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A California paradise known for its beaches, warm ocean breezes, and endless entertainment opportunities, San Diego is a wonderful place for seniors to retire. Resort-style San Diego assisted living communities with luxe amenities await future residents who may benefit from this level of care.
This all-inclusive guide to assisted living in San Diego contains helpful information about assisted living communities in A Place for Mom’s network, such as the costs of assisted living in San Diego and over 1,000 community reviews. We also discuss how seniors typically pay, what can be expected at these communities, and the local laws and regulations overseeing San Diego’s assisted living facilities.
Types of care available in San Diego, CA
Assisted Living
White Sands facility has everything from independent living to skilled nursing. They have a lot of activities to offer, it is in a really beautiful location. We could not be happier with our decision, we know our mother is safe there. The food is excellent with a wide range of choices. The rooms are very nice and adequate, they have many options to choose from. Our loved one has a beautiful view.
There are not a ton of activities at La Costa but my aunt does participate in a few. She has a patio and enjoys going outside. The staff are very nice and helpful. I have not tried the food but my aunt seems to like it and it seems to have a lot of nutrients.
It was the best! I was treated with love ans respect, great food, if I ever run away from home this is where I will come! Thank for taking great care of me!
8486 Harlow Terrace, San Diego, CA 92126
1645 Copa De Oro, La Jolla, CA 92037
743 Hacienda Dr, El Cajon, CA 92020
1308 Hacienda Drive, El Cajon, CA 92020
505 Hills Ln Dr, El Cajon, CA 92020
6602 Avenida Mirola, La Jolla, CA 92037
8001 Palm St*, Lemon Grove, CA 91945
8625 Lamar St, Spring Valley, CA 91977
9718 Eucalyptus Court, Santee, CA 92071
8914 Troy Street, Spring Valley, CA 91977
789 Skyview Street, El Cajon, CA 92020
New Dawn Senior Care Home is centrally located in a family friendly residential neighborhood in El Cajon, of San Diego County, CA. With only a 14.4sq mile city, the opportunities for shopping, dining out and entertainment are close and plentiful for the seniors. These opportunities include...
13858 Kerry Lane, San Diego, CA 92130
Easy Living attorney Del Mar Easy Living at Torrey Del Mar is a residential care home located in San Diego, CA in San Diego County. The metropolitan area offers beautiful coastal beaches and easy access to limitless entertainment and recreation options. These amenities combine to make Easy Living...
299 Prospect Place, Coronado, CA 92118
The Coronado Royale is located across from Tidelands Park and the Colorado Bridge. The facility offers beautiful views of both the San Diego Bay and the lights of downtown San Diego. The Coronado Royale is also located right next door to the Coronado Hospital and Medical Centers. The Coronado...
5720 Old Carmel Valley Road, San Diego, CA 92130
13110 Gate Drive, Poway, CA 92064
Pomerado Rd, San Diego, CA 92131
According to A Place for Mom’s 2023-2024 proprietary data, the average price families pay for San Diego assisted living communities is $5,100 per month.[01] This includes room and board, care fees, and add-ons that families paid to our partner communities.
Costs in assisted living vary depending on location, floor plan, care services, and specific amenities. For example, pet rent or choosing a larger floor plan may lead to additional monthly costs.
The following cost figures represent average monthly starting costs for assisted living in the area. Starting costs don’t always include additional fees and full care costs.
45.77 miles from you
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18.14 miles from you
Paying for assisted living in San Diego, California, can be done in a variety of ways. Seniors can use personal finances, public resources, or a combination of both to cover the costs related to assisted living. You can browse our guide to payment methods below.
Seniors and their families have a variety of ways to finance the costs of assisted living in San Diego using their personal assets. The following resources explain some common ways seniors and their families cover the costs associated with assisted living:
Assisted living facilities in San Diego must be licensed by the California Department of Social Services, also known as the CDSS. The CDSS is responsible for regulating and monitoring assisted living facilities and all other senior care facilities, often referred to in California as Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFE). The CDSS also licenses any Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) — facilities that offer a spectrum of senior care services, from independent living and assisted living to memory care and skilled nursing care.
In a few cases, a community can operate as an RCFE without a license. These exceptions include:
All licensed assisted living facilities in California must assess a senior via interviews and by reviewing their health records before welcoming them as a resident. Once a senior moves in, these facilities must comply with the following regulations:
The CDSS inspects facilities once a year. To renew a license, an assisted living facility must provide continuing education for community administrators. In addition, the CDSS must inspect a facility within 10 days of receiving a complaint.
Licensed assisted living facilities and their inspection reports are available to the public via the CDSS Care Facility Search. Scroll down to “Search By Facility Group” and select “Elderly Assisted Living.” Next, you can 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 Public Health contact information
California Department of Public Health
1616 Capitol Ave.
Sacramento, CA 95899
Phone: 916-558-1784
Website: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/
San Diego County still has COVID-19 guidelines in place to help protect its residents. The most current recommendations for individuals include staying current with COVID-19 vaccines and getting tested if symptoms are suspected. For the most part, mask-wearing is not required. However, if you have COVID-19 symptoms, had a recent positive test, or have been exposed to the virus, San Diego County asks that you wear a mask in public. Masks are also required in at-risk settings such as long-term care, senior care, and health care centers.
Read the most recent San Diego County COVID-19 guidelines here.
Vaccinations. San Diego County encourages all citizens to stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations.
Masking. Masks aren’t required in public unless you have COVID-19, have been exposed to COVID-19, or are visiting an at-risk setting.
Number of in-network assisted living facilities in market
Assisted living in San Diego offers the supportive care seniors need, while giving them access to luxe amenities, an ever-interesting coastal lifestyle, and spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. Read on to learn more about what you can expect from assisted living communities in San Diego.
Many of San Diego’s assisted living facilities offer multiple senior care services in a single location. Some facilities offer on-site memory care, some exist within an independent living community, and others offer a full range of services. Many assisted living communities even offer on-site therapies, like physical, speech, and occupational therapy. Facilities with all care types on one campus are sometimes called Continuing Care Retirement Communities (or CCRCs). It’s worth noting that assisted living facilities licensed as CCRCs usually have an initial buy-in fee in addition to the monthly cost of room, board, and care services.
Whether licensed as a CCRC or not, assisted living communities that offer multiple levels of care on one campus enable seniors to age in place worry-free. Seniors who choose these facilities can rest assured their evolving needs will be met, and they likely won’t have to move again if their care needs change.
Seniors who choose assisted living facilities in San Diego are set up to enjoy beautiful weather and a variety of perks. Activities offered by the community, such as fitness classes, volunteer programs, and live on-site entertainment, make for enriching social experiences. Visits to local museums, outings to sunny beaches, and lively tours of SeaWorld San Diego also await residents who want to maximize each moment.
Luxe amenities are also found in many of San Diego’s assisted living communities. Residents can enjoy on-site fine dining experiences, including full table service in community restaurants with meals crafted by professional culinary chefs.
Many communities also offer the following amenities:
Perhaps the most iconic feature of San Diego are its many beaches. Seniors will find several assisted living communities that take advantage of this idyllic landscape by providing ocean views, pools, and short walking paths to the nearest sandy beaches. Some even offer exclusive, private beach access and rooftop decks overlooking the ocean. These unique features of the San Diego assisted living lifestyle allow residents to soak up the California sunshine and relax to the sound of the crashing waves, all while receiving care in the community of their choice.
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Percentage of the San Diego population that is 65+[04]
Senior residents in San Diego have access to several nationally ranked hospitals and senior health care centers, several of which are located near San Diego’s assisted living facilities.
UC San Diego Health – La Jolla and Hillcrest Hospitals are teaching hospitals that provide general and surgical care. They’re nationally ranked for several areas of adult care, including cancer surgeries, cardiology, and their geriatric clinic.[06]
Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla provides general and surgical care. They’re nationally ranked for care including cardiology and orthopedics.[06]
Sharp Memorial Hospital is nationally ranked for lung surgery and urology. This hospital also provides general medical and surgical care, in addition to having geriatric specialists and several senior resource centers.[06]
Many of San Diego’s assisted living communities offer scheduled transportation to residents and their visitors for exploring, running errands, and traveling to appointments. Across A Place for Mom’s partner communities, 84% offer complimentary transportation and 48% offer transportation at cost.
San Diego Public Transportation also has a program called PRONTO that enables riders to buy their tickets online through an app. Their trolleys, trains, and buses are wheelchair accessible via ramps and lifts. In addition, public transportation options in San Diego have discounted fares for seniors 65+.
Browse these other transportation options for San Diego citizens:
San Diego also has transportation options designed with seniors in mind.
San Diego is a moderately walkable city, although car transportation is still necessary to access most of the city. The scores below are based on San Diego’s accessibility of different transportation methods. The highest and best possible score is 100, meaning that higher numbers indicate a popular and easy-to-use method of getting around San Diego.
53
37
43
Endless entertainment awaits seniors in San Diego, California. From lounging on sandy beaches to finding new favorite restaurants and museums, seniors can find something to make each outing a memorable experience.
Live entertainment, whether via a sporting event or theatrical performance, is a wonderful way to enjoy retirement in San Diego. The San Diego Padres games in Petco Park are just one part of the city’s lively sports scene. View the latest professional football or soccer games at Balboa Stadium, or catch a rugby or lacrosse game at Snapdragon Stadium. San Diego is also home to several performing arts centers — such as The Old Globe or the Civic Theater — where seniors and their families can view shows from local musicians or catch world premiere theatrical productions.
Of course, San Diego offers an abundance of popular beaches to choose from, including La Jolla Shores and Cove, located near unique shops and restaurants. Natural beauty, stunning views from the rocky cliffs, and marine life sightings await. Day trips to Coronado Island are also full of possibilities and unique experiences, from lounging on the breathtaking Coronado Beach to sipping coffee in coastal cafés.
Seniors have many options for exploring local history, many of which have accessibility options for people with disabilities. For example, Balboa Park — San Diego’s 1,200-acre backyard with dozens of museums — offers scooter and wheelchair rentals, though availability is limited. The Comic-Con Museum, the San Diego Museum of Art, breathtaking gardens, tropical trails, cafés, and much more are all located in the park. San Diego’s AgeWell Services even hosts a senior lounge and senior lunch at Balboa Park for seniors to socialize and relax.
Many other museums are also accessible, like the USS Midway Museum, which offers wheelchair rentals, tour scripts, and guides. The San Diego History Center is another popular museum about local history and doesn’t have an admission fee. San Diego also has its own Natural History Museum, where seniors can find ever-changing exhibits, weekly events, and a discounted admission fee. Or, seniors can stroll through Old Town San Diego, which is a popular downtown area full of historic landmarks and unique shops.
Monte Vista Village, Silvergate Retirement Residence - Fallbrook and Silvergate Rancho Bernardo are the top-rated Assisted Living facilities near San Diego, CA. These Assisted Living facilities received the highest rankings based on verified family reviews. See full list of communities.
The average cost of Assisted Living in San Diego is 4,552 per month. This cost may vary based on location, amenities, floorplan, level of care and other factors.
A Place for Mom. (2022). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Veteran status (S2101): San Diego city [Data set]. American Community Survey.
State of California Health and Human Services Agency. Department of Social Services. (2008). Manual of Policies and Procedures Community Care Licensing Division: Residential care facilities for the elderly (RCFE), Title 22, Division 6, Chapter 8.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Age and sex (S0101) [Data set]. American Community Survey.
Weather Spark. (2022). Average temperature in San Diego.
U.S. World and News Report. (2022). Best hospitals in San Diego, California.
Walk Score. (2022). Living in San Diego.
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