Assisted living is a type of care that addresses the needs of seniors who are unable to remain in their homes and helps them maintain a certain degree of independence. Social programming, medication monitoring and assistance with daily activities are some of the services that retirees can access in these facilities. Those who opt to retire in one of Palo Alto’s assisted living communities must budget around $6,100 per month, which is 22% higher than the average of $5,000 across the state.
This guide provides an overview of the services available at assisted living facilities and the average rates seniors can expect in Palo Alto and nearby areas. We’ve also included some benefits and drawbacks of retiring in the city as well as a list of local resources and supportive programs that benefit residents and their families.
57 Results
600 Sand Hill Road, Palo Alto, CA, 94304
4.6
(11 reviews)
"The Vi is beautiful, it's wonderful, and elegant. Beautiful swimming pools, tennis courts, it's extremely attractive. If it's me by myself I would be living there. The rooms were big and lovely. I have no criticisms of the place, I thought it was jus..."
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2701 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA, 94306
"I went here. It's really beautiful. I liked the fact that they have a dedicated staff so that the residents would know who their caregivers were. Where my husband was before, there would be like a pool of caregivers, and he would never know which car..."
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4075 El Camino Way, Palo Alto, CA, 94306
4.4
(7 reviews)
"My visit at Palo Alto Commons was OK. I just showed up, and they showed me around. The room that would have suited my mom wasn't a regular apartment but like a dorm room that was nicely appointed. They seemed to have all kinds of activities and stuff..."
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649 University Avenue, Palo Alto, CA, 94301
4.1
(13 reviews)
"My mother has moved into Lytton Gardens. The care that she's being given is very detailed and correct, especially in this time of the pandemic. The facility is very clean, and they have maintenance people that can help cater some items for her. They'..."
READ MORECaring's Family Advisors are here to help you with questions about senior living and care options.
899 E Charleston Rd, Palo Alto, CA, 94303
3.5
(4 reviews)
"I visited this facility and was wowed by the high quality of the apartments and facilities - absolutely beautiful! The apartments have high ceilings and granite countertops, they look like high-end condos. The dining room is bright and everything i..."
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485 Woodside Road, Redwood City, CA, 94061
3.9
(55 reviews)
"We are in the process of moving my dad to Brookdale Redwood City. What he liked best was the courtyard and just the ability to be not just inside the building, but the feeling that he had someplace to go outside to enjoy nature. It didn't feel like l..."
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23500 Cristo Rey Drive, Cupertino, CA, 95014
4.9
(37 reviews)
"I'm delighted to provide a heartfelt review of the assisted living community where my dear friend has been residing. The experience has been nothing short of exceptional, thanks to the remarkable staff and employees who work tirelessly to ensure the ..."
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175 East Remington Drive, Sunnyvale, CA, 94087
4.4
(37 reviews)
"I was at Atria Sunnyvale for a couple of days. The facility was fantastic. The people there were very kind and helpful. Although I wasn't there very long, everyone was more than I ever could expect. They were genuinely wonderful and helpful. I ended ..."
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1039 E. El Camino Real, Sunnyvale, CA, 94087
4.5
(32 reviews)
"My mother-in-law will be moving into Belmont Village Sunnyvale. Tim, the sales guy, was very detailed. He asked a lot of questions as to what my mother-in-law's needs were. And I felt that because he was so detailed in trying to understand what her n..."
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2384 Pacific Drive, Santa Clara, CA, 95051
"My husband's Aunt lived at Pacific Gardens for several years at the end of her life. She went from living alone in her home with some outside help a few hours a week to Pacific Gardens and the family was very worried about her transition. Our chief c..."
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633 S. Knickerbocker Drive, Sunnyvale, CA, 94087
"My Parents room is spacious clean and very comfortable. All of the staff that I have come in contact with are polite, caring and professional. The common areas of the facility are very inviting and nicely arranged, there are plenty of places to sit, ..."
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1174 Los Altos Avenue, Los Altos, CA, 94022
4.5
(20 reviews)
"I toured BridgePoint at Los Altos and I loved it. If they had had a transition to a memory care unit, I wouldn't have looked any further. That was my top choice. Unfortunately, it won't work for us. The grounds were beautiful. There were several area..."
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1010 Alameda de Las Pulgas, Belmont, CA, 94002
4.4
(11 reviews)
"I toured Ivy Park at Belmont and it was a very nice tour. It was very warm and welcoming, clean, and nicely decorated. The hallways, the rooms, and the dining room looked very nice. The food looked delicious and they had a lot of activities. The staf..."
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919 Rosette Court, Sunnyvale, CA, 94086
5.0
(2 reviews)
"The Parkview RCH#2 is very nice, and the people are very nice. It's assisted living, and my wife moved there. She is currently out again because she's hospitalized. They provide activities like taking them out a little bit. Most of the elderlies are ..."
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1194 South Mary Ave, Sunnyvale, CA, 94087
5.0
(1 reviews)
"I toured Willie Care Home for my father, and it was very positive. The owner was really friendly, and they provided the information that we needed, so it was good. The place was very nice, it was clean and organized, and the clients were getting exce..."
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900 6th Avenue, Belmont, CA, 94002
4.3
(3 reviews)
"I went here. I like the location. It's a nice place and nice layout. I like everything about it. Everything was very professional and very clean. I didn't see anything at this point that needed any improvement. The staff during the tour was very plea..."
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1 East Selby Lane, Redwood City, CA, 94063
3.7
(6 reviews)
"I toured Oakmont of Redwood City. They were all great. I would have been happy with any of them if I needed a place. Everyone was prepared when I got there. They have multiple movie rooms. They had a room for after-hours food where customers could he..."
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1025 Carson Drive, Sunnyvale, CA, 94086
3.7
(6 reviews)
"We have my mom at Sunnyside Gardens. It's been great. Every Tuesday and Thursday, John comes and plays and they call it a dance party. People are in wheelchairs, but he dances with them. They play trivia and do exercises every morning, which my mom p..."
READ MORESeniors in California’s assisted living communities can turn to the local Long-Term Care Ombudsman if they’re experiencing any problems or violation of rights. Additionally, facilities that offer this type of care must meet state quality requirements enforced by the Department of Social Services’ Senior Care Licensing Program, which works alongside the Department of Public Health.
Palo Alto residents can expect to pay $6,100 per month for assisted living according to the Genworth Cost of Care Survey. This is $1,100 more than California’s average rate of $5,000, and it’s even higher than the United States as a whole at $1,800 more.
Costs in Palo Alto may be considered high, but other cities in the Bay Area are equally expensive. To the north, facilities in Napa charge a fee of $6,250. San Jose’s average of $5,875 is slightly lower, but those in Santa Cruz have to pay around $6,800.
Palo Alto
$6,100
California
$5,000
The United States
$4,300
San Jose
$5,875
Napa
$6,250
Santa Cruz
$6,800
Seniors who want to continue living in their homes can pay $6,101 per month for either homemaker or home health aide services. Adult day care is available for a significantly lower monthly fee of $1,950 since residents can only access these centers from Monday through Friday. Nursing homes provide more comprehensive services, so their fees are usually the highest; in Palo Alto, the average for this type of care is $15,208 and $12,471 for a private or semiprivate room, respectively.
Homemaker Services
$6,101
Home Health Aide
$6,101
Adult Day Health Care
$1,950
Assisted Living Facility
$6,100
Nursing Home Facility (semiprivate room)
$12,471
Nursing Home Facility (private room)
$15,208
Low-income seniors residing in Palo Alto may be eligible to apply for government funding to help pay for assisted living. There are currently two programs available: the 1915(c) Assisted Living Waiver program through Medi-Cal and Supplemental Security Income – Category G.
Learn more about these programs, plus who’s eligible, on our Assisted Living in California page.
While many families use their own funds or personal assets to pay for assisted living, there are plenty of additional options to cover these costs. Some additional ways to finance assisted living costs include:
For more information about different ways to finance assisted living, visit our Assisted Living in California page.
There are numerous free resources and programs available to Palo Alto’s senior community. Seniors can participate in volunteer opportunities, receive assistance to plan for long-term care and be connected with other helpful agencies in the area.
| Resource | Contact | Service |
|---|---|---|
| Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program | (408) 944-0567 | The main responsibility of long-term care ombudsmen is the defense of elder rights in assisted living communities. Seniors and their families can reach out to a staff member to report any facility-related problems, including financial abuse, denial of services, verbal or physical mistreatment and low-quality care. Assistance to gain admission into a long-term care setting may also be provided. Since this program is federally mandated, all services are strictly confidential and free of charge. |
| Sourcewise Community Resource Solutions | (408) 350-3200 | Sourcewise is the designated Area Agency on Aging for Santa Clara County where Palo Alto is located. Trained staff can help coordinate services for those awaiting placement in assisted living facilities. Residents may also be referred to resources, such as legal advice on civil cases, support groups for families and financial assistance as well as a variety of recreational programs. There are classes on technology and senior fitness, and counseling on Medicare is also available for uninsured residents or those experiencing any issues with their current provider. |
| Retired Senior Volunteer Program | (650) 696-7660 | Seniors can engage with the Palo Alto community and avoid social isolation through this volunteer program. Participants learn new skills and put existing ones to use with a variety of initiatives, including literacy projects, Meals on Wheels, skilled trades, food banks and legal support for residents with low incomes. In most cases, volunteers must be aged 55 or over and reside in northern Santa Clara County. |
| Office of Veterans Services | (408) 918-4980 | Santa Clara County’s Office of Veterans Services provides guidance on public benefits to former members of the U.S. Armed Forces. Staff members can help residents gather military records and other documents required for their applications. Benefits, such as VA pensions and disability compensation, may partially cover assisted living fees. In addition, veterans who meet certain criteria may be eligible to receive free primary care at select medical centers. Meetings are available in person and remotely. |
Palo Alto-area assisted living communities must adhere to the comprehensive set of state laws and regulations that all assisted living communities in California are required to follow. Visit our Assisted Living in California page for more information about these laws.
Assisted Living
Marc
4
Review of Lytton Gardens
My mom is staying at Lytton Gardens. It's reasonably priced and convenient. They treat my mom consistently well. The staff members are good. The food is average. The quality is good, if not...
Assisted Living
Rose
4
Review of Ivy Park at Palo Alto
We are considering Ivy Park at Palo Alto for respite care and their representative was very nice. They only showed us a demo apartment and then showed us kind of the basic amenities. My mom is...
Provider response
Hi Rose, we really appreciate your review! Thank you!
Assisted Living
Judith
4
Review of Palo Alto Commons
Palo Alto Commons looked very clean and welcoming. I felt very comfortable there. The room was adequate. The woman during the tour was very good, very kind and welcoming, and interested in my...
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