As loved ones age, it’s often necessary for them to get some extra assistance with day-to-day living. For some, this means having someone over during the day to help them with basic tasks. For others, this means moving into an assisted living community. All but the most remote areas of the country will have plenty of options for assisted living facilities; the question is, how do you know you’re choosing the best one? You or your loved one might be looking for a facility that’s in a certain location, fits a specific budget, or offers the right amenities. Life should be enjoyable for people of every age, and that’s what the best assisted living communities are all about.
There’s definitely no shortage of San Francisco assisted living options, which is good news for anyone living in the San Francisco Bay area. However, it’s important to sift through all the options in order to narrow them down. Below you’ll find some of the top recommended assisted living facilities in the San Francisco Bay area, plus some of the criteria you should use when making your choice.
Heritage on the Marina
Located only blocks away from Fisherman’s Wharf, Fort Mason, and the bay, this is a Life Plan Community. Residents are asked to pay an entrance fee plus a monthly fee, which is calculated based on their care needs. These could include memory care, skilled nursing, or light assistance with personal care. The facility also has its own health center, which is Medicare-approved and staffed by registered nurses. Medical emergencies or long-term conditions are generally treated outside the facility, but short-term or non-emergency health issues can be taken care of without having to leave. Online reviews of this facility are positive, with people crediting the staff and the general community for contributing to the ongoing health of their loved ones.
Highlights of Heritage on the Marina include:
- On-site beauty salon
- Library
- Art studio
- Multiple patios
- Private gardens
- State-of-the-art fitness center
- Regularly organized outings to nearby restaurants, landmarks, and museums
The Sequoias San Francisco
This assisted living facility is located in the city center, which makes it perfect for planned outings for shopping, trips to the theater, and museum tours. The focus here is more on independent living, but memory care and assisted living services are also available for any residents who require them. Even better, these services are available at no extra cost. Residents will pay an entrance fee plus their monthly fees, and be able to access all of the facility’s services anytime they need to without worrying about an increased bill. Between this, and the already reasonable entrance/monthly fees, this assisted living facility is one of the most affordable in the San Francisco Bay area.
Highlights of The Sequoias San Francisco include:
- Dementia care
- Skilled nursing
- Personal care assistance
- Personal emergency response systems
- On-site physicians
- Concerts
- Speakers
- Art classes
The Ivy at Golden Gate
Only blocks away from the Golden Gate Park, this assisted care facility is a place where both residents and their pets can live in a thriving community. Those who are still mostly independent are welcome here, as well as those who require round-the-clock support with things like dementia care, transfers, or dressing. Each resident gets their own care plan, taking into account factors like activity preferences, dietary restrictions, and mobility concerns.
Highlights of The Ivy at Golden Gate include:
- On-site salon
- Indoor/outdoor lounge areas
- Spa services
- Scheduled transportation
- On-site maintenance
- Weekly/biweekly housekeeping
- Concierge physician services
Coterie Cathedral Hill
This luxury assisted living facility is located in San Francisco’s center, only a few blocks from the Theater District, Japantown, The de Young Museum, and SFMOMA. If you were just walking past the building, you’d probably mistake it for an upscale apartment building. It does offer independent living for people 65 and older, but it also provides memory care and assisted living services. There’s a round-the-clock concierge service that takes residents on whichever errands they feel like running, and online reviews consistently mention that the menu is as good as that of a five-star restaurant.
Highlights of the Coterie Cathedral Hill include:
- On-site cocktail lounge, restaurant, and café
- Tech assistance
- Pet care
- Car washes and oil changes
- Shoe shines and repairs
- Event preparation
- Wardrobe rotation
- Pantry and kitchen stocking
The Village at Hayes Valley
You can find this assisted living facility in the Hayes Valley neighborhood; it’s located near the San Francisco Hospital, Kaiser Permanente, and Sutter Health. One of the facility’s strengths is the beauty of the building’s rooftop common area, which includes a patio with a view of the city, a bar, and a piano. Online reviews consistently mention a focus on keeping residents both mentally and physically active, which is an important part of a happy life at any age. Other key services are respite care, memory care, and assisted living.
Highlights of The Village at Hayes Valley include:
- Chef-prepared meals
- 24-hour respiratory therapists
- Physician-formulated nutrition programs
- Transportation and escorting throughout the community
- In-house urgent care
Choosing the Best Assisted Living Facility in the San Francisco Bay Area
Since you’ll probably be looking over multiple options when choosing an assisted living facility, it’s helpful to know which factors to examine. Here’s an overview of the most important ones.
- Online reviews from residents or their family members will tell you how accurate the websites or brochures actually are. It’s easy enough for a facility to paint itself as heaven on earth, but online reviews will help you determine whether or not this is actually true.
- Amenities like fitness centers, chef-prepared meals, or on-site salons are a pretty good indicator of how dedicated a facility is to enriching the lives of residents.
- The level of care provided should go beyond the bare minimum. Average facilities will offer basic things like assisted living services, structured activities, and meals; above-average facilities will have additional options like on-site medical care by registered nurses, transportation, etc.
The Takeaway
The San Francisco Bay area has plenty of options for assisted living; it’s just a matter of exploring them until you’ve found the right one.
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I'm Alice and I live with a dizzying assortment of invisible disabilities, including ADHD and fibromyalgia. I write to raise awareness and end the stigma surrounding mental and chronic illnesses of all kinds.
