Cost of Nursing Home Care Above National Average in Bay Area
Nursing home costs in some Northern California cities exceed both state and national averages and are increasing at faster rates than the national average, according to a report released on Tuesday by Genworth Financial, a long-term care insurer, the San Francisco Business Times reports.
The report found that the average annual cost of nursing home care nationwide is $76,460, compared with $72,919 in California.
According to the report, those costs are often far higher in Northern California cities, including:
- $100,101 in San Francisco;
- $92,740 in Oakland;
- $92,094 in Sacramento; and
- $89,973 in San Jose.
Over the past five years, the cost of a private room at a California nursing home increased by 28% on average, compared with 17% nationally, according to the report. In Sacramento, however, nursing home costs have increased by 44% in that time period.
Elsewhere in California, the cost of a private room at a nursing home increased by:
- 21% in Oakland;
- 19% in Los Angeles;
- 17% in Santa Ana;
- 12% in San Francisco; and
- 9% in San Jose.
The survey found that many California cities have higher than average costs for private one-bedroom apartments in assisted living facilities (Rauber, San Francisco Business Times, 4/29).
This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.