The Top 10 Assisted Living Facilities in Santa Barbara, CA

Santa Barbara is home to 91,000 people, 18% of whom are seniors aged 65 and over. The seasons are mild in Santa Barbara, with winter high temperatures that hover in the mid-60s. Seniors can enjoy the city's mild climate in the downtown area, where the buildings are built in the Spanish colonial revival style. Santa Barbara was the original home of the movie industry, and seniors today can tour museums of film, attend the international film festival at a discount or screen a film at one of the town's historic theaters.

Assisted living in Santa Barbara costs an average of $5,000 per month, according to the 2019 Genworth Cost of Care Survey. This is more than the $4,051 seniors pay monthly for similar services nationwide. Other types of care in Santa Barbara are also above the national average. Nursing care, for example, costs $10,188 in the city, while in-home care and homemaker services each cost $5,196. These prices are in line with the overall cost of living, which is more than 220% above the U.S. average.

Have a look at our list of the top 10 assisted living facilities in Santa Barbara to find one that's right for you.

The Best Assisted Living Facilities in Santa Barbara

Wood Glen Hall

Address: 3010 Foothill Road, Santa Barbara, CA, 93105
Phone Number: (805) 687-7771
Website: https://woodglenhall.org/

Wood Glen Hall has fully furnished private rooms with their own bathrooms, each of which is equipped with full-sized tubs and ADA-accessible fixtures. Every room at this facility has a view of the elegantly landscaped garden, which is ringed with large patio areas and an outdoor walking track. Medical services at Wood Glen are provided by an on-staff registered nurse, and total transfer assistance is available for residents with limited mobility. Residents can request complimentary transportation and staff standby for medical appointments, as well as personal trips within a generous radius of the facility.

Starting Monthly Cost: $3,185
Room Types: Private and Semiprivate Rooms; Companion Suites
Number of Beds: 72
Reviews:

• Average Stars: 4.9 out of 5
• Number of Reviews: 21
  

Villa Santa Barbara

Address: 227 East Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101
Phone Number: (877) 931-4369
Website: https://www.capitalsenior.com/villasantabarbara/

Villa Santa Barbara offers senior independent living, assisted living, hospice care and some skilled nursing services for its residents. Seniors at the Villa can schedule facility transportation at no charge, and three nutritious meals plus snacks are served every day in the spacious dining room. An elegant rooftop terrace with a panoramic ocean view is available for residents and their guests during daylight and evening hours. Pets are welcome at Villa Santa Barbara, and residents can opt for daily newspaper delivery and weekly housekeeping with linen service. Laundry facilities are also available at no charge.

Starting Monthly Cost: Not Listed
Room Types: Studio and One-Bedroom Apartments
Number of Beds: Not Listed
Reviews:

• Average Stars: 4.4 out of 5
• Number of Reviews: 122

Alexander Gardens Assisted Living

Address: 2120 Santa Barbara Street, Santa Barbara, CA, 93105
Phone Number: (805) 682-9644
Website: https://alexandergardensseniorliving.com/

Seniors aged 55 and over are welcome at Alexander Gardens Assisted Living, which offers independent and long-term assisted living, as well as short-term respite care and hospice services. This luxury facility has a TV lounge, library, atrium, game room and fireplaces in several of the common areas. Free parking is available for guests and residents who bring their own cars, although transportation is also provided. The entire facility is wired for high-speed Wi-Fi, and a spacious meeting room is available for conferences with financial planners and visiting family. Meals, laundry, housekeeping and dry cleaning services are all included with the monthly fee.

Starting Monthly Cost: $4,895
Room Types: Studio and One-Bedroom Apartments; Companion Suites; Cottages
Number of Beds: 36
Reviews:

• Average Stars: 3.9 out of 5
• Number of Reviews: 26

The Lodge at Valle Verde

Address: 900 Calle de los Amigos, Santa Barbara, CA, 93105
Phone Number: (800) 750-5089
Website: https://www.humangood.org/valle-verde

The Lodge at Valle Verde is a nonprofit Life Plan community, where seniors can opt into independent and assisted living. Residents can also move into memory care or skilled nursing on the same property. This facility is protected by 24/7 security and an alarm system to prevent both exit-seeking behavior and unauthorized access. Staff can discreetly help residents with catheter and incontinence care, as well as activities of daily living. The Lodge at Valle Verde offers benevolent support for long-term residents who, through no fault of their own, have run out of financial support and need reduced or no-fee lifetime accommodation. 

Starting Monthly Cost: Not Listed
Room Types: One- and Two-Bedroom Apartments
Number of Beds: 353
Reviews:

• Average Stars: 4.4 out of 5
• Number of Reviews: 60

Maravilla

Address: 5486 Calle Real, Santa Barbara, CA, 93111
Phone Number: (805) 308-9585
Website: https://www.srgseniorliving.com/communities/santa-barbara-ca-maravilla

The senior living facility at Maravilla offers both alcove and one-bedroom private accommodations for independent and assisted living residents. All residents receive weekly housekeeping and laundry service, as well as help with regular and personal activities of daily living, such as bathing and dressing, personal care and medication reminders. Staff at the facility can also help residents manage medications with friendly reminders. Health and fitness classes are offered, and scheduled transportation is available for medical office visits, shopping and other personal trips. All utilities, except for phone service, are included with the monthly fee.

Starting Monthly Cost: Not Listed
Room Types: Studio, One-, Two- and Three-Bedroom Apartments
Number of Beds: 131
Reviews:

• Average Stars: 4.1 out of 5
• Number of Reviews: 40

Heritage House

Address: 5200 Hollister Avenue, Santa Barbara, CA, 93111
Phone Number: (805) 967-2661
Website: https://heritagehousesb.com/

Residents at Heritage House get a personalized care and service plan as part of the intake process for assisted living. Services offered by the facility include weekly housekeeping and meals with customized menus, planned transportation and activities in the common areas that are both physically and mentally stimulating. Staff can assist with medication management and personal care, including personal hygiene and dressing assistance. Assisted living residents get regular health screenings with optional updates for loved ones. Heritage House offers private and semiprivate rooms with private bathrooms and wheelchair-accessible showers. The landscaped grounds are crossed with winding trails for walking alone or with visitors.

Starting Monthly Cost: Not Listed
Room Types: Studio and One-Bedroom Apartments
Number of Beds: 68
Reviews:

• Average Stars: 4.4 out of 5
• Number of Reviews: 57

Samarkand

Address: 2550 Treasure Drive, Santa Barbara, CA, 93105
Phone Number: (877) 412-6305
Website: https://www.covlivingsamarkand.org/

Samarkand at Santa Barbara offers assisted living, skilled nursing and hospice care for residents aged 55 and over. Seniors with medical needs can get help from the staff managing prescriptions, including reminders and daily check-ins. Assisted living units at Samarkand have in-room kitchens for residents who prepare their own meals, though three meals a day are available in the restaurant-style dining room downstairs. Room service is also an option. Staff at Samarkand provide complimentary housekeeping and linen service, as well as scheduled transportation to and from medical office visits. Residents and their guests are welcome in the facility's pool and fitness room.

Starting Monthly Cost: Not Listed
Room Types: Studio, One- and Two-Bedroom Apartments
Number of Beds: 379
Reviews:

• Average Stars: 4.2 out of 5
• Number of Reviews: 16

Villa Riviera

Address: 1621 Grand Avenue, Santa Barbara, CA, 93103
Phone Number: (805) 568-5840
Website: https://www.cottagehealth.org/locations/villa-riviera/

Located on the scenic Santa Barbara Riviera, Villa Riviera offers stunning views of both the red-roofed cityscape to the north and the ocean surf to the south. A place of grand porches and lush gardens, Villa Riviera offers luxury senior living for those aged 55 and over. Detached homes with emergency call systems and private bathrooms are the facility's standard floor plan. Daily housekeeping and laundry services are included in the monthly fee. Common areas of the Villa include a fireside lounge, full-service beauty salon, fully equipped activity center and a shared dining room where fresh, healthy meals are served daily. 

Starting Monthly Cost: Not Listed
Room Types: Detached Homes
Number of Beds: 20
Reviews:

• Average Stars: 4 out of 5
• Number of Reviews: 8

Casa Rhoda 1

Address: 341 Santa Rosalia Way, Santa Barbara, CA, 93111
Phone Number: (805) 252-5836
Website: http://casarhodainc.com/

Surrounded by blossoming fruit trees and a unique orchid garden, Casa Rhoda 1 is the first of four family-owned properties in the Santa Barbara area. This assisted living community has private and shared rooms, with shared, wheelchair-accessible bathrooms, and provides free cable TV for all residents. The vegetable garden on the property supplies fresh produce for the homestyle kitchen, where three meals per day are prepared for the community. Special menus are available for medical and cultural diets. The entire facility at Casa Rhoda 1 is covered by high-speed Wi-Fi, and all rooms have emergency response systems installed. 

Starting Monthly Cost: $3,500
Room Types: Private and Semiprivate Rooms
Number of Beds: 6
Reviews:

• Average Stars: 4.5 out of 5
• Number of Reviews: 4

Granvida Senior Living

Address: 5464 Carpinteria Avenue, Carpinteria, CA, 93013
Phone Number: (805) 566-0017
Website: https://granvidaseniorliving.com/

Granvida Senior Living provides independent and assisted senior living within a few minutes' walk of the Santa Barbara beach and Carpinteria Bluffs Park overlooking the coast. Residents of this facility receive help with medication assistance and management, mobility issues and activities of daily living from skilled staff caregivers. The large, elegantly furnished family room has a baby grand piano, marble countertops and a cozy fireplace with plushly upholstered chairs for sitting and talking. The dining room offers restaurant-style seating and service, and special menus are available for both medical and cultural diets. The outdoor patio adjacent to the lobby is well shaded and overlooks the gardens.

Starting Monthly Cost: $4,900
Room Types: Studio Apartments
Number of Beds: 77
Reviews:

• Average Stars: 4.9 out of 5
• Number of Reviews: 20

Learn More About Assisted Living in Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is a beautiful seaside community on California's El Camino Real Mission Trail. Quaint architecture and numerous cultural events downtown make Santa Barbara a popular destination for visitors, while the idyllic climate and proximity to white-sand beaches make it ideal for lifelong residents. Seniors in Santa Barbara have a wealth of activities to keep them occupied, and the excellent local health care system offers world-class care.

Read more about paying for assisted living in Santa Barbara here.