our team calls, usually within one business day. No sales script, no pressure.
We explain what fits
Which settings fit, what they cost near you, and what Medi-Cal, Medicare or VA benefits might cover.
Introductions, only if you want them
If you want, we introduce you to places near you. If not, you still leave the call knowing your next step.
Families never pay us. Facilities and service partners may pay us a referral fee, disclosed in writing first. How our service is paid.
Browse the reference
What makes us different
Public agency sources
Built from California clinical and regulatory sources. Every coverage statement cites the underlying rule.
Independent
Built independently, not a national franchise. We disclose how we are paid in writing before any introduction to a facility or partner, so you always know what to expect.
State-data sourced
Every program claim is footnoted to DHCS, CDSS, CDPH, CDA, or CMS. Inspection reports surfaced where the state publishes them.
Open dataset
California senior-care cost planning ranges for seven regions, benchmarked to CareScout 2025 and free to reuse under CC BY 4.0.
Where to begin
What is happening with your parent this week?
- 01
Mom fell. Hospital says no going home alone
Discharge, SNF transitions, CalAIM for the first 30 days.
- 02
Dad has dementia, past managing it ourselves
Memory-care licensing, Protective Supervision, tour questions.
- 03
Medi-Cal mentioned IHSS. What is it?
Hours, eligibility, paid family caregivers, dementia math.
- 04
Private pay no longer sustainable
ALW, share-of-cost, California facilities that take Medi-Cal.
- 05
None of these fits. I want a clear map
Five questions, ~2 minutes. Ranked next steps.
A reference
The four California programs that change what families can afford.
- Medi-CalCalifornia's Medicaid
As of January 2026 the asset limit is back: $130,000 for one person, $195,000 for a couple. Income tests still apply. Medi-Cal can cover long-term nursing care, IHSS, and, through ALW, care services at participating RCFEs. ALW does not pay room and board.
Read the guide
- IHSSIn-Home Supportive Services
Pays for personal care, household help, and Protective Supervision at home. Family members can be paid. Up to 195 monthly hours.
Read the guide
- CalAIMAdvancing & Innovating Medi-Cal
2022 Medi-Cal reform. Adds a Lead Care Manager and 14 Community Supports. Does not pay assisted-living rent.
Read the guide
- ALWAssisted Living Waiver
Medi-Cal may pay care services at a participating RCFE. Enrollment is capacity-limited; DHCS publishes statewide dashboard totals, not verified county wait times.
Read the guide
A 40-minute call begins here
Five questions, about two minutes. Then we read the inspection reports together.
Five questions, about two minutes. Ranked next steps at the end.
The Compass Letter
California senior care changes weekly. We watch it for you.
Every Tuesday morning, a short email from our team. What changed in Medi-Cal, IHSS, and the Assisted Living Waiver this week, in plain language.
Common questions
Questions families ask first.
Does Medi-Cal pay for assisted living in California?
Sometimes, through the Assisted Living Waiver. Statewide there are about 19,000 slots, with capacity-limited waitlists in the Bay Area and LA. Standard Medi-Cal does not pay assisted-living rent on its own.
What is CalAIM, and does it pay for assisted living?
CalAIM is the 2022 reform of California's Medi-Cal program. It does not pay assisted-living rent. It may pay for a care manager, short-term recuperative care after hospitalization, home modifications, and medically tailored meals, depending on the county and the Medi-Cal Managed Care plan.
Is your service free?
Families do not pay us for navigation or referrals. Facilities and service partners may pay us for referrals or qualified introductions. Provider care and service charges are separate. See How we work for the payment arrangements.
Do you refer to nursing homes (SNFs)?
No. Skilled-nursing referrals in California require a separate state license we do not hold. We explain the system and point you to the hospital discharge planner or the California Department of Public Health.
Who writes and reviews your articles?
Every long-form article is written and editorially reviewed by the California Care Compass team. Program rules and dollar figures come from CDPH, CDSS, DHCS, or the California Department of Aging, with the source URL and access date on the page. We do not employ in-house licensed clinicians or attorneys; where a decision requires one we say so and point you to the right professional.