Glossary term
ALW
Assisted Living Waiver
A California Medi-Cal waiver program that pays for assisted-living services and personal care at participating Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly, for eligible Medi-Cal members who would otherwise need nursing-home care.
The Assisted Living Waiver is the Medi-Cal pathway that can pay the care-services portion at participating RCFEs in 15 counties. It never covers room and board. Enrollment is capacity-limited, and DHCS does not publish verified county-level wait times, so families should confirm current status with a Care Coordination Agency and participating facilities.
Related terms