Find Nursing Homes Communities Near San Diego, CA

You and your senior loved one have several options to pay for long-term senior care. If the senior meets certain financial and medical criteria, nursing homes or skilled nursing facilities in San Diego can be paid for with the aid of state and federal programs. If assisted living and memory care communities are better suited for the senior in your life, similar payment options are available. Most families use a mix of private and public assistance methods to pay for senior care.

Continue reading to learn how private payment methods, public assistance options, and veterans benefits may be used to cover the costs of long-term senior care.

California nursing homes, or skilled nursing facilities, are sometimes also referred to as rehabilitation centers and convalescent hospitals. All of these terms apply to skilled nursing facilities, which must be licensed in the state. Skilled nursing facilities that are part of larger senior living communities, such as Continuing Care Retirement Communities (or CCRCs), must be licensed by the California Department of Public Health (or CDPH). The CCRC as a whole must also be licensed by the California Department of Social Services (or CDSS).

Skilled nursing facilities in California are required to provide a range of services, including but not limited to services in the list below:

• Physician services
• Skilled nursing services
• Dietary services
• Pharmaceutical services
• Activity programming
• Arranged transportation to services that can’t be provided on-site
• A plan for emergency medical care if the on-site physician isn’t present

California skilled nursing facilities must also adhere to the following requirements for staff members and living spaces:

• Sufficient nursing staff must be present so that each resident gets at least three hours of services each day.
• All staff members need to participate in continuing education on safety and care procedures.
• Each facility is licensed for a different number of residents and beds, and facilities must not exceed these numbers.
• Each room must have a bed, table, chair, and a space to keep the resident’s belongings.

Assisted living and memory care laws and regulations

A nursing home, or skilled nursing facility, may not be the right option for your loved one, particularly if they don’t need 24-hour medical supervision. So, we’ve included information on California’s assisted living and memory care laws and regulations.

Assisted living and memory care facilities in San Diego must be licensed by the California Department of Social Services (or CDSS). All assisted living and memory care 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 also adhere to the following regulations:

• House a maximum of 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

Inspections and reports

Nursing homes, or skilled nursing facilities, are inspected annually by the CDPH’s Licensing and Certification Division. The CDPH Center for Health Care Quality (or CHCQ) has a dashboard of the most common skilled nursing facility requirement violations. You can search by facility name, facility type, and county to find them.

The CDSS inspects assisted living and memory care facilities once each year. The CDSS must also inspect a facility within 10 days of receiving a complaint. Licensed facilities and their inspection reports are available to the public via 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 nursing homes

San Diego County has COVID-19 guidelines that residents are encouraged to follow. The most current recommendations include staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and getting tested if symptoms are suspected. In general, mask-wearing is not required. However, if you have COVID-19 symptoms, a recent positive test, or 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 health care centers and skilled nursing facilities or nursing homes.

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

Assisted living and memory care communities in San Diego have much to offer seniors. From full calendars of engaging activities to connected care opportunities, seniors with a variety of needs can find the lifestyle option that fits them.

San Diego nursing homes and senior care facilities

San Diego nursing homes or skilled nursing facilities are staffed with doctors and nurses that provide seniors with round-the-clock supervision and skilled medical care. Skilled nursing facilities may also coordinate hospice and rehabilitation services for seniors. Rehabilitation services are designed for seniors recovering from surgery or an illness. Skilled nursing facilities as well as assisted living communities have a range of rehabilitative therapies available on-site. These therapies often include physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. Residents of these San Diego facilities may also find unique options, such as acupuncture, massage therapy, and certified therapy dogs.

All of our San Diego assisted living and memory care communities should provide a least some on-site nursing care services to current residents, equivalent to the services received at a skilled nursing facility. However, it is not typical that an assisted living community will admit a senior in need of 24/7 medical observation, as that service is reserved for seniors already living in the community. For example, residents already in an assisted living community that grow to need rehabilitation or hospice care can receive such care services in the comfort of their own unit.

Seniors who aren’t recovering from surgery or an illness, aren’t in need of hospice care, and don’t require 24/7 medical oversight should look at assisted living communities — not nursing homes — to meet their current and future needs.

San Diego assisted living

Seniors who choose assisted living facilities in San Diego are set up to enjoy all that the city and their new lifestyle has to offer. Activities both within and outside of the community make for enriching social experiences, such as fitness classes, volunteer programs, parties, and live on-site entertainment. Visits to local museums, outings to sunny beaches, and lively tours of SeaWorld San Diego also await residents who want to maximize each day.

Luxe amenities can be found in many of San Diego’s assisted living communities, from living units to dining and common areas. Residents enjoy on-site fine dining experiences, pamper themselves in full service salons, wellness spas, and optimize their health in fitness centers and therapy pools. In addition, pools with views of the ocean waves and walking paths to nearby sandy beaches await residents. Some communities even maintain exclusive, private beach access and rooftop decks overlooking the ocean.

Most of San Diego’s assisted living facilities offer multiple senior care services in a single location, such as memory care and on-site skilled nursing care. These communities allow seniors to choose their ideal living situation without worry of moving in the future if their care needs change. Some of these facilities even have social services teams to coordinate residents’ appointments and facilitate communication between residents, families, and nursing staff.

San Diego memory care

Memory care communities in San Diego are ready to make each resident’s day meaningful. These specialized senior living communities are staffed with memory-care trained staff and uniquely designed for the safety and comfort of seniors with memory care needs. From person-centered activities to specialized therapies and amenities, these communities have something for all seniors to keep their minds engaged. Some communities even offer unique experiences, like virtual reality brain fitness games, accessible and safe social events, and chauffeured field trips to many of San Diego’s popular attractions.

Most memory care facilities in San Diego are a part of a larger assisted living facility which provides an array of on-site skilled nursing care services. Some even advertise themselves as luxury care communities, offering many high-end amenities for seniors to enjoy along the stages of their care journey.

Seniors can socialize in comfortable common areas after treating themselves to fresh styles and manicures in full-service, on-site salons. Residents are often found enjoying a gourmet meal with regional seafood and seasonal produce, or spending tranquil moments in on-site therapy gardens and landscaped courtyards. Like assisted living communities, many San Diego memory care communities even have unique, on-site amenities like personal wine storage, bars, and sports lounges.

Health care for seniors in San Diego

Senior residents in San Diego, California, have access to several nationally ranked hospitals and senior health care centers.

Transportation for seniors in San Diego

Many of San Diego’s nursing homes and senior care facilities offer scheduled transportation to their residents for specific appointments, errands, and scheduled outings. Resident visitors will also find many public transportation options available, allowing them to maximize their experiences with their loved ones 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 helps seniors travel to and from medical and nonmedical appointments in wheelchair-accessible vehicles 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.