Assisted Living in Mission Viejo

Rating for Assisted Living in Mission Viejo: 

5 Stars ★★★★★

Discussed Topics:

• Types of Facilities
• Costs of Care
• Cost Factors
• Paying for Care
• Nearby Hospitals
• Local Transportation
• Senior Community Centers
• History & Population
• Local Safety
• City Weather
• Local Shopping & Dining
• Activities for Seniors
• Nearby Cities

Types of Assisted Living Facilities

Assisted Living in Mission Viejo, CA includes Large Communities or Residential Care Homes. These are non-medical facilities for seniors who do not require 24 hours medical supervision as these type of facilities do not have nurses and doctors on staff.

However, these facilities have caregivers on site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and medical staff members on call to ensure that all residents receive the best care that they deserve.

Large Assisted Living Communities

A. Description and Size

Large Assisted Living Communities in Mission Viejo will look like a large resort or hotel with 50 to 200 residents. These assisted living care facilities will usually be located in commercial areas and are also regulated by California’s State Licensing Department. These large senior living facilities can also have a secure Memory Wing that can keep residents suffering from Alzheimer’s safe from wandering.

B. Types of Residents

Seniors living in Large Assisted Living Communities will typically prefer these type of Facilities due to the daily schedule of activities, higher levels of socialization with other residents, chef prepared meals, music and pet therapy, music and art classes, fitness classes and regular outings.

C.Caregiver to Resident Ratio

Due to the large size of the Assisted Living community and higher number of residents, the typical Caregiver-to-Resident Ratio can range from 1 Caregiver for every 6 to 12 Residents in the Assisted Living community.

D. Large Community Examples

Large communities such as La Vida Mission Viejo Senior Living, Sunrise Senior Living, and Atria Senior Living are known for daily activities, frequent socialization and have locations in Mission Viejo that provide secure memory care wings for Alzheimer’s residents that wander. 

Small Residential Care Homes

A. Description and Size

Residential Care Homes located in Mission Viejo are regular, small care homes in the neighborhood that have been converted to care for 6 to 10 senior residents. They are also referred to as Board and Care Homes, Residential Care for the Elderly (RCFE), Adult Foster Homes or Adult Family Homes. These care Assisted Living homes are licensed by California’s State Licensing Division and permitted by the City of Mission Viejo, CA.

B. Types of Residents

Residents in these Assisted Living care homes prefer a “home-like” intimate setting that they are used to at home. While there are many Assisted Living residential care homes in this city that provide activities, pet and music therapy, fitness programs and more, these residents prefer to be with a smaller group of seniors.

C. Caregiver to Resident Ratio

With the smaller assisted living facility size and lower number of residents, the Caregiver-to-Resident Ratio in a Board and Care is 1 Caregiver for every 2 to 3 residents.

D. Residential Care Home Examples

If your loved one prefers a “home-like” setting, an Assisted Living residential care home might be a better fit. Some of these top facilities are Granny’s Place, The Cottages, Arbor View, Verona Court, Villa Regina, Hendon Homes and more. These types of care facilities typically have 1:3 “caregiver to resident ratio” and provide meals, activities, music and pet therapy and assist residents with transportation to and from the doctor.

With over 170 Assisted Living Facilities in Mission Viejo, you should not have a problem finding great care for your loved one.

Assisted Living Costs

Whether your budget is restricted or if you want high-end senior care, these facilities located in Mission Viejo can meet your loved one’s needs. The monthly cost of Assisted Living in Mission Viejo is $4,200 per month (Source: Genworth.com 2021 Survey). However, costs within the city can start as low as $3,000 per month and go as high as more than $8,000 per month. (source: Genworth 2021).

Cost Factors

The monthly cost of Assisted Living in Mission Viejo will vary depending on the senior’s care needs and the type of room. Care needs are determined upon the assessment done by the facility’s admissions staff. Other factors that determine the costs of the facility are the location of the facility, staff experience, type of room, programs and amenities offered. Usually, if the facility has been updated or newly renovated, the owners are able to charge more.

Paying for Assisted Living Care

Assisted Living in Mission Viejo is typically an out-of-pocket expense paid by the resident or their family members. Unfortunately, Medicare or Health Insurance companies do not cover the monthly cost. However, if the senior has a Long-Term Care Insurance, they can use it to pay for the monthly assisted living fees. For long-term care insurance, the coverage will depend on the plan that was purchased. Families in Mission Viejo should read the Long-Term Care Insurance Policy carefully to get a better understanding on the coverage and the terms of the Long-term Care Insurance Policy.

The Veteran’s Administration has a special pension plan that can help pay for Assisted Living specifically for war veterans. This VA special pension is called Veteran’s Aid and Attendance program. If you think your elderly loved one was in active duty during one of the wars, be sure to contact the Veterans Administration to check eligibility and other VA benefits. The VA Aid and Attendance Pension can help families pay for care in Mission Viejo.

Making Care Affordable

For low-income seniors in Mission Viejo, they may qualify for Medicaid. The state of California has a state plan for long-term care that provides financial assistance to seniors with limited income and resources. If the senior qualifies medically and financially, Medicaid may pay for all the long-term care costs. If you think your elderly loved one qualifies for Medicaid, contact your local Medicaid office to ask about eligibility for Medicaid Waiver.

Medicaid

California’s Medicaid program helps pay for Assisted Living Facilities in Mission Viejo through the Assisted Living Waiver. In order for seniors to be eligible for this program, the elderly has to be a Medi-Cal beneficiary. To learn more about the Assisted Living Waiver Program, contact County of Orange Social Services Agency at (800) 281-9799 or visit ssa.ocgov.com.

Other Options

If the costs of Assisted Living in Mission Viejo still seems a little out of reach for you and your loved one, you can also search for facilities in nearby cities. Sometimes residential care homes or large communities in Lake Forest or Laguna Hills, for example, may cost less in rent or care per month. If you need help finding these facilities, our care advisors can help at no charge. Just call them at 877.523.6523 or click here and they will get back to you as soon as possible.

If you still need care options under $3,000 per month, you can also get in touch with your state’s Department of Social Services. This government agency helps those with restricted budgets and low-income housing resources.

Nearby Hospitals

From check-ups to emergency care, Mission Viejo has some of the top hospitals in the country to meet the needs of your loved one. The hospitals in and surrounding the city are Mission Hospital (St. Joseph Health), Saddleback Memorial Hospital, Aliso Viejo Family Medicine, Kaiser Permanente and Hoag Hospital. Mission Hospital has even received over 20 awards for it’s outstanding patient service.

Local Transportation

Getting around Mission Viejo and other parts of Orange County is a snap. The OCTA (Orange County Transportation Authority) has a great program for Seniors and those who are disabled. The city’s “ACCESS” program is a shared-ride service provided for those who are unable to use the normal bus route. The ACCESS program is a door-to-door service for Seniors and those who are disabled and will take you where you need to go within the city and nearby areas. You can get more information on ACCESS from the OCTA’s website.

If your loved one needs to go to a doctor’s appointment for their regular checkup or wants to attend mass, don’t worry. Please remember that any community or residential care home can usually accommodate your loved one with transportation in Mission Viejo and the surrounding areas. Some facilities include transportation and some facilities require an additional fee. Just remember to ask the facility’s staff before you decide to move your loved one.

Senior Community Centers

The Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center is located in Mission Viejo near Marguerite Parkway and La Paz Road and is open from 8am-11pm Monday to Saturday (Noon to 8pm on Sunday). This stunning Senior Center was recently remodeled and includes a 400 seated guest capacity, professional grade catering kitchen, outdoor garden rooms, state of the art audio and video equipment and more. Some key events include a Community Health Fair, acclaimed vocalist and orchestra concerts, and much more.

History & Population

Mission Viejo is located in the Saddleback Valley in Orange County, California. The city is one of the largest-master planned communities in the United States and is home to over 95,000 residents. Incorporated in 1988, Mission Viejo is just located south of Irvine and within an hour from Los Angeles.

City Safety

With safety always a concern when it comes to your loved one, Mission Viejo is one of the safest cities across America. Compared to the rest of the U.S., Mission Viejo is rated 81.2% safer than all cities making it a very desirable place for Seniors to live (source: Area Vibes).

City Weather

Already being in one of the states in the U.S. with the best weather year round, Mission Viejo is one of the best areas for weather in California. Temperatures average a cool 68.8 degrees in the winter (45 degrees at night) and a nice 78 degrees in the summer (59.6 degrees at night). You can’t ask for better weather (source: weather.com).

Local Shopping & Dining

Mission Viejo has some of the best shopping and restaurants in Orange County. You can take your loved one walking in Mission Viejo Mall (located off of the i5 and Crown Valley) which has a Macy’s, Nordstroms, Apple, Dick’s Sporting Goods and other fine stores.
Some local restaurants the family will surely enjoy are Wine Works, Roman Cucina, Hannah’s (RSM), Rip Tide, Cheesecake Factory, Islands, California Pizza Kitchen and more.

Activities for Seniors

Some of the City’s great spots for Seniors and families are:

Lake Mission Viejo – A man-made lake is located in the heart of the city (Alicia Parkway and Marguerite Parkway). This includes a small beach, fishing, boating and the annual “Lake Mission Viejo Fireworks Show” which is a beautiful over the water.

Mission Viejo Library – Newly renovated in 2013, the beautiful library is located at La Paz and Marguerite. Originally built in 1971, the library has grown to 41,900 square feet and includes a bookstore, art exhibit, book clubs, passport services, study rooms, a technology center and children’s library. Another great thing about the library is that it is down the street from the newly renovated Senior Center.

Mission Viejo Parks & Recreation – The city is home to 50 parks including walking trails and 2 large recreation centers. Location maps are located at the City website.

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About the Author: Catharine D. Allado is a Senior Care Expert and the COO of SeniorCareHomes.Com – An extensive online directory of Assisted Living, Memory Care and other types of Senior Living across the U.S. 

Kate’s Grandmother was sadly a victim of Alzheimer’s Disease and Kate is determined to make a difference in the lives of other families.

Note: Ratings and Grades are based on our staffs’ personal opinions and experiences in the referenced City. SeniorCareHomes.Com has visited and inspected hundreds to thousands of senior living facilities all across the U.S. While we make every effort to visit as many facilities as possible, we do not claim that we have visited and inspected every single licensed senior living facility across the U.S.

Sources: AreaVibes, Weather.Com