25 Best Independent Senior Living Homes In CA: U.S. News

CALIFORNIA — A total of 38 out of 381 Independent Senior Living Communities were identified as "the best" places for your loved ones to begin their sunset years in California, according to a recent U.S. News & World Report study.

This is the third year that U.S. News has compiled a comprehensive guide to identify top-rated senior living communities, including the best independent living, memory care, assisted living, and continuing care retirement communities.

Independent Senior Living Communities are designed for 55-year-old and older residents with no special medical needs. Frequently, the facilities include local transportation, yard work, social activities, group meals, and more. According to the study, unlike nursing homes, Medicare typically does not cover these communities.

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In California, among the top communities identified in the 2024 ratings, the following management companies managed several of the Golden State's Best Independent Senior Living Communities:

• HumanGood
• Kisco Senior Living
• Leisure Care, LLC
• Vi Living
• Atria Senior Living / Holiday by Atria
• Solstice Senior Living
• Revel Communities

The top 25 Independent Senior Living Communities for 2024 were:

1. Valle Verde - 900 Calle de los Amigos, Santa Barbara: Managed by HumanGood
2. Piedmont Gardens - 110 41st Street, Oakland: Managed by HumanGood
3. White Sands La Jolla- 7450 Olivetas Avenue, La Jolla: Managed by HumanGood
4. The Terraces of Los Gatos -800 Blossom Hill Road, Los Gatos: Managed by HumanGood
5. The Terraces at San Joaquin Gardens - 5555 North Fresno Street, Fresno: Managed by HumanGood
6. Drake Terrace - 275 Los Ranchitos Road, San Rafael: Managed by Kisco Senior Living
7. Plymouth Village - 900 Salem Drive, Redlands: Managed by HumanGood
8. Bella Villagio - 40-235 Portola Avenue, Palm Desert: Managed by Leisure Care, LLC
9. Vi at Palo Alto - 620 Sand Hill Road, Palo Alto: Managed by Vi Living
10. Carmel Valley Manor - 8545 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel
11. Menifee Lakes- 29914 Antelope Road, Menifee
12. Cardinal Point- 2431 Mariner Square Drive, Alameda
13. Atria Willow Glen - 1660 Gaton Drive, San Jose: Managed by Atria Senior Living
14. Royal Oaks - 1763 Roal Oaks Drive North, Bradbury: Managed by HumanGood
15. Westminster Gardens - 1420 Santo Domingo Avenue, Duarte: Managed by HumanGood
16. Granite Bay- 9747 Sierra College Boulevard, Granite Bay
17. Byron Park- 1700 Tice Valley Boulevard, Walnut Creek: Managed by Kisco Senior Living
18. Heritage Estates - 900 E. Stanley Boulevard, Livermore: Managed by Leisure Care, LLC
19. Regents Point - 19191 Harvard Avenue, Irvine: Managed by Human Good
20. Rosewood- 1301 New Shine Road, Bakersfield: Managed by HumanGood
21. Solstice Senior Living at Apple Valley - 20594 Bear Valley Road, Apple Valley: Managed by Solstice Senior Living
22. Fairwinds-Ivey Ranch - 44090 Mesa Drive, Oceanside: Managed by Leisure Care, LLC
23. Fairwinds-West Hills - 8138 Woodlake Avenue, West Hills: Managed by Leisure Care, LLC
24. Holiday Golden Oaks- 33398 Oak Glen Road, Yucaipa: Managed by Holiday by Atria
25. Revel Folsom- 2075 Iron Point Road, Folsom: Managed by Revel Communities

Many of the above communities are considered "Continuing Care Retirement Communities," or facilities that provide multiple levels of care in one location, allowing residents to stay in the same place as their needs change over time.

Several are part of a larger network of management companies.

Sumita Singh, general manager of Health at U.S. News, spoke about the project and what made it different for 2024.

"Best Senior Living reflects U.S. News' commitment to helping families navigate the important and complex decision of researching and choosing a senior living community through trusted, data-backed community ratings," Singh said. They recognize "stand out communities as "Best" when they provide exceptional care and satisfaction.

To receive a "Best" rating, individual locations had to earn a specific final weighted score tabulated in the independent methodology developed by the U.S. News health data analytics team.