State visit records are loaded for 1,905 of 7,914 assisted living homes so far. The list of homes comes from the state file dated May 25, 2025.
How to choose, in three steps
Narrow the list
Pick a city and the kind of care. Compare Medicare stars, staffing and size.
Open the official record
Every home's page links to its record at Medicare or the State of California. Read it before you decide.
Call and visit
Ask about staffing, daily life and costs, then go and see the home yourself.
Nursing homes
Nursing homes give round-the-clock nursing care. They are certified for Medicare and Medicaid, and Medicare rates each one from 1 to 5 stars.
Assisted living homes
Assisted living homes (the state calls them RCFE) help with daily life but are not medical facilities. California's Department of Social Services licenses them.
Help paying for senior care and housing in California
Paying for assisted living in California with SSI or Medi-Cal
What SSI/SSP pays in a licensed care home in 2026, how Medi-Cal's Assisted Living Waiver works and where it is offered, and who can join PACE.
Medi-Cal and nursing home costs in California: 2026 rules
Medi-Cal can pay for long-term nursing home care for people who qualify. Since January 1, 2026 it counts assets again: the limit, what is not counted and the look-back on gifts.
Affordable senior housing in California: HUD and nonprofits
Low-rent apartments for older adults: HUD Section 202 buildings, Housing Choice Vouchers and nonprofit housing organizations. Also paid help at home through IHSS.
Veterans: help paying for senior care in California
VA pension with Aid and Attendance for veterans and surviving spouses who need daily help, and the state Veterans Homes of California, where fees are a share of income.
Guides
Nursing home or assisted living: what is the difference
Nursing homes give 24-hour nursing care and are rated by Medicare. Assisted living helps with daily life and is licensed by the state. How they differ and how to check each.
How to read Medicare star ratings for nursing homes
What the 1 to 5 stars mean, the three parts behind the overall rating, why size matters, and how to use the stars together with a visit.
How to choose a care home in California: a short checklist
Six steps for families: decide the kind of care, make a short list, read the official record, call, visit more than once, and check the agreement before signing.
Reports
Nursing home star ratings in California, by county
Medicare's overall star ratings of California nursing homes by county: number of homes, average rating, and how many hold 5 stars.
Cities
Anaheim 111Bakersfield 133Carmichael 88Citrus Heights 79Clovis 86Concord 97Corona 57Elk Grove 98Escondido 95Fresno 191Granada Hills 69Huntington Beach 69Lancaster 63Long Beach 75Los Angeles 219Mission Viejo 150Modesto 76Murrieta 55North Hollywood 61Northridge 79Orange 71Riverside 105Roseville 135Sacramento 227San Diego 191San Francisco 69San Jose 157San Mateo 61Santa Rosa 96Simi Valley 57Stockton 78Thousand Oaks 78Torrance 99Vallejo 65Van Nuys 55Walnut Creek 78
Counties
Alameda 301Amador 6Butte 36Calaveras 3Colusa 2Contra Costa 459Del Norte 1El Dorado 37Fresno 294Glenn 4Humboldt 18Imperial 9Inyo 2Kern 150Kings 9Lake 7Lassen 2Los Angeles 2,020Madera 11Marin 60Mariposa 1Mendocino 21Merced 31Modoc 2Monterey 55Napa 41Nevada 12Orange 1,118Placer 237Plumas 3Riverside 588Sacramento 672San Benito 4San Bernardino 336San Diego 663San Francisco 69San Joaquin 137San Luis Obispo 103San Mateo 219Santa Barbara 112Santa Clara 296Santa Cruz 33Shasta 53Siskiyou 2Solano 161Sonoma 173Stanislaus 120Sutter 12Tehama 11Trinity 1Tulare 62Tuolumne 4Ventura 264Yolo 27Yuba 5