Best Assisted Living Facilities in San Diego, CA

How We Chose the Best Assisted Living in San Diego

Picking the right assisted living for yourself or a family member is no small decision. There are various factors you’ll need to consider, including your family’s budget and your or your loved one’s desired lifestyle. This is why we put so much care, attention, and research into finding the best assisted living communities in San Diego, California.

When choosing the best assisted living communities in San Diego, we examined and compared the following criteria:

• Cost: We focused our search on communities that offer the best value. In other words, the value for each facility on our list either matched or exceeded its prices. We also searched for some of San Diego’s most affordable options.
• Medical care: The degree of medical care can vary from one community to the next. Many of the best facilities have medical personnel on standby.
• Reviews: While good reviews don’t guarantee good quality, we consider assisted living communities that consistently receive positive reviews from trusted sources.
• Amenities: Having more amenities doesn’t always mean having better amenities, but many of the best assisted living communities offer a wide array of services and perks designed for seniors.
• Location: We selected communities with accessibility and proximity to shopping and entertainment, which can greatly improve the quality of life for residents.
• Staff size: We chose assisted living communities with high staff-to-patient ratios.

How to Find the Right Assisted Living Community for You

Finding the right assisted living community can prove challenging, especially if you’re unsure of which amenities and services you want. There are many factors to consider, but with a plan to narrow down your choices, you can find the best place for you.

To help you in your search, we’ve provided a few tips that should make the process a bit easier:

• Figure out why you need assisted living: If you’re already looking for an assisted living community, you probably have a good idea why it’s the best option for you. That said, it’s still worth it to list everything you need help with. For example, are you able to get in and out of chairs on your own? Do you struggle to remember when to take medication? Or do you simply like the idea of having help nearby whenever you need it? Knowing exactly what you need will help narrow down your choices to those that best fit your personal requirements.
• Know your financial limits: While it can be tempting to pull out all the stops and sign up for a luxury experience, consider your financial limitations in the future. Your savings might afford you certain luxuries now, but what about five or 10 years from now? Make sure your budget includes a long-term plan to see you through your retirement. It’s also important to remember that Medicare and Medicaid generally don’t cover the costs of assisted living, so you’ll want to make sure you can cover the costs with personal savings, long-term care insurance, or other benefits.
• Talk to friends and family: There’s a good chance that you know someone who knows someone who lives in an assisted living facility. So, contact people who can offer a firsthand account of their experience. Consulting friends and family can help you find a location that works for everyone in your life.
• Visit more than one assisted living facility: We always recommend seeing an assisted living community in person before you make a decision. While assisted living communities provide much-needed services, they may not represent themselves honestly online. So, visit the ones you like in person; you might find that the in-person experience is totally different from the impression you got from the community website or even online reviews.
• Ask about qualifications: There’s nothing wrong with asking about facility and staff qualifications. From medical staff to administrators, you’ll want to know that you’re putting yourself in experienced hands. Additionally, you should make sure that the facility has the proper certifications to provide elder care in the state of California.
• Trust your instincts: At some point, you’re going to have to decide where to spend your retirement. You’ll likely have a few good choices in front of you, and you may not be sure how to proceed. If this happens to you, do your best to go with your gut. Typically, if one community gives you a better impression than the others, it’s probably a good fit for you.

What’s Living in San Diego Like for Seniors?

There’s a reason why so many seniors choose San Diego as their home during retirement. From the beautiful weather to the ample health care facilities, San Diego is a great place for seniors to live comfortably. Here are some reasons why thousands of seniors enjoy San Diego living:

• Climate: Like much of Southern California, San Diego has a relatively mild climate throughout the year. You can expect temperatures in the mid-70s (Fahrenheit) during the summer months and high 50s to low 60s during the winter months. This makes it easy to enjoy outdoor activities and pick out clothes that’ll be comfortable at virtually any time of year.
• Entertainment: While most assisted living communities offer plenty of activities and in-house entertainment options, San Diego is also great for local excursions. Some of the most popular options include golf courses and walking trails, as well as well-known attractions like Balboa Park and the San Diego Zoo.
• Health care: Assisted living communities offer some health care support to complement more formal clinics and hospitals. Fortunately, San Diego is home to some of the best medical facilities in the country, including UC San Diego Health and Scripps Health.
• Cost of living: San Diego indeed has a higher cost of living than the national average, especially when it comes to housing. However, California is one of many states that doesn’t tax Social Security benefits, which can help make it easier to pay for assisted living or similar accommodations.

How Much Does Assisted Living Cost in San Diego, California?

Property is generally the most expensive cost seniors will encounter in San Diego, and this typically extends to assisted living communities and apartments. Genworth estimates that the median monthly cost of assisted living in San Diego is $7,468, more than 20 percent higher than the national average of $5,892 per This means that older adults in San Diego will need to ensure that they have ample savings or long-term care insurance to supplement Social Security and other retirement benefits.

While costs are generally higher in San Diego than in the rest of the country, you need to consider that many of your expenses will be included in the cost of assisted living. For example, most communities include utilities, cable, internet, housekeeping, transportation, and food as part of their monthly rate. This means that, unless you frequently go out to shop or enjoy dining outside of the community, you won’t have too many additional expenses.

For most older adults in an assisted living community, doctor’s appointments or any health care services not provided by in-house medical staff will be the highest expense. Fortunately, San Diego’s health care costs are 22 percent lower than the national average. This may make it easier for some seniors to justify the higher cost of assisted living in San Diego.