One of the most common questions we hear from families is some version of: "We love this home, but how are we going to afford it?" For many California families, the answer is a Medi-Cal program called the Assisted Living Waiver, or ALW. Paradise Springs is one of only a few residential care homes in Rancho Cucamonga that accepts ALW at both of our locations, so we get asked about it often — here's a plain-language rundown.
What the ALW program actually does
The ALW is a Home and Community-Based Services waiver administered by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). Instead of requiring someone who needs nursing-facility-level care to move into a nursing home, the waiver allows that care to be delivered in a residential care facility for the elderly (RCFE) — like Paradise Springs — or an adult residential facility. It covers homemaker services, health aide support, and personal care within that residential setting.
Who qualifies
According to DHCS, to be eligible for ALW a person generally needs to:
- Be 21 years of age or older
- Have full-scope Medi-Cal eligibility with zero share of cost
- Require a nursing-facility level of care
- Be willing and able to reside safely in an assisted living setting instead of an institution
- Live in one of the participating counties — San Bernardino County (where both of our homes are located) is one of them, along with Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange, San Diego, and several others
- Be able to cover room and board costs, with enough left over for personal needs (the waiver covers care services, not the room-and-board portion)
How to apply
Applications go through a Care Coordination Agency serving your county, not directly through the residential care home. Because open ALW slots are limited and released periodically, there can be a waiting period, so it's worth starting the conversation as early as possible if you think a loved one may qualify.
Not sure where to start?
Faryal can walk you through what we've seen work for other Paradise Springs families and point you toward the right county resources.
Why it matters for families
Without a program like ALW, the cost of residential care can be out of reach for families relying on Medi-Cal. The waiver closes that gap for those who qualify, which is exactly why we made the decision to become one of the few ALW-accepting homes in the area — we didn't want financial eligibility for Medi-Cal to be the reason a family couldn't choose the home that felt right for their loved one.
Both Banyan Street and Baker Avenue accept ALW residents, and we're happy to answer eligibility questions before you've even applied.
If you'd like to talk through your family's specific situation, reach out any time — see our Care & Services page for more on what's included, or head straight to Contact Us.