The 10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in South San Francisco, CA for 2023

Located on the San Francisco Peninsula in the Bay Area, South San Francisco offers access to outstanding cultural and recreational amenities, health care facilities and long-term care. This city of 63,000 people has a large senior community that makes up 17% of residents, and it’s listed on the AARP Age-Friendly Network for its benefits and amenities for older adults. One hospital is located in the city proper and there are numerous assisted living facilities, making it a convenient option for retirees.

Assisted living is for older adults who don’t need medical care but would benefit from a maintenance-free lifestyle in a residential setting. This type of care includes housing, personal care services, housekeeping and daily meals for seniors, along with regular social and recreational activities. On average, seniors in South San Francisco pay $6,319 per month for care, which is well above California’s norm of $5,250 and the national average of $4,500.

Through this guide, readers can learn more about assisted living in South San Francisco, including some of the benefits and drawbacks of moving here for long-term care. It also outlines some of the licensing rules all facilities in the region follow to ensure a consistent standard of care.

The California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division, regulates assisted living facilities in South San Francisco and promotes a high standard of care through rigorous licensing standards and regular inspections. The department also investigates complaints regarding the quality of care and conditions in assisted living facilities, and it publishes a list of all licensed facilities statewide.

• South San Francisco is listed on the AARP Age-Friendly Network, indicating that it has programs and policies in place to promote seniors’ safety and comfort. It ranks in the top half of U.S. communities for features such as high access to parks and grocery stores, public transportation and health care amenities. This may make it a favorable option for those seeking assisted living.
• South San Francisco is home to Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco Medical Center, a 120-bed hospital that’s recognized among the top in the nation for cancer care and surgical services. The city has 302 doctors per capita compared to 210 nationally, which may result in short wait times to see health care providers, and health care costs trend about 3% lower than national norms. In addition to this, many assisted living facilities have on-call providers who oversee routine care for residents.
• With mild weather throughout the year, South San Francisco is a favorable retirement destination for prospective assisted living residents who enjoy spending time outdoors. Daytime temperatures range from 57 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter to 69 degrees Fahrenheit in the warmest part of summer, and the city gets 22 inches of rain and virtually no snow.
• Crime is minimal in South San Francisco compared to national norms, which may provide peace of mind to those researching local assisted living options. On a 100-point index, the city rates 15.9 for violent crime and 31.4 for property-related offenses, which is modest compared to national respective norms of 22.7 and 35.4.
• With an overall cost of living that is 117% higher than the national norm and 45% higher than the California average, South San Francisco is a relatively expensive place to live. While utility costs tend to be low, housing, transportation and grocery expenses are high here, which may make assisted living an attractive alternative to living alone.
• While seniors in South San Francisco pay relatively high state income taxes on nearly all forms of retirement income, the state fully exempts Social Security benefits for beneficiaries regardless of their annual income. This may help some seniors afford assisted living.

In South San Francisco, assisted living facilities charge $6,319 per month for housing and services.

Assisted living residents in South San Francisco pay $6,319 per month on average for care. This exceeds the state norm of $5,250 and the national average of $4,500, as well as rates in other cities in Central California. For example, in San Jose, monthly fees are about $300 lower than in South San Francisco, and in Santa Cruz, residents pay about 12% less for care. Similarly, in Vallejo, rates are 22% less than in South San Francisco, and in Stockton, monthly fees are highly competitive at $3,649.

Assisted living is one of the more affordable senior care options in South San Francisco, with seniors paying $6,319 per month for this level of care. Residential care costs considerably less than home-based services, which come in at $6,864 for non medical in-home care and $7,150 for specialized home health care. It’s also about 45% lower than the cost of nursing home care, although seniors may save about $4,370 by opting for adult day health care.

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.