Best Senior Communities in California

Reviewed by Dr. Jordan Weiss
Updated Dec 2025
Over 10 homes analyzed

Sources: CMS Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and California Department of Health, Office of Aging and Long Term Care.

Explore home photos
Watch this Video to see California's Top-rated Senior Communities

One of the go-to destinations for retirees in the US, California offers fabulous weather all year round and exciting recreational opportunities to match its vibrant setting. Older residents here thrive with convenient access to top-notch hospitals, retirement benefits, and age-friendly amenities. The California Department of Aging also provides special resources to make retirees’ lives easier, such as community nutrition centers and home-delivered meals. California is also home to plenty of senior communities that offer specialized environments, services, and amenities tailored to help retirees enjoy a worry-free retirement experience.

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Compare Senior Communities around California

GlenBrook Health Center
AL

Assisted Living For seniors needing help with daily tasks but not full-time nursing.

IL

Independent Living For self-sufficient seniors seeking community and minimal assistance.

MC

Memory Care Specialized care for those with Memory Loss, Alzheimer's, or dementia, ensuring safety and support.

SNF

Nursing Homes 24/7 care needed

Carlsbad
155
No
-
57
ELWOOD JUSTIN WILSON, III AND JULIE FRANCES WILSON, TRUSTEE OF THE J.
-
$24,840,866.00
$9,658,998.00
38.9%
56.10
5/5
5.4231
3/5
5/5
5/5
1
26
1
+38%
+28%
-17%
70.5%
The Fountains Skilled Nursing Care
HC

Hospice Care

SNF

Nursing Homes 24/7 care needed

Yuba City
145
No
-
55
STONE POINT HEALTH
-
$25,834,806.00
$10,733,086.00
41.5%
130.80
5/5
4.2024
4/5
4/5
5/5
-
28
-
+15%
0%
-17%
70.0%
OakView Health Center
AL

Assisted Living For seniors needing help with daily tasks but not full-time nursing.

MC

Memory Care Specialized care for those with Memory Loss, Alzheimer's, or dementia, ensuring safety and support.

SNF

Nursing Homes 24/7 care needed

Thousand Oaks
96
No
A+
20
BOUCHARD FAMILY REVOCABLE TRUST
Private / Semi-Private Rooms
$14,871,668.00
$7,103,509.00
47.8%
43.30
5/5
5.2149
5/5
4/5
5/5
-
9
-
-56%
+24%
-6%
79.4%
Reata Glen
AL

Assisted Living For seniors needing help with daily tasks but not full-time nursing.

IL

Independent Living For self-sufficient seniors seeking community and minimal assistance.

MC

Memory Care Specialized care for those with Memory Loss, Alzheimer's, or dementia, ensuring safety and support.

SNF

Nursing Homes 24/7 care needed

Mission Viejo
840
No
B-
2
REAT GLEN ORANGE COUNTY CCRC
1 Bed / 2 Bed / 3 Bed
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-7%
79.0%
Ivy Park at La Palma
AL

Assisted Living For seniors needing help with daily tasks but not full-time nursing.

MC

Memory Care Specialized care for those with Memory Loss, Alzheimer's, or dementia, ensuring safety and support.

CA 90623
80
Yes
-
61
TRANSFORMER OPCO LLC;OAKMONT MANAGEMENT GROUP LLC
Studio / 1 Bed
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
+3%
87.5%
Ivy Park at Claremont
AL

Assisted Living For seniors needing help with daily tasks but not full-time nursing.

MC

Memory Care Specialized care for those with Memory Loss, Alzheimer's, or dementia, ensuring safety and support.

CA 91711
81
Yes
-
14
TRANSFORMER OPCO LLC;OAKMONT MANGEMENT GROUP LLC
Studio / 1 Bed
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-14%
72.8%
Oakmont of Brookside
AL

Assisted Living For seniors needing help with daily tasks but not full-time nursing.

MC

Memory Care Specialized care for those with Memory Loss, Alzheimer's, or dementia, ensuring safety and support.

Stockton (Brookside)
81
Yes
-
46
OAKMONT SENIOR LIVING OF BROOKSIDE OPCO, LLC AND
Studio / Suite / 1 Bed
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
+14%
96.3%
Oakmont Gardens
IL

Independent Living For self-sufficient seniors seeking community and minimal assistance.

Santa Rosa (Oakmont Village Association)
79
Yes
-
34
FFI OAKMONT TENANT LLC; LIFE CARE SERVICES LLC
1 Bed / 2 Bed
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-15%
72.2%
Cogir of Sonoma
AL

Assisted Living For seniors needing help with daily tasks but not full-time nursing.

IL

Independent Living For self-sufficient seniors seeking community and minimal assistance.

MC

Memory Care Specialized care for those with Memory Loss, Alzheimer's, or dementia, ensuring safety and support.

SNF

Nursing Homes 24/7 care needed

Sonoma
82
Yes
A+
74
WELLTOWER COGIR TENANT; COGIR MANAGEMENT USA
1 Bed / 2 Bed
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-60%
34.1%
MorningStar Memory Care at San Tomas
MC

Memory Care Specialized care for those with Memory Loss, Alzheimer's, or dementia, ensuring safety and support.

San Jose (West Valley)
82
Yes
-
59
WEST VALLEY MC,LLC; OAKMONT MANAGEMENT GROUP LLC
Studio / Shared Studio
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-53%
40.2%
Silverado Thousand Oaks Memory Care Community
MC

Memory Care Specialized care for those with Memory Loss, Alzheimer's, or dementia, ensuring safety and support.

Thousand Oaks
82
Yes
-
72
SILVERADO THOUSAND OAKS LLC;SILVERADO SR LVNG MGMT
Private Rooms
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-38%
52.4%
Ivy Park at Alta Loma
AL

Assisted Living For seniors needing help with daily tasks but not full-time nursing.

MC

Memory Care Specialized care for those with Memory Loss, Alzheimer's, or dementia, ensuring safety and support.

CA 91730
77
Yes
A+
75
TRANSFORMER OPCO LLC;OAKMONT MANAGEMENT GROUP LLC
Studio / 1 Bed
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-6%
79.2%
Villa Lorena Senior Living
AL

Assisted Living For seniors needing help with daily tasks but not full-time nursing.

SL

Senior Living

San Diego (Black Mountain Ranch Village)
85
No
-
32
SANTALUZ SENIOR PARTNERS,LP;VLGP INC(GEN. PARTNER)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-13%
74.1%
Town & Country
AL

Assisted Living For seniors needing help with daily tasks but not full-time nursing.

IL

Independent Living For self-sufficient seniors seeking community and minimal assistance.

MC

Memory Care Specialized care for those with Memory Loss, Alzheimer's, or dementia, ensuring safety and support.

SNF

Nursing Homes 24/7 care needed

Santa Ana
213
No
A+
67
BOLLINS, ROD
-
$37,010,750.00
$12,059,418.00
32.6%
82.40
5/5
5.2457
3/5
5/5
5/5
-
31
-
-20%
+24%
-60%
33.8%
Sunrise of San Mateo
AL

Assisted Living For seniors needing help with daily tasks but not full-time nursing.

MC

Memory Care Specialized care for those with Memory Loss, Alzheimer's, or dementia, ensuring safety and support.

San Mateo (Central San Mateo)
85
Yes
-
88
SZR SAN MATEO LLC; SUNRISE SENIOR LIVING MGT
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-3%
82.4%
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Assisted Living Magazine Ranking Methodology

View Full Ranking Methodology

How Assisted Living Magazine Evaluates & Scores Nursing Homes

Assisted Living Magazine ranks nursing homes using a rigorous, data-driven scoring model built specifically for skilled nursing.
Because this care level is regulated, clinical outcomes and compliance carry significantly more weight than transparency or digital presence.
Each community receives a ranking based on the factors below, weighted according to their importance in predicting resident safety, care quality, and long-term stability.

Update cadence: Reviewed quarterly, with prompt updates when new reviews, reports, or complaints are filed.

What We Prioritize Most

The largest share of every nursing home’s score — 45% of the total weighting — comes from clinical and regulatory indicators, including:

  • Overall, staffing, and inspection ratings
  • Long-stay and short-stay quality measures
  • Nurse-to-resident and staff-to-resident ratios
  • Health deficiencies and regulatory history
  • Accreditations and positive local news reporting

These factors directly reflect resident safety, care quality, and compliance.

Operational Stability & Resident Support

Another 35% of the score comes from operational and stability signals, such as:

  • Nurse hours per patient per day
  • Occupancy levels and cleanliness citations
  • Administrative stability and ownership quality
  • Readmission rates and registered-nurse turnover
Balancing Additional Factors

The remaining 20% of the score includes contextual elements such as:

  • Year built or renovated
  • Penalties, fines, and preventable readmissions
  • Revenue per bed
  • Administrator tenure

These factors help round out the overall picture but carry less weight because our methodology prioritizes clinical outcomes and regulatory consistency above all else.
The result is a clear, data-driven ranking system that elevates nursing homes delivering exceptional care and long-term resident safety.

Who we are

Your Senior Care Partner, Every Step of the Way

We help families find affordable senior communities and unlock same day discounts, Medicaid, and Medicare options tailored to your needs.

Contact us Today

Frequently Asked Questions

What government services provide money for senior housing?

Several government programs offer financial assistance for senior housing in various countries, focusing on the United States for a broad overview:

  • Medicaid: Medicaid is a state and federally funded program that can cover the costs of nursing home care for those who meet eligibility criteria, including income and asset limits. Some states also offer Medicaid waivers that help pay for home and community-based services to prevent or delay nursing home placement.
  • Medicare: Medicare, primarily a health insurance program for people aged 65 and over, does not cover long-term housing costs. However, it can cover short-term stays in a skilled nursing facility under specific conditions following a hospital stay.
  • Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program: This program provides housing for low-income seniors. It offers rental assistance and access to supportive services, such as cleaning, cooking, and transportation.
  • Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Properties: While not a direct subsidy, LIHTC encourages developers to create affordable housing. Seniors with low incomes can find reduced-rent apartments through this program.
  • State and Local Programs: Many states, counties, and cities offer their own programs to assist seniors with housing costs. These can include property tax relief programs, rental assistance programs, and programs that offer affordable senior housing options.
  • Veterans Affairs (VA): The VA offers several programs for veterans, including the Aid and Attendance benefit, which provides monthly payments to veterans who require the aid of another person, or are housebound, to help cover the cost of care in homes, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities.
  • Social Security: While Social Security primarily provides retirement income, for many seniors, these benefits are a crucial part of their budget, including housing costs.
How do you pick the homes you recommend?

Before recommending homes, we conduct a thorough evaluation on crucial factors that define a senior home such as the quality of care they provide, the reputation of the organization, and a comprehensive review of community testimonials as well. Every detail is assessed to assure that seniors are offered not just senior care options, but trustworthy homes where they can experience the care that they deserve.

Do you help families that need Medicaid?

Yes. Assisting families who need Medicaid is important to us as it plays a crucial role in offering financial support to seniors confronting economic challenges. We would like to keep essential healthcare services accessible to all community members, irrespective of one’s financial circumstances.

How much does this service cost?

We extend our services at no cost, ensuring that families and seniors can benefit from tailored assistance in their search for care and home options. Our ability to offer personalized guidance without charge to families and seniors is made possible through the support and funding from the communities with which we team up. 

What services do you offer?
  • Finding and ranking the best assisted living facilities
  • Finding and ranking the best nursing homes
  • Finding and ranking the best memory care facilities
  • Our concierge service helps seniors move into the perfect home for them
  • Helping seniors use medicare, medicaid, and other government programs to pay for their homes
  • Helping seniors avoid senior homes that have bad service or fraud
  • Helping seniors avoid senior homes that have bad service or fraud
  • Autobiography & Family History Writing + Research
  • Senior-focused concierge medicine
  • Senior-focused nutritionist
  • Senior-focused personal training
  • Memory care specialists
  • Custom wheelchairs at all price points.
  • Custom hearing aids
  • Cosmetic skincare + dermatology
  • Companionship: We offer in-person and virtual companionship services. Someone engaging to hang out with or talk to on video chat.
  • Senior housing concierge. Our service finds the best senior living options based on your needs, income, and personality.
Virtual Tours & Videos

Check out our photo album

Check out our virtual tours

Check out our home videos

Resident interviews at our senior living facilities

Check out our resident interviews

Cost guide to senior living, assisted living, nursing homes, and more.

Check out our cost guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the most common questions from families.
What government services provide money for senior housing?

Several government programs offer financial assistance for senior housing in various countries, focusing on the United States for a broad overview:

  • Medicaid: Medicaid is a state and federally funded program that can cover the costs of nursing home care for those who meet eligibility criteria, including income and asset limits. Some states also offer Medicaid waivers that help pay for home and community-based services to prevent or delay nursing home placement.
  • Medicare: Medicare, primarily a health insurance program for people aged 65 and over, does not cover long-term housing costs. However, it can cover short-term stays in a skilled nursing facility under specific conditions following a hospital stay.
  • Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program: This program provides housing for low-income seniors. It offers rental assistance and access to supportive services, such as cleaning, cooking, and transportation.
  • Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Properties: While not a direct subsidy, LIHTC encourages developers to create affordable housing. Seniors with low incomes can find reduced-rent apartments through this program.
  • State and Local Programs: Many states, counties, and cities offer their own programs to assist seniors with housing costs. These can include property tax relief programs, rental assistance programs, and programs that offer affordable senior housing options.
  • Veterans Affairs (VA): The VA offers several programs for veterans, including the Aid and Attendance benefit, which provides monthly payments to veterans who require the aid of another person, or are housebound, to help cover the cost of care in homes, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities.
  • Social Security: While Social Security primarily provides retirement income, for many seniors, these benefits are a crucial part of their budget, including housing costs.
How do you pick the homes you recommend?

Before recommending homes, we conduct a thorough evaluation on crucial factors that define a senior home such as the quality of care they provide, the reputation of the organization, and a comprehensive review of community testimonials as well. Every detail is assessed to assure that seniors are offered not just senior care options, but trustworthy homes where they can experience the care that they deserve.

Do you help families that need Medicaid?

Yes. Assisting families who need Medicaid is important to us as it plays a crucial role in offering financial support to seniors confronting economic challenges. We would like to keep essential healthcare services accessible to all community members, irrespective of one’s financial circumstances.

Cost guide to senior living, assisted living, nursing homes, and more.

Check out our cost guide.

How much does this service cost?

We extend our services at no cost, ensuring that families and seniors can benefit from tailored assistance in their search for care and home options. Our ability to offer personalized guidance without charge to families and seniors is made possible through the support and funding from the communities with which we team up. 

What services do you offer?
  • Finding and ranking the best assisted living facilities
  • Finding and ranking the best nursing homes
  • Finding and ranking the best memory care facilities
  • Our concierge service helps seniors move into the perfect home for them
  • Helping seniors use medicare, medicaid, and other government programs to pay for their homes
  • Helping seniors avoid senior homes that have bad service or fraud
  • Helping seniors avoid senior homes that have bad service or fraud
  • Autobiography & Family History Writing + Research
  • Senior-focused concierge medicine
  • Senior-focused nutritionist
  • Senior-focused personal training
  • Memory care specialists
  • Custom wheelchairs at all price points.
  • Custom hearing aids
  • Cosmetic skincare + dermatology
  • Companionship: We offer in-person and virtual companionship services. Someone engaging to hang out with or talk to on video chat.
  • Senior housing concierge. Our service finds the best senior living options based on your needs, income, and personality.
Virtual Tours & Videos

Check out our photo album

Check out our virtual tours

Check out our home videos

Resident interviews at our senior living facilities

Check out our resident interviews