Page 18 of Best Independent Living in California

Ideally situated in the beautiful Foster City, California, Atria at Foster Square offers upscale senior living options, including independent living, assisted living, and memory care. Atria offers individualized care to ensure residents live comfortably and confidently, from luxurious independent living to discrete support such as assistance with daily tasks, safety checks, medication management, and more.

Atria provides a range of leisure and convenience features as part of its commitment to creating a meaningful lifestyle. Residents can have a cocktail in the lounge or dine at the restaurant featuring regionally influenced food and table service. With a movie theater, exercise facility, and outdoor dining areas, residents enjoy plenty of recreational alternatives. The pet-friendly atmosphere and on-site salon and spa at Atria make residents feel at home, while their round-the-clock support, transportation, and treatment options ensure all of their residents’ needs are met.

Overview of Cadence Millbrae by Cogir

Cadence at Millbrae has a solid reputation for offering quality assisted living and memory care with independent living care. The nurturing environment empowers and enhances residents’ quality of life by providing tailored care to each unique individual. The vibrant community follows a resident-centered approach to holistic wellness for seniors. Cadence at Millbrae is a pleasant, home-like environment where residents can boost their rich social life.

The premier senior home is known for being a different kind of retirement home; they ensure that residents keep their individuality while pursuing an enriched life. To keep the residents active and allow them to maintain a healthy lifestyle, the staff plans engaging activities and programs– recreational activities, fitness activities, and entertainment programs in the library, media room, or social areas.

Overview of WellQuest of Menifee Lakes

WellQuest of Menifee Lakes provides luxurious senior living for its assisted living with memory care and independent living housing options. The elegant retirement home creates a lifestyle that aims to provide an enjoyable lifestyle that cultivates individuality and growth. In a community focused on a continuum of care, the senior living experience of its residents is enhanced through its innovative and technologically advanced person-centered approach.

WellQuest aims to modernize senior living by focusing on the convenience and comfort of senior wellness by designing a lifestyle that caters to their needs.  Luxury accommodations include personalized care plans, scheduled housekeeping, specialized memory care activities, and ADLs.

Located in the tranquil neighborhood of West Sunset Boulevard, Pacific Palisades, CA, Atria Park of Pacific Palisades is an exceptional senior living community providing assisted living and memory care. Meticulously-designed floor plans welcome seniors including studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments inclusive of individual thermostat controls and emergency alert systems. The community ensures comfort and safety with a team of friendly and dedicated professionals available around the clock.

Atria Park of Pacific Palisades promotes a secure and comfortable community, offering its exclusive Life Guidance memory care that encourages its residents to live a fulfilled and inspiring life. Moreover, the community provides the utmost assistance with the seniors’ medication, ensuring they are well taken care of. With the residents’ satisfaction in mind, the community serves three chef-prepared healthy and delicious meals daily. The community features a salon and a rooftop terrace overlooking with ocean and mountain scenery.

Overview of Belmont Village Senior Living Hollywood Hills

An exceptional senior living community settling in the peaceful lands of North Highland Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, Belmont Village Hollywood Hills features assisted living, independent living, and memory care. Experience a comfortable and safe retirement with well-built floor plans including studio and one-bedroom apartments. Combining clinical expertise and utmost comfort, the community strives to provide seniors with unforgettable golden years.

Belmont Village Hollywood Hills encourages residents to retain a well-engaged and happy life, conducting a wide array of fun activities and learning programs. Healthy and delicious meals are served to satisfy dietary needs. Age gracefully surrounded by stunning amenities and ethereal views within the safe grounds of Belmont Village Hollywood Hills. The community is recognized as US News and World Report’s Best Memory Care for its top-notch care and assistance to individuals with dementia.

Overview of Ivy Park at Laguna Woods

Welcoming residents and guests with warmth, Ivy Park at Laguna Woods located in Calle Sonora, Laguna Woods, CA, is an idyllic senior living community providing assisted living. The community offers a variety of floor plans including private studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments. Ivy Park at Laguna Woods prioritizes the independence and growth of seniors, collaborating with them and their loved ones to deliver the utmost care and assistance that perfectly matches their needs.

Ivy Park at Laguna Woods fosters meaningful connections, encouraging residents to remain active and engage with others. Keeping the spark of inspiration and fulfillment, the community conducts social and educational programs. Residents enjoy all-day dining with freshly prepared healthy meals at Vine at Ivy Restaurant. The community includes a heated swimming pool and spa, a fitness center, a putting green, an activities studio, a media room, a full-service room, and cozy indoor and outdoor lounges for seniors’ wellness and leisure.

Basking in the scenic views of Carmel, CA, Carmel Valley Manor is an exceptional life-plan community offering independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing. As the only life-plan community in Monterey County, Carmel Valley Manor offers a Life Care Contract which includes three levels of healthcare and residence; and a Monthly Fee Agreement that provides housing and necessary medical services. With a 28-acre picture-perfect view of the mountains and nature, Carmel Valley Manor features a spectrum of floor plans ranging from studios to 2-bedroom cottages that can be decorated based on the resident’s preference.

Carmel Valley Manor is an extraordinary community that emphasizes wellness and satisfaction. The culinary team prepares luxurious meals six days a week, with wonderful breakfast gourmet brunch provided on Sundays and Holidays. Amenities include an on-site clinic, fitness center, pool, scenic trail, computer center, craft rooms, and more. In collaboration with Blue Zones Project Monterey County (BZMPC), Carmel Valley Manor promotes a quality, comfortable, and sustainable life for seniors. This community is truly one of a kind and a gift to the seniors of Monterey County.

Overview of Good Samaritan Retirement Home

Good Samaritan Retirement Home is a 110-bed assisted living and memory care community with specialized dementia care, rehabilitation services, respite stays, and a core assisted living program in El Cajon, California. Operated by the Daughters of Mary Immaculate (Chaldean Sisters) under administrator Susan Sorensen, the community serves San Diego County. It’s been licensed since 2000 by the California Department of Social Services as a Residential Care Facility for the Elderly.

Across four official inspections since 2021, the facility has recorded zero citations, against a California average of 10, and only 2 complaints compared to a statewide norm of 14. No fines exist in the latest inspection in September 2025, placing the inspection score at 83 out of 100 against California’s benchmark of 70.

The memory care program is staffed 24/7 with dementia caregiving staff and a licensed nurse providing 8 hours of dementia-specific coverage daily. The community has four hospice waivers, allowing end-of-life care coordination on-site. Rounding out the care model are a fall prevention program, outdoor garden spaces, and a mobile physician.

With a consistently clean regulatory record, Good Samaritan Retirement Home is best for older adults in San Diego County requiring long-term assisted living or memory care in a faith-based community.

Overview of Cogir of Brentwood

Cogir of Brentwood offers assisted living and independent living in Brentwood, CA. Assisted living includes help with daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, and medication while the resident keeps a private apartment. Independent living provides private living with community services and no daily care. Having both care levels can allow a resident’s needs to grow over time without requiring a move to another community.

The community has 150 beds with studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments. A studio offers one private living space, while a two-bedroom layout can work for a couple moving together or for someone who wants a companion. Respite care provides a short stay when a usual caregiver needs to travel or recover. Temporary rehabilitation is also available for residents who need a place to recover and work on rehabilitation needs.

Residents can use the pool, salon and spa, restaurant-style dining, and on-site rehabilitation services. Meals are made with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Arts and crafts, exercise classes, social outings, and wellness programs give residents organized ways to spend their time, while community transportation supports outings or errands. Pets are allowed, and Jeffrey Freeth serves as the administrator.

Cogir of Brentwood is in the Brentwood Lake neighborhood. Its Walk Score of 30 places it in a car-dependent setting, so most errands require a car or a ride. The community’s transportation service gives residents who no longer drive another option for getting out.

Overview of University Retirement Community

Located in the heart of Davis, CA, University Retirement Community is a luxury senior living community that offers its residents an extravagant independent living environment. The community provides its residents with stunning and snug accommodations with home maintenance and other household chores taken care of for a carefree living experience. Each residence is equipped with private decks, large windows, full kitchens, and large living and dining areas that foster a comfortable and convenient living environment.

Designed to nurture residents’ overall aspect of well-being, the community also offers an array of wellness initiatives and enriching activities. Residents keep their minds sharp with the community’s excellent range of lifelong learning opportunities that help stimulate their minds and cognitive abilities. Here at University Retirement Community, residents spend less time worrying about the small things, and more time pursuing the things they love.