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Assisted Living in California

Overview of assisted living in California

From the Golden Gate Bridge to the Hollywood sign, California is a state rich with culture and treasured by all who visit or live here. In California, assisted living communities are ensconced in the state’s diverse beauty, from sprawling greenery and redwood forests in the north to salty air and towering palm trees in the south.

Assisted living is best for seniors who are relatively independent, but would benefit from assistance with their activities of daily living (ADLs), like eating, dressing, grooming, and using the restroom. The cost of A Place for Mom’s partner assisted living communities in California comes in at a median monthly cost of roughly $5,100 or $61,200 annually.[01]

Top-rated Assisted Living facilities in California

15
15 Photos available

Alalik Care Home

11152 Woodley Ave, Granada Hills, CA 91344

Reviewer Ranking

4.9/ 5.0

(32)
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Emma B - I'm a current/former resident or client

I moved to Alalik Care on [date removed], and I'm thrilled with my decision. The staff is incredibly kind and attentive, making me feel right at home from day one. The facilities are excellent, with...

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3
3 Photos available

Carmel Care Home

11971 4th Avenue, Hesperia, CA 92345

Reviewer Ranking

5.0/ 5.0

(36)
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Lindsay P - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Overall experience has been great. Our mom is being well taken cared for and very glad to know her needs and safety are being met. Owners are being attentive and all caring to her needs and are beyond...

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15
15 Photos available

Golden Years Elderly Care, Inc

12772 Hawks Hill St, Victorville, CA 92395

Reviewer Ranking

4.8/ 5.0

(54)
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anthony A - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

I was always treated with respect when visiting my grandmother. The love, respect, and effort they pit into taking care of my grandmother was outstanding and very much appreciated. Highly recommend!

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Top-rated Assisted Living facilities in Beverly Hills

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7
7 Photos available
4
4 Floor plans available

Sunrise of Beverly Hills

201 North Crescent Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Reviewer Ranking

4.8/ 5.0

(45)
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

I think the staff is great very friendly. I see the same people all the time and I like them so that's great. The room size is good very good and the amenities I believe were good ones. Minor thought was...

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11
11 Photos available

Paradise Senior Living 1

8435 Aura Ave, Northridge, CA 91324

Reviewer Ranking

4.9/ 5.0

(15)
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Kim - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Paradise Senior Living has been a safe haven for caring for my mother during a very difficult period. The house is very clean with a lovely backyard. The food is excellent and the level of care is above...

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15
15 Photos available

Alalik Care Home

11152 Woodley Ave, Granada Hills, CA 91344

Reviewer Ranking

4.9/ 5.0

(32)
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Emma B - I'm a current/former resident or client

I moved to Alalik Care on [date removed], and I'm thrilled with my decision. The staff is incredibly kind and attentive, making me feel right at home from day one. The facilities are excellent, with...

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Top-rated Assisted Living facilities in Los Angeles

See top facilities
11
11 Photos available

Paradise Senior Living 1

8435 Aura Ave, Northridge, CA 91324

Reviewer Ranking

4.9/ 5.0

(15)
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Kim - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Paradise Senior Living has been a safe haven for caring for my mother during a very difficult period. The house is very clean with a lovely backyard. The food is excellent and the level of care is above...

Get Pricing
15
15 Photos available

Alalik Care Home

11152 Woodley Ave, Granada Hills, CA 91344

Reviewer Ranking

4.9/ 5.0

(32)
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Emma B - I'm a current/former resident or client

I moved to Alalik Care on [date removed], and I'm thrilled with my decision. The staff is incredibly kind and attentive, making me feel right at home from day one. The facilities are excellent, with...

Get Pricing
7
7 Photos available
4
4 Floor plans available

Sunrise of Beverly Hills

201 North Crescent Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Reviewer Ranking

4.8/ 5.0

(45)
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

I think the staff is great very friendly. I see the same people all the time and I like them so that's great. The room size is good very good and the amenities I believe were good ones. Minor thought was...

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Top-rated Assisted Living facilities in Sacramento

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43
43 Photos available

Siebenthal Care Home

7948 Hunts Run Way, Sacramento, CA 95828

Reviewer Ranking

4.6/ 5.0

(14)
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

[name removed] and I rate the care home at 5 for all of these. Mom's been very difficult and the staff has been very patient with her - and does a great job of keeping us up-to-date on her daily activities...

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23
23 Photos available
1
1 Floor plans available

Greenhaven Place

6350 Riverside Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95831

Reviewer Ranking

4.7/ 5.0

(77)
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Jennifer P - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

The staff at Greenhaven Place always go above and beyond to make sure the residents are happy. Also they have a very personable relationship with the residents which makes it feel like home. Glad to have my...

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17
17 Photos available
3
3 Floor plans available

Regency Place Senior Living

8190 Arroyo Vista Dr, Sacramento, CA 95823

Reviewer Ranking

4.6/ 5.0

(30)
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Marti - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Excellent place however my nephew was there for five months and decide to move because he did not like the healthy food that was being served. He never left his room to try to mix with others so he did not...

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Top-rated Assisted Living facilities in San Diego

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17
17 Photos available

Silvergate Rancho Bernardo

16061 Avenida Venusto, San Diego, CA 92128

Reviewer Ranking

4.8/ 5.0

(22)
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Sue - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

After researching many facilities in San Diego, we easily made the decision to place our mom at Silvergate Rancho Bernardo. No doubt, it was the best of the facilities we toured. The well-thought-out design...

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11
11 Photos available
3
3 Floor plans available

Atria Collwood

5308 Monroe Avenue, San Diego, CA 92115

Reviewer Ranking

4.3/ 5.0

(98)
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

The friendliness of the staff gets a 5+. (There have been 2 or 3 cooks since my mom has been there and the current one is not the best). It's a very personal choice but Atria has been a great fit for my mom....

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14
14 Photos available

Stellar Care

4518 54th Street, San Diego, CA 92115

Reviewer Ranking

4.6/ 5.0

(38)
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

The staff is very attentive to the residents and notice things that might become problems. I would and have recommended Stellar Care to others I know.

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Cost of assisted living in California

According to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data, the cost of our partner assisted living communities in California ranges from about $3,000 to $8,600 per month. The median cost, where half the prices are higher and half are lower, is $5,100 per month. This is slightly higher than the national median cost, which is approximately $4,800 per month.[01] These figures account for all fees, including amenities and care costs, and reflect actual costs experienced by seniors referred to their community by A Place for Mom.

There’s a reason for the wide cost range for California’s assisted living, and it’s based on a few different elements. Individual assisted living communities set their own price points based on the following factors:

  • Location. The cost of assisted living typically increases in locations with a higher cost of living, and California’s cost of living is 1.34 times higher than the national average the third most expensive state in the U.S.[02] For example, in Los Angeles with a population of over three million, the median monthly cost is about $7,600, whereas Riverside with a population of around 317,000 has a median monthly cost of about $3,900, according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data.[01]
  • Care level. Many assisted living communities only provide personal care while others offer additional care, such as specialized dementia care, at a higher cost. The monthly cost at an assisted living community will depend on the level of care you or your loved one requires and how much that community charges for each care level. A physician and community staff can help you determine this.
  • Services and amenities. While some communities are all-inclusive, assisted living communities often offer their services and amenities based on a tiered or a-la-carte pricing model. Through these models, residents are able to pick and choose which services and amenities they’d like to pay for. For example, a community’s monthly price could include access to the on-site fitness center, but group classes and personal training services might incur an additional fee.
  • Floor plan. Like with any apartment or rental home, assisted living prices vary based on the size and layout of the floor plan. Most assisted living communities offer a choice of one-, two-, or three-bedroom apartment-style homes. Some might even offer bungalow or cottage-style homes. Prices are typically higher the more bedrooms and bathrooms in the floor plan, but you can often save money by splitting rent and utility costs with a roommate.

No matter what your monthly payment ends up being, there are several options that can help you or your family pay for assisted living. Read about California’s options below.

Compare costs of California vs. the national average

Average monthly costs

California

$4,278/mo

US National average

$4,392/mo

Compare costs of assisted living vs. nearby states

Average monthly costs

California

$4,278/mo

Nevada

$4,173/mo

Arizona

$3,664/mo

Utah

$3,641/mo

Oregon

$4,315/mo

Compare costs of assisted living in California vs. nearby cities

Average monthly costs

California

$4,278/mo

San Diego, CA

$4,553/mo

San Jose, CA

$5,494/mo

Compare costs of assisted living vs. other senior care types in California

Average monthly costs

Let our care assessment guide you

Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.

Paying for assisted living in California

At least 20% of today’s 65-year-olds will need long-term care for at least five years.[03] This is why it’s so important to start planning ahead for assisted living costs. Many families are able to pay for long-term care using personal savings. However, most families use a combination of payment methods, including private funds, Medicare, Medicaid, and any applicable veterans benefits.

Whether you decide to leverage your health savings account (HSA) or put your Social Security benefits toward your long-term care costs, there’s a range of payment options to help you pay for assisted living in California.

California is home to over 1.3 million veterans, 27% of whom are age 75 or older.[04] The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers numerous benefits for veterans. While the VA doesn’t pay for assisted living directly, its benefits help eligible veterans and their spouses pay for the costs associated with assisted living. Additionally, if you or your loved one is a wartime veteran with an ailment or disability acquired during service, you could qualify for additional VA benefits. To find out if you qualify, you can start by reading the VA’s list of service-connected ailments.

Eligibility requirements and application processes can be convoluted and confusing at times. Seek assistance with your VA benefits from a benefits counselor. Not only can a benefits counselor guide you through your application, they can help you determine which benefits you or a spouse could be eligible for and increase the likelihood of a successful application.

Veterans resources local to California include local benefits counselors, VA centers, and nonprofit veterans service organizations (VSOs), including the following:

  • The California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) provides services for veterans and their families, including programs, resources, and health care specific to women veterans; benefits, programs, and services specific to minority and LGBTQ+ veterans; and benefit counseling and assistance for veterans and their families. You can contact CalVet via email or make a toll-free call at 800-952-5626.
  • The California American Legion is a chapter of the nation’s largest VSO, The American Legion. It’s open to any person who has served in the military and provides services, including health care benefits that can help cover medical costs associated with assisted living. You can contact the California American Legion by calling 559-875-8373 or by emailing adjutant@caLegion.org.
  • American Veterans (AMVETS) Department of Californiaprovides California veterans with benefits counseling assistance with filing VA claims. You can contact AMVETS Department of California by calling 559-688-3407, or toll-free at 877-526-1339. You can also email the department at deptamvetsca@gmail.com.
  • The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Department of California funds rehabilitation and counseling programs. The department also helps veterans and their families access available government benefits. Contact the DAV California Headquarters by calling 562-404-1266. The department’s hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) California Chapter was founded by WWII service members with spinal injuries. The chapter provides services to paralyzed veterans and people with disabilities by coordinating and communicating with the VA, VA Health Center, and other veterans services. It also helps veterans get the benefits they’re entitled to. You can contact the PVA California chapter by calling 562-826-5713 or by emailing info@pvacc.org.

Medicaid is the health care program for qualified low-income individuals including adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults, and people with disabilities. It’s run at the state level according to federal requirements and funded jointly by the state and federal governments. Many seniors eventually use Medicaid once they’ve exhausted their personal savings. Medicaid can help pay for some assisted living services and some other long-term care costs, such as personal care, prescription medications, and on-site therapy services. However, Medicaid does not pay for assisted living room and board costs.

Medi-Cal is the name of California’s state Medicaid program administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the California Department of Health Services (DHCS). For those who qualify, Medi-Cal can help pay for medical costs associated with assisted living, including doctor’s visits, medications, surgery, and dental screenings.[05]

The benefits you’ll actually receive will depend on how you qualify for Medi-Cal. Some applicants qualify for all Medi-Cal coverage, while others may only qualify for some Medi-Cal services. Your eligibility will also depend on your household size and income level. Medi-Cal’s income eligibility differs based on the size of your household. For example, a one-person household has an income limit of $17,609 per year, whereas a two-person has an income limit of $23,792 per year.[06]

Medi-Cal offers waiver programs that waive certain Medicaid program requirements, allowing more individuals to access benefits and services. Waiver programs available in California include the following:[07]

  • Medi-Cal’s Assisted Living Waiver (ALW) Program provides assisted living services to eligible individuals age 21 to 64 who meet requirements for a nursing facility level of care. The ALW waiver’s coverage includes assisted living services, such as homemaker, home health, and personal care; care coordination; care plan development; and more.
  • Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waiver for Californians with Developmental Disabilities, also called the DD Waiver, is administered by the California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) and is the largest HCBS waiver in the state. This waiver’s coverage includes skilled nursing, dental services, occupational therapy, prescription eyeglasses, community living arrangement services, and more.
  • Multipurpose Senior Services (MSS) Program provides HCBS to Medi-Cal-eligible seniors 65 or older and disabled who meet requirements for a nursing facility level of care. This waiver offers similar coverage as the ALW waiver, but for an older age group with disabilities. Coverage includes care management, respite care, supplemental personal care, assistive technology, community transition services, and more.
  • Self-Determination Program (SDP) provides person-centered services to Californians with developmental disabilities. This waiver is also similar to the ALW and MSS programs but is available to eligible Californians of all ages. Coverage includes prescription eyeglasses, respite services, family support services, massage therapy, skilled nursing, and more.
  • Medi-Cal Waiver Program (MCWP)provides services to those living with HIV/AIDS as an alternative to hospitalization or nursing facility care. The waiver’s coverage includes disease management, HIV transmission prevention, improvement of quality of life and overall health, and increased coordination with service providers. The MCWP is formerly known as the AIDS Waiver.

You can apply for Medi-Cal using any of the following methods:

Medicare is a federal health insurance program designed for qualifying seniors 65+ and people with disabilities. Medicare can help cover assisted living costs, including medically necessary costs associated with assisted living. However, it will not cover personal care or the costs of room and board in assisted living communities.

Every state has Medicare Savings Programs to help qualifying individuals cover Medicare costs like premiums, deductibles and copayments, which basic Medicare may not cover. Medicare Savings Programs in California are available to Californians with an annual income of less than $19,683. Such programs include the following:[08]

  • Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) Program, which can help pay for Medicare Parts and B premiums, deductibles, and copayments
  • Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) Program, which can help pay for Medicare Part B premiums
  • Qualifying Individual (QI) Program, which can help pay for Medicare Part B premiums
  • Qualified Disabled and Working Individual (QDWI) Program, which can help pay for Medicare Part A premiums

Other Medicare programs in California include the following:

California’s ombudsman programs can provide you with assistance in your search for Medicare coverage. They can help you determine your options, resolve any conflicts, and talk you through any concerns. California’s ombudsman programs include the following:

  • Medicare and Medi-Cal Ombudsperson Program (MMOP) offers assistance to people eligible for both Medicare and Medi-Cal.
  • Medi-Cal Managed Care Ombudsman offers assistance to Medi-Cal beneficiaries.
  • Long-term Care Ombudsman assists residents of all ages in long-term care facilities.

Contact the Office of the Ombudsman by calling 888-452-8609 or by emailing MMCDOmbudsmanOffice@dhcs.ca.gov. Their open weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (PST).

Assisted living requirements and regulations in California

In California, assisted living communities are considered Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFEs). The state defines an RCFE as a voluntary housing arrangement that:[09]

  • Requires at least 75% of the residents to be 60 or older
  • Provides varying levels of care and supervision

The California Department of Social Services’ Community Care Licensing Division is responsible for licensing RCFEs. Regulation responsibility is shared by the Continuing Care Contracts Section of the Community Care Licensing Division and the California Senior Care Licensing Program.

The Continuing Care Contracts Section assesses RCEFs’ financial standing to ensure they can fulfill their commitments to making care contracts to residents. In doing so, the Continuing Care Contracts Section’s responsibilities include the following:[10]

  • Evaluating new and ongoing providers’ financial health
  • Reviewing contracts
  • Confirming residents are provided certain disclosures

The Adult and Senior Care Program regulates elderly care facilities to ensure they’re properly licensed and are following proper health and safety measures. They perform regular RCFE inspections to ensure compliance to the Title 22 Regulations, which outline standards for the following:[10]

  • Residents’ health and safety
  • Quality of care, supervision, and service
  • Day-to-day operations

Specific examples of RCFE regulations in California include the following:[09]

  • Medication management regulations. Unless a staff member is an appropriately skilled medical professional, they cannot administer medications but may help residents with self-administration.
  • Life safety requirements. All facilities are required to maintain proper fire clearance approved and established by the State Fire Marshall and local fire authority. RCFEs must also have emergency and disaster plans in place.
  • Staffing requirements. To ensure quality and sufficient care, all facilities must follow specific staffing requirements. For example, facilities must have a qualified administrator on staff with current certifications. The administrator must be at least 21 years old and be on the premises 24 hours a day. While there are no staffing ratio requirements, facility personnel must be sufficient enough to meet residents’ needs.
  • Staff and administrator education and training requirements. The administrator must have completed 80 hours of an initial certification training program and pass a written test. They must also complete 40 hours of continuing education every two years, including Alzheimer’s and dementia training. Additionally, direct care staff are required to complete 40 hours of initial training and 20 hours of annual continuing education training.

To find the licensing status and regulatory information, including inspection reports, of a specific assisted living facility in California, you can search the facility using the California Department of Social Services’ elderly assisted living search tool.

Let our care assessment guide you

Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.

A Place for Mom ratings on ease of access to assisted living facility information in California

We developed a system to rate each state on how easy – or difficult – it is to find important assisted living records and reports, and compiled tips to help you in your search.

States with the most transparent records allow you to look up important information about each assisted living facility online, including inspections, complaints, survey results, violations, capacity, and whether the facility accepts Medicaid.

Access to California assisted living records

Public access to assisted living records and reports for the state of California is exceptional. Key findings that informed this rating include:

  • California has conveniently integrated information about licensed communities and information about violations and inspections results.
  • California has generally transparent assisted living records, and increased significantly in our rankings because required inspections occur every two years.

How to look up California assisted living licenses and records

How we arrived at our California rating

We developed acomprehensive guide to state regulations for assisted livingfor state data collection and evaluation, and based our rating primarily on the objective, state-specific accessibility criteria outlined in these questions:

  1. Are licensed assisted living communities listed online in any form? Yes
  2. If Yes to #1, is the information updated frequently? Yes
  3. If Yes to #1, is the list of licensed communities searchable? Yes
  4. Does the state post inspections, complaints, survey results, or violations online? Yes
  5. If Yes to #4, is the information updated frequently? [within 90 days] Yes
  6. If Yes to #2 and #4, is the enforcement information included in the same place as licensed communities? Yes
  7. If Yes to #4 and No to #6, are violations / inspections searchable at all? Yes
  8. Is information about special licensing for care shown? Yes
  9. Capacity shown? Yes
  10. Payment types shown, [e.g. Medicaid, private pay]? No
  11. Administrator / Contact name shown? Yes
  12. State may fine facility? Yes
  13. Frequency of inspections? Every 24 months
  14. Website includes pricing of facility? No

References

  1. A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.

  2. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2020, February 18). How much care will you need? Administration for Community Living (ACL).

  3. Health for California Insurance Center. Medi-Cal.

  4. Health for California Insurance Center. Medicaid eligibility and requirements in California.

  5. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). State waivers list.

  6. Department of Health Care Services (HCS). (2023, 3 March). Medicare Savings Programs in California.

  7. National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL). (2022). Assisted living state regulatory review.

  8. California Department of Social Services (CDSS). Laws and Regulations.

Top cities in California for assisted living

8.8
San Diego, CA
116 facilities
8.2
Sacramento, CA
84 facilities
8.1
San Jose, CA
59 facilities
8.1
Los Angeles, CA
213 facilities
8.0
Beverly Hills, CA
175 facilities
7.7
Fresno, CA
96 facilities

Find assisted living in other states

Find Assisted Living in California cities

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The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal or financial advice or create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom and the reader. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter, and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites.