Assisted Living Communities in Sonoma, California

Sonoma is among the more expensive places in Central California for assisted living, with monthly fees coming in at $6,300 per month. While this offers significant monthly savings over care costs in Santa Rosa, where residents pay $7,048 for services, seniors may find more economically priced care in other nearby cities. Rates in Chico are about $1,200 lower than in Sonoma. In Vallejo, care costs average $4,950, and in Yuba City, monthly fees are about $1,640 less than in Sonoma. The statewide monthly average is about $1,000 less than in Sonoma, and nationally, rates are $1,800 lower.

In Sonoma, seniors pay $6,300 monthly 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.

Assisted living facilities in Sonoma charge $6,300 per month on average for services. This is comparable to the cost of in-home care and home health care, which include a similar scope of services in the individual’s home for $6,435 per month. Assisted living is considerably more expensive than adult day health care, which costs $2,275 monthly for daytime services in a community environment, but it’s a budget-friendly alternative to nursing home care, which starts at $10,646 monthly.

The Community Care Licensing Division of the California Department of Social Services licenses and monitors assisted living communities in Sonoma and the rest of the state. This agency has an up-to-date list of licensed assisted living facilities throughout the region and operates a complaint hotline for those with concerns about care quality and conditions in local facilities.

• The cost of living in Sonoma is 70% higher than the national average and 20 percentage points higher than California’s norm, which may be a consideration for those with limited financial resources. However, income-based programs, such as the Assisted Living Waiver, can make long-term care accessible.
• Several local organizations and programs provide senior transportation services, including Petaluma People Services Center’s volunteer-based iRIDE program, the Sebastopol Area Senior Center and the local Catholic Charities’ Caring Rides program. Through these programs, seniors can get free and low-cost transportation services for medical appointments and errands to supplement paid services through assisted living facilities.
• California exempts Social Security benefits from taxation but imposes relatively high income taxes on other forms of retirement income. While this can be a concern for those who rely on retirement savings accounts or pension income, organizations such as the Area Agency on Aging provide free tax preparation services to help Sonoma seniors access deductions and exemptions.  
• The American Lung Association gives Sonoma County an F for 24-hour particle pollution levels but an A for ozone pollution, indicating moderate air quality. Many assisted living facilities have air purification systems to help residents stay safe and comfortable, regardless of conditions outdoors.
• Sonoma’s low crime rates may appeal to older adults considering assisted living in Central California. On a 100-point scale, the city scores 17.1 for violent offenses and 27.8 for property crime, which is notably lower than national respective norms of 22.7 and 35.4. The per capita crime rates are low compared to nearby cities, such as Napa and Petaluma.
• Sonoma residents enjoy warm weather throughout the year, making the city a top retirement option for those who enjoy outdoor living. Winters are comfortable with daytime temperatures ranging from the high 50s to low 60s, and summers are warm with temperatures around 85 degrees. Few days have noticeable humidity.
• Sonoma Valley Hospital is located in Sonoma proper, and seniors have access to high-performing medical facilities in nearby cities, such as Napa, Novato and Petaluma. On average, medical costs are about 8% lower here than in a typical U.S. city.