Assisted Living Options in Orange County

Orange County California is a favorite retirement destination. Due to the number of seniors who decide to spend their retirement years in this popular location, there's a large demand for assisted living accommodations for seniors who need help with day-to-day living.

Orange County Assisted Living

Orange County residents in need of assisted living can choose from in-home services that provide help for daily living activities including personal care, housekeeping, or in-home help for people with health concerns. Other options include board and care homes and assisted living communities. The number of options is huge, so it's important to start your research early and to figure out what option is the best for your situation financially, emotionally and physically. This list can get you started.

• Arbor View Residential Assisted Living (Mission Viejo)


• Atria Golden Creek (Irvine)


• Atria Woodbridge (Irvine)


• Cranbrook Senior Living of Tustin (Tustin)


• Crown Cove (Corona del Mar)


• Emeritus at Brookhurst (Westminster)


• Emeritus at Garden Manor (Garden Grove)


• Emeritus at Orange (Orange)


• Karlton Residential (Anaheim)


• Inn at the Park (Irvine)


• Laguna Woods Village (Laguna Woods)


• Newport Beach Plaza (Newport Beach)


• Nohl Ranch Inn (Anaheim Hills)


• Park Plaza (Orange)


• Sunnycrest Senior Living (Fullerton)


• Sunrise at Tustin (Tustin)


• Sunrise of Huntington Beach (Huntington Beach)


• Westminster Terrace (Westminster)

Things to Consider When Choosing a Facility

Whether you're looking for yourself or a loved one, when you're ready to make a move to a facility or community there are a number of things to consider to guarantee that you choose a living environment that will make you happy.

• Proximity: With so many facilities and communities in Orange County one of the things to take into consideration is the proximity of the facility to family, church, and doctors. Making the right choice helps keep you connected to your social network and medical team.


• Finances: Assisted living can be costly so finances are a big consideration. Facilities offer different payment options. Some accept a one-lump-sum payment to cover housing and care for as long as a resident lives there, but this option comes with risk. If the facility happens to become insolvent and goes under, the money is gone and so is the care and housing you need. If you are dependent on SSI or Medicaid to pay for your care, you need to choose from facilities that are Medicaid certified. How you plan to pay for care should be determined before you make the move.


• Level of Care: The term "assisted living" is an umbrella that covers many aspects of assistance. For those with a progressive illness, these needs will change. When looking for an assisted living facility in Orange County, ask what levels of care they offer. If mobility will become an issue, can they accommodate those needs? For those with dementia or Alzheimer's does the facility offer a wing or unit where you can be transferred when the time comes?


• Get Your Name on the Waiting List: Start your research early. It is not unusual for popular assisted living communities to have a waiting list. Even if you're not quite ready to make the move, get your name on the list because, if you don't, when you actually need the room, it may not be available.


• Surprise Visits: Make a couple of surprise visits to the facility. This will give you a glimpse of what life is really like for residents. It's a good idea to make at least one daytime visit and another at night. Talk to residents and see what they have to say. Observe the staff and how well they meet the needs of residents.


• Pets: Some facilities allow residents to bring their pets. If this is an important factor for you, look for a community or facility that is pet-friendly.

Assisted Living Can Be a Positive Thing

Change is never easy, and when the time comes to make the move it is important to focus on the positive. The main positive is that it provides needed help and care, but beyond that it is an opportunity to enjoy companionship with other seniors and to still maintain a measure of independence.