The Best Independent Living Communities in Santa Cruz County, CA

Westmont of Santa Cruz, located at 5630 Soquel Drive in Soquel, California, is a senior living community offering Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care services. Situated on a 3.73-acre property, the community features 82 suites designed to accommodate a total of 91 residents. Residents at Westmont of Santa Cruz enjoy a variety of amenities and services that enhance their daily living experience. The community boasts an on-site beauty and barber shop, providing convenient grooming services. Transportation services are available for residents' outings and appointments. Beautifully landscaped gardens and patios offer serene outdoor spaces, complemented by ample resident and guest parking. Comprehensive housekeeping and laundry services ensure a comfortable and maintenance-free lifestyle. Engaging activities such as music sessions, games, book clubs, yoga classes, gardening, arts and crafts, and offsite excursions cater to diverse interests. Dining options include in-room kitchenettes, a communal dining room with shared meals, room service, guest dining accommodations, and specialized diets to meet individual nutritional needs. Westmont of Santa Cruz is staffed by a team of dedicated professionals committed to providing personalized care in a safe and supportive environment. The community's proximity to local attractions enriches residents' lives, with nearby destinations such as Bargetto Winery, Soquel Vineyards, and Anna Jean Cummings Park offering opportunities for leisure and exploration.

"We went to Dominican Oaks in Santa Cruz. It's a beautiful, big community. I would highly rate them. They have a waiting list and were significantly more expensive. Their staff was great. The people that we met along during the tour were great. Their dining room was big. They have lots of outdoor dining that's beautiful. It's in a wooded setting, so it's very pretty. The building itself looks to be well maintained and well- appointed."

"My Mom has been in Gault Street for 7 years now and it's just 2 blocks away from our home. She's doing really great and I must say well taken care of. The facility is nice, very relaxing and peaceful environment. A great place to stay. But we are currently searching for a home care service instead, like having a private nurse for her so she can just stay home with us. "

"Valley Heights provided more services for less money. Their pricing is better than what we have and offered more benefits. The place was very nice. I saw a studio with a kitchen, and where my mother is right now, we don’t have a kitchen at all. The dining area was very nice, and the menu was restaurant-style. They had covered parking for vehicles. "

"The Terraces provided everything my mother (and we) needed during a difficult time, and more. Having toured numerous facilities that were adequate but dismal and depressing, The Terraces offered more than a breath of fresh air. My mother recuperated there for 11 weeks after difficult surgeries, and was cared for better than we could have hoped - the staff was knowledgeable, attentive, friendly and caring. The facility is beautifully kept, clean, fresh and well-appointed with pleasant outdoor areas, and the dining rooms and food exceeded all expectations, but more importantly the residents were equally well-kept! Even in the skilled nursing area, most were up and dressed during the day, and participating in many provided activities. The Kaiser doctor on staff, Alice, was a Godsend, and Marguerite, the resident beautician, a delight. Most all the staff were truly dedicated to the well-being of the residents, and my mother recovered beautifully. We would highly recommend this facility. "

"My mom is on a waiting list at Merrill Gardens at Gilroy. The cleanliness was fine. The rooms were clean and spacious. They offered a lot more activities there than they did at the other place. They were doing activities when we were there. The staff who gave the tour was great. She was very friendly and helpful. She answered our questions. She pointed out different things. She showed us the kitchen area, the dining area, and the rec area."

"My mother moved into Morrone Gardens Apartment. It's nice. It's small, I like that, and it's affordable, and that's the main thing. We're living on a fixed income. I like the parking, It's a kitchen, living room, then bedroom, patio, and one bathroom and closet area. They did have meals for wheels, it gets delivered to some of the people that live here, but we fix our own meals. They recently had a changeover of staff. They have an exercise room so people can use that. People exercise by just walking along the grounds and whatnot and then they have a person on staff who is supposed to help with community issues. He's there to help them with computer work, that kind of stuff. But they don't have any classes or anything in here. That would be nice if they had stuff like that."

"We are residents of The Villages Golf & Country Club. We own a house here and have lived here for 25 years. We were getting all the benefits here. We have a restaurant, a bistro, and everything. So, if I don't want to cook, I don't have to cook. We can go out and eat. What I like best about the place is that it is absolutely gorgeous, and they maintain it very well. The restaurant and the bistros are very good. It has excellent quality and very high-quality food. They have a lot of events here that people organize. There are tons of clubs one can belong to, and lots and lots of clubs. Every kind of club: music, dance, and an Italian club. You've got everything, so it's great. The staff they are super, super, super duper. The food is excellent. I'm a vegetarian, so I don't really know about non-veg food, but from what I hear from my neighbors and friends, it's amazing. They love the chefs, and they love going to the bistro and the restaurant. Some of the facilities show their age, like the fitness center. There are five pools, and they could use a little fixing up for today's world. Those are the things that need a facelift. It has a high HOA, and you can't stay here unless you can afford the HOA."

"I visited Valley Village Retirement Community. It was the most affordable one. I think it's $1900 for a little apartment with three meals a day and one weekly housekeeping. They have a little clinic where you can go every day and have them help you take your medicine and take your blood pressure, just kind of like the basics. They have a bus that'll take you to your doctor up to ten miles away. They also have activities, entertainment, and a washer and dryer in the building. It covers all the utilities, and it's a 55 and over community. So, the people there are a little bit younger. It seems pretty vibrant in there. The building's a little older, but they make up for it with everything else they do. For the price, it was the best value out of everything that I saw. It was nice, clean, and everything. It was like a village. Some houses are part of it, and then there's the apartment building part of it. The construction is probably mid-century. So, it's not like a brand-new facility, but it's very well-maintained and clean. Everybody there seemed happy, engaged, and a little bit younger. With some of them, it just seemed like a bunch of 19-year-olds sitting in chairs and these people seemed to be moving around doing things."

"Forest Hill Manor has independent, assisted, and nursing, and I looked at the independent for myself and assisted for a friend of mine. It's very good. I liked everything about it. The only thing that I don't like is Pacific Grove has a lot of fog. The person during the tour was very pleasant. The food was good and the dining area was very nice. They redid it, it's large, and it's very inviting. I've gone there for lunch and tea and I'm invited again for a tea. The staff was nice. They went out of their way and they're very pleasant."

"I liked Sunny View Retirement Community. It has been there since 1964. It has a vibrant culture, it looked nice, and had a homey feel to it. They have an active building program, so they always seem to be adding and improving their facilities. I also liked that it's a nonprofit and that it offers a continuum of care. There's a lot of green space between the buildings. So, there's a lot of open space, and I think it's the largest campus of all the ones I saw. It's already full, so we looked at some units that were already occupied. They were set up well, and I liked them. They offered a wide range of activities, too."

"My brother is currently in Merrill Gardens at Monterey. I have found them to be very responsive. It's a very uplifting atmosphere. They have lots of activities. The facility has amazingly 12-hour restaurant-style dining. So, they can go downstairs anywhere between 7 in the morning and 7 at night and eat. I've never had a bad meal, it's very good. They have happy hour on Thursdays where they have live music and entertainment, and they have a large activity room and a big screen TV where they watch movies twice a day. They have an exercise room with guided exercises for seniors. They go on excursions. They got a bus where they can take 15 or 20 people and they go to plays and they go to the grocery stores and out to eat lunch. It's just a very involved, beautiful complex. They've got five levels of care, which takes them from totally independent living right up to memory care - dementia and Alzheimer's. And so, you don't have to move. I was there for Thanksgiving dinner and that seriously was the best turkey I've ever had in my life. They do a wonderful, wonderful job. It's a new facility, it's like four or five years old. "

"I chose Belovida at Newbury Park for myself. The room size was what I liked. I can put most of the furniture that I have, and the price is between $1000 to $1500 a month. I like the manager. He was very good, very nice, friendly, and very informative. You're completely on your own there, and that's what I wanted. They have quite a few things. They have laundry, a gym, and a theater, and they have get-togethers for movies and bingo. They have a patio area where you can have your own private parties, and they have a computer room also. It's very clean, pretty well-kept, and pretty secure."

"I was very impressed during my recent visit to Villa Siena. All the staff I met were very friendly and more than helpful in showing me the facility and answering any questions I had. The residents also were friendly and looked well-cared for. There seemed to be a good variety of activities provided, including as a Catholic facility, daily mass and prayer. They have a beautiful courtyard and everything looked clean and well-maintained."