Savant of Alhambra
1 E Commonwealth Ave, Alhambra, CA, 91801
4.5
(4 reviews)
"We offer a home-like setting and cheerful smiles from our professional staff who greet you every day. Our caring staff offers the assistance..."
READ MORE28 Results
1 E Commonwealth Ave, Alhambra, CA, 91801
4.5
(4 reviews)
"We offer a home-like setting and cheerful smiles from our professional staff who greet you every day. Our caring staff offers the assistance..."
READ MORE1025 North Fairfax Avenue, West Hollywood, CA, 90046
4.4
(5 reviews)
"Garden of Palms residents have the services they need in the embrace of community, yet can still be as independent as is individually approp..."
READ MORE951 S. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena, CA, 91105
4.6
(16 reviews)
"The tour I had at MorningStar of Pasadena was good. They were very nice. I looked at the 2-bedroom and the 1-bedroom apartments with balconies and no balcony. They were very nice and very clean. They all had kitchenettes. The common areas were all be..."
READ MORE214 SOUTH ATLANTIC BLVD., Alhambra, CA, 91801
4.6
(11 reviews)
"Atherton is a continuing care retirement community that is committed to helping seniors live joyful, productive and inspirational lives. We ..."
READ MORE2721 Willow Street, Burbank, CA, 91505
4.7
(9 reviews)
"The general appearance and layout are good. My mom seems to be happy there. Staff seems to be friendly and helpful. The dining area is always clean and the appearance looks good. Mom does bingo. She's actually been there for a couple years now and mo..."
READ MORE1551 E Chevy Chase Drive, Glendale, CA, 91206
4.6
(8 reviews)
"I liked the atmosphere of Scholl Canyon Estates very much. I got an invitation in the mail to come and view it when they had an Oktoberfest. The food was very good. I particularly enjoyed that. The place was nice. They provide three meals a day, tran..."
READ MORE2212 El Molino Ave, Altadena, CA, 91001
"If you love everything about the Pasadena area"”if you've wanted to create your retirement lifestyle here, near the restaurants of Old Town,..."
READ MORE811 N. Eucalyptus Avenue, Inglewood, CA, 90302
5.0
(1 reviews)
"The only thing I did not like about Eucalyptus Park was the parking. You can only park on one side of the street, but everything else was perfect. The building was nice. I went to visit a friend and I saw her apartment. I was pleased with the whole t..."
READ MOREMany seniors love how independent living communities reduce unwanted stress, hazards, and fatigue in their lives. Independent living communities take care of housekeeping, yard work and meals while still allowing residents personal space and the dignity of making their own choices. These communities usually provide seniors with an apartment that has a small kitchen, bathroom, living room, and one or more bedrooms. Those who want a small space may even find that some independent living communities offer studio-style apartments. Seniors can invite guests over and enjoy their rooms however they see fit.
Independent living communities often also include the following:
For a more detailed look at common amenities, check out our guide to independent living communities.
What Couples Should Know About Independent Living in Los Angeles, CA
The city of Los Angeles, in Southern California, has many attractive features for retirees. The warm year-round climate can bring relief to aging joints and be a welcome respite for snowbirds relocating from northerly states.
The city is large and vibrant with easy access to any number of beaches, and older couples can enjoy a sunrise stroll beside the ocean or take a boat tour of the Pacific coast. Attractions, such as the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden has 127 acres of historic buildings, wildlife and gardens for active seniors to explore, or take a ride on one of the many Hollywood home’s tours.
Los Angeles has an extensive Metro public transportation system. TAP offers senior passes, including lifetime low-income passes to get around in the city. And On The Move Riders Club helps seniors become acclimated to public transportation through peer-training and organized group outings.
Paying for Independent Living in Los Angeles, CA
Independent living accommodations in Los Angeles are more expensive than the rest of the country. The city’s average costs are around $4,449 per month, compared to the national average of $2,545. Couples seeking to retire in the greater Los Angeles area may wish to consider living in nearby Glendale, where average monthly costs for independent living is $3,100.
The annual cost of living in an independent living community can range anywhere from $12,000-$42,000, depending mostly on the amenities, room type and cost of living in the area. In addition to using personal retirement income, annuities, long-term care insurance, or cashing out an existing life insurance policy, some seniors can use Social Security funds, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments granted due to disability or low-income or HUD-provided housing assistance such as vouchers. Another route many seniors choose to fund their independent living stay is renting out or selling their homes that they won’t need once they move or taking advantage of a reverse mortgage.
Our guide provides a more in-depth look at independent living costs and solutions for those who want to learn more.
How to Choose an Independent Living Community
When choosing an independent living community, it’s best to consider many factors, including the community’s proximity to loved ones and medical care, the state of repair that the facility appears to be in, the attitude and efficiency of the staff, the cost of both rent and services, the facility’s pet policy and more.
Comparing multiple communities can help seniors and their families figure out what they value most in an independent living community. During tours of these communities, staff members should be available to answer questions. To help with the touring and comparison process, we’ve included a checklist full of pertinent questions that anyone can download and print for themselves.
Transitioning to Independent Living
Independent living communities, rather than memory care or nursing homes, are often the first place seniors move to when they realize they need a lifestyle change. The necessity of letting some possessions go and the reality of leaving a home and neighborhood after possibly decades of residence there can make transitioning to an independent living community difficult. These communities are often friendly places, but being in a new environment still initially triggers feelings of loneliness in many seniors.
Having a strategy for dealing with the challenges of moving can make the transition to an independent living community a positive experience. We’ve created a downloadable step-by-step guide for tips to making this transition as smooth and enjoyable as possible.
There are many other resources and activities for seniors in Los Angeles. Use the table below to learn about the options available for older adults in the area.
Resource | Phone number | Description |
---|---|---|
Betty Hill Senior Citizen Center | (323) 733-1946 | This senior citizen center has many different hobby groups for retirees to participate in, from gardening to fitness classes and clubs, such as knitting, scrapbooking and photography. Special lunches and lecture events are scheduled regularly. Holiday parties and group trips are organized to help seniors in Los Angeles connect. |
Division of Adult and Career Education (LAUSD) | (213) 241-3150 | The Los Angeles School District offers continuing education for adults on topics that range from health and wellness to nutrition and memory enhancement courses. Other classes available include training for an acting career, understanding computers and technology, and oil or watercolor painting. |
LA Works | (323) 224-6510 | LA Works connects seniors in Los Angeles with volunteer opportunities, including working in food pantries, cleaning up national and local parks or working with homeless children. The agency also offers multigenerational volunteer opportunities that involves children, parents, and grandparents. |
Tech Help LA | (213) 986-5722 | Tech Help LA offers remote troubleshooting and training for seniors on both Mac and PC services from the initial set-up to training seniors how to use software and popular websites. It also helps seniors learn to use smartphone and tablet technology. |
Los Angeles Department of Mental Health | (213) 639-6002 | LA DOMH offers comprehensive mental health services for seniors in the area. Case managers are on hand to help diagnose and connect seniors with mental health solutions near them. These can include intensive outpatient therapy, group therapies or one-on-one counseling sessions |
Independent Living
Tedra
4
Review of The Village at NorthRidge
I'm now at The Village at NorthRidge. I like the activities and the fact that they fix your meals for you. I have lunch and dinner prepared for me, and they pretty much do anything you ask. They...
Independent Living
Linda
5
Review of The Commons at Woodland Hills
My mom moved into the Commons at Woodland Hills. Everybody is just so sweet there. My mom is like a completely different person now. She's joining in activities. She's so happy. She has things to...
Independent Living
thekid118
3
Review of Tesoro Apartments
The apartments are very nice. You can have your dog & cat for an additional cost. But when you take your pets for a walk you have to be very careful because of the coyotes. I have seen four this...