Families can find the right type of care in Fresno for their senior loved one, whether that’s a nursing home, assisted living, or memory care community. Known as “America’s breadbasket” and praised for its farm-to-fork dining experiences, Fresno is also rich with senior- and family-friendly activities.
Sometimes, the term nursing home is used to refer broadly to all senior care communities. On this page, we use this term specifically when referring to skilled nursing facilities. Skilled nursing care involves 24/7 medical oversight and support from highly trained medical staff. If your loved one doesn’t need such an advanced level of care, an assisted living community may be more appropriate, where seniors receive help with daily tasks and social activities. There are also memory care communities, which are specialized assisted living facilities designed to support seniors with dementia.
While A Place for Mom doesn’t partner with skilled nursing facilities, we have a robust network of 29 partner assisted living and memory care communities in a 10-mile radius of north-central Fresno. Many of these communities also provide on-site skilled nursing services to current residents. Use this guide to find the right care for you or your loved one in Fresno. You’ll find information on senior care costs in Fresno, how seniors pay, and the features of our partner senior care communities. We also outline state-wide laws and regulations, and provide contact information for local senior support resources.
10 Best Nursing Homes in Fresno, CA
Families can find the right type of care in Fresno for their senior loved one, whether that’s a nursing home, assisted living, or memory care community. Known as “America’s breadbasket” and praised for its farm-to-fork dining experiences, Fresno is also rich with senior- and family-friendly activities.Read more
Sometimes, the term nursing home is used to refer broadly to all senior care communities. On this page, we use this term specifically when referring to skilled nursing facilities. Skilled nursing care involves 24/7 medical oversight and support from highly trained medical staff. If your loved one doesn’t need such an advanced level of care, an assisted living community may be more appropriate, where seniors receive help with daily tasks and social activities. There are also memory care communities, which are specialized assisted living facilities designed to support seniors with dementia.
While A Place for Mom doesn’t partner with skilled nursing facilities, we have a robust network of 29 partner assisted living and memory care communities in a 10-mile radius of north-central Fresno. Many of these communities also provide on-site skilled nursing services to current residents. Use this guide to find the right care for you or your loved one in Fresno. You’ll find information on senior care costs in Fresno, how seniors pay, and the features of our partner senior care communities. We also outline state-wide laws and regulations, and provide contact information for local senior support resources.
Nursing Homes Facilities near Fresno, CA
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- Compare local facilities
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- What families are saying about nursing homes in Fresno
- Costs of nursing homes in the Fresno area
- How people pay for a nursing home in Fresno
- Understand California laws and regulations for nursing homes
- Get to know senior living in Fresno
- What to expect from nursing homes in Fresno
- Explore senior care with confidence
- Unfamiliar with Fresno? Highlights for seniors
What families are saying about nursing homes in Fresno
Recent reviews for nursing homes in Fresno
Bethel Lutheran Home in Selma, CA
Paintbrush Assisted Living and Memory Support in Fresno, CA
Fairwinds - Woodward Park in Fresno, CA
Costs of nursing homes in the Fresno area
Skilled nursing facilities, or nursing homes, are the most expensive senior care options in Fresno. The 24/7 medical care that doctors and nurses provide make the monthly cost much higher than other care types, such as assisted living and memory care.
In 2021, the median monthly cost of a private room in a Fresno skilled nursing facility was $10,038, and $8,638 for a semi-private room.[01] Typically, these costs vary depending on your chosen facility’s services, amenities, and location. Even so, the following features and services are commonly included in nursing home costs:
- Personal care services
- 24/7 skilled medical care and oversight
- Transportation to medical appointments
- Housekeeping and laundry services
- Three meals a day, plus snacks
- Senior-specific amenities
- Activity programming
- Landscaped outdoor common areas
However, we understand that the senior in your life may not require intensive 24/7 medical care. In that case, take a moment to review our Fresno assisted living and Fresno memory care pages. These two care types cost significantly less per month than skilled nursing home care and are better suited for seniors who only need general assistance and supervision.
Average monthly cost of Nursing Homes in Fresno, CA vs. nearby cities
Fresno, CA
How people pay for a nursing home in Fresno
We’ll guide you through payment methods often used by families to cover senior care costs, whether for skilled nursing, assisted living, or memory care. First, we outline the most common types of private payment methods. Personal assets can often be combined with health care benefits to make the most out of long-term senior care. Next, we describe how senior long-term care benefits like Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits, Medi-Cal, and Medicare are typically used to cover different forms of senior care.
We’ll help you understand which options might work best for the senior in your life. You’ll also find local contacts, resources, and application assistance for families in Fresno.
When planning for the costs of senior care, personal finances are where seniors and their families typically begin. Your personal assets such as pensions, savings accounts, investment returns, Social Security benefits, and other sources are the first places to look to fund a preferred senior living community. Depending on resources, the options below are other ways families look to free up funds to cover long-term senior care and living costs:
Approximate number of veterans who live in Fresno
Approximately 26% of veterans in Fresno are 75+.
It’s possible for senior care costs to be covered by a range of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits. Continue reading to learn what may apply to Fresno senior veterans or their surviving spouses.
The benefit option that’s typically the most generous to disabled veterans is the VA Aid and Attendance benefit. Disabled senior veterans who are enrolled in VA health care — or their surviving spouse — may be eligible for these monthly payments. By combining VA Aid and Attendance with a Veterans Pension, seniors can afford costs of senior living and services that improve their quality of life.
CalVet’s Veterans Benefit Enhancement (VBE) program
Seniors or their surviving spouses may want to consider CalVet as they begin the process of accessing VA benefits. This is a California-specific program that helps veterans maximize the benefits available to them through the state and federal governments. The first step is to enroll in a Veterans Benefit Enhancement program (VBE). VBEs are key when transitioning from Medi-Cal to VA health care, which opens the door to even more veterans benefits.
Regardless of the type of care they need, many seniors think they won’t qualify for VA benefits. We recommend browsing the VA’s list of service-connected disabilities to see what applies. However, this list doesn’t necessarily include all combat- and military-related qualifying conditions. Please reach out to a local veterans service organization (VSO), because getting help with the application and identifying qualifying disabilities is crucial to a successful application.
Find help through your local VSOs
Let your local, VA-vetted veterans service organizations (VSOs) guide you with their expertise. From increasing your likelihood of a successful application to appealing denied claims, VSOs can help alleviate the challenge. The following local resources are a great place to start for seniors who plan to apply for VA benefits:
- The Fresno County Veterans Service Office can provide help through the entire process of attaining VA benefits.
- The Fresno Vet Center provides confidential assistance and counseling throughout the benefit attainment process.
- Fresno’s Veterans of Foreign War (VFW) chapter and Disabled American Veterans (DAV) chapter advocate for senior veterans and provide application assistance.
Resources for Fresno veterans
Fresno County Veterans Service Office
1320 E. Shaw Ave., Suite 105
Fresno, CA 93710
Phone: 559-600-5463
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Friday 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
1320 E. Shaw Ave., Suite 125
Fresno, CA 93710
Phone: 559-487-5660
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW): E.G. Henry Gutierrez VFW Post 8900
3585 N. Blythe Ave.
Fresno, CA 93722
Phone: 559-275-4061
Disabled American Veterans (DAV): Homer Blevins Chapter 1
3508 N. First St.
Fresno, CA 93726
Phone: 559-241-6418
Meets at 5:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month
The state’s Medicaid program, called Medi-Cal, helps those with low-income status cover the cost of health care services. These can include hospital stays, medical appointments, and rehabilitation services. Using Covered California is a helpful way to apply for Medi-Cal. It’s the state’s online health care portal that allows eligible residents to choose a Medi-Cal plan as well as other low-cost, full-coverage health care plans.
Medi-Cal considers medically necessary skilled nursing care to be a mandatory benefit. Eligible seniors in Fresno have the option to use Medi-Cal to cover the costs of care in a nursing care facility or in a home health care agency, as long as the facility or agency is contracted with Medi-Cal.[04]
Medi-Cal for in-home health care services
In-home supportive services may include skilled nursing services if they are declared medically necessary by a physician. The services must also be provided by agencies contracted with Medi-Cal. From there, seniors can continue living in their homes or in an assisted living facility while getting skilled medical care services. However, not every assisted living facility is contracted with Medi-Cal. Please check with the senior living facility you’re interested in to see what on-site care services may be covered by Medi-Cal.
Note: If the facility you’re interested in isn’t contracted with Medi-Cal for their on-site skilled nursing services, there’s another option. Some seniors are able to receive in-home health care services in their place of residence via Medi-Cal-contracted, third-party home health care agencies.
The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) is an in-home long-term care option available through California’s Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). Through this program, seniors have the option to receive skilled medical care without moving into a skilled nursing facility. To enroll in PACE and receive in-home health care, seniors must meet all of the following requirements:[05]
- Be at least 55 years of age
- Live in an area served by PACE
- Receive confirmation from the DHCS that skilled nursing services are needed
- Currently live safely within their home or assisted living community
Medi-Cal for assisted living and memory care
Seniors who are eligible for Medi-Cal may also benefit from the Assisted Living Waiver. This waiver removes the need for seniors to move into a hospital or skilled nursing facility and helps them receive care in an assisted living facility instead. However, it only covers the cost of care services, not the cost of room and board.
You can also look into any of A Place for Mom’s partner assisted living and memory care communities that provide on-site skilled nursing services. If current residents grow to need higher levels of care during their stay, they don’t necessarily have to move into a separate facility.
Support with Medi-Cal
Enrolling in Medi-Cal is pretty simple, but identifying the Medi-Cal programs that can benefit you or your loved one most can sometimes be confusing. Please browse the following resources to get more information on the application process and your local Medi-Cal programs:
- California’s Medi-Cal Rx Member Helpline and the Fresno-Madera Agency on Aging can help start your application effectively.
- The local long-term care ombudsman program supports seniors through the application process and helps with accessing programs after enrollment.
- My Medi-Cal is a comprehensive guide to help you understand your benefits.
Fresno resident Medi-Cal resources
2037 W. Bullard Ave., Suite 512
Fresno, CA 93711
Phone: 559-214-0299
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Valley Caregiver Resource Center: Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
5363 N. Fresno St.
Fresno, CA 93710
Phone: 559-224-9177, ext. 401
Apply through Covered California
2631 W. Olympic Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90006
Phone: 800-650-0922
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Medicare is a federal health insurance program that usually covers medical costs for seniors age 65+. A maximum of 100 days of nursing home care in a Fresno skilled nursing facility is covered by Medicare either in full or in part.[06] Review each part of Medicare below to see what may be covered:[07]
- Medicare Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, some in-home health care, hospice care, and rehabilitation services.
- Medicare Part B covers some doctors’ appointments, preventive services, outpatient care, and medical supplies.
- Medicare Part D covers some prescription medications and vaccines.
Note: Medicare does not cover the cost of room and board in assisted living and memory care communities. However, medical care costs may be covered if they occur during a senior’s stay in these types of facilities.
Seniors might also be able to save money on Medicare premiums and prescriptions through Medicare Savings Programs. Seniors who meet low-income requirements and are already enrolled in Medicare can apply for Medicare Savings Programs online through BenefitsCal.
Support with Medicare
Follow the steps below for additional support with the application and accessing benefits:
- Before seeking help elsewhere, visit the local Social Security Administration office.
- Contact the local long-term care ombudsman program or enroll in the Medicare Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) to apply for and fully understand Medicare benefits.
- To learn about local senior programs and services, consider the Fresno County 211 helpline and the Fresno-Madera Agency on Aging.
Fresno resident Medicare resources
Fresno Office — Social Security Administration
845 Fulton St.
Fresno, CA 93721
Phone: 800-772-1213
Valley Caregiver Resource Center: Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
5363 N. Fresno St.
Fresno, CA 93710
Phone: 559-224-9177, ext. 401
Valley Caregiver Resource Center: Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP)
5363 N. Fresno St.
Fresno, CA 93710
Phone: 559-224-9117, ext. 304
2037 W. Bullard Ave., Suite 512
Fresno, CA 93711
Phone: 559-214-0299
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Understand California laws and regulations for nursing homes
Fresno’s nursing homes or skilled nursing facilities are licensed by the California Department of Public Health (or CDPH). Each nursing facility must provide the following services to their residents:[08]
- Skilled nursing services
- Physician services
- Dietary services
- Pharmaceutical services
- Activity programming
- Arranged transportation to medical services that can’t be provided on-site
- A plan for emergency medical care if the on-site physician isn’t present
The caregivers and residents’ living spaces in California’s skilled nursing facilities also have a range of requirements:[08]
- Enough nursing staff must be on-site so that each resident gets a minimum of three hours of services per day.
- Each staff member must participate in continuing education on safety and care procedures.
- Each facility is licensed for a certain number of residents and beds that cannot be exceeded.
- Each room must have a bed, table, chair, and space to keep the resident’s belongings.
When a skilled nursing facility accepts Medi-Cal or Medicare, it’s also regulated by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (also known as CMS). CMS has the right to approve or deny a facility’s state-level certification through the CDPH.[09]
California laws and regulations for assisted living and memory care
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) regulates and licenses assisted living facilities, memory care facilities, and residential care homes in Fresno.[10] Every facility is required to follow regulations like the following:[11]
- House a maximum of two residents per bedroom
- Provide individual privacy in each bathroom
- Ensure bedrooms can accommodate equipment, such as wheelchairs and walkers
- Provide clean and accessible common areas for residents
- Provide activities involving social, leisure, and daily living skills
Fresno’s memory care communities have additional staff ratio and training requirements:[12]
- Each community must have one staff member awake and on duty at night.
- When a community has over 16 residents, there must also be an on-call staff member.
- Each caregiver must have at least eight annual hours in dementia-specific training.
In addition, the CDSS requires that seniors be assessed before moving into an assisted living or memory care facility. Assessments should involve interviews and a review of the senior’s health records.
Inspection reports
Skilled nursing home facilities are inspected each year by the Licensing and Certification Division of the CDPH.[13] The CDPH Center for Health Care Quality (or CHCQ) has an online dashboard that allows you to search by facility name or type. You can also browse the county’s common skilled nursing home facility violations. Assisted living and memory care facilities are inspected by the California Department of Social Services (or CDSS) once a year and within 10 days of a complaint.[11]
Inspection reports and a list of licensed communities can be found in the CDSS Care Facility Search. Scroll to “Search By Facility Group,” choose “Elderly Assisted Living,” choose the “Facility Type” and “Fresno County,” and then click on the search button. You can also search by community name or address if you have that information.
California Department of Health contact information
California Department of Public Health
1616 Capitol Ave.
Sacramento, CA 95899-7377
Phone: 916-558-1784
COVID-19 regulations for Fresno nursing homes
Fresno County recommends that residents get tested when needed and stay up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines. There isn’t a current mask mandate, but the county follows the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) COVID-19 guidance.
Note: Fresno senior care communities may have individual COVID-19 guidelines in place. Please contact your prospective community to know what to expect.
Get to know senior living in Fresno
What to expect from nursing homes in Fresno
A Place for Mom’s Fresno partners can help local seniors find the right senior care community. Choose a Fresno community that provides skilled nursing, assisted living, memory care, or a combination of all care services. Below, we outline each type of senior care community in detail so you can understand what to expect.
Fresno nursing homes and senior care facilities
Fresno nursing homes or skilled nursing facilities provide 24/7 medical care and skilled observation through highly trained medical caregivers, like doctors and nurses. In some instances, the medical caregivers can arrange rehabilitation services if a senior needs to recover from an illness or procedure. However, some seniors and their families choose among the 31% of our Fresno partner assisted living and memory care communities that also provide skilled nursing services.
Please note that most assisted living communities usually only provide access to on-site skilled nursing care to current residents. It’s rare for these facilities to admit seniors who are already in need of this high level of care. So, if you have the opportunity to help your senior loved one establish residency in an assisted living facility before they require 24/7 care, it’s something to consider. If it works out, your elder family member can stay in their preferred assisted living community even if their needs change, rather than moving to an institutional nursing home.
Explore senior care with confidence
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See what you can afford.
Understand cost and payment for long-term care based on your loved one's needs.
Find top facilities for you.
Free, personalized guidance from our Senior Living Advisors can help you narrow your search.
Tour your favorite facilities.
Our free touring checklist can help you choose the right community.
Unfamiliar with Fresno? Highlights for seniors
Approximate number of seniors age 75+ living in Fresno
Health care for seniors in Fresno
Wherever seniors live in Fresno, there are local health care options that can fit their needs. Browse the top-rated local medical centers below, including a veteran-specific clinic and medical centers with doctors who specialize in dementia.
Community Regional Medical Center
Community Regional Medical Center is a general medical and surgical hospital. It’s staffed with medical professionals that specialize in Alzheimer’s disease. It’s also a teaching hospital that ranks highly for specialties related to heart failure, stroke, and uterine cancer.
Fresno Heart and Surgical Hospital
Fresno Heart and Surgical Hospital is a heart facility in the Community Regional Medical Center network. They have dozens of private suites for patients and are located across the street from an advanced diagnostic laboratory.
Kaiser Permanente Fresno Medical Center
Kaiser Permanente Fresno Medical Center is a general medical and surgical hospital with a dedicated memory care clinic. It ranks highly for adult needs such as heart failure, kidney failure, stroke, and pneumonia.
Fresno Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Fresno Veterans Affairs Medical Center is a general medical and surgical hospital. Veterans can access care 24/7, including primary care and many types of specialty health care services.
Transportation for seniors in Fresno
About 83% of A Place for Mom’s partner assisted living and memory care facilities provide transportation services to residents. Whether it’s a complimentary or at-cost service, these transportation options are a secure and reliable way for seniors to navigate Fresno. Common reasons seniors use these transportation services are for community outings, errands, and doctor’s appointments.
Families and visitors also have convenient options for exploring this car-dependent city if they don’t have their own transportation:
- Bike-friendly routes
- Walkable areas
- Fresno Area Express (or FAX) buses, all of which can accommodate people with physical disabilities
- Shared ride services, such as Lyft and Uber
- Local taxi services
Senior activities in Fresno
Fresno is full of experiences for visitors and those exploring with their senior loved ones. The spellbinding Sierra National Forest, gorgeous Yosemite, and more California destinations are never far away in the center of the California Central Valley. For locally tailored activities, explore the helpful Visit Fresno website to create meaningful memories with your loved one. We’ve also provided some local highlights below that we think residents of our senior partner communities may enjoy.
Outdoor opportunities
Enjoy Fresno’s tranquil outdoor spaces with loved ones.
- Stroll along walking paths or relax in the serene Japanese garden in Woodward Park.
- Stop by the Clovis Botanical Garden for a calming sensory experience and pristine, themed displays of plant life.
- The Forestiere Underground Gardens is another one of Fresno’s hidden gems. It boasts wheelchair-accessible tunnels that lead to pristine gardens and courtyards. This is a particularly creative way for locals to escape Fresno’s summertime heat.
The center of “America’s breadbasket”
Join your loved one on an experiential journey through Fresno’s farm-to-table flavors.
- Visit the city’s unique outdoor markets for local produce, handmade gifts, and more.
- Get a feel for what gives Fresno its name by visiting the popular farm-to-table restaurants.
- Walk through the Tower District for a grand variety of coffee shops and eateries.
Fresno’s vibrant community
This historical Californian city suits a range of interests.
- The Fresno Art Museum has a disability-friendly layout and paints a picture of the local diversity.
- Accompany your loved one to Old Town Clovis, known for its historic streets and the Vintage and Antiques District.
- The nearby Clovis Senior Activity Center offers seniors a place of their own, where classes and activities help to form new friendships.
Frequently Asked Questions
are the top-rated Nursing Homes facilities near Fresno, CA. These Nursing Homes facilities received the highest rankings based on verified family reviews. See full list of communities.
The average cost of Nursing Homes in Fresno is per month. This cost may vary based on location, amenities, floorplan, level of care and other factors.
References
Genworth. (2022, June 2). Cost of care survey.
A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Fresno city profile. American Community Survey.
Medicaid.gov. Mandatory and optional Medicaid benefits.
Department of Health Care Services. (2023, January 12). Program of all-inclusive care for the elderly.
U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Skilled nursing facility (SNF) care. Medicare.gov.
U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. What’s Medicare? Medicare.gov.
Required Services, 22 CCR § 72301 (1983 & rev. 2023).
Williams, M. (2014, January 15). Overview of inspection processes. Division of Public & Behavioral Health.
California Department of Social Services. (2023). Laws and regulations. CA.gov.
State of California Health and Human Services Agency. Department of Social Services. (2008). Manual of Policies and Procedures Community Care Licensing Division: Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFE), Title 22, Division 6, Chapter 8.
California Assisted Living Association. (2015). California compendium of residential care and assisted living regulations and policy.
California Association of Health Facilities. (2021, March). Facts and statistics – Long-term care providers.
U.S. World and News Report. (2023). Best hospitals in Fresno, California.
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