Our comprehensive listings and authentic reviews in Santa Barbara County, CA below include 29 Assisted Living facilities with 240 reviews. On average in Santa Barbara County, residents and their loved ones rate Assisted Living options 4.4 out of 5 stars.
To support you in your search, our Family Advisors are standing by to provide you with a free, no-obligation care and budget consultation.
We’ve spent hundreds of hours compiling helpful information below these listings, ranging from assisted living costs statistics of in Santa Barbara County, to local laws & regulations in the area, to nearby services and programs that can help older adults in the community thrive, and more.
227 E. Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
4.5
(20 reviews)
"I had the chance to tour Villa Santa Barbara recently, and I left really impressed. The rooms are spotless and cozy, with a welcoming feel that makes you think of home right away. You can tell they take great care of the place. What really stood out..."
$4,000
3010 Foothill Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
4.8
(8 reviews)
"The new manger at Wood Glen has made amazing improvements from trips to go shopping, outstanding food, and fun activities for residents. I have eaten there several times and the changes in the dining room have resulted in tablecloths morning and eve..."
$4,410
3775 Modoc Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
4.3
(16 reviews)
"We toured Vista del Monte Retirement Community. I'm impressed. The people were friendly. They were out walking and doing activities. They had multiple classes available for the residents. They had a huge center lawn area with walking paths and benche..."
$5,495
CARING STARS WINNER
190 Viajero Drive, Goleta, CA 93117
4.3
(13 reviews)
"I moved to Westmont of Santa Barbara. The staff was very helpful. The food is not like home cooking. It's good. It's a very nice place. They have all kinds of things going on for the seniors. I haven't participated in any. They've got exercise rooms ..."
$4,495
1405 E. Main St, Santa Maria, CA 93454
4.0
(35 reviews)
"We really liked Santa Maria Terrace. The residents seemed very happy. I saw the menu, and it had a nice variety of food. The dining room had white tablecloths, and the menu was a nice card-bound menu. It felt like you were walking into a restaurant, ..."
$3,200
1420 W North Ave., Lompoc, CA 93436
5.0
(4 reviews)
"I visited Fountain Square of Lompoc and toured their memory care. The tour was good and the person giving the tour was fantastic. It was very informative and she made me comfortable talking about any issues. The other staff members who were there wer..."
$4,245
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5464 Carpinteria Ave, Carpinteria, CA 93013
5.0
(4 reviews)
"We toured GranVida Senior Living and Memory Care. It was close to where my ex-wife lives right now. So it would be an easy place for her friends to visit her. It was big and very clean. The staff there was friendly. We didn't eat any of the food, but..."
$4,904
2120 Santa Barbara Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
3.5
(11 reviews)
"We toured Alexander Gardens Assisted Living. We like the location. We like the people that work there. We like their facilities, and they just seem to have a good program. The staff was very nice, friendly, and informative. The building was very clea..."
$4,995
900 Calle De Los Amigos, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
4.8
(21 reviews)
"We had an in-person tour of Valle Verde. It's more like cottages, which is one of the things that appealed to me. The other thing that appealed to me was that it was continuous care, so I could move from independent living to assisted living. They al..."
Pricing not available
CARING STARS WINNER
1220 Suey Road, Santa Maria, CA 93454
4.4
(44 reviews)
"I like Merrill Gardens at Santa Maria. It was equipped with everything. It was more like a home or an apartment. They had a single bedroom. It was a nice sized bedroom and a nice sized living room. The two-bedroom apartment had a larger refrigerator...."
Pricing not available
5486 Calle Real, Santa Barbara, CA 93111
4.5
(18 reviews)
"My cousin moved to Maravilla. What I like best is the amount of care and the modern facilities. The staff, they're all very good. I had lunch there yesterday and it was really excellent. The facility was clean. It was bright and shiny. I felt welcome..."
Pricing not available
2550 Treasure Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
4.8
(5 reviews)
"We went to Samarkand. The staff, the food, and the care for the residents were good. The rooms were real nice. They had all kinds of activities. They had swimming, golf, and tennis, and they take people to concerts. They've got a pretty good program,..."
$6,482
5200 HOLLISTER AVE., Santa Barbara, CA 93111
5.0
(4 reviews)
"I toured Heritage House and the staff was very good. They seem to have a very experienced staff and they have a caring attitude for all of the residents. I didn't look into the room as they're fully booked. Their memory care unit was smaller, I belie..."
Pricing not available
636 Atterdag Rd, Solvang, CA 93463
4.0
(12 reviews)
"My mom lived on her own for 7 years and then spent 2 years in the Care Facility. She was treated like a Queen! All the staff looked out for her and she was treated with care and respect. Plus the staff always alerted me and kept me in the loop at..."
Pricing not available
4620 SONG LANE, Santa Maria, CA 93455
4.1
(6 reviews)
"My mother-in-law lived at Magnolia and Primrose for 6 months before she passed and I have nothing but praise for the facility, the owners and especially the staff! They were all caring and loving individuals who provided great care, and grieved along..."
Pricing not available
3811 Dominion Road, Santa Maria, CA 93454
4.5
(4 reviews)
"We went to AAA Kindness Care Home. It was fine, but I think it's out of our price range. I can't say anything negative about it. It was very nice. It was very clean. The people were very friendly. She did interact with the residents as we were walkin..."
Pricing not available
1621 Grand Avenue, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
5.0
(2 reviews)
"Villa Riviera is more affordable than any other place I had seen. They didn't want an application fee, which was great, so my dad would have saved money just paying a monthly fee. The place looked clean, and some rooms have a beautiful view of the oc..."
Pricing not available
946 W Bunny Avenue, Santa Maria, CA 93458
5.0
(2 reviews)
"Villa Care took wonderful care of my Mom for years until her passing at 105yrs. They work well with Doctors & other health agencies. My Mom level of care change since she had dementia, it was not a problem for them, very professional, & ..."
Pricing not available
3705 HILLVIEW ROAD, Santa Maria, CA 93455
4.5
(2 reviews)
"My mother is at Hillview Residence. My friend's parents are there as well, so they're very good. Hopefully, she's gonna be short-term, so she can go back home. It's been family-owned for over 35 years and they're local. The owners live down the stree..."
Pricing not available
778 Ribera Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93111
5.0
(1 reviews)
"Country Garden's Home Care for The Elderly is a private home run by a Filipino family and I give them an A-plus. They're so great. They only have six people and they're all Alzheimer's patients and they do a fantastic job with them. I'm so thankful t..."
Pricing not available
According to the Genworth 2020 Cost of Care Survey, the nationwide monthly assisted living rate is $4,300. However, care fees vary widely depending on local costs of living, state regulations and the number of available facilities in a given region. In California, care costs tend to be a little higher at an average of $5,000 per month. Fees for Santa Barbara County are based on the rates listed for the Santa Maria area, which includes Santa Maria and Santa Barbara. Here, seniors pay approximately $5,000 per month for care.
Compared to the state as a whole, Santa Barbara County is a moderately priced region for assisted living at $5,000 per month. It’s an affordable alternative to the San Luis Obispo area, which is about 90 miles away and has average monthly assisted living fees of $5,800. In Napa, costs are even higher at $6,250, and in Salinas, assisted living facilities charge the highest rates in the state at $7,100. Those looking for more economically priced care may consider Redding, where monthly fees are closer to the national average at $4,500. Modesto and Madera are reasonably priced at $4,000 and $3,913, respectively. In Stockton, rates are the lowest in the state at $3,500 per month.
Santa Barbara County/Santa Maria
$5,000
California
$5,000
The United States
$4,300
San Luis Obispo
$5,800
Madera
$3,913
Modesto
$4,000
Stockton
$3,500
Napa
$6,250
Redding
$4,500
Salinas
$7,100
California’s Medicaid program, Medi-Cal, offers financial assistance to help impoverished seniors cover the cost of assisted living. Those who are eligible may be able to take part in the state’s Assisted Living Waiver Program (ALWP).
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.
| Resource | Contact | Service |
|---|---|---|
| Central Coast Commission for Senior Citizens | (805) 925-9554 | The Central Coast Commission for Senior Citizens is a local nonprofit organization and the designated Area Agency on Aging for Santa Barbara County. Through its Senior Information Program, older adults can find local services and programs that meet their needs. Help is available over the phone via the Senior Info Line, which is reached at (800) 510-2020. The agency also maintains the Senior Resource Directory, a searchable database with local organizations that provide services such as care planning, transportation and congregate meals. |
| Long-Term Care Ombudsman of Santa Barbara County | (805) 922-1236 | The Long-Term Care Ombudsman of Santa Barbara County advocates on behalf of older adults in assisted living. This agency addresses complaints made on behalf of residents pertaining to staff training, the quality of care, residents’ rights and abuse or neglect. |
| Veterans Services | (805) 681-4500 | The county’s Veterans Services Division provides programs and assistance to veterans and their spouses or survivors, helping them obtain the services and benefits they’re entitled to. Benefits the office can help qualifying visitors obtain include disability compensation, pensions, life insurance, medical benefits and discharge upgrades. The division can also help seniors apply for the Aid and Attendance benefit, which may help them cover the cost of assisted living services. |
| Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County | (805) 963-6754 | The Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County provides free legal assistance to those aged 60 and over. Through this office, older adults can get assistance with obtaining state and federal benefits that may help cover assisted living expenses, including Medi-Cal, Social Security and Supplemental Security Income. Volunteer attorneys at this agency can also help seniors assign powers of attorney or guardianship and draft simple wills. |
| Goleta Valley Senior Center | (805) 967-1237 | The Goleta Valley Senior Center is one of several senior centers in Santa Barbara County. At this location, older adults can connect with their peers and participate in activities geared toward those aged 50 and over. For a low annual fee, members can take part in activities such as line dancing; yoga; card games; knitting, crocheting, quilting and embroidery groups; and porcelain painting. The center can also help older adults connect with local services and supports. |
| Senior Volunteer Services | (805) 544-8740 | Senior Volunteer Services is a local nonprofit volunteer and human services agency that connects older adults with volunteer opportunities that suit their interests and abilities. It hosts the nationwide Retired and Senior Volunteer program for those aged 55 and over. Through RSVP, older adults can provide administrative assistance to local police departments, sort packaged foods at local food pantries, greet and guide visitors in local museums and organize donations for charities. |
Santa Barbara County-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.
Assisted Living
Disappointed daughter
1.0
Review of Alexander Gardens Assisted Living
Alexander Gardens is a beautiful place and my Mom and I were looking forward to her living there. We met with the Associate Executive Director and my Mother picked a room that was higher up with a...
Assisted Living
Armando
4.0
Review of Santa Maria Terrace
Santa Maria Terrace was a great place. They have a lot of amenities there. They have a large community area, and they have a great place to get together. I'm most interested in the library with...
Assisted Living
Greg O.
2.0
Review of Alexander Gardens Assisted Living
A family member shared disparaging email remarks from their leadership about me because I challenged out of cycle fee increases (that breached their admission agreement) and also because I...
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