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Best Independent Living in El Cajon, CA

Why trust this guide? Our editorial team analyzed 2 independent living communities in El Cajon, CA using CA Dept. of Social Services (CDSS) data, inspection records, complaints, amenities, and facility-level details. How we rank independent living in CA
Reviewed by
Jordan Weiss, PhD
Last updated
We analyzed These are the facilities in El Cajon, CA our team has analyzed — not a count of every independent living provider in El Cajon, CA.
2 homes
Other senior care options in El Cajon:
Assisted Living Memory Care Nursing Homes

Video Tour: Top-rated Independent Living facilities in El Cajon, California.

Watch this Video to see El Cajon's Top-rated Senior Communities
Avg Walk Score: 43/ 100The average Walk Score across facilities in El Cajon, CA. A third-party neighborhood walkability score (0–100) measuring convenience and context, not healthcare quality. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 50/ 100
Avg No. of Beds: 110The average licensed bed capacity across facilities in El Cajon, CA. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 90

Compare Independent Living around El Cajon

Info below is compiled from the CA Dept. of Social Services (CDSS), senior community websites & trusted data sources such as Walk Score & BBB.

Communities are listed from highest-ranked to lowest-ranked based on our methodology.

Care Types in This Table AL (Assisted Living): Housing with help for daily activities like bathing, dressing, and medication, without 24-hour skilled nursing. NH (Nursing Home): 24/7 skilled nursing care for residents with complex, ongoing medical needs. SNF (Skilled Nursing Facility): Round-the-clock nursing care, often for recovery after surgery, injury, or illness. MC (Memory Care): Secured, specialized care for people living with Alzheimer's or dementia. RC (Respite Care): Short-term temporary care that gives family caregivers a break. IL (Independent Living): Community living with dining, activities, and transportation for active seniors who need little personal care. HC (Home Care): Professional care delivered in the person's own home, from companionship to skilled nursing. HOS (Hospice Care): Comfort-focused care for those with a terminal illness, prioritizing quality of life over treatment. ADC (Adult Day Care): Daytime supervision, health monitoring, and social activities for seniors who live at home.
City and state of the facility. Used for mapping and state-average comparisons.
Licensed bed capacity (maximum allowed). Not the same as how many beds are currently filled.
Indicates whether residents are allowed to have pets in the facility.
Third-party neighborhood walkability score (0–100). Convenience/context metric, not a healthcare quality measure.
The ALM Inspection Grade — our own 0–100 score of a facility's regulatory inspection record, shown as a letter and compared with other facilities of the same kind in the same state. It is not a government rating. A dash means we do not publish a grade for that facility: either its public record is too thin to be fair, or we hold nothing for it at all.
Count of regulatory inspections in the reporting window. Higher volume can reflect more oversight visits, complaint-driven surveys, or routine licensure cycles.
Visits or investigations linked to complaints, as counted in the state record (may differ from routine annual surveys).
Number of years the company has been in operation.
Reported or derived occupancy for the facility—typically how fully licensed capacity is utilized. Compare across peers in the same market.
Better Business Bureau grade for the operating company. Reflects complaint handling and business practices, not clinical care quality.
Name of the licensed owner, operator, or managing entity as filed with the state. Useful for grouping facilities under the same organization.
Housing or bed configuration options (e.g. studio, shared), often from facility-reported amenities and licensing details.
Good Samaritan Retirement Home
IL
ADC
AL
HC
HOS
MC
NH
RC
SNF
El Cajon
110
Facility 110
CA AVG 103
Rank #582 / 1,492
No
2
Facility 2
CA AVG 57
Rank #1,873 / 1,887
A+97 / 100 — 14 points above the California average for state-licensed facilities (83/100)8
2
Facility 2
CA AVG 13
Rank #325 / 1,387
26
Facility 26
CA AVG 13
Rank #214 / 1,452
50.0%
Facility 50.0%
CA AVG 74.6%
Rank #1,169 / 1,313
-Daughters Of Mary Immaculate C Chaldean Sisters-
Solstice Senior Living at El Cajon
IL
El Cajon (Little Baghdad)
-Yes
83
Facility 83
CA AVG 57
Rank #306 / 1,887
---
8
Facility 8
CA AVG 13
Rank #734 / 1,452
-A+-Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed

Rank badges are statewide: each community is ranked against every CA community we track that reports that metric, not just the 2 analyzed for El Cajon. See how we rank facilities

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Good Samaritan Retirement Home

1515 Jamacha Way, El Cajon, CA 92019
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Senior participating in a fitness activity with assistance.
Overview of Good Samaritan Retirement Home
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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.

Phone: (619) 590-1515

Contact Good Samaritan Retirement Home

Solstice Senior Living at El Cajon

444 Prescott Ave, El Cajon, CA 92020
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Well-maintained outdoor space with gardens and walkways
Overview of Solstice Senior Living at El Cajon
Facebook

Operating for eight years, Solstice Senior Living at El Cajon is a retirement community located in El Cajon, California, that offers independent living. The three-story residence offers studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments for independent older adults. Its highly walkable location, with a Walk Score of 83, places shopping, dining, banking, and other everyday services within easy reach.

Although the community does not provide medical or personal care assistance, residents have access to rehabilitation services, a wellness program, transportation, housekeeping, and laundry services. Additional support can also be arranged through on-site third-party care providers when needed. Moreover, restaurant-style dining accommodates individual dietary preferences, while the Vibrant Life program, volunteer opportunities, a spa, and a garden encourage an active and socially connected lifestyle.

Phone: (619) 444-9470

Contact Solstice Senior Living at El Cajon

Weighting overview

  • 35%
    Resident Experience
  • 25%
    Regulatory
  • 15%
    Visual Media
  • 10%
    Website
  • 10%
    Stability
  • 5%
    Environment
01

Resident & Family Experience 35%

The single largest share of every ranking. Aggregated review sentiment and volume from major platforms — the closest signal to real resident experience.

  • Includes
  • Review Sentiment
  • Review Volume
02

Regulatory & Safety Record 25%

State inspection records, citations, and complaint visits. We weight per-inspection rates more heavily than raw counts.

  • Includes
  • State Inspections
  • Citations/Inspection
  • % Inspections w/ Citations
  • Complaint Visits
  • Accreditations
  • BBB Rating
03

Visual Media & Transparency 15%

Communities that publish high-quality visuals give families a real preview. No photos or tours = a negative transparency signal.

  • Includes
  • Video Tours
  • Virtual Walkthroughs
  • Photo Quantity
  • Photo Quality
04

Website & Operator Transparency 10%

Site quality and whether the operator publishes basic accountability information — staff names, contact details, ownership.

  • Includes
  • Website Content
  • Mobile Usability
  • Staff Info Available
  • Owner Info Available
05

Community Stability 10%

Operational signals indicating whether a community is well-run and meeting demand.

  • Includes
  • Occupancy Rate
  • Bed Options
06

Environment & Pricing 5%

Walkability and pricing transparency. Walk Score is weighted higher for Independent Living than for Memory Care, where most residents do not leave unaccompanied.

  • Includes
  • Walk Score
  • Pricing Transparency
Full methodology →
No paid rankings Communities cannot pay to influence placement.
Data source California Department of Social Services (CDSS)
How we're paid: If we help you find a community and you move in, that community may pay us a referral fee. This never affects where they rank or what you pay. Learn more
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Frequently Asked Questions about Independent Living in El Cajon, CA

What is the average cost of independent living in El Cajon, CA?

The average monthly cost of independent living in El Cajon, CA is approximately $2,062. Actual rates vary by community, level of care, and floorplan.

What is the price range for independent living in El Cajon, CA?

Independent living in El Cajon, CA typically ranges from $542 - $4,950 per month, depending on the community, room type, and care needs.

What is independent living?

Independent living communities are residential settings for active older adults — typically with private apartments or cottages, shared amenities (dining, fitness, activities), and no built-in medical care.

How many independent living communities are listed on this page?

This page features 2 independent living communities in El Cajon, CA. Use the filters and comparison tools above to compare ratings, amenities, and pricing.

How do I choose the right independent living community in El Cajon, CA?

Start by matching the level of care offered to the resident's current and anticipated needs, then compare licensing status, staff-to-resident ratios, recent inspection results, and pricing. Tour at least two or three communities in El Cajon, CA, talk to current residents and families, and confirm what is included in the base rate versus billed as add-on services.

What should I look for when visiting independent living communities in El Cajon, CA?

Pay attention to staff interactions with residents, cleanliness and odor, food quality at meal times, the activity calendar, and how questions about pricing and care plans are answered. Ask to see the most recent state inspection report, the move-out / level-of-care-change policy, and a sample monthly bill that lists every fee.

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