10 Best Memory Care Facilities in San Diego, CA

Personal income, veterans benefits, and state and federal programs can be used to cover memory care costs. We’ve organized information on each payment method and included lists of helpful resources to guide you through eligibility criteria and application processes.

Understanding local memory care laws and regulations can help you find a facility that’s best for your loved one. The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) licenses memory care facilities in and near San Diego. Memory care communities must follow each of the following regulations to maintain their license:

• Assess each senior via interviews and health record reviews prior to move-in
• House no more than two residents per bedroom
• Provide individual privacy in each bathroom
• Ensure bedrooms have enough room to accommodate equipment such as wheelchairs and walkers
• Provide clean and accessible common rooms for residents
• Provide activities involving social, leisure, and daily living skills

Caregiver requirements

Caregivers in San Diego memory care facilities must comply with specialized training and staff-to-resident ratios. Each caregiver needs to have a minimum of 8 hours of annual training on dementia-specific care. In addition, all memory care facilities are required to have one staff member awake and on duty at night. If there are more than 16 residents in the community, at least one staff member must be on call.

Inspections

The CDSS performs inspections annually and within 10 days of receiving a complaint about a memory care facility. You can find licensed facilities and their inspection reports on the CDSS Care Facility Search. Scroll down to “Search By Facility Group,” select “Elderly Assisted Living,” select the “Facility Type” and “San Diego County,” then click on the search button. You can also search by facility name or address.

California Department of Health contact information

California Department of Public Health
1616 Capitol Ave.
Sacramento, CA 95899-7377
Phone: 916-558-1784

COVID-19 regulations for San Diego memory care facilities

San Diego County encourages all residents to stay current with COVID-19 vaccines and to get tested if they have symptoms. Residents aren’t required to wear a mask in public unless they have COVID-19 symptoms, had a recent positive test, or were exposed to the virus. Many at-risk settings, such as long-term senior care facilities, require masks.

Read the most recent San Diego County COVID-19 guidelines here.

If your loved one is experiencing memory loss, there are many care options for them in San Diego. Memory care communities are specialized senior living communities equipped with highly trained caregivers and therapies. San Diego’s memory care facilities also offer enriching amenities and activities, often within larger senior care communities.

Supportive caregivers and therapies

Caregivers in San Diego memory care communities are required to receive extensive memory care training to support seniors who have Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Not only are your loved one’s future caregivers well-equipped to assist them, but they’re also able to support your loved one with important therapies.

Therapies for memory care can help your loved one cope with and use strategies for their dementia symptoms. Reminiscence therapy, physical exercise, and art therapy are among some of the options available in San Diego memory care communities. Some communities may also encourage pet visits and pet therapy to boost residents’ moods and provide temporary animal companionship.

Several communities also include on-site therapeutic destinations. Meditation gardens, koi ponds, and calming spas can help seniors feel at peace during challenging times. Enclosed courtyards and walking paths are another common feature in San Diego memory care communities. Having enclosed spaces that are easy to navigate can help seniors feel calmer during moments of wandering, which is a symptom of dementia. Other helpful design features found in memory care communities include room personalization and visual markers to help seniors move safely through their environment.

Meaningful activities and amenities

San Diego memory care communities are designed to keep residents engaged, and they do so by offering activity programming that may include the following:

• Beach outings via scenic bus routes
• Interfaith services
• Art classes
• Fitness programs
• High tea
• Holiday celebrations
• Resident-bonding activities, like movie and trivia nights

Senior-specific amenities also keep each day interesting. Memory care communities in San Diego may include the following desirable features:

• Ocean views
• Private beach access
• Gourmet meals consisting of local produce and seafood
• Restaurant-style venues
• Koi ponds and therapy gardens
• Full-service salon and barber shop
• Heated outdoor swimming pools
• Virtual reality fitness centers

Connected to more senior care

Many of A Place for Mom’s partner memory care communities in San Diego are part of either larger assisted living facilities or continuing care retirement communities (or CCRCs). Both options offer multiple types of senior care on one campus, enabling your senior family member to get the care they need as they age without having to move.

In several of these multilevel care options, you’ll find a variety of room styles. From studio apartments to two-bedroom apartments with private and semi-private options, you can find something that works best for your loved one. Some of these larger senior care communities also have specific memory care neighborhoods while still maintaining the connection to the rest of the facility.

Group homes and stand-alone memory care

Group homes provide assisted living and memory care services in smaller settings. Also known as residential care homes, they can provide the memory support your loved one needs in a homelike setting instead of a larger facility. Group homes may also have a higher caregiver-to-resident ratio and either private or semi-private rooms.

Stand-alone communities are facilities that only offer memory care services to seniors with dementia. They offer amenities and activity programming similar to other senior care facilities, like gourmet meals, chauffeured transportation, and engaging San Diego excursions. Some families find peace of mind knowing that their loved one receives care in a community designed specifically for their memory care needs.

Health care for seniors in San Diego

Seniors who live in San Diego memory care communities have access to nationally ranked hospitals, including the top three hospitals in San Diego.

Transportation for seniors in San Diego

The majority of San Diego memory care facilities in A Place for Mom’s network have senior transportation services. In fact, 85% of these facilities provide either complimentary or at-cost transportation, giving seniors access to a safe and reliable form of local transportation.

San Diego residents and visitors can change their mode of transportation depending on the neighborhood. Some areas are walkable and have heavy motor vehicle traffic, while other areas are more easily accessed by car. However, public transportation is one of the more accessible methods for visitors in San Diego.

San Diego Public Transportation has a program called PRONTO that enables riders to buy their tickets online through an app. These public transportation options are available to San Diego residents and visitors alike:

• The San Diego Trolley allows people to travel as far north as the VA medical center, as far south as the Mexican border, and everywhere in between.
• The COASTER train is a great option for people who want to spend a day at the beach, as the train has routes to several popular beach communities, such as Carlsbad and Solana Beach.
• There are several local buses with a variety of routes.
• The SPRINTER is the city’s light rail, which offers convenient routes for a small fare.
• Pedicabs are available for enjoyable tours of unique San Diego locations.
•  Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner is a popular train for touring around Southern California.

San Diego also has transportation options designed with seniors in mind:

• Happy2Help Transportation uses wheelchair-accessible vehicles to help seniors travel to and from medical and nonmedical appointments for a fee.
• Ride FACT is another senior-specific option with low prices. Seniors at least 60 years of age are eligible and must schedule their transportation in advance.