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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
10
Review Score
29 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Ethan - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

I'm extremely satisfied with Alalik Care, where my mom resides. The staff is attentive and caring, ensuring she's comfortable and well-looked. The facilities are clean and welcoming, and communication with...

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3
3 Photos available

Carmel Care Home

11971 4th Avenue, Hesperia, CA 92345
10
Review Score
36 reviews
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
10
Review Score
51 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Patricia D - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Golden Years Elderly Care is a great place for your love ones. My wife and I used this facility to care for my wife's mother. We couldn't be more pleased with this home care facility. The owners were...

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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
10
Review Score
39 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Mary J - I'm a current/former resident or client

The activity is great and the Team is outstanding. And I enjoyed the food and social interaction with the Residents. Cleanliness and the time care team take is wonderful all the time. And the Outing are very...

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9
9 Photos available

Paradise Senior Living 1

8435 Aura Ave, Northridge, CA 91324
10
Review Score
12 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Avner T - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Excellent place Very clean Good management Nice atmosphere Very welcoming place Friendly stuff Nice rooms and nice backyard Very good and tasty food The manager, [name removed] Is very friendly, very good...

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15
15 Photos available

Alalik Care Home

11152 Woodley Ave, Granada Hills, CA 91344
10
Review Score
29 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Ethan - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

I'm extremely satisfied with Alalik Care, where my mom resides. The staff is attentive and caring, ensuring she's comfortable and well-looked. The facilities are clean and welcoming, and communication with...

Get Pricing

Top-rated Assisted Living facilities in Los Angeles

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9
9 Photos available

Paradise Senior Living 1

8435 Aura Ave, Northridge, CA 91324
10
Review Score
12 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Avner T - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Excellent place Very clean Good management Nice atmosphere Very welcoming place Friendly stuff Nice rooms and nice backyard Very good and tasty food The manager, [name removed] Is very friendly, very good...

Get Pricing
15
15 Photos available

Alalik Care Home

11152 Woodley Ave, Granada Hills, CA 91344
10
Review Score
29 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Ethan - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

I'm extremely satisfied with Alalik Care, where my mom resides. The staff is attentive and caring, ensuring she's comfortable and well-looked. The facilities are clean and welcoming, and communication with...

Get Pricing
15
15 Photos available
2
2 Floor plans available

Pacifica Senior Living Northridge

8700 Lindley Ave, Northridge, CA 91325
10
Review Score
246 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
George F. - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

When it became clear that my elderly mother (who has dementia and other illnesses) needed more care than we could provide at home, we had no idea what to do. It's an overwhelming situation for anyone to cope...

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Top-rated Assisted Living facilities in Sacramento

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23
23 Photos available
1
1 Floor plans available

Greenhaven Place

6350 Riverside Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95831
10
Review Score
72 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Russ K - I'm a current/former resident or client

Amazing! A must! the dining rooms feels like you're at an actual restaurant. It's a generous portion size. Taco Tuesday is every Tuesday, but you will not be disappointed. Also you can always take extra back...

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17
17 Photos available
3
3 Floor plans available

Regency Place Senior Living

8190 Arroyo Vista Dr, Sacramento, CA 95823
9.8
Review Score
24 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Great medical coverage and staff availability. Mom didn't engage in any activities so I really can't answer to that. I would definitely recommend them to others looking.

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43
43 Photos available

Siebenthal Care Home

7948 Hunts Run Way, Sacramento, CA 95828
9.5
Review Score
12 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Amy - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

[name removed] and her staff are amazing. I can't say enough about her passion and concern for her residents. She gets her folks and really really cares about them. Even though mom wasn't there for long, we...

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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
9.9
Review Score
22 reviews
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
9.7
Review Score
95 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Luke c - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Everything that your parent will need in a community is at Atria Collwood. I had my father-in-law live with myself and my family for a few years and wasn't being active. You have a community that feels...

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10
10 Photos available
3
3 Floor plans available

Pacifica Senior Living Escondido

1351 East Washington Avenue, Escondido, CA 92027
9.6
Review Score
157 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Seemed the friendliest staff, cleanest, large enough room and not dingy looking. I picked this community because that it is where I'd want my loved one.

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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

$4,338/mo

US National average

$4,544/mo

Compare costs of assisted living vs. nearby states

Average monthly costs

California

$4,338/mo

Nevada

$4,165/mo

Arizona

$3,760/mo

Utah

$3,726/mo

Oregon

$4,504/mo

Compare costs of assisted living in California vs. nearby cities

Average monthly costs

California

$4,338/mo

San Diego, CA

$4,583/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.

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

8.7
San Diego, CA
122 facilities
8.3
San Jose, CA
61 facilities
8.1
Los Angeles, CA
219 facilities
8.1
Sacramento, CA
105 facilities
8.1
Beverly Hills, CA
182 facilities
8.0
Fresno, CA
100 facilities

Find assisted living in other states

Find Assisted Living in California cities

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.