Board and Care
A Safe, Comfortable Place to Call Home
Board and care homes provide housing, meals, and around-the-clock personal care for a small group of older adults. With a home-like setting and compassionate caregivers, residents receive the support they need to live safely, comfortably, and with dignity.
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What Is a Board and Care Community?
Not sure if your loved one qualifies?
Our senior care advisors are here to help you understand your options
Who Qualifies for Board and Care?
Board and care is designed for seniors who need daily hands-on help but not skilled nursing care. A resident typically:
Age Requirement
Is 60 or older (younger adults may qualify with a state exception)
Need Daily Help
Needs assistance with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, or transferring
Needs Supervision
Needs supervision due to memory loss, fall risk, or confusion
Stable Medical Needs
Has stable medical needs that can be managed without a licensed nurse on duty
Before move-in, the home completes a physician’s report and an appraisal of the resident’s needs. Residents who are non-ambulatory or use a wheelchair can often be accepted if the home holds the appropriate fire clearance. Conditions requiring continuous skilled nursing — a ventilator, IV therapy, advanced pressure wounds — generally fall outside what an RCFE may accept, though a hospice waiver allows many residents to remain in the home through the end of life.
What Services Does Board and Care Provide?
A board and care home bundles housing and care into one arrangement. Standard services include:
Comfortable Accommodation
A private or shared bedroom, utilities, housekeeping, and laundry
Home-Cooked Meals
Three home-cooked meals a day plus snacks, with modified diets accommodated
Personal Care Assistance
Personalized assistance with all activities of daily living
Medication Management
Medication management and administration by trained staff
24/7 Supervision
24-hour supervision and awake or on-call overnight staff
Mobility & Personal Care
Help with mobility, transfers, and incontinence care
Healthcare Coordination
Coordination with physicians, home health, hospice, and pharmacies
Medical Transportation
Transportation arranged for medical appointments
Companionship & Engagement
Daily activities, companionship, and family communication
Many homes also welcome outside providers — physical therapists, wound care nurses, hospice teams — so residents can receive clinical services without relocating.
Who Pays for Board and Care?
Most board and care in Southern California is private pay. In the Los Angeles area, monthly rates commonly run from roughly $3,500 to $5,500 for a shared room and $5,000 to $7,500 or more for a private room, depending on the level of care required. Common funding sources include:
Private funds
Savings, pensions, Social Security, family contributions, or proceeds from a home sale
Long Term care insurance
Most policies cover licensed RCFE care once a benefit trigger is met
VA Aid and Attendance
A monthly pension benefit for qualifying wartime veterans and surviving spouses
Medi-Cal Assisted Living Waiver (ALW)
Available in 15 counties including Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino. The waiver pays for care services at participating homes but not room and board, which residents cover with SSI/SSP or other income. Enrollment is limited and waiting lists are long.
Medicare does not pay for board and care. It covers short-term skilled nursing and rehabilitation after a qualifying hospital stay, not long-term residential care.
Average Monthly Cost of Board & Care per County
Los Angeles
~$5,750/mo
$4,500-$8,000
Orange
~$5,750/mo
$4,500-$8,000
San Bernardino
~$5,325/mo
$4,000-$7,000
Riverside
~$5,325/mo
$4,000-$7,000
September 2026 rates base rent; Care levels & Memory Care add more
The Benefits of Board and Care
Attention
With six residents or fewer, caregivers notice changes early — appetite, mood, balance, confusion.
Familiarity
A house, a kitchen, a yard, and the same faces every day, which helps residents with dementia settle in.
Value
Care is usually included in the rate rather than billed as escalating add-on levels.
Flexibility
Small homes can adapt routines to the individual instead of the schedule.
Aging in place
With hospice support, many residents remain in the same home through the end of life.
How Golden Pathways Helps With Senior Placement
Golden Pathways is a senior placement and referral service based in Pasadena, serving Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties.
- ✓A Senior Care Advisor assesses your loved one's needs, budget, and location preferences
- ✓Hand-selects licensed board and care homes that fit your needs
- ✓Checks licensing status, inspection history, and current availability
- ✓Schedules and coordinates tours for you.
- ✓Helps compare costs and funding options
- ✓Supports the move-in and follow-up
Our service is free to families, we are compensated by the communities we partner with.
What Families Are Saying
Mauricio was absolutely awesome! He went above and beyond and was an absolute pleasure to deal with. He was instrumental in getting my...
Absolutely amazing experience!!!! I'm that person who researches for weeks until I find the right product, so you can imagine when it...
I have used Golden Pathways for all of my patients who need placement. Mauricio is my go to as he is extremely knowledgeable and has...
Finding senior care for my father felt overwhelming until we met the team at Golden Pathways. Extremely patient and thorough.
Professional, compassionate, and attentive to every detail. They helped us navigate every option with complete clarity.
I can't thank them enough. They matched my mother with a wonderful community within days.
The guidance we received was priceless. Mauricio answered all our questions and helped us make the right decision.
Warm, dedicated advisors who genuinely care about finding the right environment for your loved one.
Exceptional service from start to finish. Highly recommend to anyone seeking senior living placement.
Explore Board and Cares Communities
Call For Availability & Pricing
Allara Senior Living
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Call For Availability & Pricing
Siena Villas
Pasadena, CA
Call For Availability & Pricing
Oakmont of San Gabriel
San Gabriel, CA
Call For Availability & Pricing
The Pavilion at Arcadia
Arcadia, CA
Explore Board and Care Options Today
Our local advisors make senior care simple and stress-free. Call, email, or request a free consultation