Many older adults and people with functional needs or disabilities require stable housing with supportive care to maintain their health and independence. Assisted living communities offer a promising alternative to institutional care, such as nursing facilities, by providing supportive care in home-like environments, often at lower costs.
While assisted living is primarily paid for out-of-pocket or through private insurance, several pathways exist for Medi‑Cal enrollees to receive financial support for care in these settings, including through California’s assisted living waiver, CalAIM Community Supports, county behavioral health and mental health plans, Programs for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), and hospital contracts. However, the use of assisted living for Medi-Cal enrollees remains limited and has not reached its full potential.
The Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS), with support from the California Health Care Foundation, is hosting this five‑part virtual learning series focused on strengthening cross-sector partnerships to improve appropriate, timely, and effective use of assisted living communities for Medi-Cal enrollees, including older adults, people with disabilities, and individuals with behavioral health needs.
Webinars include:
- The Untapped Potential of Assisted Living in Addressing the Housing and Care Needs of Medi-Cal Enrollees
May 20, 2025 – This session provided an overview of California’s assisted living landscape — including types of facilities, resident characteristics, and services provided — and examined how this setting fits into the broader care and housing continuum for Medi-Cal enrollees. It also highlighted common pathways to access and finance assisted living and identified key opportunities to expand the use of assisted living services. - Who Thrives in Assisted Living? Strategies for Effective Assessments Across Settings
June 17, 2025 – This session focused on the initial stages of assessment prior to referral into assisted living. Speakers explored the barriers and opportunities to appropriately diverting and/or transitioning Medi-Cal enrollees into assisted living settings. It also included an overview of the current and potential role of various stakeholders in this stage. - Navigating Assisted Living Entry: Strengthening Referral Partnerships for Successful Transitions
July 22, 12:00 – 1:30 pm PT – This session will focus on the partnerships needed to conduct successful referrals and placements of Medi-Cal members into assisted living communities. It will explore the current and potential roles of stakeholders and partners in this process, as well as explain financial and practical resources for overcoming barriers to placement. - Sustained Support: Continued Partnership to Ensure Resident Well-Being
August (date/time TBD) – This session will highlight challenges, lessons, and collaborative approaches to providing wrap-around services that support Medi-Cal residents and the assisted living communities serving them. It will also discuss the various pathways for transitions out of assisted living into higher or lower levels of care, including strategies and resources for navigating and financing these transitions. - Assisted Living for Medi-Cal Enrollees: What Comes Next?
September (date/time TBD) – This session will review content and resources shared throughout the learning series, as well as facilitate a cross-stakeholder discussion to address remaining questions or needs for organizations beginning or continuing this work. The session will also explore stakeholder interest in continued cross-stakeholder partnerships to improve the use of assisted living communities for Medi-Cal members.
To access responses to questions posed by participants during the series, access this FAQ document, which will be updated following each event. For foundational information on assisted living in Medi-Cal, see these resources from California Health Care Foundation.
To be notified about upcoming webinars in the series, sign up for CHCS email updates.
