The 10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Costa Mesa, CA for 2023
Costa Mesa is a vibrant city located just a short drive from downtown Los Angeles. It is home to about 110,750 people, and around 12.3% of its residents are seniors of retirement age. Seniors living in Costa Mesa enjoy a Mediterranean climate that offers mild temperatures throughout the year. There are a number of hospitals and medical centers serving the greater Costa Mesa area, including College Hospital Costa Mesa, which offers a full spectrum of medical services.
Assisted living facilities offer 24/7 caregiving services. These services include assistance with the tasks of daily living, meal preparation, transport and medication management. Seniors who are no longer able to safely live alone but don’t require skilled nursing services may want to consider assisted living. In Costa Mesa, the average senior pays $5,250 for assisted living, which is the same as the California state average and $750 more than the national median of $4,500.
This guide gives an overview of the pros and cons of living in Costa Mesa and discusses the costs of assisted living and alternative care options. Additionally, it lists resources for seniors and their family members in the city.
Directory of Assisted Living Facilities in Costa Mesa, CA
I went to look at Vivante on the Coast. They have a swimming pool. It’s a two building, where if you don’t want the food where you are, you can go to the other building. It’s a big community, so they
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I went to look at Vivante on the Coast. They have a swimming pool. It’s a two building, where if you don’t want the food where you are, you can go to the other building. It’s a big community, so they have a variety of activities and entertainment for them. They have a medical doctor from Monday to Friday, which is a plus for all senior citizens. I saw a studio type of room. The staff was very nice and welcoming. They have a variety of foods, and somebody will serve you like you’re in a restaurant.
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I went to look at Vivante on the Coast. They have a swimming pool. It’s a two building, where if you don’t want the food where you are, you can go to the other building. It’s a big community, so they
… (read more)
I went to look at Vivante on the Coast. They have a swimming pool. It’s a two building, where if you don’t want the food where you are, you can go to the other building. It’s a big community, so they have a variety of activities and entertainment for them. They have a medical doctor from Monday to Friday, which is a plus for all senior citizens. I saw a studio type of room. The staff was very nice and welcoming. They have a variety of foods, and somebody will serve you like you’re in a restaurant.
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Pacifica Senior Living South Coast is tucked into the heart of Costa Mesa, CA, just east of Fairview Park. Residents are very pleased by the pet-friendly facility; they are encouraged to bring their d
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Pacifica Senior Living South Coast is tucked into the heart of Costa Mesa, CA, just east of Fairview Park. Residents are very pleased by the pet-friendly facility; they are encouraged to bring their dogs and cats for comfort. On the weekends, guests look forward to trips to restaurants, coffee shops and the Orange County fairgrounds for sightseeing. Pacifica Senior Living South Coast also features amenities such as a barber shop, an outdoor patio and a computer room with internet access. Visitors are appreciative of aides who teach technology classes so their loved ones can communicate via email and social media.
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Pacifica Senior Living South Coast is tucked into the heart of Costa Mesa, CA, just east of Fairview Park. Residents are very pleased by the pet-friendly facility; they are encouraged to bring their d
… (read more)
Pacifica Senior Living South Coast is tucked into the heart of Costa Mesa, CA, just east of Fairview Park. Residents are very pleased by the pet-friendly facility; they are encouraged to bring their dogs and cats for comfort. On the weekends, guests look forward to trips to restaurants, coffee shops and the Orange County fairgrounds for sightseeing. Pacifica Senior Living South Coast also features amenities such as a barber shop, an outdoor patio and a computer room with internet access. Visitors are appreciative of aides who teach technology classes so their loved ones can communicate via email and social media.
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Heyday Senior Living – Costa Mesa was a nice location. It was a nice home. The caregiver seemed very professional, very nice. She seemed very caring about her charges, but it was not the place for my
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Heyday Senior Living – Costa Mesa was a nice location. It was a nice home. The caregiver seemed very professional, very nice. She seemed very caring about her charges, but it was not the place for my mom. She would not have done well there. The staff was attentive and she knew her patients. They had a nice backyard area for the seniors. It was a private home type situation which was nice, but it doesn’t offer a lot of things that other assisted living facilities normally have with a lot of patients. It’s a home, they took care of it very well, and all of the patients seem to be pleased to be there.
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Heyday Senior Living – Costa Mesa was a nice location. It was a nice home. The caregiver seemed very professional, very nice. She seemed very caring about her charges, but it was not the place for my
… (read more)
Heyday Senior Living – Costa Mesa was a nice location. It was a nice home. The caregiver seemed very professional, very nice. She seemed very caring about her charges, but it was not the place for my mom. She would not have done well there. The staff was attentive and she knew her patients. They had a nice backyard area for the seniors. It was a private home type situation which was nice, but it doesn’t offer a lot of things that other assisted living facilities normally have with a lot of patients. It’s a home, they took care of it very well, and all of the patients seem to be pleased to be there.
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My mother is in Newport Heights Manor. Our experience is very good, and we are very happy. It is a nice place. It is not a hospital, but more than assisted living. What I like best is the level of car
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My mother is in Newport Heights Manor. Our experience is very good, and we are very happy. It is a nice place. It is not a hospital, but more than assisted living. What I like best is the level of care that they give.
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My mother is in Newport Heights Manor. Our experience is very good, and we are very happy. It is a nice place. It is not a hospital, but more than assisted living. What I like best is the level of car
… (read more)
My mother is in Newport Heights Manor. Our experience is very good, and we are very happy. It is a nice place. It is not a hospital, but more than assisted living. What I like best is the level of care that they give.
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My mother is a resident of Eclc Wakeforest Villa. It’s really lovely, it’s a beautiful home, and they have roses in the front. The staff is wonderful, the lady that works there was a nurse at one time
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My mother is a resident of Eclc Wakeforest Villa. It’s really lovely, it’s a beautiful home, and they have roses in the front. The staff is wonderful, the lady that works there was a nurse at one time, and they’re like a family. My mom loves food, so she’s happy with the meals there. They have music therapy on Saturdays, they have a whole band that plays, and it’s really nice. It’s wonderful. They really keep everything nice and clean.
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My mother is a resident of Eclc Wakeforest Villa. It’s really lovely, it’s a beautiful home, and they have roses in the front. The staff is wonderful, the lady that works there was a nurse at one time
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My mother is a resident of Eclc Wakeforest Villa. It’s really lovely, it’s a beautiful home, and they have roses in the front. The staff is wonderful, the lady that works there was a nurse at one time, and they’re like a family. My mom loves food, so she’s happy with the meals there. They have music therapy on Saturdays, they have a whole band that plays, and it’s really nice. It’s wonderful. They really keep everything nice and clean.
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The Ashling’s Residential Villa was in the same vicinity where we were visiting the area to look at possible places for our aunt to live in.
The facility looked like it was well tended and the ground
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The Ashling’s Residential Villa was in the same vicinity where we were visiting the area to look at possible places for our aunt to live in.
The facility looked like it was well tended and the grounds were neat. The outside area is ample, with plenty of seating areas to enjoy. Our aunt really likes living next to a park, so this will make her very happy.
The entire interior had a nice decor. The variety of activities offered was impressive. Just about any hobby you might have can be accommodated and more. The staff goes out of its way to suggest stimulating things to do.
The rooms we viewed were all very clean, well-kept and inviting – kind of resembling what you might find at a motel that rents out smaller living spaces, but a bit more personal.
The lunch we saw while there looked really delicious. There are plenty of menu options to choose from that are nutritious.
Our aunt loves to use gym equipment, so we liked that the exercise room was large and had a variety of options to choose from.
The library had a large book selection much of which was loaned from the local library. Our aunt would really appreciate this. Overall, the facility really looked like a place our aunt would enjoy living.
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The Ashling’s Residential Villa was in the same vicinity where we were visiting the area to look at possible places for our aunt to live in.
The facility looked like it was well tended and the ground
… (read more)
The Ashling’s Residential Villa was in the same vicinity where we were visiting the area to look at possible places for our aunt to live in.
The facility looked like it was well tended and the grounds were neat. The outside area is ample, with plenty of seating areas to enjoy. Our aunt really likes living next to a park, so this will make her very happy.
The entire interior had a nice decor. The variety of activities offered was impressive. Just about any hobby you might have can be accommodated and more. The staff goes out of its way to suggest stimulating things to do.
The rooms we viewed were all very clean, well-kept and inviting – kind of resembling what you might find at a motel that rents out smaller living spaces, but a bit more personal.
The lunch we saw while there looked really delicious. There are plenty of menu options to choose from that are nutritious.
Our aunt loves to use gym equipment, so we liked that the exercise room was large and had a variety of options to choose from.
The library had a large book selection much of which was loaned from the local library. Our aunt would really appreciate this. Overall, the facility really looked like a place our aunt would enjoy living.
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I stayed in John Villa for two months. The place is very clean. It was a very nice place and the food was very good. It’s a small group of ladies (around 6 people) in the home so they paid a lot of at
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I stayed in John Villa for two months. The place is very clean. It was a very nice place and the food was very good. It’s a small group of ladies (around 6 people) in the home so they paid a lot of attention to specials needs such as dietary requirements. They try to accommodate the residents as much as possible. The caretakers were friendly and nice. It looked like a big house with four bedrooms, two of which were shared by two people, although I had one to myself. I left because I had no transportation to the doctor and the ladies who were there were all quite deaf and I couldn’t have a conversation with them. Overall, however, the people were wonderful. I had no complaints about the caretakers and the owners — they were very sweet and nice.
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I stayed in John Villa for two months. The place is very clean. It was a very nice place and the food was very good. It’s a small group of ladies (around 6 people) in the home so they paid a lot of at
… (read more)
I stayed in John Villa for two months. The place is very clean. It was a very nice place and the food was very good. It’s a small group of ladies (around 6 people) in the home so they paid a lot of attention to specials needs such as dietary requirements. They try to accommodate the residents as much as possible. The caretakers were friendly and nice. It looked like a big house with four bedrooms, two of which were shared by two people, although I had one to myself. I left because I had no transportation to the doctor and the ladies who were there were all quite deaf and I couldn’t have a conversation with them. Overall, however, the people were wonderful. I had no complaints about the caretakers and the owners — they were very sweet and nice.
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They took great care of my father. Just like family. Relaxing environment, personalized care, and thorough treatment. Convenient location, educated staff, and global menus. Extra appreciated the mix o
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They took great care of my father. Just like family. Relaxing environment, personalized care, and thorough treatment. Convenient location, educated staff, and global menus. Extra appreciated the mix of indoor and outdoor space, private rooms, as well as home-like setting.
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They took great care of my father. Just like family. Relaxing environment, personalized care, and thorough treatment. Convenient location, educated staff, and global menus. Extra appreciated the mix o
… (read more)
They took great care of my father. Just like family. Relaxing environment, personalized care, and thorough treatment. Convenient location, educated staff, and global menus. Extra appreciated the mix of indoor and outdoor space, private rooms, as well as home-like setting.
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My husband was transferred to Mesa Verde from Hoag hospital for rehabilitation. He has dementia and was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s. The place was awful! When he became disoriented or nervo
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My husband was transferred to Mesa Verde from Hoag hospital for rehabilitation. He has dementia and was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s. The place was awful! When he became disoriented or nervous, they would medicate him with Xanax which he did take for these symptoms, but they never tried very hard to redirect or help him.. He was there five days and was in bed almost the entire time. There was no communication between staff members. One told one story and the other another. I had to hire a sitter for his room at an out of pocket cost to me and they spent most of the time with him in a wheelchair in front of the nurses station. There was no care for my husband as far as I was concerned. He now is in a memory care center to try an undo the over medication and lack of care. He was not the only one neglected. Patients cried to have nurses take them to the bathroom or were left sleeping in hallways. Please don’t let this happen to anyone you love!
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My husband was transferred to Mesa Verde from Hoag hospital for rehabilitation. He has dementia and was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s. The place was awful! When he became disoriented or nervo
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My husband was transferred to Mesa Verde from Hoag hospital for rehabilitation. He has dementia and was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s. The place was awful! When he became disoriented or nervous, they would medicate him with Xanax which he did take for these symptoms, but they never tried very hard to redirect or help him.. He was there five days and was in bed almost the entire time. There was no communication between staff members. One told one story and the other another. I had to hire a sitter for his room at an out of pocket cost to me and they spent most of the time with him in a wheelchair in front of the nurses station. There was no care for my husband as far as I was concerned. He now is in a memory care center to try an undo the over medication and lack of care. He was not the only one neglected. Patients cried to have nurses take them to the bathroom or were left sleeping in hallways. Please don’t let this happen to anyone you love!
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Brookdale Garden Grove is located in Garden Grove, California, a few minutes away from the Navy Golf Course Seal Beach, Disneyland and Westhaven Park. Residents give this facility high marks for its r
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Brookdale Garden Grove is located in Garden Grove, California, a few minutes away from the Navy Golf Course Seal Beach, Disneyland and Westhaven Park. Residents give this facility high marks for its range of amenities including a dog park, library and beauty salon. Loved ones are impressed by the caring staff who seem to know every resident by name and show a genuine interest in their well being. Brookdale Garden Grove receives praise for its selection of activities such as movie nights, picnics and bingo. Visitors note the elegant dining room that serves excellent meals three times a day.
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Brookdale Garden Grove is located in Garden Grove, California, a few minutes away from the Navy Golf Course Seal Beach, Disneyland and Westhaven Park. Residents give this facility high marks for its r
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Brookdale Garden Grove is located in Garden Grove, California, a few minutes away from the Navy Golf Course Seal Beach, Disneyland and Westhaven Park. Residents give this facility high marks for its range of amenities including a dog park, library and beauty salon. Loved ones are impressed by the caring staff who seem to know every resident by name and show a genuine interest in their well being. Brookdale Garden Grove receives praise for its selection of activities such as movie nights, picnics and bingo. Visitors note the elegant dining room that serves excellent meals three times a day.
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Huntington Terrace is in a prime location in Huntington Beach, California, near numerous stores, restaurants and, of course, breathtaking Huntington Beach. Visitors highly praise the facility for the
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Huntington Terrace is in a prime location in Huntington Beach, California, near numerous stores, restaurants and, of course, breathtaking Huntington Beach. Visitors highly praise the facility for the luxurious services and amenities that make it feel more like a resort, such as a beauty salon, golf course and gym. Residents can partake in a range of fun activities such as gardening, water aerobics and crafts, and the facility also offers outings to the thriving local community. Huntington Terrace is commended for its friendly staff who make all residents feel important and well cared for.
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Huntington Terrace is in a prime location in Huntington Beach, California, near numerous stores, restaurants and, of course, breathtaking Huntington Beach. Visitors highly praise the facility for the
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Huntington Terrace is in a prime location in Huntington Beach, California, near numerous stores, restaurants and, of course, breathtaking Huntington Beach. Visitors highly praise the facility for the luxurious services and amenities that make it feel more like a resort, such as a beauty salon, golf course and gym. Residents can partake in a range of fun activities such as gardening, water aerobics and crafts, and the facility also offers outings to the thriving local community. Huntington Terrace is commended for its friendly staff who make all residents feel important and well cared for.
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Located in Stanton, California, Rowntree Gardens is nestled next to Premier Park and the Playa Galleria Shopping Center. Residents and their families praise the facility’s friendly staff, homelike i
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Located in Stanton, California, Rowntree Gardens is nestled next to Premier Park and the Playa Galleria Shopping Center. Residents and their families praise the facility’s friendly staff, homelike interior and landscaped garden, which has a gazebo and picnic area. Visitors compliment the clean, spacious and well-appointed accommodations. Residents appreciate Rowntree Gardens’ two on-site dining rooms, one of which has a fireplace with the other which provides garden views. The community gets top marks for scheduling bridge games, craft-making projects and holiday celebrations. It also receives rave reviews for having plenty of amenities, including a chapel, fitness center and library.
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Located in Stanton, California, Rowntree Gardens is nestled next to Premier Park and the Playa Galleria Shopping Center. Residents and their families praise the facility’s friendly staff, homelike i
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Located in Stanton, California, Rowntree Gardens is nestled next to Premier Park and the Playa Galleria Shopping Center. Residents and their families praise the facility’s friendly staff, homelike interior and landscaped garden, which has a gazebo and picnic area. Visitors compliment the clean, spacious and well-appointed accommodations. Residents appreciate Rowntree Gardens’ two on-site dining rooms, one of which has a fireplace with the other which provides garden views. The community gets top marks for scheduling bridge games, craft-making projects and holiday celebrations. It also receives rave reviews for having plenty of amenities, including a chapel, fitness center and library.
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Brookdale Brookhurst is nestled in a quiet suburb of Westminster, California, near the Mile Square Regional Park, David L. Baker Golf Course and Fountain Valley Regional Hospital. Residents describe t
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Brookdale Brookhurst is nestled in a quiet suburb of Westminster, California, near the Mile Square Regional Park, David L. Baker Golf Course and Fountain Valley Regional Hospital. Residents describe the facility as spacious with clean, well-designed apartments and a number of pleasant communal areas to choose from. Brookdale Brookhurst receives consistently high praise for its delicious food and the "open-hours" dining room policy that allows residents to decide when they would prefer to eat. Loved ones note the range of activities offered, including happy hours, bingo and book clubs. Visitors praise the friendly, professional and caring staff members.
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Brookdale Brookhurst is nestled in a quiet suburb of Westminster, California, near the Mile Square Regional Park, David L. Baker Golf Course and Fountain Valley Regional Hospital. Residents describe t
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Brookdale Brookhurst is nestled in a quiet suburb of Westminster, California, near the Mile Square Regional Park, David L. Baker Golf Course and Fountain Valley Regional Hospital. Residents describe the facility as spacious with clean, well-designed apartments and a number of pleasant communal areas to choose from. Brookdale Brookhurst receives consistently high praise for its delicious food and the "open-hours" dining room policy that allows residents to decide when they would prefer to eat. Loved ones note the range of activities offered, including happy hours, bingo and book clubs. Visitors praise the friendly, professional and caring staff members.
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Earning a Caring Star means this community is among the best Senior Living commuities in America.
COVID-19 Rules for Assisted Living in Costa Mesa
Since most COVID-19 rules for Assisted Living Communities and other Senior Living Facilities are set at the state level, you can view the specific rules for your state on our Guide to Assisted Living in California. Keep in mind that every community has specific policies that they put in place to protect their residents, so you should contact your local community for more information. Additionally, you can contact your local Area Agency on Aging to learn more – find contact information here.
What to Consider About Assisted Living in Costa Mesa
The California Senior Care Licensing Program oversees assisted living communities in Costa Mesa and throughout the state of California. The department runs a database of all assisted living facilities in the state that includes reports and incidents in each community. Officials ensure that all seniors are receiving proper care and enjoying a high quality of life.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Assisted Living in Costa Mesa
The cost of living in Costa Mesa is relatively high in comparison to the rest of the country. Using a 100-point index system that has the national average at 100, Costa Mesa has a ranking of 177.8. House prices and transport costs are very high. Seniors living in assisted living communities don’t need to worry about these costs as they are included in their monthly fees.
Costa Mesa has a violent crime rate of 22.4 compared to the US average of 22.7, and it has a property crime rate of 51.9, which is much higher than the national median of 35.4. Seniors in assisted living communities can rest assured that most communities have gated access systems, security cameras and 24/7 security systems for the safety of residents.
The city receives 274 days of sunshine each year, which is much higher than the national average of 205. Seniors will have plenty of sunny days to get out and enjoy all the outdoor attractions in the city. Costa Mesa has very mild winters with no snowfall. It is a fairly dry climate with mild summers and no humidity. It is rated as one of the most pleasant climates in California.
College Hospitals Costa Mesa provides all the medical services that seniors may require in an emergency. There are a number of other hospitals within a short drive if different medical facilities or departments are needed.
Seniors in Costa Mesa will find plenty of activities that are easily accessible. It is home to a vibrant theater district that regularly hosts Broadway shows. There are a number of parks and golf courses within the city. Seniors who enjoy eating out will find a wide selection of unique restaurants and cafes.
Costa Mesa has a health cost index ranking of 89, which means that health care is cheaper than in the average US city. The city has a low water and air quality rating. However, it has a high Superfund index of 97.
Paying for Assisted Living in Costa Mesa
In Costa Mesa, the average monthly cost of assisted living is $5,250. The exact cost charged by each facility will depend on its location and the amenities or services offered.
The Cost of Assisted Living in Nearby Cities
The average monthly costs of assisted living in Costa Mesa are the same as the California state average of $5,250 but much higher than the national average of $4,500. Seniors in San Diego pay slightly more, with an average monthly cost of $5,475. In the state capital of Sacramento, costs are similar to Costa Mesa at $5,225 per month. Some of the most expensive options in the state include Napa and El Centro, where costs are around $1,000 more at $6,300 and $6,150 per month, respectively. Those looking for more affordable options may want to consider Bakersfield, where costs average just $3,750.
$5250
Costa Mesa
$5250
California
$4500
United States
$5475
San Diego
$5225
Sacramento
$6300
Napa
$6150
El Centro
$3750
Bakersfield
The Cost of Other Types of Senior Care
In-home care costs in Costa Mesa are about $700 more than assisted living costs. Nursing home care is the most costly option at $9,125 for a semiprivate room, almost $4,000 more than assisted living. Adult day health care is the most affordable option.
$5911
In-Home Care
$5911
Home Health Care
$1652
Adult Day Health Care
$5250
Assisted Living Facility
$9125
Nursing Home Facility (semiprivate room)
Note:Data for Costa Mesa was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, Los Angeles, was used instead.
Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Costa Mesa
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:
There are a number of free resources and programs for seniors in Costa Mesa. Some programs provide social and recreational activities for seniors, whereas others may offer information that may be of interest to seniors in or considering assisted living communities.
The Costa Mesa Senior Center offers a range of free programs, services and activities to seniors aged 50 and older. It runs a meal program that provides daily lunches to those partaking in activities and a pantry for those needing extra meals. Daily activities offered include art classes, fitness groups, bingo, computer classes and group outings.
The OC Office on Aging is a government department that aims to help seniors enjoy a high quality of life. It provides free legal advice regarding estate planning and elder abuse. The department runs a long-term care ombudsman program that advocates for the rights of seniors in long-term care facilities.
Age Well Orange County is a nonprofit organization that provides a range of services for seniors. These include meal delivery programs, case management, wellness education and transportation.
Assisted Living Laws and Regulations in Costa Mesa
Costa Mesa 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 our Assisted Living in California page for more information about these laws.
Heyday Senior Living - Costa Mesa was a nice location. It was a nice home. The caregiver seemed very professional, very nice. She seemed very caring about her charges, but it was not the place for ...
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Review of Pacifica Senior Living South Coast
I visited Pacifica Senior Living South Coast. They were very unprofessional. It's a very small community. Their TV room was the size of one of their hallways. It was very small with one couch. You ...
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Review of Pacifica Senior Living South Coast
I toured Pacifica Senior Living South Coast. I like that it was a smaller facility, and it seemed fine. It was a little more institutional than the other place. The rooms seemed small. The communit...
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