The 10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Palm Desert, CA for 2023

Nestled in the Coachella Valley, Palm Desert is a vibrant community popular with seniors from all across North America. Of its estimated 51,541 residents, 35.8% are seniors, which is more than double the national average. Its sunny weather makes it easy for seniors to take in outdoor attractions like national parks and nature preserves. The city has a low violent crime rate and low health care costs compared to much of the United States.

Palm Desert’s assisted living facilities offer a wide range of amenities and activities designed to entertain residents. Generally, staff in these facilities are available 24/7 to provide assistance with personal care and general upkeep. On average, this type of care costs $5,475 per month in Palm Desert, which is above the state and national averages.

This guide is designed to help seniors determine whether retirement in Palm Desert is a good choice for them. It includes pros and cons of the city, the cost of long-term care and the resources available to local seniors.

The Community Care Licensing Division of the California Department of Social Services oversees assisted living facilities in Palm Desert. This body works to ensure long-term care homes operate within the senior care laws enacted by California’s government.

• As the name suggests, Palm Desert has a hot, dry climate. It gets year-round sun with no snow in the winter and only 5 inches of rain per year, which makes it great for seniors who like to spend time outside.
• In a measure of dozens of sources regarding quality of life, Sperling’s Best Places website rates the overall cost of living in Palm Desert 22 points higher than the national benchmark of 100. However, it’s 27.9 points under the state median of 149.9. Health care costs are especially low, at 12.2 points below average.
• Palm Desert is a safe city with a very low rate of violent crime, at 15.7 points compared to the U.S. average of 22.7. Although property crime rates are higher than average, at 59.3 compared to 35.4, retirement communities have security in place to protect residents.
• In the city, there are 99 physicians per 100,000 people, which is lower than the national median of 210 per 100,000. Fortunately, health care costs are 16.5% lower than average.
• Palm Desert is part of the age-friendly state of California. This means the government has committed to improving livability for the aging population through public services and infrastructure.

In Palm Desert, seniors pay an average of $5,475 per month for assisted living, although actual costs vary by location. According to the Genworth Cost of Care Survey, this cost is higher than the California average of $5,250 per month. It’s also higher than the U.S. median of $4,500.

While assisted living costs in Palm Desert are high, seniors in nearby El Centro pay even more, at $6,150 per month. Riverside is significantly more affordable at $4,000. In Los Angeles, the same type of care averages $5,250. Further up the coast, Oxnard has a median assisted living price of $5,750 per month.

While assisted living costs $5,475 per month in Palm Desert, adult day health care costs are much lower, averaging $2,058. In-home care is costlier at $6,387 per month. For home health care, seniors pay $6,473. Nursing home care is the most expensive, with a semiprivate room averaging $9,384.

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.