The 10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Oceanside, CA for 2024

Oceanside is a small coastal city located in northern San Diego County. It has a population of 172,982, 15.5% of whom are older adults. The city offers a range of benefits for seniors, such as a warm year-round climate and excellent access to high-quality health care facilities. The city is home to several assisted living communities and agencies that can offer seniors support through their later years as their requirements change.

Assisted living is a good choice for seniors who don’t need 24/7 medical attention but feel uncomfortable living independently. Communities typically provide services such as personal care, housekeeping and transportation. The cost of assisted living care varies depending on the location and available amenities, but the average cost in Oceanside is $5,475 per month. This price is slightly more than the state average and almost $1,000 more than the national average.

In this guide, seniors will discover the average cost of care in Oceanside and nearby cities, as well as alternative care options and an overview of assisted living payment options. There is also a resource table with agencies and programs that seniors may find useful.

The California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division regulates assisted living facilities in Oceanside and the rest of the state. It offers updates on any rules and regulations that may affect long-term care facilities and operates a complaint hotline to keep residents safe. 

• Oceanside has a pleasant year-round climate. The summers are warm and clear, and the winters are cool and partly cloudy. Over the year, temperatures typically range between 45 and 76 degrees, rarely dropping below 38 or reaching above 83 degrees. Warm weather activities are best enjoyed from June to October. 
• The cost of living in Oceanside is higher than the national average. On a 100-point index where 100 is the U.S average, Oceanside scores 146.1 for overall cost of living. However, this is lower than the state average of 149.9. Despite overall high costs, health care costs scored 89, which is lower than the state and national averages. 
• While California is not the most tax-friendly state for retirees, Social Security retirement benefits are exempt from taxation. Only incomes from retirement funds and pensions are taxed.
• Crime rates in Oceanside are slightly higher than the national average. Overall, the chance of becoming a victim of a violent or property crime is 1 in 44. Despite the higher crime rates, assisted living communities have measures in place to ensure seniors feel secure, such as 24-hour surveillance and round-the-clock staffing. 
• Several public transportation options are in Oceanside. The North County Transit District provides rail and bus links around the county. Seniors and disabled individuals receive 50% off their fare. Oceanside serves as a major transportation hub with services to San Diego, Los Angeles, San Clemente and Northern California. 
• The air quality in Oceanside is slightly below average. The American Lung Association assigned San Diego County lower than average scores for ozone and 24-hour particle pollution; however, it passed the annual particle pollution test. At times, the air quality could affect residents with respiratory illnesses.  

Assisted living costs about $5,475 per month on average in Oceanside, but costs can vary depending on the types of amenities and services that are available.

In Oceanside, the cost of assisted living is around $225 higher than the state average and almost $1,000 higher than the U.S average. In Los Angeles ($5,250) and Sacramento ($5,225), care prices are slightly lower than in Oceanside. Further north in San Francisco, prices are significantly higher, costing around $6,319 per month on average. Away from the coast in Riverside, costs are considerably lower than in Oceanside, averaging about $4,000 per month. 

Older adults in Oceanside have other senior care options available, as well as assisted living. In-home care is close to $1,000 more expensive than assisted living at $6,387, and home health care, which includes light medical services, is similarly priced at $6,473. For seniors who only require daytime support, adult day health care is the cheapest option, costing around $2,058 per month on average. Nursing homes provide the highest level of care and a semiprivate room costs around $3,000 more than assisted living care.

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.