Memory Care Communities in South San Francisco, CA

In South San Francisco, dementia care facilities charge about $7,899 monthly, exceeding state and national median costs of $6,563 and $5,625, respectively. Seniors find more economically priced care in nearby cities, such as Santa Cruz, where monthly fees come in at $6,938, and Stockton, where seniors pay $4,561. By contrast, monthly care costs in South San Francisco are affordable compared to rates in Santa Rosa, where residents pay $8,810 for services.

Note: Residential memory care is usually offered in assisted living facilities, and in general, memory care rates tend to be 20-30% higher than assisted living rates. No national database currently tracks memory care costs in the United States, so we've estimated the monthly memory care costs listed below by adding 25% to the rates listed in Genworth's 2021 Cost of Care Survey.

Memory care communities in South San Francisco charge approximately $7,899 per month for specialized care.

While many families use their own funds or personal assets to pay for memory care, there are plenty of additional options to cover these costs. Some additional ways to finance memory care costs include:

• Veterans Benefits
• Life Insurance Policy
• Long-Term Care Insurance
• Reverse Mortgage

For more information about different ways to finance memory care, visit our Memory Care in California page.

Memory care residents in South San Francisco pay $7,899 for specialized services. By comparison, seniors who live in nursing homes pay higher rates of $11,566 for around-the-clock skilled nursing services and personal care, making this the only local option costlier than memory care. Older adults who obtain care services at home pay $7,150 for home health care, which includes basic skilled nursing, and $6,864 for in-home care, which features nonmedical assistance with daily living activities. Additionally, assisted living facilities have lower monthly fees of $6,319 and provide personal care and housing for seniors who don’t need memory support, and adult day health care facilities provide nonresidential skilled nursing and personal care for $1,950 per month.

In South San Francisco, memory care communities obtain licensing through the California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division. This department requires all facilities to complete an initial and annual licensing process, and it conducts regular site inspections. It also operates the San Bruno Adult and Senior Care Regional Office, which serves as a point of contact for residents.

• South San Francisco is part of the AARP Age-Friendly Network, meaning that it has policies that promote a favorable environment for residents, including seniors. The city earns its high livability rating of 59 through high access to amenities such as parks and grocery stores, ADA-accessible public transportation and exercise opportunities. Additionally, the preventable hospital rate is less than half the norm at 17.5 incidents per 100,000 patients, meaning many conditions are successfully treated through outpatient care.

• San Mateo’s air quality is moderate, with the American Lung Association giving the region a C for ozone pollution and a failing grade for 24-hour particle pollution levels. The organization reports 3 days annually in which ozone pollution levels may aggravate certain health conditions, as well as an average of 9 high-particle days. Fortunately, many memory care communities in the South San Francisco region help residents stay active with therapeutic indoor activities when outdoor conditions are unsafe.

• South San Francisco Medical Center, which sits in the city proper, is part of the Kaiser Permanente hospital system and has 367 doctors across various specialties. The hospital has a neurology department with board-certified neurologists who diagnose and treat memory disorders. The department also has a series of online videos that cover topics such as recognizing memory problems, issues related to memory loss and what to expect from a clinical memory evaluation.

• South San Francisco is among the most expensive places to live in the nation, with an overall cost of living that’s 86.5% beyond the nationwide average. Housing costs are especially high here, with residents paying 80.5% more to buy or rent homes. Seniors also spend 14.4% more on health care, 20.4% more on transportation and 44.6% more on utilities. Fortunately, the California Assisted Living Waiver covers services in many local memory care communities. 

• Seniors in South San Francisco pay high state income taxes at rates of up to 13.3%. Fortunately, the state provides a senior income tax exemption, along with the standard personal exemption, and it fully exempts Social Security benefits from taxation for all seniors, regardless of annual income.