The 10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Santa Clara, CA for 2024

Assisted living is one of the more popular senior care options in Santa Clara for older adults who don’t require full-time medical care but need help with some daily living activities. It includes housing, daily meals and individualized care plans, along with regular social and recreational activities that promote an active lifestyle. On average, residents in Santa Clara pay $5,550 per month for this type of care versus state and national norms of $5,250 and $4,500, respectively.

This guide compares assisted living rates in Santa Clara to care costs in nearby cities and highlights some of the most common ways residents pay for services. It also outlines some supportive agencies and programs for current and prospective assisted living residents. 

In Santa Clara, all assisted living facilities comply with rules set by the California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division. This department requires facilities to complete an extensive licensing process and undergo routine and unannounced inspections to ensure a consistently high standard of care. The department also has a complaint hotline, which individuals can reach at (844) 538-8766.

• Seniors in Santa Clara can obtain transportation services through the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. This organization operates fixed and paratransit routes throughout the region to help residents attend errands, appointments and recreational outings, and it provides discounted rates to seniors through its Regional Transit Connection discount card. Additionally, assisted living facilities in Santa Clara typically provide scheduled transportation services for residents.
• In California, seniors pay relatively high state income taxes on most types of retirement income, which can affect how much money they’re able to put toward assisted living expenses in Santa Clara. However, Social Security benefits are completely exempt from taxation at the state level, providing significant savings for some seniors.
• There aren’t any hospitals in Santa Clara proper, but major medical facilities, such as St. Rose Hospital in Hayward and Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley, are located within 3 miles of the city center. There are about 257 physicians per capita in this city versus 210 nationally, which may help seniors easily access primary and specialty services, and many assisted living facilities have on-call physicians who provide on-site care.
• Santa Clara’s cost of living is very high, which may be a consideration for those moving here for retirement. Overall, living costs exceed the national norm by 135% and the state average by about 57%. This is mainly due to high housing prices, but residents may also spend more on miscellaneous expenses, groceries and transportation. While this may result in comparatively high assisted living costs, programs such as the Assisted Living Waiver may help qualified seniors cover monthly fees.
• While property crime is a little more common in Santa Clara than in a typical U.S. city, violent crime occurs at a much lower rate and may provide peace of mind to those moving to the city for retirement. On a 100-point crime index, the city scores 38.8 for property crime versus 35.4 nationally. Its violent crime score is much lower at 9, compared to the national norm of 22.7.

In Santa Clara, assisted living facilities charge $5,550 per month for long-term care.

Assisted living communities in Santa Clara charge monthly median rates of $5,550 for care and housing, which is comparable to the state norm of $5,250 but about 23% higher than the national norm. Compared to surrounding cities, care costs in Santa Clara are moderate. The city may be an affordable alternative to San Francisco, where monthly fees exceed Santa Clara’s norm by about $770, and San Jose, where rates are about $450 higher. However, several cities are more budget-friendly for those seeking residential care, including Vallejo, where rates are 11% lower than in Santa Clara, and Modesto, where seniors pay about 28% less for care.

In Santa Clara, assisted living facilities charge $5,550 per month for care, which is lower than other recorded options in the city. Seniors who arrange in-home care pay $6,864 for nonmedical services; for those who need specialized home health care, rates are even higher at $7,007. Similarly, nursing home care costs are almost double the assisted living rates at $10,646.

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.