San Rafael sits on the northwestern shore of the San Francisco Bay Area. The city and surrounding towns welcome a total of 166 assisted living facilities, which come at an estimated monthly expense of $7,488. San Rafael's pricing exceeds the California state median of $6,250 and is significantly higher than the typical national rate of $5,350.
Continue reading for an overview of the assisted living communities in the San Rafael area. This guide features a list of 1052 reviews reviews, which receive an overall average of 4.1 out of 5 stars stars.
275 Los Ranchitos Road, San Rafael, CA 94903
4.3
(15 reviews)
"I liked Drake Terrace. It was a smaller place and I think the employees have worked there a long time. The residents were friendly during the short time my husband was there. The food was really good. The staff was very good. I was very happy with th..."
$5,725
1 Las Gallinas Ave, San Rafael, CA 94903
4.6
(6 reviews)
"We were able to visit The Vincent. It was not a building that was converted, so I liked that it was built originally for seniors. The walls are soundproof. The food was excellent. The amenities are great. The staff members that we met were knowledgea..."
$6,295
326 Mission Street, San Rafael, CA 94901
4.2
(5 reviews)
"I would highly recommend living at Aldersly. The staff are all wonderfully dedicated & caring, they provide transportation & fun activities, the food is delicious, and the grounds are just gorgeous. If you are looking for a kind-hearted and professio..."
$8,626
100 Thorndale Drive, San Rafael, CA 94903
4.1
(13 reviews)
"My father-in-law is currently in Villa Marin, and it was very positive and very nice. I think it's pretty well run. The people are extremely nice and extremely helpful. The food is great; we've had dinner there several times before the pandemic. He's..."
Pricing not available
515 Northgate Drive, San Rafael, CA 94903
3.9
(15 reviews)
"We brought our mother to Almavia San Rafael in 2019 to be near her children and grandchildren in Marin and to provide the assistance she needed. She enjoyed Almavia’s offerings – daily yoga, arts and crafts activities, poetry sessions, rosary gathe..."
$4,995
245 Nova Albion Way, San Rafael, CA 94903
4.2
(5 reviews)
"My grandmother and mother lived here, and my father currently lives here. I cannot imagine a staff of more caring people. This is the easiest 5-star review I have ever given. ..."
Pricing not available
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416 4th Street, San Rafael, CA 94901
3.6
(3 reviews)
"My sister is a resident of St Michael's, and the place is fine. They have activities like knitting, art classes, and things like that. They provide three meals a day and take care of people. The staff seems fine overall...."
Pricing not available
73 Golden Hinde Blvd, San Rafael, CA 94903
5.0
(1 reviews)
"My husband's aunt has moved into Comforting Hands Forever, Llc. That's a six-person board and care. They provide a lot of care. It's very loving and very kind. They're very nice to all the clients. It's very, very clean. The food is amazing. They're ..."
Pricing not available
233 West End Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901
5.0
(1 reviews)
"My brother is in Greenwood Assisted Living. It's very nice. It's perfect. I like the people a lot. They've been very proactive and I like them a lot. The staff is great. He has a sizable room. He's got his own bathroom. In the present situation, it's..."
$5,500
One Roosevelt Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94903
1.0
(1 reviews)
"Rose's Residential Care Facility was just a house and was very cheap behind the civic center. They were all Spanish, and I couldn’t understand anything anybody said. Most of them are Filipinos and good, caring people. However, I saw the most awful th..."
Pricing not available
2000 Dwight Way, Berkeley, CA 94704
The Ivy at Berkeley sets a new standard in luxury senior living, encouraging you to embrace an active, carefree lifestyle in a truly exceptional environment. Nestled in one of Berkeley's most picturesque locations, The Ivy offers stunning views and direct access to the natural beauty of the Bay Area. With a focus on enriching both body and soul, we provide a wide range of activities and outdoor spaces, along with comprehensive assisted living and memory care for those who need it. The Ivy team is dedicated to helping our residents live their best lives, offering an array of amenities, services, and wellness options designed to enhance comfort and elevate their experience. We invite you to visit and see for yourself! To learn more about this provider’s license and review other available state reports, please visit: California Department of Social Services Licensed Facility Search
$7,795
710 Rohnert Park Expressway, Rohnert Park, CA 94928
5.0
(8 reviews)
"I liked Clearwater at Sonoma Hills. It was lovely, clean, brand new, and well-appointed. It seemed to be well-staffed and very secure. I couldn't have been more impressed. Holly was the gal who helped me, and she was delightful, very informative, and..."
$5,400
1 Hamilton Hill, Novato, CA 94949
5.0
(3 reviews)
"The Bluffs at Hamilton Hill seemed a little bigger, which was good. I liked that. The location is very nice. It's an extension of where the old hospital was and the building itself, the structure, is very nice and very, very well located. It's essent..."
$4,500
624 Cypress Avenue, Millbrae, CA 94030
5.0
(1 reviews)
"My dad has been settled for several months now, so he's fine, and he is in Golden Age. I'm very happy with them. They take excellent care of my dad. He is very happy there. I don't have any complaints at all. He has a bedroom. Golden Age is a home; i..."
$8,000
2431 Mariner Square Dr., Alameda, CA 94501
5.0
(9 reviews)
"My life has improved since moving to Cardinal Point . I enjoy my quiet apartment, meals in the dining room, many opportunities to exercise, join reading/discussion groups, play board/card games, work in the garden, walk along the estuary and thru t..."
$5,795
1001 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA 94109
4.9
(12 reviews)
"Upside is that I'm eating healthy and downside is that I'm gaining weight because the food is so fabulous and beautifully served. My favorite dish is a full plate of anything the Chef serves. From their servers to their Director the service is impecc..."
$10,500
350 Locust Drive, Vallejo, CA 94591
4.8
(14 reviews)
"I want to recognize the exceptional service at Cogir Vallejo Hills under Susan's leadership. After a measurement mistake with my storage shelving, Denice from management immediately assured me, "Misako, don't worry. We will take care of it." She coor..."
$3,495
91 Napa Road, Sonoma, CA 95476
4.7
(4 reviews)
"My mother has lived here for several years. Her apartment is quite nice and the staff and caregivers are very loving and kind to her. She enjoys activities and they do a great job even though the past couple years have been more difficult with havi..."
$4,160
1465 S Novato Blvd, Novato, CA 94947
4.7
(7 reviews)
"I went to see Oakmont of Novato. It was very nice, very modern, very clean and very new. I didn't get to interact with the staff, just with the director who took me on tour and she was very nice. The room I saw was very nice. I saw that the residents..."
$6,595
11889 Skyline Boulevard, Oakland, CA 94619
4.7
(10 reviews)
"I went to Ivy Park at Oakland Hills. The woman was great. We toured and we had been there before because I live nearby, but it was like five or six, seven years ago, and now it's been re-purchased or they've remodeled some of the rooms. The tour was ..."
$4,695
Assisted Living
Ed215
5.0
Review of The Vincent
We were able to visit The Vincent. It was not a building that was converted, so I liked that it was built originally for seniors. The walls are soundproof. The food was excellent. The amenities are...
Assisted Living
Michael
4.0
Review of The Vincent
We went to The Vincent. We just took a quick tour. The building is in beautiful shape, but then it's brand new. They just built it last year. The rooms were pretty. They were a little higher end....
Assisted Living
Reviewer RC#0721c
5.0
Review of The Vincent
The Vincent was very nice. The facility was beautiful. The staff member that I spoke to was great. They were very kind, gracious, and polite. The location was great. It's centrally located. It...
Provider response
Thank you so much for your kind and generous words. We are working hard to provide a loving and dignified experience for all people who spend time with us. The Vincent is a new boutique community...
As reported by Genworth's 2024 Cost of Care Survey, seniors living in the San Rafael area pay an estimated $7,488 per month for assisted living. The area sees similar pricing to San Francisco, where monthly rates fall around $7,495. However, local costs exceed those seen in nearby Santa Rosa ($7,250). The state capital, Sacramento, stands as a more affordable option, costing about $6,340.
San Rafael
$7,488
California
$6,250
United States
$5,350
Santa Rosa
$7,250
Sacramento
$6,340
San Francisco
$7,495
San Jose
$7,150
Low-income seniors residing in San Rafael may be eligible to apply for government funding to help pay for assisted living. There are currently two programs available: the 1915(c) Assisted Living Waiver program through Medi-Cal and Supplemental Security Income – Category G.
Learn more about these programs, plus who’s eligible, on our Assisted Living in California page.
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:
For more information about different ways to finance assisted living, visit our Assisted Living in California page.
Seniors requiring minimal personal care can benefit from the part-time services of adult day health care. It proves a budget-friendly option at $4,750. Assisted living sees higher pricing at $7,488, as it involves personalized support, programming and amenities in a residential setting. For seniors with complex care needs, nursing homes offer more comprehensive medical support and 24-hour supervision. Rates for semi-private rooms incur a typical cost of $12,775.
Adult Day Health Care
$4,750
Assisted Living Facility
$7,488
Nursing Home Facility (semi-private room)
$12,775
Note: Since data for San Rafael is unavailable, we used data for the nearest city, Napa, instead.
| Resource | Contact | Service |
|---|---|---|
| Marin County Aging and Adult Services | (415) 473-4636 | Marin County AAS in San Rafael serves seniors and disabled persons through a multidisciplinary system of support and services. It strives to enhance the quality of life and promote independence by administering a range of programs, including adult protective services, information and assistance, in-home supportive care, the long-term care ombudsman and food assistance. |
| Area Agency on Aging for Marin County | (415) 473-4636 | AAA is the primary funder and administrator of services for adults aged 60 or older throughout the county. It provides services either directly or through contracts with private and nonprofit agencies, including assisted transportation, home-delivered meals, legal services, long-term care ombudsman, disease prevention and health promotion and senior center activities, among others. |
| Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program | (415) 473-7446 | The Marin County Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program uses state-certified staff and volunteers to help resolve problems for residents of assisted living and skilled nursing facilities. The ombudsman provides free, confidential services, advocates for the rights of LTC residents and investigates allegations of suspected abuse. |
| STAR and TRIP Volunteer Driver Program | (415) 454-0902 | The STAR and TRIP Volunteer Driver Program helps older adults remain independent by providing mileage reimbursement to individuals who drive them to medical appointments, family visits, shopping excursions, classes, social events or other desired trips. Marin County residents aged 65 or older who are enrolled in Marin Access qualify for the program. If a participant doesn’t have their own volunteer driver, Travel Navigators can help them consider their options. |
| LITA (Love is the Answer) of Marin | (415) 472-5482 | LITA is a nonprofit organization that improves the quality of life for socially isolated residents of any long-term care facility in Marin County by scheduling regular visits with volunteers. There’s no fee for any of the five programs offered, including weekly one-on-one visits with two more members of a family or with pets, elementary class visits throughout the school year and regular visits by musicians for the entire facility. |
San Rafael-area assisted living communities must adhere to the comprehensive set of state laws and regulations that all assisted living communities in California are required to follow. Visit our Assisted Living in California page for more information about these laws.
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