Assisted living that accepts Medi-Cal in Oakland, CA
5 assisted living homes in Oakland are approved for California's Medi-Cal Assisted Living Waiver (ALW), including 1 small six-bed-or-fewer homes. ALW pays for care; the resident pays room and board, often with SSI/SSP. You apply through a Care Coordination Agency, and there is a statewide waitlist.
From the DHCS participating-facility list, as of May 11, 2026. Confirm with each home that it has an ALW spot open.
Private-pay prices are Chapter estimates for residents who don't use ALW. ALW residents pay room and board instead; ask each home what it charges.
ALW-approved assisted living homes in Oakland
- Bellaken Skilled Nursing58 beds · $6,700/mo private pay est.
- D'Nalor Care Homes4 beds · $6,600/mo private pay est. · ALW enrollment closed
- Good Shepherd Vista22 beds · $7,100/mo private pay est.
- House of Psalms Assisted23 beds · $6,700/mo private pay est.
- Lakeshore Residential Care38 beds
How to use the Assisted Living Waiver in Oakland
- Make sure you have full-scope Medi-Cal with no share of cost. If not, apply through Alameda County's social services office first.
- Contact a Care Coordination Agency serving Alameda County. It checks that you need a nursing-home level of care and adds you to the waitlist.
- While you wait, call the homes on this list to ask about open ALW spots and their room-and-board charge.
- When a spot opens, the agency coordinates your move and your care plan with the home.
- You pay room and board each month, often from SSI/SSP; ALW pays the home for your care.
Medi-Cal assisted living in Oakland — FAQ
Which assisted living homes accept Medi-Cal in Oakland?
5 assisted living homes in Oakland are on the California Department of Health Care Services list of Assisted Living Waiver (ALW) providers as of May 11, 2026, including 1 small board-and-care homes with six or fewer beds. They're listed on this page. Call ahead: each home has a limited number of ALW spots, and DHCS shows enrollment closed at 1 of them.
Does Medi-Cal pay for assisted living in Oakland?
Partly. Through the Assisted Living Waiver, Medi-Cal pays for care services (help with bathing, dressing, medications and supervision) at participating homes. It does not pay room and board. To qualify you need full-scope Medi-Cal with no share of cost and a nursing-home level of care need, and there is a statewide waitlist.
How much will I pay at an ALW home in Oakland?
With ALW covering care, residents pay room and board, which many cover with SSI/SSP. In 2026 the SSI/SSP payment for someone living in a licensed residential care home is $1,626 a month, and residents usually keep a small personal-needs allowance. Ask each home what it charges ALW residents for room and board.
How do I apply for the Assisted Living Waiver in Oakland?
You apply through a Care Coordination Agency (CCA) that serves Alameda County, not through the home. The CCA assesses eligibility, places you on the waitlist if needed, and helps you move into a participating home with an open ALW spot. DHCS publishes the list of CCAs by county.