Assisted Living, Board & Care, Memory Care and Senior Placement in the San Gorgonio Pass
RASCC helps Beaumont and Banning families navigate licensed senior care across the full financial spectrum—from SSI, Medi-Cal, ALW and IEHP pathways to private-pay and premium assisted living—while accounting for transportation, hospital access, family geography and the unique east–west realities of the San Gorgonio Pass.
RASCC placement assistance is provided at no cost to families and referral sources. Government-funded program eligibility, ALW enrollment, IEHP or Kaiser authorization and facility admission decisions are controlled by the applicable agencies, health plans, Care Coordination Agencies and providers.
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If your family is overwhelmed, begin here
A senior-care search in the Pass can become complicated very quickly
A family may begin searching after a fall, hospitalization, stroke, dementia progression, wandering, caregiver exhaustion, repeated medication mistakes or the realization that living alone is no longer safe. In the San Gorgonio Pass, another question immediately appears: which direction should the family search?
Some families are rooted in Beaumont or Banning. Others travel west toward Yucaipa, Redlands and Loma Linda for medical care or family. Others have relatives south toward Hemet and Menifee, or east toward the Coachella Valley. That geography can materially affect whether a placement remains practical after move-in.
RASCC helps organize the problem into manageable decisions: what care the resident needs, which type of setting can safely provide it, whether the resident may qualify for ALW or an IEHP/Kaiser pathway, what the family can sustain financially, and how far the search should expand before distance begins to interfere with family involvement.
Urgent hospital or rehabilitation discharge
We help families organize licensed residential options while they gather mobility, cognition, medication and level-of-care information and ask the health plan about applicable transition services.
SSI, Medi-Cal or very limited income
We help identify the questions to pursue around ALW, IEHP or Kaiser Medi-Cal Community Supports, IHSS, county resources, shared-room options and legitimate low-income pathways.
Private-pay placement
We compare smaller RCFEs, larger assisted living communities, memory care, room type, care-level charges and the financial impact of searching in Beaumont, Banning or nearby cities.
Premium or lifestyle-focused search
Families seeking newer communities, private suites, stronger amenities or a boutique residential setting can compare the Pass with Redlands, Yucaipa, Riverside County and nearby desert markets.
Regional placement perspective
The San Gorgonio Pass is a two-direction—and sometimes three-direction—senior-care search
Beaumont and Banning sit along Interstate 10 between the Inland Empire and the Coachella Valley. A resident’s care network may point west toward Redlands or Loma Linda, south toward Hemet and Menifee, or east toward Palm Springs and other desert communities. Families should not choose a facility based only on the shortest drive from the current home.
The resident’s physician network, hospital use, pharmacy, family routes, weather, traffic, transportation access and emergency planning all matter. Beaumont’s transit system connects west toward Redlands and the Loma Linda VA Hospital, while Banning maintains its own local Dial-A-Ride system and community services.
San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital is located in Banning near the Beaumont border and remains the principal acute-care hospital in the Pass. Some residents may also use larger medical systems in Redlands, Loma Linda or the desert depending on specialty needs and insurance networks.
Beaumont
A rapidly growing community with active senior programming, Beaumont Transit, local residential care inventory and direct access to the I-10 corridor.
Banning
An established Pass community with San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital, senior services, Banning Connect Dial-A-Ride and current DHCS-listed ALW participating facilities.
Yucaipa & Redlands
These San Bernardino County communities may become logical cross-county comparisons when family, physicians or specialty care are concentrated to the west.
Hemet & Menifee
Families whose support system is south of the Pass may benefit from comparing Riverside County options toward the San Jacinto Valley.
Cabazon & Cherry Valley
These communities matter for transportation and family geography even when the final residential placement is in Beaumont or Banning.
Coachella Valley
A wider eastbound search may make sense when the family lives in desert communities or when a specific care capability is not available closer to the Pass.
City-level research
Explore the Beaumont and Banning senior-care guides
Use this regional guide to understand the larger Pass-area strategy, then use the city pages for more detailed local placement considerations.
Different families need different financial strategies
Start with the financial pathway before calling every facility in the Pass
A resident living on SSI should not be handled like a private-pay resident. A Medi-Cal member with IEHP should not be handled like a family with commercial insurance. And a family seeking premium accommodations should not be limited to the same search radius as a resident whose priority is maximizing affordability.
| Resident situation | What to investigate | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| SSI only / very low income | Medi-Cal status, ALW, IEHP or Kaiser Medi-Cal Community Supports, IHSS if home remains safe, county benefits, shared rooms and other legitimate resources. | SSI alone often cannot pay ordinary private-pay assisted living rates. |
| Medi-Cal + IEHP | IEHP Assisted Living Facility Transitions, Enhanced Care Management when applicable, ALW, care coordination and community-based supports. | Eligibility and authorization are individualized; living expenses and provider participation must be confirmed. |
| Kaiser Permanente Medi-Cal | Kaiser Community Supports and Assisted Living Facility Transitions when program and authorization requirements are met. | A commercial Kaiser plan should not be assumed to provide the same Medi-Cal Community Supports benefit. |
| Potential ALW candidate | Full-scope Medi-Cal status, zero share of cost, nursing-facility level-of-care criteria, CCA intake, waitlist status and participating facilities. | ALW has limited capacity and a waitlist. |
| Moderate private-pay budget | Shared rooms, smaller RCFEs, Beaumont versus Banning pricing, cross-county options and complete written care charges. | Base rent may rise significantly after care fees are added. |
| Affluent / premium private pay | Private suites, boutique RCFEs, amenity-rich communities, Redlands/Yucaipa or desert comparisons, dining, transportation and future-care capacity. | Higher price does not automatically equal better staffing or better care. |
Medi-Cal Assisted Living Waiver
ALW is especially relevant in the Pass because DHCS currently lists participating facilities in both Beaumont and Banning
California’s Assisted Living Waiver (ALW) is a Medi-Cal Home and Community-Based Services program for qualifying adults who need a nursing-facility level of care but can safely live in an approved assisted living setting.
Riverside County is an ALW county. Current DHCS participating-facility information includes Amazing Grace Care Services in Beaumont and several Banning communities, including Westfield Villa Gardens, Westhills Villa Gardens and The Lakes. Facility participation, enrollment status and openings can change, so these listings should always be verified before building a placement plan around them.
- Full-scope Medi-Cal with zero share of cost is part of the eligibility criteria.
- The resident must meet nursing-facility level-of-care requirements.
- The resident must be able to live safely in an assisted living setting.
- A Care Coordination Agency is involved in enrollment and ongoing coordination.
- DHCS currently reports limited ALW capacity and a waitlist.
- Not every licensed Beaumont or Banning RCFE participates.
- Families should verify the resident’s remaining financial responsibilities before move-in.
Why local ALW inventory matters
Having current DHCS-listed participating facilities in Beaumont and Banning can help some Pass-area families remain geographically close to their support network instead of automatically moving farther west or south.
Why the waitlist still matters
A participating facility does not mean an applicant has an ALW slot. Families should work directly with an approved Care Coordination Agency and confirm enrollment before relying on waiver funding.
Managed-care pathways
IEHP and Kaiser Medi-Cal may offer Assisted Living Facility Transitions for qualifying members
For many Riverside County families, health-plan Community Supports can become part of the placement conversation. These services are powerful when the member meets criteria—but they are not the same as ordinary insurance paying any assisted living bill selected by the family.
IEHP Assisted Living Facility Transitions
IEHP currently uses the name Assisted Living Facility Transitions for the Community Support designed to help qualifying members transition from nursing-facility care or avoid institutionalization when they can safely live in an assisted living setting.
- Members transitioning from a nursing facility generally must satisfy applicable residency and safety criteria.
- Community-dwelling members must meet nursing-facility level-of-care criteria and be able to live safely in an assisted living setting.
- IEHP materials require supporting clinical documentation and proof of income.
- Living expenses must be addressed; room and board are not simply erased by the benefit.
- The selected RCFE or ARF must fit the program and member’s care needs.
Kaiser Permanente Medi-Cal
Kaiser Permanente Medi-Cal also uses Assisted Living Facility Transitions within its Community Supports framework. Kaiser materials state that members must first be authorized for time-limited transition services and that other community-based options should be considered before placement.
- Confirm the resident is enrolled in Kaiser Permanente Medi-Cal.
- Ask the Kaiser care team whether Assisted Living Facility Transitions may apply.
- Ask whether the selected setting must also participate in ALW because Riverside County is an ALW county.
- Do not assume a commercial Kaiser plan has the same benefit.
- Confirm authorization and the financial arrangement before discharge.
SSI, no-income and low-income placement
When the resident has almost no money, the search needs more strategy—not less safety
A Beaumont or Banning resident living only on SSI may not be able to afford ordinary private-pay assisted living without another program, benefit or source of support. The Pass can offer a different pricing environment than some more expensive Inland Empire communities, but that does not make every inexpensive housing arrangement appropriate for someone who needs care.
Families should first identify the complete benefit picture: Medi-Cal, health plan, ALW, IEHP or Kaiser Community Supports, IHSS if remaining home is still safe, veterans benefits when applicable, family contributions, long-term care insurance, county aging resources and whether a licensed shared room makes private pay more sustainable.
SSI / SSI-SSP
SSI provides essential monthly income but should not be assumed to cover market-rate residential care. Ask how the resident’s income interacts with the specific program or facility under consideration.
Medi-Cal
Medi-Cal may create access to ALW, managed-care Community Supports, IHSS and other services. A Medi-Cal card does not automatically make every RCFE affordable.
IHSS in the Pass
Riverside County accepts IHSS documents and provides Adult Services support through its Banning office at 901 E. Ramsey Street. Families can also use the countywide IHSS HOME Line.
Licensed shared rooms
A shared room in a licensed care home may reduce private-pay cost while preserving the licensing and oversight families expect from an RCFE.
Wider regional search
Yucaipa, Redlands, Hemet and other nearby markets may create additional financial or care options when Beaumont and Banning inventory is limited.
Do not let price hide licensure
If a house offers “24/7 senior care” for a price dramatically below the licensed market, verify whether it is actually licensed to provide care and supervision.
Understand the setting before choosing it
Board & Care, RCFE, assisted living, memory care, independent living and skilled nursing are different care paths
Residential Board & Care / RCFE
Often a smaller home-like setting for adults age 60+ who need non-medical care and supervision. Capabilities vary, so families should verify staffing, fire clearance, dementia support and mobility limits.
Large assisted living community
Often provides apartments or suites, communal dining, activities and broader amenities. Larger size does not eliminate the need to evaluate staffing and care capacity.
Memory care
Designed for residents living with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias who need enhanced structure, cueing, supervision or secured environments.
Independent living
Appropriate for older adults who want convenience and social opportunities but do not need ongoing personal care or supervision.
Skilled nursing
Provides medical care beyond ordinary assisted living. If skilled nursing is clinically necessary, the family should not force an RCFE placement simply because it feels more residential.
Home-based support
IHSS, family support, home health, home-care services and county resources may allow some residents to remain safely at home rather than move immediately.
Consumer protection
If a “senior care home” is far cheaper than licensed assisted living, verify what it is legally allowed to provide
Families under financial pressure may encounter residential houses advertising a bed, meals and “24-hour care” for dramatically less than licensed assisted living—sometimes half the market rate or less.
A low price alone does not prove that a home is operating illegally. Some housing arrangements may lawfully provide room and board without providing care and supervision that requires RCFE licensure. The concern is when an unlicensed setting is effectively functioning as a care facility while trying to remain outside the licensing system.
If your loved one needs bathing assistance, dressing, toileting, transfers, medication assistance, dementia supervision, wandering prevention, mobility support, nighttime monitoring or other ongoing care, do not treat an unlicensed room-and-board setting as though it were a licensed assisted living facility.
Warning signs that deserve closer scrutiny
- The operator refuses to provide an exact facility name or California license number.
- The home advertises “24/7 senior care” but calls itself ordinary room-and-board when asked about licensing.
- Staff appear to provide medication assistance, bathing, toileting, transfers or dementia supervision despite the absence of an RCFE license.
- The price is dramatically below comparable licensed homes and no one can explain the staffing model.
- The operator cannot explain staff training, background clearances, administrator oversight or emergency procedures.
- The operator may not carry liability insurance appropriate to the care being represented. Ask for documentation rather than assuming coverage exists.
- The family is pressured to pay immediately before reviewing written terms or licensing information.
Why licensure matters
- Licensed RCFEs are subject to California Community Care Licensing oversight and applicable regulations.
- Families can search public licensing and available compliance information.
- Licensed facilities have regulatory requirements involving resident records, staff clearances, training, medication practices, emergency planning and care.
- The licensing system creates a formal complaint and enforcement pathway.
- A license does not guarantee perfect care, so families should still tour, research and ask difficult questions.
Hospital, rehabilitation and skilled-nursing discharge
San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital can be the beginning of a placement search—not the end of the family’s decision-making
San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital is located at 600 N. Highland Springs Avenue in Banning, near the Beaumont border. Pass-area residents may also receive specialty or post-acute care farther west or east, which makes medical continuity an important part of placement planning.
When a resident cannot safely return home, ask the hospital or rehabilitation team for the clinical information prospective residential providers need. At the same time, ask the health plan or Care Coordination Agency whether ALW, IEHP Assisted Living Facility Transitions, Kaiser Community Supports or another program may be relevant.
Gather these essentials before touring facilities
- Expected discharge date and whether it is firm or tentative.
- Current diagnoses, medication list and treatment instructions.
- Mobility status: ambulatory, walker, wheelchair, transfer assistance or two-person assist.
- Activities-of-daily-living needs: bathing, dressing, toileting, feeding, grooming and continence.
- Cognitive status, dementia diagnosis, wandering, agitation or other supervision concerns.
- Wounds, oxygen, diabetes management, therapy, home health or other post-discharge services.
- Whether the resident meets or may meet nursing-facility level-of-care criteria.
- Whether an IEHP, Kaiser, CCA, ECM or other care manager is already involved.
- Any physician report or residential assessment documents needed for admission.
Transportation can determine whether a placement remains practical
Beaumont and Banning operate different local transit systems, so families should plan transportation before move-in
Beaumont Transit
Beaumont operates fixed routes, commuter links and Dial-A-Ride. The Dial-A-Ride program provides reservation-based door-to-door service for ADA-certified riders in Beaumont and parts of Cherry Valley.
- Dial-A-Ride reservations: (951) 769-8530.
- Commuter Link 120 connects Beaumont with the San Bernardino Transit Center.
- Commuter Link 125 connects toward Redlands and the Loma Linda VA Hospital.
Banning Connect Dial-A-Ride
Banning’s Dial-A-Ride serves qualifying seniors, frail elderly riders, people with disabilities and ADA-certified passengers within its applicable service area, including limited service into Beaumont.
- Eligibility and reservation requirements should be verified with Banning Transit.
- Families should confirm whether routine medical destinations are within service boundaries.
- Do not assume facility transportation replaces public or paratransit planning.
Beaumont and Banning family resources
Useful local, county and state contacts beyond placement
RASCC focuses on placement and care navigation. Families may also need meals, transportation, in-home support, abuse reporting, benefits assistance, long-term care advocacy or community programming.
Beaumont Senior Center / Club 55
Provides activities, information, assistance and community programming for older adults. Beaumont also partners with Riverside County Office on Aging and Family Service Association for a senior meal program.
Address: 1310 Oak Valley Parkway, Beaumont, CA 92223
Phone: (951) 769-8539
Banning Senior Center
The City of Banning Senior Services Division operates the Senior Center, senior programs and classes, community connections and a nutrition program.
Address: 769 N. San Gorgonio Avenue, Banning, CA 92220
Phone: (951) 922-3250
Riverside County Office on Aging
The county Area Agency on Aging provides HelpLink information and assistance, options counseling, caregiver resources, case management, nutrition programs and other services for older adults and adults with disabilities.
HelpLink: (877) 932-4100
Riverside County Adult Protective Services
APS responds to reports involving suspected abuse, neglect, financial abuse, isolation, abandonment and other serious concerns involving older and dependent adults.
24/7 hotline: (800) 491-7123
Call 911 for an immediate life-threatening emergency.Riverside County Adult Services / IHSS — Banning
Riverside County lists Adult Services and IHSS support at its Banning location and directs residents to the countywide IHSS HOME Line for appointments and assistance.
Address: 901 E. Ramsey Street, Banning, CA 92220
IHSS HOME Line: (888) 960-4477
Beaumont Transit Dial-A-Ride
Reservation-based door-to-door service for ADA-certified passengers in Beaumont and parts of Cherry Valley.
Reservations / Transit Office: (951) 769-8530
Banning Connect Dial-A-Ride
Local reservation-based transportation for eligible senior, frail elderly, disabled and ADA-certified riders within applicable Banning and Beaumont service areas.
San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital
The Pass-area acute-care hospital is located near the Beaumont–Banning boundary and can be an important part of discharge and medical-continuity planning.
Address: 600 N. Highland Springs Ave., Banning, CA 92220
Main: (951) 845-1121
DHCS Assisted Living Waiver
Official state source for ALW eligibility, enrollment, waitlist information, participating Care Coordination Agencies and participating facilities.
California Community Care Licensing
Use CDSS to verify whether a prospective RCFE or other community-care facility is licensed and to review available public compliance information.
IEHP Member Services
IEHP members can ask about Assisted Living Facility Transitions, Enhanced Care Management and other Community Supports that may be appropriate.
Member Services: (800) 440-4347
Long-Term Care Ombudsman / HICAP
Riverside County Office on Aging can connect families with long-term care advocacy and Medicare counseling resources.
Office on Aging: (877) 932-4100
California HICAP: (800) 434-0222
Questions to ask during every facility tour
The room is only one part of the decision
Who is there overnight?
Ask how many staff are physically present and what happens when multiple residents need help at the same time.
Can the resident stay after decline?
Ask about wheelchair use, transfer assistance, dementia progression, incontinence, oxygen, hospice and other changing needs.
How are medications handled?
Ask how medications are stored, assisted with, documented and reconciled after a hospitalization or prescription change.
What will the total bill be?
Request a written explanation of base rent, care charges, medication fees, supplies, transportation and likely future increases.
How will transportation work?
Ask whether the facility provides transportation and whether local transit can realistically reach the resident’s physicians, pharmacy and family.
Will family still visit often?
Consider I-10 traffic, distance and the relatives who will actually remain involved. A technically nearby placement can still become socially isolated.
A family-centered placement process
How RASCC organizes a San Gorgonio Pass placement search
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1
Tell us what is happening now
We review the current situation, hospitalization or discharge status, mobility, cognition, medications, supervision, finances, SSI/Medi-Cal status, preferred city and urgency.
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2
Clarify the appropriate setting
We help distinguish independent living, assisted living, residential Board & Care/RCFE, memory care and other possibilities. Clinical determinations remain with qualified healthcare professionals and providers.
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3
Build the financial pathway
Low-income searches may involve ALW, IEHP, Kaiser, Medi-Cal, SSI, IHSS and county resources. Private-pay searches focus on sustainable total monthly cost. Premium searches add lifestyle and amenity priorities.
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4
Choose the search direction
We begin with Beaumont and Banning, then compare Yucaipa, Redlands, Hemet or another nearby market when doing so materially improves care compatibility, affordability or family access.
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5
Compare realistic providers
RASCC helps organize provider information, availability, introductions, tours, ALW participation when applicable, care capability and current pricing questions.
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6
Support the practical transition
The family selects the preferred provider, and that provider independently completes assessment, admission, pricing and eligibility requirements. RASCC remains available through the transition.
Continue your research
Move through the RASCC Riverside County and Inland Empire resource network
San Gorgonio Pass assisted living FAQ
Questions Beaumont and Banning families frequently ask
Can someone on SSI only find assisted living in Beaumont or Banning?
Possibly, but SSI alone is often not enough to pay ordinary private-pay assisted living rates. Families should explore Medi-Cal status, ALW, IEHP or Kaiser Medi-Cal Community Supports, IHSS, county resources, licensed shared-room options and other legitimate funding pathways.
Does Medi-Cal pay for assisted living in the San Gorgonio Pass?
Medi-Cal does not automatically pay every assisted living bill. Eligible beneficiaries may qualify for specific programs such as the Assisted Living Waiver or managed-care Community Supports. Eligibility, authorization, provider participation and the resident’s financial responsibility must be confirmed.
Are there ALW facilities in Beaumont?
Yes. Current DHCS participating-facility information includes Amazing Grace Care Services in Beaumont. Participating-provider status and openings can change, so families should verify the current DHCS list and work with an approved Care Coordination Agency.
Are there ALW facilities in Banning?
Yes. Current DHCS information includes several Banning participating RCFEs, including Westfield Villa Gardens, Westhills Villa Gardens and The Lakes. Availability and enrollment status can change, so current verification is essential.
Does IEHP help with assisted living?
IEHP offers Assisted Living Facility Transitions as a Community Support for qualifying members. The service can help eligible members transition from nursing-facility care or avoid institutionalization when they can safely live in an assisted living setting. Authorization, provider requirements and living expenses must be confirmed.
Does Kaiser help pay for assisted living?
Qualifying Kaiser Permanente Medi-Cal members may be eligible for Assisted Living Facility Transitions through Community Supports. This is different from assuming a standard commercial Kaiser plan pays the assisted living monthly bill. Ask the member’s Kaiser care team about eligibility and authorization.
Can RASCC compare Beaumont, Banning, Yucaipa and Redlands?
Yes. Cross-county comparisons can be very useful in the Pass because family, physicians and hospitals may be spread across both Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
Should a Beaumont family consider Hemet or Menifee?
Sometimes. If the resident’s family or healthcare connections are south of the Pass, or if the care needs significantly narrow local choices, a Riverside County search toward Hemet or Menifee may make sense.
What is a Board & Care home?
For older adults, “Board & Care” commonly refers to a smaller residential setting licensed as a Residential Care Facility for the Elderly. Because the phrase can be used loosely in advertising, families should verify the actual California license.
How do I verify whether a Beaumont or Banning care home is licensed?
Ask for the exact legal facility name and license number and search it through the California Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing facility-search system. Review available compliance information and visit the home in person.
Is every unlicensed room-and-board home illegal?
No. Some settings may legally provide ordinary room and board without providing care and supervision that requires RCFE licensure. The concern is when an unlicensed operation provides or represents itself as providing care and supervision to elderly residents without the required license.
Why could an unlicensed home charge much less?
Costs vary for many legitimate reasons, but an unlicensed housing arrangement may not carry the same regulatory, staffing, training, insurance and compliance obligations as a licensed RCFE. A dramatically lower price should trigger careful questions about what is actually being provided.
What transportation options exist for seniors in Beaumont?
Beaumont Transit operates fixed routes, commuter links and Dial-A-Ride. Dial-A-Ride is available to ADA-certified passengers in Beaumont and parts of Cherry Valley, and commuter links provide regional connections toward San Bernardino, Redlands and the Loma Linda VA Hospital.
Does Banning have senior transportation?
Yes. Banning Connect Dial-A-Ride serves qualifying seniors, frail elderly riders, people with disabilities and ADA-certified passengers within its applicable service area. Families should verify current eligibility, reservations and destination coverage directly with Banning Transit.
Can hospice serve someone in a Beaumont or Banning RCFE?
Hospice may serve eligible residents in certain licensed residential settings when facility policies, licensing requirements and the resident’s care plan allow it. Ask the specific facility about hospice experience and any applicable limitations or waivers.
What if my parent becomes nonambulatory after moving in?
Ask before admission whether the facility can retain and safely care for nonambulatory residents and what fire-clearance, staffing or licensing restrictions may apply. A home that fits today may not automatically be appropriate after a major mobility change.
Does RASCC charge families for placement help?
RASCC placement assistance is provided at no cost to families and referral sources. RASCC may receive compensation from participating providers after a successful referred move-in. Provider pricing, licensing, program eligibility and admission decisions remain separate from RASCC.
Start with the situation you have today
Tell us what your family is dealing with in Beaumont, Banning or the surrounding Pass area
Tell us where the resident is now, the care concerns, mobility, cognition, income or private-pay budget, Medi-Cal and health-plan status, preferred direction of travel and how quickly a decision may be needed. You do not need to understand the entire system before calling.