1,378 assisted living communities in and around Santa Monica, California

Reviewed by BoomersHub Senior Living AdvisorsUpdated

Private suites, community life, and daily help with things like bathing, meals, and medications. Our local advisors help you compare Santa Monica, CA communities, confirm pricing, and book tours — free.

Assisted living communities in Santa Monica

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Every community listed here comes from the BoomersHub directory of 1,378 licensed listings in and around Santa Monica, with pricing confirmed by an advisor before you tour.

What assisted living in Santa Monica includes

Santa Monica families choosing Assisted Living in Santa Monica have real options — from small residential care homes on quiet neighborhood streets to larger purpose-built communities near local medical centers. Every licensed community follows the state's Assisted Living rules, and staffing, care levels, and pricing vary by size and setting. This guide walks through what to expect, how families pay, and how to shortlist Santa Monica communities without doing the research alone.

Free advisor help through BoomersHub shortlists licensed Santa Monica communities, confirms current pricing with each one, and coordinates tours — all at no cost to the family.

The cost of assisted living in Santa Monica, California

Assisted living in Santa Monica averages about $6,278 per month — about 10% below the California median of $7,000. Your quote depends on suite size, level of daily care, community type, and current move-in specials.

How Santa Monica, California prices compare nearby

An advisor checks live quotes in Santa Monica or any nearby city, free.

Median monthly cost of assisted living

  • Santa Monica$6,278
  • California median$7,000

2025 industry cost-of-care survey data. Medians, not quotes. An advisor confirms current pricing at any Santa Monica community, free.

How families pay for assisted living in Santa Monica, California

  • Private pay

    The most common route: savings, retirement income, or family contributions cover the monthly rate directly. It keeps every Santa Monica community on the table, and it is often blended with the options below.

    How to pay for assisted living
  • VA Aid & Attendance

    Eligible veterans and surviving spouses in Santa Monica, California can receive a monthly pension on top of their regular VA benefits, applied toward assisted living costs.

    A&A veteran benefits guide
  • Medicaid & Medicare

    California's Medi-Cal Assisted Living Waiver (ALW) helps eligible seniors pay for care in participating licensed communities in 15 counties, including Los Angeles County. It does not pay room and board, enrollment has a waitlist, and not every Santa Monica community takes part, so confirm before you tour. Medicare does not pay for daily-living help, but still covers approved medical care residents receive.

    Medi-Cal Assisted Living Waiver details
  • Reverse mortgage

    Homeowners with substantial equity can convert part of the home's value into a lump sum, credit line, or monthly payments, often used to fund a spouse's move to assisted living.

    Compare funding options

Santa Monica for older adults

Weather and climate in Santa Monica, California

74°F / 49°F summer high / winter low

About 14 inches of rain and about 0 inches of snow a year. Mild shoulder seasons keep courtyards, patios, and daily walks usable most of the year.

Community around Santa Monica

17% of residents age 65+ (US Census ACS)

Santa Monica has an established senior population, with community centers, worship options, and reduced-fare transit programs that keep older adults connected. Most communities sit minutes from grocery, pharmacy, and medical services.

Talk it through with a local advisor

1,378 communities is a lot to sort alone. Tell a BoomersHub advisor what matters — budget, neighborhood, care needs — and they do the legwork with you.

  • A shortlist of Santa Monica communities matched to your needs
  • Current pricing, availability, and any move-in specials, confirmed
  • Tours scheduled around your family's calendar
  • Always free for families, with no obligation at any step
(877) 409-0666
  • 1,378Assisted living communities listed in and around Santa Monica, California, from small residences to full campuses
  • 1,000+Families guided by BoomersHub advisors since 2019
  • $0What families pay for advisor help, ever

What families say about Santa Monica communities

Brookdale Ocean House is a wonderful place for our loved one who requires assistance, but can live independently. The staff and management are friendly and clean. They also went out of their way to ensure that everything was taken care of. It is obvious that the location is important. You can walk to Santa Monica and the beach right from your front door. Ocean House is a great place to stay!

James · Brookdale Ocean House · Santa Monica

My mother has been staying here for several months and it has been a pleasant experience. She is extremely happy with the staff, the food and the activities. We are pleased with her care and communication between us, her caregivers. This was a difficult decision, but the staff made it so much easier.

Karen · Welbrook Senior Living Santa Monica · Santa Monica

Before choosing Sunrise of Santa Monica, we visited nearly a dozen facilities. Three of those were Sunrise facilities. Sunrise's philosophy and approach was a great fit for us. The facilities were immaculate and well-planned to ensure safety and engagement. Staff members were also very friendly. Santa Monica was chosen for its proximity to us as well as the "feel" of it - it felt like home to us. Staff are dedicated to their residents, not just to their J-o'b-s. It is evident that they have a passion about their COMpassion and it shows in their interactions with the residents. Although moving in was difficult for many reasons, the staff were willing to help us. They even offered their cell phone numbers in case of emergency. Although we have only been in our new home for one week, it is clear that we made the right choice.

Kathleen · Sunrise Of Santa Monica · Santa Monica

Cool spot for the elderly.

Joseph · Ocean Gardens V · Santa Monica

This group is wonderful, caring and attentive. I highly recommend Bentley suites. They took excellent care of my loved ones.

Raymond · Bentley Suites By Serenity Care Health · Santa Monica

Rules and regulations for assisted living in Santa Monica, California

Every assisted living community in Santa Monica, California is licensed and inspected by California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division. California licenses two settings: Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE). Some Santa Monica-area communities hold different licence types, so ask which one a community holds when you tour. Communities must meet standards for staffing, caregiver training, medication administration, and building safety, with managers and staff completing continuing in-service training each year.

Before you tour, it's worth confirming a community's license status and inspection history. Our advisors do this as part of every Santa Monica shortlist.

  • Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE)

    California's sole assisted-living licence — covers everything from six-bed board-and-care homes to 200+ apartment communities, with the same regulatory framework across sizes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the criteria for Assisted Living in Santa Monica?

California-licensed Assisted Living communities serve seniors who need daily help with activities like bathing, dressing, medications, or meals but who don't require continuous skilled nursing. Santa Monica communities complete a health and needs assessment before move-in to confirm they can provide the right level of care under state licensing rules.

Does Medicare pay for Assisted Living?

No. Medicare doesn't cover room, board, or daily-living help in Assisted Living communities. Santa Monica residents can still use Medicare benefits for approved medical care they receive while living in a community — doctor visits, eligible therapies, and short-term hospital stays.

How much does Assisted Living cost per month in Santa Monica, CA?

The median cost of assisted living in Santa Monica is $6,278 per month, about 10% below the California median of $7,000 (2025 industry cost-of-care survey data). Actual rates depend on suite size and care level. A BoomersHub advisor can confirm current pricing at specific communities, free.

Does long-term care insurance cover Assisted Living?

Most LTCI policies pay toward Assisted Living once benefit triggers are met — typically needing help with two or more daily activities, or having a cognitive impairment. Check your policy's elimination period, daily benefit amount, and lifetime maximum before comparing Santa Monica communities.

Are Assisted Living expenses tax deductible?

The portion of Assisted Living fees attributable to medical care may qualify as an itemized medical expense when a licensed practitioner has certified the resident as chronically ill and care follows a written plan. Keep itemized statements from your Santa Monica community and confirm with a tax professional.

Do you bring your own furniture to Assisted Living?

Usually, yes. Most Santa Monica Assisted Living communities encourage residents to furnish their suite with their own furniture, photos, and keepsakes so the new home feels familiar from day one. Ask each community what fits the floor plan and what's included.

How do I move a parent with dementia to Assisted Living?

Start with their physician, then tour Santa Monica communities that offer memory care or dementia-capable staffing. Keep routines and familiar belongings, plan the move for their best time of day, and coordinate the first weeks closely with staff. A local advisor can shortlist secure, well-suited Santa Monica communities for free.

How does Assisted Living work with Social Security?

Social Security income can be applied toward Assisted Living, but on its own it rarely covers the full monthly cost. Most Santa Monica families combine it with savings, long-term care insurance, VA benefits, or home equity to bridge the difference.

How do I choose the right Assisted Living community in Santa Monica?

Tour at least three, ideally around a mealtime, and revisit your favorite unannounced. Check the state license and last inspection date, ask about staffing ratios on nights and weekends, and understand how the community handles medical escalation. A BoomersHub advisor can build the shortlist for free.

Does California Medicaid help pay for Assisted Living in Santa Monica?

California's Medi-Cal Assisted Living Waiver (ALW) helps eligible seniors pay for care in participating licensed communities in 15 counties, including Los Angeles County. It does not pay room and board, enrollment has a waitlist, and not every Santa Monica community takes part, so confirm before you tour.

Find the right Santa Monica, California community, without the guesswork

Tell us what matters to your family. A local advisor sends a matched shortlist with confirmed pricing, free.

(877) 409-0666