SeniorLiving.wikiThe Senior Living Reference

Senior living in San Diego

From SeniorLiving.wiki, the senior living reference · Last reviewed · Published by Local Blitz · How we source

In the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad area, the 2025 median cost was $6,820 per month for assisted living and $12,319 per month for a semi-private nursing home room.[1] Licensed assisted living and board and care homes in San Diego County can be looked up in the California Department of Social Services Care Facility Search, and the County’s Aging & Independence Services (800-339-4661) is the local gateway to services for older adults.[2][3]

Costs in the San Diego area

Median costs, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad area, 2025
Type of careSan Diego areaCaliforniaUnited States
Assisted living (monthly)$6,820$7,000$6,200
Nursing home, semi-private (monthly)$12,319$12,167$9,581
Nursing home, private (monthly)$16,729$15,178$10,798
Non-medical caregiver (hourly)$40$40$35

Source: CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025.[1][4][5]

How to find and compare licensed communities

  1. Assisted living, board and care and memory care: search the CDSS Care Facility Search by county (San Diego), city or ZIP code, and read each facility’s inspection and complaint reports.[2] California requires annual unannounced RCFE inspections.[6] Each record names the CDSS regional office responsible for the facility.[2]
  2. Nursing homes: compare star ratings on Medicare’s Care Compare, and visit.[7][8]
  3. Home care: confirm the agency’s Home Care Organization license and check aides on the Home Care Aide Registry.[9][10]
  4. Get free local guidance: call Aging & Independence Services or the Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116).[3][11]

Use the checklist and tour questions to compare shortlisted communities. SeniorLiving.wiki does not rank communities.

Local resources

ResourceWhat it doesContact
County of San Diego Aging & Independence Services (AIS)Part of the County Health and Human Services Agency; information and assistance for older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers; takes elder and dependent adult abuse reports[3]800-339-4661 (8 a.m.–5 p.m. Mon–Fri; abuse reports 24/7)[3]
Long-Term Care Ombudsman (San Diego County)Advocates for residents of long-term care facilities[3]800-640-4661 or 858-560-2507[3]
California Ombudsman CRISISline24/7 complaint line for long-term care residents[12]1-800-231-4024
CDSS Community Care LicensingComplaints about licensed RCFEs and home care organizations[13]1-844-538-8766
Eldercare LocatorNational directory of local aging services[11]1-800-677-1116

Medi-Cal help in San Diego County

San Diego is one of 15 California counties where the Medi-Cal Assisted Living Waiver pays for assisted living services in participating facilities for eligible people who need a nursing-facility level of care.[14] AIS also provides home and personal care assistance for people who receive SSI or have low incomes.[3] Medi-Cal asset limits for older adults returned on January 1, 2026.[15] See Medicare vs Medicaid and Medi-Cal.

Community example: Lantern Crest (Santee)

Disclosure: SeniorLiving.wiki is published by Local Blitz, a digital marketing agency. Lantern Crest is a client of Local Blitz. Because of this business relationship, the entry below is limited to facts verified from Lantern Crest’s official website and its California Department of Social Services license record. It is not a ranking, review or recommendation, and it is included as an example of how to read a license record. See our editorial policy and disclosures.
Lantern Crest: verified facts
Location800 Lantern Crest Way, Santee, CA 92071 (East San Diego County)[16][17]
Official websitelanterncrestseniorlivingsantee.com[18]
Phone(619) 258-8886 (listed on the official website and the CDSS record)[18][16]
Care types offered (per official website)Independent living (The Pointe and The Plaza), villa living, assisted living and memory care (The Ridge)[18]
Campus34 acres, according to the community[18]
History (per the community)The Ridge assisted living and memory care opened in 2013; The Pointe independent living opened in 2014[17]
California licenseResidential Care Facility for the Elderly, facility number 374603253; status Licensed; licensed capacity 180; client category “RCFE / Dementia”; hospice waiver approved for 20 residents; license effective May 30, 2012[16]
Most recent CDSS visit listedAugust 20, 2026 (record retrieved September 28, 2026)[16]

The CDSS record lists inspection visits and complaint investigations with links to each report. SeniorLiving.wiki does not summarize or score those reports; anyone considering this or any other community should read them in full on the CDSS facility page and compare several licensed communities using the steps above.[16] SeniorLiving.wiki does not list prices for individual communities; ask each community for current rates in writing.

Frequently asked questions

How much does assisted living cost in San Diego?

The CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025 reports a median of $6,820 per month ($81,840 per year) for assisted living in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad area.[1]

How do I check if a San Diego assisted living facility is licensed?

Search the California Department of Social Services Care Facility Search by name, city, ZIP code or San Diego County; each record shows license status, capacity, visits and reports.[2]

Who can help seniors in San Diego find services?

The County of San Diego Aging & Independence Services call center, 800-339-4661, provides information and assistance about county programs and other community services.[3]

References

Web pages accessed September 28, 2026 unless noted. See sources and methodology.

  1. ^ "Cost of Care Survey 2025 calculator: San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad area". CareScout. 2025 data for the San Diego metropolitan area.
  2. ^ "Care Facility Search". California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division. Search tool.
  3. ^ "About Aging & Independence Services". County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency.
  4. ^ "Cost of Care Survey 2025: Median Cost Data Tables (PDF, dated 03/02/26)". CareScout. 2025 data.
  5. ^ "Cost of Care Survey 2025: national median costs". CareScout (formerly the Genworth Cost of Care Survey). Survey fielded July–November 2025.
  6. ^ "California Health and Safety Code §1569.33 (inspections of RCFEs)". California Legislative Information.
  7. ^ "Care Compare (find and compare nursing homes, home health agencies and hospices)". Medicare.gov. Search tool.
  8. ^ "Five-Star Quality Rating System". Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
  9. ^ "Home Care Services". California Department of Social Services.
  10. ^ "California Home Care Aide Registry". California Department of Social Services. Search tool.
  11. ^ "Eldercare Locator". Administration for Community Living.
  12. ^ "Long-Term Care Ombudsman". California Department of Aging.
  13. ^ "Resources for Residents and Families (Senior Care Licensing)". California Department of Social Services.
  14. ^ "Assisted Living Waiver". California Department of Health Care Services.
  15. ^ "Asset Limit Frequently Asked Questions (Medi-Cal)". California Department of Health Care Services. Limits effective January 1, 2026.
  16. ^ "Facility detail: Lantern Crest, facility number 374603253". California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division. Record retrieved September 28, 2026.
  17. ^ "About Lantern Crest Senior Living". Lantern Crest.
  18. ^ "Lantern Crest Senior Living Santee (official website: home and About pages)". Lantern Crest.