The 10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Berkeley, CA for 2024
Berkeley, CA, a San Francisco suburb located just across the bay, is full of diverse cultural and educational opportunities for retirees to explore. Home to just over 117,000 residents, of which approximately 17,923 are aged 65 or older, Berkeley is a thriving city with even more urban environments within 15 miles. While known for its high cost of living, Berkeley is also home to world-class amenities that include some of the top research institutes from around the globe. With the award-winning Alta Bates Summit Medical Center nearby, seniors have easy access to top-notch emergency medical care.
For seniors who need more assistance than is readily available at home, assisted living offers a blend of independent living along with a helping hand when needed. It's often ideal for seniors who struggle with daily tasks but don't need skilled nursing. The average cost of assisted living is $6,319 in Berkeley, which is $1,067 more than the state average and $1,819 more than the national median.
This guide offers a look at the types of senior care available in Berkeley, along with expected costs. It also has resources and assistance information to help seniors obtain benefits or financial help.Â
Assisted Living Facilities in Berkeley, California
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Ivy Park at Cathedral Hill
1550 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA, 94109
4.6
(5 reviews)
"Ivy Park at Cathedral Hill was nice. All the people there were nice. They explained what it would involve getting my mom in, all the all the legal work and paperwork. They then gave me a tour of the facility, the kitchen area, and the rooms. They sho..."
READ MOREBellaken Garden and Skilled Nursing Center
2780 26th Avenue, Oakland, CA, 94601
"My grandmother has lived here for over three years and I have found that their workers are truly caring toward the residents. I have visited my grandmother every week especially the past 8 months or so and I always watch how their caregivers work wi..."
READ MOREBelmont Village Albany
1100 San Pablo Ave, Albany, CA, 94706
4.1
(7 reviews)
"We toured Belmont Village Albany. They had a lot of activities. We liked the programs that they had. We liked that they also had medical staff 24/7. Their place was very light and bright. They have multiple areas for eating and theyÂ’re very modern. W..."
READ MOREJP's Care Home
1829 Redwood Road, Hercules, CA, 94547
3.0
(1 reviews)
"I visited JP's Care Home, and it was very informative. I talked to Marilyn. She was the admin there. They also had two retired nurses on staff, which was nice. The facility itself had obviously been in service for a number of years. It was a little b..."
READ MOREMerrill Gardens at Lafayette
1010 Second Street, Lafayette, CA, 94549
4.8
(14 reviews)
"Merrill Gardens at Lafayette was very nice. The staff were all very welcoming and friendly. I liked the community in terms of the living quarters, the accommodations, the amenities, and the services that they had. I liked the apartments. It was very ..."
READ MORECardinal Point
2431 Mariner Square Dr., Alameda, CA, 94501
5.0
(8 reviews)
"It was one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen in my life. It was immaculate. The staff was pleasant and kind. I was there around Halloween time, so they were getting ready for a Halloween party. It was rich-looking. It was off the water, you..."
READ MOREThe Sequoias San Francisco
1400 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA, 94109
4.7
(10 reviews)
"Mom is at The Sequoia right now. It's a very nice and beautiful facility. Their cafeteria is beautiful. They have all kinds of activities going on like music and games. ..."
READ MOREThe Watermark By The Bay
1440 40th Street, Emeryville, CA, 94608
3.9
(20 reviews)
"What a gorgeous facility! It is spotless and the staff are all so nice. I toured for my mother with the Executive Director and she was very kind and was able to answer all of my questions. We had lunch in the dining room and the meal was outstandi..."
READ MORESt. Paul's Towers
100 BAY PLACE, Oakland, CA, 94610
4.2
(15 reviews)
"St. Paul's Towers is a large community with 14 floors. I like the people that I've met, and it's easily accessible. I like that the inside is filled with wood, and I like the big wood panels...."
READ MOREMercy Retirement & Care Center
3431 Foothill Blvd., Oakland, CA, 94601
4.1
(16 reviews)
"I went to Mercy Retirement & Care Center. It was a much older building but was completely refurbished. It's very nice, and then we talked about their field trips and got a feel for what it was like living there. I saw the dining room, and what an apa..."
READ MOREMerrill Gardens at Rockridge
5238 Coronado Ave., Oakland, CA, 94618
5.0
(6 reviews)
"We went to Merrill Gardens at Rockridge. It was very nice. The staff were very nice and very knowledgeable. All the staff that we saw were friendly and the people in the hallways or the gathering rooms all looked very, very happy. The units were nice..."
READ MOREKimochi Home
1531 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA, 94109
5.0
(3 reviews)
"Kimochi Home is a senior living center that caters to the Japanese-American community as well. Most of the staff speaks Japanese and the food served is also Japanese. The people tend to be a bit older and requires more nursing care. They seemed to be..."
READ MOREPiedmont Gardens CCRC
110 41st Street, Oakland, CA, 94611
3.5
(19 reviews)
"Piedmont Gardens CCRC was more in the heart of the city. It was more like an independent place where they didn't have any locked gates. You could come and go with this kind of machine you have to go through (although it made it difficult for visitors..."
READ MORESan Francisco Towers
1661 PINE STREET, San Francisco, CA, 94109
4.6
(7 reviews)
"I truly liked this care facility. The staff there was very professional and took great care of my great grandmother, but they also gave her time and space to herself. While we were there, she needed some assistance (I can't remember exactly what sh..."
READ MOREAngels Touch Care Home
1653 Swallow Way, Hercules, CA, 94547
5.0
(2 reviews)
"This facility is immaculate, has a warm and inviting feel, comfortable decor, and a serene atmosphere. Upon entry I was greeted with a professional, yet warm and caring owner. Was given a thorough tour and upon departure felt that this home was de..."
READ MOREEl Cerrito Royale
6510 Gladys Avenue, El Cerrito, CA, 94530
4.6
(7 reviews)
"I toured El Cerrito Royale. The staff is very friendly and consistent. I've been there a couple of times before, so I recognize the staff from previous visits. The director has been there for more than 30 years. The place is upscale and nicely decora..."
READ MOREWe Care Elderly
4313 Potrero Avenue, Richmond, CA, 94804
5.0
(1 reviews)
"My mother lives in We Care Elderly Care right now. It's a nice place. They have six clients there, and they have two girls who come over and help out. They are excellent. Everything was just so nice and shiny, and the place smells good. She eats ther..."
READ MOREHilton House
6112 Hilton Street, Oakland, CA, 94605
5.0
(1 reviews)
"My friend has lived in Hilton House for about 2 years now. It’s just an excellent facility for people who don’t have a huge amount of money. The food is great, the people that worked there are very caring, and we just couldn’t be happier. It was perf..."
READ MORESt. Clare'S Home For Seniors
893 San Pablo Ave., Pinole, CA, 94564
5.0
(1 reviews)
"My husband is in St. Clare's Home For Seniors. They treat my husband with ultimate respect and dignity. They are extremely patient and kind, and it's all of the staff. The director is amazing. Her day manager on site is fantastic. They are all very k..."
READ MOREWhat you can do with Caring
What to Consider About Assisted Living in Berkeley
The California Senior Care Licensing Program is the agency in charge of Berkeley assisted living communities. It monitors each community to ensure seniors receive the proper care and that all regulations are followed. Seniors seeking an assisted living community can use the agency's licensing database to ensure the facility is currently in compliance.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Assisted Living in Berkeley
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- Seniors pay less than average for health care in Berkeley. While Berkeley is expensive across many cost of living metrics, health care is affordable in the area. When compared to the national average, seniors in Berkeley save 2.4% on their health care costs. Seniors also have easier access to Medicare-registered physicians with 226 physicians per 100,000 residents, which is higher than the national average of 210.
- Berkeley has relatively low violent crime for a city its size, with an index of 28.5. While that is slightly higher than the national average of 22.7, it's comparable to or lower than many major cities throughout California such as Los Angeles, where the violent crime index is 29.1. In addition, seniors in assisted living have an additional layer of protection against violent crime, as most communities have private security.
- Cost of living in Berkeley is very high, with an index of 238.3 compared to the national average of 100. However, much of that difference is due to the very high property values in the area. Housing is five times more expensive in Berkeley than the national median. Seniors in assisted living aren't directly affected by housing costs.Â
- Due to the high property values, California has extensive property tax benefits for seniors. Instead of offering direct property tax rebates, California allows seniors to lock in a rate at the time of purchase and move up to three times without significantly affecting their property tax bill.Â
- With 256 sunny days per year and winters that rarely have temperatures below 45 degrees, the Berkeley climate is as close to ideal as it gets. Winters are wet and mild, while summers are warm, sunny and known for cool morning breezes.Â
- Berkeley is a member of the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities, which means the city is actively working to create a more inclusive environment for seniors. It scores 63 on the AARP livability index, which is well above the 50-point average.
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Paying for Assisted Living in Berkeley
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Berkeley seniors pay an average of $6,319 per month for assisted living. This cost can vary, however, based on the location within the city and the services and amenities offered by the community.Â
The Cost of Assisted Living in Nearby Cities
Berkeley is an expensive city for assisted living, with average monthly costs significantly higher than California's average rate of $5,250 and the national mean of $4,500. In Los Angeles, seniors pay $1,069 less than in Berkeley, while seniors in San Diego spend $844 less per month. Rates in San Jose are $319 lower than in Berkeley. Santa Rosa is the state's most expensive region for assisted living; there, seniors pay an average of $7,048 per month.
Berkeley
$6,319
California
$5,250
United States
$4,500
Santa Rosa
$7,048
Los Angeles
$5,250
San Diego
$5,475
San Jose
$6,000
The Cost of Other Types of Senior Care
Assisted living care averages $6,319 per month in Berkeley. In-home care, which provides a similar level of care but at home, is about $550 more expensive, while home health care, which may include some nursing services, is about $1,125 more expensive. Adult day health care, at $1,950 per month, is a more affordable option. Nursing home care is about $4,700 more expensive per month than assisted living care.Â
In-Home Care
$6,864
Home Health Care
$7,150
Adult Day Health Care
$1,950
Assisted Living Facility
$6,319
Nursing Home Facility (semiprivate room)
$11,566
Note: Data for Berkeley was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, San Francisco, was used instead.
Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Berkeley
The Assisted Living Waiver (ALW) is available to eligible seniors who enter assisted living in Berkeley. Those receiving the waiver must meet all the eligibility requirements, including being eligible for full-scope Medi-Cal and having care needs equal to those of Medi-Cal funded residents in nursing homes.
Learn more about these programs, plus who’s eligible, on our Assisted Living in California page.
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 Berkeley
Berkeley and the surrounding area are home to numerous government agencies and non-profit organizations offering help for seniors searching for or currently residing in an assisted living community. These organizations can also provide assistance in a number of other eldercare services such as geriatric care management, elder law advice, estate planning, finding home care and health and wellness programs.
To see a list of free assisted living resources in Berkeley, please visit our Assisted Living in California page.
Assisted Living Laws and Regulations in Berkeley
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Berkeley Assisted Living Communities must adhere to the comprehensive set of state laws and regulations that all Assisted Living Facilities in California are required to follow. Visit ourAssisted Living in California page for more information about these laws.
Reviews of Communities Nearby
Assisted Living
Plezena
5
Review of Elegance Berkeley
We went to Elegance Berkeley. It was extremely modern. Everything was very clean. The people that we met were nice. The facility is fairly new, so everything looked very, very nice.
Provider response
Thank you for sharing your experience at Elegance Berkeley. We're delighted to hear that you found the facility to be modern and clean, and that you had positive interactions with the staff. Your...