California Senior Living Options & Resources
Senior Living in California: What You Need to Know
California is home to nearly 6 million seniors aged 65 and older, representing 15.3% of the state's total population of 39.2 million residents. As the nation's most populous state, California offers an extensive network of 1,744 senior living communities spread across 400 cities, providing diverse care options from independent living to skilled nursing care. The state's senior population continues to grow as retirees are drawn to its mild climate, world-class healthcare facilities, and vibrant cultural opportunities.
The concentration of senior living communities reflects California's population centers, with Los Angeles leading at 17 communities, followed by San Jose with 14, and San Diego with 13. Other major hubs include Fresno and Sacramento with 29 communities each, and Roseville, Santa Rosa, Escondido, and Thousand Oaks offering substantial options. This geographic distribution ensures that seniors throughout California—from the Bay Area to Southern California, the Central Valley to wine country—have access to quality care close to family and familiar surroundings.
The state's healthcare infrastructure is among the finest in the nation, featuring renowned medical centers like Stanford Health Care, UCLA Medical Center, Cedars-Sinai, and UC San Diego Health.
California's Medi-Cal program offers several waiver programs that help eligible seniors access home and community-based services as alternatives to institutional care. The Assisted Living Waiver (ALW) and the Community-Based Adult Services (CBAS) program provide support for seniors who meet financial and functional eligibility requirements. These programs reflect California's commitment to offering seniors choices in how and where they receive care, though navigating the state's complex healthcare system often requires professional guidance.
Types of Senior Living Care in California
Top Rated Communities in California
Highest rated senior living communities based on reviews.
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Cost of Senior Care in California
The median cost of assisted living in California was $7,350 a month in the 2024 survey, 25% above the national median of $5,900.
| Care type | California | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|
| Assisted living | $7,350 25% above U.S. | $5,900 |
| Nursing home, semi-private room | $11,695 26% above U.S. | $9,277 |
| Nursing home, private room | $15,178 43% above U.S. | $10,646 |
| Home health aide | $7,436 15% above U.S. | $6,483 |
| Adult day health care | $1,950 10% below U.S. | $2,167 |
Source: Genworth/CareScout Cost of Care Survey, 2024 (state median). Monthly figures are the annual median divided by 12. The survey does not cover independent living or memory care. Actual costs vary by community, location and level of care.
Frequently Asked Questions About Senior Living in California
How much does senior living cost in California?
The median cost of assisted living in California was $7,350 a month in the 2024 survey, 25% above the national median of $5,900. Source: Genworth/CareScout Cost of Care Survey, 2024 (state median).
How many senior living communities are in California?
California has 1,744 senior living communities listed on Ultimate Senior Resource, across 400 cities. The most listings are in Los Angeles (98), Sacramento (67) and San Diego (35).
Does California Medicaid cover assisted living?
Yes, California's Medi-Cal program (the state's Medicaid) covers assisted living through the Assisted Living Waiver (ALW) program for eligible seniors. This waiver allows qualified individuals to receive services in Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFEs) rather than nursing homes. Eligibility requires meeting both financial criteria (income and asset limits) and demonstrating the need for nursing facility level of care. Not all assisted living communities accept the waiver, so it's important to inquire directly about Medi-Cal participation.
What are the best cities for senior living in California?
Top cities for senior living include San Diego (35 communities) offering ideal coastal weather and excellent healthcare; San Jose (35 communities) providing proximity to world-class medical centers like Stanford; Sacramento (67 communities) with more affordable costs and UC Davis Medical Center nearby; Roseville (12 communities) combining value with quality in the greater Sacramento area; Santa Rosa (16 communities) featuring wine country charm and natural beauty; and Los Angeles (98 communities) offering the most options and cultural diversity. Each city provides distinct advantages based on climate preferences, budget, and lifestyle priorities.
What are California's regulations for residential care facilities?
California regulates assisted living facilities as Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFEs) through the Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing Division. Facilities must maintain specific staff-to-resident ratios, ensure staff training in areas like medication management and emergency procedures, conduct background checks, and pass regular inspections. The state requires facilities to develop individualized service plans and maintain detailed records, ensuring high standards of care and resident safety.
Is California a good state for retirement?
California offers significant retirement advantages including year-round mild weather, world-class healthcare systems, diverse cultural and recreational opportunities, and extensive senior services. However, the state's high cost of living and taxes are important considerations. California doesn't tax Social Security benefits but does tax other retirement income. The state's 5.9 million seniors benefit from robust consumer protections, excellent medical research institutions, and strong advocacy organizations supporting senior rights and wellbeing.
Major Cities with Senior Living Options in California
Cities ranked by number of communities.
Los Angeles
Population 3,857,897
Seniors (65+) 13.4
%
Communities 98
San Francisco
Population 836,321
Seniors (65+) 16.7
%
Communities 25
Cities in California
Agoura Hills
2 communities Alameda
6 communities Albany
1 community Alhambra
6 communities Aliso Viejo
2 communities Alta Loma
1 community Alturas
1 community American Canyon
1 community Anaheim
16 communities Anderson
1 community Antelope
1 community Antioch
4 communities Apple Valley
3 communities Aptos
2 communities Arcadia
2 communities Arroyo Grande
1 community Artesia
2 communities Arvin
1 community Atascadero
1 community Atwater
1 community Auburn
7 communities Avalon
1 community Azusa
1 community Bakersfield
16 communities Baldwin Park
4 communities Banning
2 communities Barstow
2 communities Beaumont
2 communities Bell
1 community Bell Gardens
3 communities Bellflower
4 communities Belmont
4 communities Berkeley
7 communities Beverly Hills
2 communities Big Bear Lake
1 community Bishop
1 community Blythe
1 community Brawley
1 community Brea
6 communities Brentwood
2 communities Buena Park
2 communities Burbank
4 communities Burlingame
3 communities Calabasas
3 communities Camarillo
5 communities Campbell
4 communities Canoga Park
4 communities Capitola
1 community Carlsbad
8 communities Carmel-by-the-Sea
1 community Carmichael
13 communities Castro Valley
5 communities Cedarville
1 community Ceres
1 community Cerritos
1 community Chatsworth
2 communities Cherry Valley
1 community Chester
1 community Chico
9 communities Chino
1 community Chino Hills
1 community Chowchilla
2 communities Chula Vista
7 communities Citrus Heights
3 communities City of Industry
1 community Claremont
5 communities Clearlake
1 community Cloverdale
1 community Clovis
4 communities Coalinga
1 community Colton
2 communities Colusa
1 community Compton
1 community Concord
8 communities Corona
5 communities Coronado
1 community Corte Madera
1 community Costa Mesa
7 communities Covina
6 communities Crescent City
1 community Culver City
6 communities Cupertino
3 communities Cypress
1 community Daly City
5 communities Dana Point
3 communities Danville
5 communities Davis
4 communities Delano
3 communities Dinuba
1 community Downey
4 communities Duarte
5 communities Dublin
1 community El Cajon
15 communities El Centro
1 community El Cerrito
1 community El Dorado Hills
1 community El Monte
11 communities El Sobrante
2 communities Elk Grove
7 communities Emeryville
1 community Encinitas
8 communities Encino
1 community Escondido
15 communities Eureka
4 communities Fair Oaks
3 communities Fairfield
5 communities Fall River Mills
1 community Fallbrook
1 community Fillmore
1 community Folsom
7 communities Fontana
2 communities Fort Bragg
1 community Fortuna
1 community Foster City
1 community Fountain Valley
1 community Fowler
2 communities Fremont
13 communities Fresno
29 communities Fullerton
10 communities Galt
1 community Garberville
1 community Garden Grove
8 communities Gardena
7 communities Gilroy
2 communities Glendale
14 communities Glendora
5 communities Goleta
1 community Granada Hills
4 communities Grand Terrace
1 community Granite Bay
1 community Grass Valley
6 communities Greenbrae
2 communities Gridley
1 community Hanford
4 communities Hawthorne
3 communities Hayward
18 communities Healdsburg
1 community Hemet
10 communities Hermosa Beach
1 community Highland
2 communities Hollister
1 community Huntington Beach
7 communities Huntington Park
1 community Imperial
1 community Indio
2 communities Inglewood
5 communities Irvine
5 communities Jackson
1 community Joshua Tree
1 community Jurupa Valley
2 communities Kentfield
1 community King City
1 community Kingsburg
1 community La Crescenta
1 community La Habra
2 communities La Jolla
2 communities La Mesa
9 communities La Mirada
3 communities La Palma
1 community La Quinta
2 communities La Verne
1 community Ladera Ranch
1 community Lafayette
2 communities Laguna Hills
3 communities Laguna Niguel
3 communities Laguna Woods
2 communities Lake Arrowhead
1 community Lake Forest
2 communities Lake Isabella
1 community Lake View Terrace
1 community Lakeport
2 communities Lakeside
1 community Lancaster
6 communities Lawndale
1 community Lemon Grove
2 communities Lincoln
1 community Lindsay
1 community Live Oak
1 community Livermore
5 communities Livingston
1 community Lodi
10 communities Loma Linda
5 communities Lomita
2 communities Lompoc
2 communities Lone Pine
1 community Long Beach
25 communities Loomis
1 community Los Alamitos
1 community Los Altos
3 communities Los Angeles
98 communities Los Banos
2 communities Los Gatos
5 communities Lynwood
3 communities Madera
3 communities Manteca
4 communities March Air Reserve Base
1 community Mariposa
1 community Martinez
2 communities Marysville
2 communities Maywood
1 community Menlo Park
1 community Mentone
1 community Merced
8 communities Mill Valley
1 community Millbrae
2 communities Milpitas
2 communities Mission Hills
2 communities Mission Viejo
5 communities Modesto
16 communities Monrovia
2 communities Montclair
2 communities Montebello
2 communities Monterey
6 communities Monterey Park
3 communities Montrose
3 communities Moraga
2 communities Moreno Valley
1 community Morgan Hill
4 communities Morro Bay
1 community Mountain View
3 communities Murrieta
5 communities N Hollywood
1 community Napa
10 communities National City
6 communities Newbury Park
1 community Newhall
1 community Newman
1 community Newport Beach
7 communities Nipomo
1 community North Hills
1 community North Hollywood
7 communities North Sacramento
1 community Northridge
1 community Norwalk
7 communities Novato
4 communities Oakdale
3 communities Oakhurst
1 community Oakland
22 communities Oceanside
7 communities Ojai
2 communities Ontario
5 communities Orange
8 communities Orangevale
3 communities Orinda
1 community Oroville
4 communities Oxnard
5 communities Pacific Grove
3 communities Pacific Palisades
1 community Pacifica
4 communities Palm Desert
8 communities Palm Springs
5 communities Palmdale
2 communities Palo Alto
5 communities Panorama City
2 communities Paramount
3 communities Pasadena
15 communities Paso Robles
2 communities Perris
1 community Petaluma
8 communities Pico Rivera
4 communities Pinole
2 communities Pittsburg
2 communities Placentia
2 communities Placerville
3 communities Playa Del Rey
1 community Pleasant Hill
5 communities Pleasanton
4 communities Pomona
9 communities Porterville
6 communities Portola
1 community Portola Valley
1 community Poway
4 communities Rancho Cordova
1 community Rancho Cucamonga
7 communities Rancho Mirage
4 communities Rancho Palos Verdes
1 community Red Bluff
3 communities Redding
15 communities Redlands
10 communities Redondo Beach
2 communities Redwood City
4 communities Reedley
3 communities Reseda
6 communities Rialto
1 community Richmond
2 communities Ridgecrest
1 community Ripon
1 community Riverbank
1 community Riverside
22 communities Rocklin
5 communities Rohnert Park
1 community Rolling Hills Estates
2 communities Rosemead
5 communities Roseville
12 communities Sacramento
67 communities Salinas
6 communities San Andreas
1 community San Bernardino
12 communities San Bruno
1 community San Clemente
1 community San Diego
35 communities San Dimas
4 communities San Francisco
25 communities San Gabriel
8 communities San Jacinto
1 community San Jose
35 communities San Juan Capistrano
5 communities San Leandro
8 communities San Luis Obispo
4 communities San Marcos
1 community San Mateo
6 communities San Pablo
3 communities San Pedro
3 communities San Rafael
10 communities San Ramon
4 communities Sanger
1 community Santa Ana
11 communities Santa Barbara
10 communities Santa Clara
4 communities Santa Clarita
4 communities Santa Cruz
3 communities Santa Maria
5 communities Santa Monica
15 communities Santa Paula
1 community Santa Rosa
16 communities Santee
2 communities Saratoga
3 communities Scotts Valley
1 community Seal Beach
2 communities Sebastopol
1 community Selma
2 communities Shafter
1 community Sherman Oaks
2 communities Sierra Madre
1 community Signal Hill
1 community Simi Valley
6 communities Solana Beach
2 communities Soledad
1 community Solvang
1 community Sonoma
5 communities Sonora
2 communities South Gate
1 community South Lake Tahoe
1 community South Pasadena
1 community South San Francisco
1 community Spring Valley
3 communities Stanton
1 community Stockton
20 communities Studio City
2 communities Sun City
1 community Sun Valley
3 communities Sunland
3 communities Sunnyvale
9 communities Susanville
1 community Sylmar
4 communities Tarzana
1 community Temecula
5 communities Temple City
3 communities Templeton
1 community Thousand Oaks
10 communities Torrance
18 communities Tracy
3 communities Truckee
1 community Tujunga
2 communities Tulare
3 communities Turlock
6 communities Tustin
2 communities Ukiah
2 communities Union City
1 community Upland
4 communities Vacaville
4 communities Vallejo
6 communities Van Nuys
6 communities Ventura
7 communities Victorville
4 communities Villa Park
1 community Visalia
8 communities Vista
4 communities Walnut Creek
11 communities Watsonville
3 communities Weaverville
1 community Weed
1 community West Covina
7 communities West Hills
1 community West Sacramento
1 community Westlake Village
2 communities Westminster
4 communities Whittier
11 communities Wildomar
1 community Williams
1 community Willits
1 community Willows
1 community Windsor
1 community Woodland
3 communities Woodland Hills
1 community Yorba Linda
2 communities Yountville
1 community Yuba City
3 communities Yucaipa
5 communities Yucca Valley
2 communities All Communities in California
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