Caring.com
Caring.com

(800) 558-0653

The 10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in San Rafael, CA for 2024

San Rafael lies in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, just across the Golden Gate Bridge and less than 20 miles from Downtown San Francisco. It’s the seat of Marin County and home to more than 58,400 residents, including over 11,270 seniors aged 65 or older. Seniors flock to San Rafael for its ambiance, welcoming communities, pleasant year-round weather and many activities and amenities. The beautiful suburb also boasts spectacular mountain landscapes opposite the captivating views of the Bay.

Assisted living facilities offer active seniors the independence they desire combined with the personalized supportive care they need in a comfortable residential setting. Because San Rafael is one of the more expensive areas to live in California, seniors can expect to pay an average of $6,100 per month for assisted living care. While this is higher than both the state and national averages, the location comes with numerous perks.

This guide covers various aspects of assisted living in San Rafael, including the average cost of assisted living compared to other senior care options and other California cities. It also lists some benefits and drawbacks of retiring in San Rafael and several free resources for seniors.

What you can do with Caring

  • Search the Caring database

    Quickly search the largest online senior living and senior care directory

  • Read reviews and expert guidance

    Read our authentic consumer reviews and content by experts

  • Speak to a Family Advisor for free

    Guided, expert advice to find the best community or agency for you

  • Take a tour to decide yourself

    We’ll help you book tours or get in touch with local agencies

Assisted Living Facilities in San Rafael, California

25 Results


Pets AllowedPhysical TherapyPool / Hot TubVeterans Benefits

Filters

25 Results

Sort By

Didn't find what you were looking for?

Caring's Family Advisors are here to help you with questions about senior living and care options.

Call us at (855) 948-3865

1

2

What to Consider About Assisted Living in San Rafael

The California Department of Social Services, Senior Care Licensing Program monitors and licenses assisted living facilities in San Rafael and across the state. The Adult and Senior Care Program sends field staff to perform regulatory inspections at residential care facilities for the elderly throughout the state, including assisted living residences.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Assisted Living in San Rafael

  • Residents in San Rafael are well-tended by the local hospital, Kaiser Permanente San Rafael Medical Center, a general medical and surgical facility. It was ranked high performing in the treatment of heart failure and pneumonia. Residents also have access to Marin General Hospital, less than three miles away in Greenbrae. It has an on-site emergency department and was ranked high performing in the treatment of heart failure and stroke.
  • Retirees in San Rafael benefits from the state’s tax exemption on Social Security income, but most other retirement benefits are taxed. Like much of the state, San Rafael has a high sales tax rate, but groceries and prescription drugs are tax exempt.
  • The cost of living in San Rafael is high. It’s more than double the national average and more than 50% higher than California’s statewide average. However, the significant difference is primarily due to the high cost of housing, which is less of a concern in assisted living. For important items like health care, costs are only 2% higher than the national average, and utilities are nearly 3% lower than the national average and 5% lower than the state average.
  • Though San Rafael is one of the more expensive places to live in California, it’s also one of the safer areas. Violent crime in San Rafael is ranked at 17.1 on a scale of one to 100, with one being the best. This rank is lower than the national average of 22.7 and even lower than California’s statewide average of 25.2.
  • Average rainfall in San Rafael is slightly higher than the national average at 41 inches per year compared to 38. Seniors who dislike winter weather particularly like that San Rafael doesn’t get any snow, and nighttime lows rarely dip below freezing with an average low of 42 in January, the coldest month. Residents enjoy six comfortable months with high temperatures ranging between 70-degrees and 85-degrees Fahrenheit.

Paying for Assisted Living in San Rafael

San Rafael’s average cost of assisted living is $6,100 monthly, per Genworth’s Cost of Care Survey, making it one of the costliest locations in California. Compared to the state average, assisted living is $1,100 higher in San Rafael and $1,800 higher than the national average.

The Cost of Assisted Living in Nearby Cities

While the average cost of assisted living in San Rafael is higher than the state average, there are other cities where costs are higher. San Rafael costs more than San Jose by $225 per month, but it’s only $100 higher than Santa Rosa. Alternately, it’s less expensive than Napa by $150 and Santa Cruz by $700. 

San Rafael

$6,100

California

$5,000

The United States

$4,300

San Jose

$5,875

Santa Rosa

$6,000

Napa

$6,250

Santa Cruz

$6,800

The Cost of Other Types of Senior Care

Seniors who aren’t sure of their care needs may explore other options to compare to assisted living. The lowest cost option is adult day health care, which is called community-based adult services in California. In San Rafael, the average cost per month is $1,950. For in-home care, homemaker services and home health aides both cost an average of $6,101 per month. For those needing extensive care, nursing homes run the highest at an average of $12,471 for semiprivate rooms or $15,208 for private rooms. 

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

Note: Data for San Rafael was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, San Francisco, was used instead.

Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in San Rafael

Low-income seniors residing in San Rafael 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.

Paying for Assisted Living Facilities in California

More Ways to Pay for Assisted Living

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:

  • Veterans Benefits
  • Life Insurance Policy
  • Long-Term Care Insurance
  • Reverse Mortgage

For more information about different ways to finance assisted living, visit our Assisted Living in California page.

Free Assisted Living Resources in San Rafael

San Rafael provides several free senior resources through county agencies and nonprofit organizations. These resources provide various services to ensure seniors in assisted living and other living situations have the assistance they need to live as independently as possible.

Resource

Contact

Services

Marin County Aging and Adult Services

(415) 473-4636

Marin County AAS in San Rafael serves seniors and disabled persons through a multidisciplinary system of support and services. It strives to enhance the quality of life and promote independence by administering a range of programs, including adult protective services, information and assistance, in-home supportive care, the long-term care ombudsman and food assistance.

Area Agency on Aging for Marin County

(415) 473-4636

AAA is the primary funder and administrator of services for adults aged 60 or older throughout the county. It provides services either directly or through contracts with private and nonprofit agencies, including assisted transportation, home-delivered meals, legal services, long-term care ombudsman, disease prevention and health promotion and senior center activities, among others.

Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

(415) 473-7446

The Marin County Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program uses state-certified staff and volunteers to help resolve problems for residents of assisted living and skilled nursing facilities. The ombudsman provides free, confidential services, advocates for the rights of LTC residents and investigates allegations of suspected abuse.

STAR and TRIP Volunteer Driver Program

(415) 454-0902

The STAR and TRIP Volunteer Driver Program helps older adults remain independent by providing mileage reimbursement to individuals who drive them to medical appointments, family visits, shopping excursions, classes, social events or other desired trips. Marin County residents aged 65 or older who are enrolled in Marin Access qualify for the program. If a participant doesn’t have their own volunteer driver, Travel Navigators can help them consider their options.

LITA (Love is the Answer) of Marin

(415) 472-5482

LITA is a nonprofit organization that improves the quality of life for socially isolated residents of any long-term care facility in Marin County by scheduling regular visits with volunteers. There’s no fee for any of the five programs offered, including weekly one-on-one visits with two more members of a family or with pets, elementary class visits throughout the school year and regular visits by musicians for the entire facility.

ResourceContactService
Marin County Aging and Adult Services(415) 473-4636

Marin County AAS in San Rafael serves seniors and disabled persons through a multidisciplinary system of support and services. It strives to enhance the quality of life and promote independence by administering a range of programs, including adult protective services, information and assistance, in-home supportive care, the long-term care ombudsman and food assistance.


Area Agency on Aging for Marin County(415) 473-4636

AAA is the primary funder and administrator of services for adults aged 60 or older throughout the county. It provides services either directly or through contracts with private and nonprofit agencies, including assisted transportation, home-delivered meals, legal services, long-term care ombudsman, disease prevention and health promotion and senior center activities, among others.


Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program(415) 473-7446

The Marin County Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program uses state-certified staff and volunteers to help resolve problems for residents of assisted living and skilled nursing facilities. The ombudsman provides free, confidential services, advocates for the rights of LTC residents and investigates allegations of suspected abuse.


STAR and TRIP Volunteer Driver Program(415) 454-0902

The STAR and TRIP Volunteer Driver Program helps older adults remain independent by providing mileage reimbursement to individuals who drive them to medical appointments, family visits, shopping excursions, classes, social events or other desired trips. Marin County residents aged 65 or older who are enrolled in Marin Access qualify for the program. If a participant doesn’t have their own volunteer driver, Travel Navigators can help them consider their options.


LITA (Love is the Answer) of Marin(415) 472-5482

LITA is a nonprofit organization that improves the quality of life for socially isolated residents of any long-term care facility in Marin County by scheduling regular visits with volunteers. There’s no fee for any of the five programs offered, including weekly one-on-one visits with two more members of a family or with pets, elementary class visits throughout the school year and regular visits by musicians for the entire facility.


Assisted Living Laws and Regulations in San Rafael

San Rafael-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 Laws and Regulations in California

Reviews of Communities Nearby

Assisted Living

Reviewer RC#0721c

I visited this facility

Review of The Vincent

The Vincent was very nice. The facility was beautiful. The staff member that I spoke to was great. They were very kind, gracious, and polite. The location was great. It's centrally located. It...

Provider response

Thank you so much for your kind and generous words. We are working hard to provide a loving and dignified experience for all people who spend time with us. The Vincent is a new boutique community...

Read more

Assisted Living

Matthew

I visited this facility

Review of The Vincent

We toured The Vincent and it was lovely. It was high-end compared to the other facilities that we visited. It looked like a lovely place for people who require such assistance. The staff seemed to...

Provider response

Thank you Matthew. Your kindness and thoughtful words are appreciated very much. You and your loved ones are so important to us and we want to communicate that from the very first visit. Our...

Read more

Assisted Living

Preston

I visited this facility

Review of The Vincent

It is modern and new. It's like a very nice motel. They have a lot of amenities. It was comfortable. They have a nice dining room, a social area where they have various activities, and a very nice...

Read more

Helpful Articles

Assisted Living near San Rafael, CA

Corte MaderaMill ValleyNovatoRichmondPinoleEl Cerrito

Other Options in San Rafael, CA

Business Owners

Caring.com

Caring.com is a leading online destination for caregivers seeking information and support as they care for aging parents, spouses, and other loved ones. We offer thousands of original articles, helpful tools, advice from more than 50 leading experts, a community of caregivers, and a comprehensive directory of caregiving services.

 

The material on this site is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal, financial, professional, or medical advice or diagnosis or treatment. By using our website, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Caring.com

Caring.com is a leading online destination for caregivers seeking information and support as they care for aging parents, spouses, and other loved ones. We offer thousands of original articles, helpful tools, advice from more than 50 leading experts, a community of caregivers, and a comprehensive directory of caregiving services.

 

The material on this site is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal, financial, professional, or medical advice or diagnosis or treatment. By using our website, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Our Services

  • Senior Living Directory

  • Senior Care Directory

  • Caregiving Resources

  • Sitemap

  • Terms of Use

  • Privacy Policy


© 2024 Caring, LLC. All rights reserved.