Senior Care in Folsom: A Family Guide to Care Options, Costs and Local Help

Quick answer: Folsom families can choose help at home, a small board and care home, a larger assisted living community, memory care, or skilled nursing. Folsom has about 30 licensed assisted living and board and care homes (checked October 29, 2026). Licensed care homes in the region typically cost $4,000 to $15,000 a month. Medicare doesn’t pay for them, but because Folsom is in Sacramento County, Medi-Cal’s Assisted Living Waiver is an option for some people who qualify.

Maybe Dad moved to Folsom years ago for the lake and the quiet, and now he’s not driving at night anymore. Maybe Mom keeps missing her pills, or you got a call from a neighbor who found her outside, confused. Folsom families face these moments too, and the choices can feel like a lot.

This guide sorts it out for Folsom. It covers the kinds of care, how many licensed homes are in town, what care costs, who pays, and the local places to call. It’s general information, not medical, legal or financial advice.

The short version

• There are five main kinds of senior care, from a few hours of help at home to 24-hour nursing.
• Folsom has about 30 licensed assisted living and board and care homes. Most are small homes, and a few are larger communities.
• Licensed care homes in the region typically cost $4,000 to $15,000 a month.
• Medicare doesn’t pay for assisted living. Folsom is in Sacramento County, where Medi-Cal’s Assisted Living Waiver is offered, with a waitlist.
• Mercy Hospital of Folsom is in town, and the Folsom Senior Center is downtown on Natoma Street.

What are the main senior care options in Folsom?

• In-home care. What it is: A caregiver comes to the house for a set number of hours. Often a good fit for: Someone who is mostly safe at home but needs help with meals, bathing or errands.
• Board and care home. What it is: A house with a small number of residents, often six or fewer, and caregivers around the clock. Often a good fit for: Someone who needs a lot of hands-on help and does well in a quiet setting.
• Assisted living community. What it is: A larger building with apartments, a dining room and activities. Often a good fit for: Someone more independent who enjoys people and activities.
• Memory care. What it is: A secured setting for people with dementia. Often a good fit for: Someone who may wander or needs close supervision.
• Skilled nursing facility. What it is: 24-hour nursing and medical care, including short-term rehab. Often a good fit for: Someone with complex medical needs or recovering after a hospital stay.

In California, board and care homes and assisted living communities usually hold the same state license, called an RCFE (Residential Care Facility for the Elderly). What changes is the size, the daily feel, and how the bill is put together.

A few things to think about in Folsom:

• Help at home can work well for a while, especially if your parent’s home is on one level and family lives close by.
• Board and care homes give a quiet, home-like setting with a small group. They often suit someone who needs a lot of hands-on help.
• Assisted living communities give more activities and people. They can suit a parent who still likes to be busy.
• Memory care is for a parent with dementia who needs a secured setting and close watching.
• Skilled nursing is for daily nursing needs or rehab after a hospital stay.

How many care homes are in Folsom?

Our Folsom senior living page shows about 30 licensed assisted living and board and care homes in Folsom (checked October 29, 2026). That matches California Department of Social Services licensing data updated October 23, 2026. In that data, 24 of the 30 homes are licensed for six or fewer residents, and the rest are larger.

That mix gives Folsom families real choice between a small house and a bigger community. You can see homes in the area on our browse page. Some families also look in nearby Orangevale, Rancho Cordova and El Dorado Hills.

Which hospital serves Folsom?

Mercy Hospital of Folsom, part of Dignity Health, is at 1650 Creekside Drive, Folsom. The main number is 916-983-7400 (Dignity Health). In an emergency, call 911.

When a parent is in the hospital, ask to speak with the case manager or discharge planner early. They can tell you what level of care the doctors think your parent needs next. Then read The Hospital Says Mom Can’t Go Home. Now What? and our checklist for leaving the hospital.

What does senior care cost near Folsom?

Licensed care homes in the greater Sacramento region typically cost $4,000 to $15,000 a month. A few homes charge less, but a price under $4,000 a month is rare. These are planning ranges, not quotes. Each home sets its own price based on the room and the care your parent needs.

• Board and care, shared room. Typical monthly range: $5,000 to $7,000.
• Board and care, private room. Typical monthly range: $6,000 to $9,000.
• Assisted living, studio, light care. Typical monthly range: $5,500 to $8,000.
• Assisted living, one bedroom, moderate care. Typical monthly range: $7,000 to $10,000.
• Memory care. Typical monthly range: $8,000 to $13,000.
• High care needs or private memory care suite. Typical monthly range: $10,000 to $15,000.

For a statewide view, CareScout’s 2025 Cost of Care Survey puts the California median for assisted living (called residential care in California) at $7,000 a month, compared with $6,200 nationally (CareScout 2025 state data tables).

Always ask a home for the all-in monthly price for your parent’s care level, and what could make it go up later.

For more on Sacramento area prices, see How Much Does Assisted Living Cost in Sacramento in 2026?

Who pays for senior care in Folsom?

The surprise most families hit: Medicare does not pay for assisted living or board and care. It covers hospital care, short-term rehab after a qualifying stay, and hospice (Medicare.gov).

• Private pay. Most families use income, savings, pensions or Social Security.
• Long-term care insurance. If your parent has a policy, call the company early and ask how to start a claim.
• Veterans benefits. Veterans and surviving spouses may qualify for VA Aid and Attendance. See our VA Aid and Attendance guide.
• Medi-Cal’s Assisted Living Waiver. It is offered in Sacramento County, which includes Folsom. It helps pay for care in a licensed home for people who qualify, but people in the waiver still pay room and board, and there is a waitlist (DHCS). Our Medi-Cal waiver guide explains more.

Which kind of care fits your parent?

• If your parent is safe at home but needs help with meals, bathing or rides, then start with in-home care or family help.
• If your parent needs help day and night, then a board and care home or assisted living may fit.
• If your parent has dementia and may wander, then look at memory care or a home that cares for people with dementia.
• If your parent needs nursing every day, or rehab after a hospital stay, then ask the hospital team about skilled nursing.
• If you’re worried about your parent’s driving, then read When Should Mom or Dad Stop Driving?
• If your parent’s current home has given a 30-day notice, then read What to Do After a 30-Day Notice.

A checklist for Folsom families

• Write down what help your parent needs, morning to night.
• List doctors, medicines and the pharmacy your parent uses.
• Find the Medicare card, insurance cards and any long-term care policy.
• Set a monthly budget and think about how long it needs to last.
• If Medi-Cal may be part of the plan, ask early, because there is a waitlist for the waiver.
• Ask your parent what matters most, like staying near friends, church or the lake.
• Plan tours, and go at mealtime if you can.

Local help in Folsom and Sacramento County

• Folsom Senior Center serves adults 55 and older at 48 Natoma Street, between City Hall and the Police Department. It’s open Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Friday, 9 a.m. to noon. Phone: 916-461-6601 (City of Folsom).
• Agency on Aging Area 4 gives free information to older adults and families in Sacramento and Placer counties: (916) 486-1876 or (800) 211-4545 (Agency on Aging Area 4).
• 211 Sacramento is the Information and Assistance line for Sacramento County listed by Agency on Aging Area 4. Dial 2-1-1 or (916) 498-1000 (Agency on Aging Area 4, Sacramento County services).
• Meals on Wheels Sacramento County: (916) 444-9533 (Agency on Aging Area 4).
• HICAP gives free Medicare counseling: (916) 376-8915 or (800) 434-0222 (Agency on Aging Area 4).
• Long-Term Care Ombudsman helps people who live in care homes, and their families, with concerns about care or rights: (916) 376-8910. The state CRISISline is 1-800-231-4024, 24/7 (Agency on Aging Area 4).
• Sacramento County Adult Protective Services takes reports of elder abuse or neglect at (916) 874-9377 (Agency on Aging Area 4). In an emergency, call 911.
• Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline: 800-272-3900, for families caring for someone with dementia (Alzheimer’s Association).

How Nonna Placements works: Nonna Placements is free to families. The home pays our fee when someone moves in, so families never pay us. You can choose any home. If the first home doesn’t work out, we find another for free. This article is general information, not medical, legal or financial advice.

Talk to someone who knows Folsom

You don’t have to sort this out alone.

Nonna Placements helps families across California, with a focus on Placer and Sacramento counties. We only suggest homes we’ve seen ourselves. We can come on tours with you. For out-of-state families, we offer video tours. It’s free to your family, because the home pays our fee.

If you’re leaning toward care at home instead, call or text us and we can help you find in-home care options.

Call or text (916) 261-2644 or email roberto@nonnaplacements.com. We reply within 1 hour, 24/7.

Related reading: How Much Does Assisted Living Cost in Sacramento in 2026? · Does Medi-Cal Pay for Assisted Living? · Sacramento Assisted Living Guide · When Should Mom or Dad Stop Driving? · Senior living in Folsom

Sources

• Nonna Placements, Senior living in Folsom (checked October 29, 2026; count matches California Department of Social Services licensing data updated October 23, 2026): nonnaplacements.com
• City of Folsom, Senior Center (checked October 29, 2026): folsom.ca.us
• Dignity Health, Mercy Hospital of Folsom (checked October 29, 2026): commonspirit.org
• Agency on Aging Area 4, Sacramento County services, Contact us, Long-Term Care Ombudsman, and Report elder abuse (checked October 29, 2026): agencyonaging4.org
• California Department of Health Care Services, Assisted Living Waiver (checked October 29, 2026): dhcs.ca.gov
• Medicare.gov, Long-term care (checked October 29, 2026): medicare.gov
• CareScout, 2025 Cost of Care Survey state data tables (checked October 29, 2026): carescout.com

About the author

Roberto Hategan is the CEO & Founder of Nonna Placements, a senior placement service in Granite Bay serving families across California, with a focus on Placer and Sacramento counties. We only suggest homes we’ve seen ourselves. Contact: roberto@nonnaplacements.com

Photo credits: Stephen Leonardi, Jinshu Pulpatta and Karen F, via Pexels, Pexels License.