With a lower cost of living compared to neighboring cities, year-round sunshine, and mild temperatures, Long Beach, California, is becoming a go-to location for retirees. Residents love the city’s vibrant personality and seaside landscape. And there’s no shortage of things to do, with plentiful beaches, parks, museums, shops, restaurants, and more.
If you or your loved one is considering moving to a senior living community, there are several options in Long Beach, including nursing homes, assisted living communities, and memory care facilities. “Nursing home” is often used as a blanket term for all senior living facilities, but it actually refers to skilled nursing facilities that offer higher levels of continuous medical care. Assisted living is less intensive, offering seniors the opportunity to live more independently with assistance for daily activities. The same can be said for memory care, which provides round-the-clock supervision and dementia-related therapies for those with memory loss.
This guide focuses on our partner communities in Long Beach. We partner with 68 communities within 10 miles of downtown Long Beach that offer assisted living and memory care services. In this guide, you’ll learn more about our various partners as well as information about different types of senior care facilities, costs, potential payment options, applicable laws and regulations, transit options, senior activities, and more.
I like the community of Palmcrest it is beautiful. I like that you can get everything out of the community. I can talk to the staff and not be shy they are understanding.
Brittany House stands out amongst the other facilities as being exceptional. The location is very safe, easy to get into and out of when going to visit, and the building itself is well maintained. The rooms...
My mom moved to Bay Towers in August 2024. She has adjusted well to her apartment in the Independent Living building. The staff are wonderful and friendly and the food is delicious. She calls Bay Towers her...
I would rate each category with 5. This is a very beautiful and well kept facility. All the staff were nice, helpful and very professional. I was very pleased with the quality of care my loved one received...
My loved one was previously a resident at Regent Villa Retirement Home and the overall experience was good. I would recommend Regent Villa Retirement Home to others. However, The water heater and the air...
I've been here for two years. It's perfect for me. Nicest people on the staff. They are helpful, kind, and care about all of us residents. Love my room food is good, activities are geared for elderly if I'm...
Open outdoor space for residents and guests to safely occupy. Very good experience at Crescent Landing at Garden Grove. Big improvement over our last facility, [facility name removed].
It's a very welcoming and loving place. The staff are very kind and helpful. We would absolutely recommend this community to other families based on the experience we have had so far
My favorite part of Highland Manor are the Activity groups they are super fun very uplifting and They’re very informative and educational. The people that live and work here are friendly and kind. Over all I...
My mom is extremely happy there. The people that live there, Everyone is so nice! The staff is so wonderful! The Food is great!! My mom Loves all the activities.
Looks like it another company took it over after my mom left. It's now called Ivy Park at LaPalma located on LaPalma Avenue. I loved everything about the place when it was called Sunrise, and the people,...
I will give them all a 5 for Ivy Park. The caregivers are wonderful to my mom, I've become very close to them. The receptionists are amazing too, I need to go through them to get to memory care and they know...
My father chose this location due to it being close to their home so he could visit often. The staff were extremely competent, caring, patient and compassionate.
We had an amazing experience at Ivy Park at Cerritos. The only thing regrettable was that mom was too sick by the time she got there. She was only there for six weeks. The staff were well trained and...
We picked this community, for our loved one because it is very clean, with friendly people. It's a great place. I liked my tour experience.
It's an older facility, could use some refresh/updates but we were happy with her care. I thought the gentleman who assisted us with getting her on Scan from Kaiser to save her money was a god send.
My sister was just placed in this facility, she has symptoms of dementia. I was very impressed with the kind, friendly staff. They are attentive to the clients' needs. For instance, there are always staff...
Ever since my mother moved to Lakewood Park Manor, her spirit has really come to life. Dad died a year ago and she needed to make the transition to assisted living. We’re so glad she found a new home at...
We would recommend to other families
There is new ownership and it is no longer called Arbor Palms - Anaheim Villas is the new name. I've been very pleased. I chose this place because it was the overall combination considering all factors in...
The staff was incredibly kind and helpful. The facility is bright and airy. Pricing is fair and easy to understand. Overall it was a positive experience to work with and a good place for my dad. I would...
We are very happy with our choice of VDM for mom. The staff is very caring and always seems to be on top of things. Right now her care needs are on the low side but, if her needs increase, we are...
I have had a peace of mind since my husband has recently made the move into this community. He has been getting great quality of care and has really been adapting well into his new living environment. He has...
We developed a proprietary recommendation system that orders Long Beach community options based on factors we know are important to seniors and their families:
We collect proprietary data from our network of 14,000+ senior living communities in the U.S., with regular refreshes of data and information
We have 387,000+ reviews from senior living residents and family members that provide first-hand accounts about senior living communities
The median monthly cost of a nursing home facility in Long Beach is $9,125 for a semi-private room and $11,269 for a private room.[01] The reason these costs are so high is because skilled nursing involves 24-hour short- and/or long-term care. This living arrangement is perfect for someone who needs rehabilitation after surgery, but not for a somewhat independent senior.
If you or your loved one need daily assistance or dementia-focused services, an assisted living or memory care facility might be great options. The average monthly cost of these communities that we partner with is $4,818 for assisted living and $5,233 for memory care, according to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data.[02] These figures include room and board, care services, and associated fees.
Paying for a skilled nursing, assisted living, or memory care facility often requires a combination of resources. After all, public resources may not cover certain expenses. In the section below, you’ll learn more about private payment methods, VA benefits, Medicaid, and Medicare.
Private resources can help you cover some of the costs of skilled or residential senior care. Options include personal savings accounts, pensions, Social Security benefits, distributions from retirement accounts, income generated from investments, and any one of the following:
Number of veterans who live in Long Beach
About 26% of Long Beach veterans are over the age 75
In Long Beach, Veterans have a range of VA benefits available to help offset the costs of senior care, often starting with the VA Pension. The VA Pension was created to help supplement a veteran’s income, so it can go toward the costs of skilled nursing, assisted living, or memory care. If a senior meets eligibility requirements, they can apply online with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
You’ll also want to look into the VA Aid & Attendance benefit to pay for skilled nursing, assisted living, or memory care. The Aid & Attendance benefit is paid in addition to the VA Pension and can be used toward care-related expenses, including necessary personal care. You can find the application online or at your regional VA office.
Navigating VA benefits can be complex. Many people require some guidance, which is why veterans services organizations (VSOs) exist. In Long Beach, there’s a Long Beach American Legion and a Paralyzed Veterans of America. These organizations can also help you or your loved one get the resources you need, understand the eligibility requirements, and assist in the application process. The Long Beach Library Veterans Resource Center and the Long Beach Office of Veterans Support can also be of assistance.
Resources for Long Beach veterans
Los Angeles VA Regional Office
11000 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Phone: 800-827-1000
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
California Department of Veterans Affairs
1227 O St.
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 800-952-5626
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Phone: 800-827-1000
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.
American Legion Post 27
295 E. Third St.
Long Beach, CA 90802
Phone: 562-436-6182
Paralyzed Veterans of America
5901 E. Seventh St., Building 150, Room R
Long Beach, CA 90822
Phone: 562-826-5713
Email: info@pvacc.org
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Long Beach Library Veterans Resource Center
200 W. Broadway
Long Beach, CA 90802
Phone: 562-570-7500
Email: vets@lbpl.org
Long Beach Office of Veterans Support
2525 Grand Ave., Suite 183
Long Beach, CA 90815
Phone: 562-570-4000
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
You can also use Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program, to pay for skilled nursing. In fact, Long-Term Care Medi-Cal may even pay for all the care and services associated with a skilled nursing facility, including room and board. The amount covered will depend largely on your income, net worth, and the length of care required. At a minimum, you or your loved one must receive care for at least 30 days after the month of admission for the benefit to kick in.
Unfortunately, Medi-Cal doesn’t cover custodial care, which includes some services as well as room and board at an assisted living or memory care facility. On the other hand, medically necessary care can be covered through one of the state’s waiver programs. Most likely, you’ll utilize the general Medi-Cal Waiver Program, the Home and Community-Based Alternatives Waiver, or the Assisted Living waiver.
To qualify for the waiver programs, you must first be a Medi-Cal beneficiary. If you’re uncertain whether you are eligible for the benefit, the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has put together a guide that can help. Beyond eligibility, you’ll also learn more about how to apply, how to use the benefit, what’s covered, rights and responsibilities, and a range of other topics.
If you’ve yet to apply, you can do so in one of three ways: by mail, online, or in person. You can download the application through the DHCS website and mail it to Covered California. To apply online, visit the Covered California or BenefitsCal websites. You can also apply in person by visiting Los Angeles County’s Department of Public Social Services.
If you need any help with the application process, a Covered California certified enrollment counselor can help. The same can be said for the Los Angeles County Aging & Disabilities Department or the Wise & Healthy Aging ombudsman program.
Long Beach resident Medicaid resources
California Department of Health Care Services
501 Capitol Ave.
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-445-1248
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Department of Public Social Services
211 E. Alondra Blvd.
Compton, CA 90220
Phone: 310-258-7400
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Medi-Cal
Phone: 800-541-5555
Covered California
1601 Exposition Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95815
Phone: 800-300-1506
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Medi-Cal application mailing address
Covered California
P.O. Box 989725
West Sacramento, CA 95798-9725
Los Angeles County Aging & Disabilities Department
510 S. Vermont Ave., 11th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90020
Phone: 213-291-0028
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Wise & Healthy Aging
Long-Term Care Ombudsman
1527 Fourth St., 2nd Floor
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Phone: 310-394-9871
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Medicare can be used to fund your stay at a skilled nursing facility. It covers health care expenses as well as room and board. However, the coverage is only short-term. Once you reach the maximum number of days that can be covered, the costs will be billed to the individual.
As far as assisted living and memory care go, Medicare does offset certain medically necessary expenses for those eligible. For example, in-home care may be covered. The same can be said for acute care, hospital stays, physician fees, general nursing services, and so on. But like Medicaid, Medicare doesn’t cover custodial care (room and board).
You may be happy to know that a number of other programs are available through Medicare. Qualifying seniors can take advantage of:
You can apply for Medicare either online or by visiting the Long Beach Social Security office. If you run into any issues with the application or have questions about the benefits, you have a range of options for assistance. The California Department of Aging, the Los Angeles County Aging & Disabilities Department, the City of Los Angeles Department of Aging, or the Wise & Healthy Aging ombudsman program can help.
Long Beach resident Medicare resources
Long Beach Social Security Administration Office
2005 Long Beach Blvd.
Long Beach, CA 90806
Phone: 800-772-1213
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
California Department of Aging
2880 Gateway Oaks Drive, Suite 200
Sacramento, CA 95833
Phone: 800-434-0222
Los Angeles County Aging & Disabilities Department
510 S. Vermont Ave., 11th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90020
Phone: 213-291-0028
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
City of Los Angeles Department of Aging
221 N. Figueroa St., Suite 500
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: 213-482-7252
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
California Medicare Savings Program
Phone: 800-541-5555
Prescription Drug Discount Program
Phone: 916-518-3100
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program
Phone: 800-434-0222
AltaMed Program for All-Inclusive Care of the Elderly
1500 Hughes Way, Suite C150
Long Beach, CA 90810
Phone: 855-252-7223
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
WelbeHealth Program for All-Inclusive Care of the Elderly
1220 East Fourth St.
Long Beach, CA 90802
Phone: 888-530-4415
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Wise & Healthy Aging
Long-Term Care Ombudsman
1527 Fourth St., 2nd Floor
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Phone: 310-394-9871
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
In California, skilled nursing facilities must obtain a license to operate through the California Department of Social Services. The license comes with certain requirements, such as providing sufficient staffing, food service, living accommodations, and maintenance.
Other senior living facilities, such as assisted living and memory care communities, are classified as Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFE) and must obtain licenses through the California Senior Care Licensing Program.
RCFEs must have sufficient staff members that pass criminal background checks, have licensed nurses employed or on call, have a licensed administrator, and provide basic care services. This includes help with daily activities, medication assistance, supervision, planned activities, and help with arranging medical and dental care
Whether skilled nursing, assisted living, or memory care, all facilities are subject to regular inspections by the Adult and Senior Care Regional Office. You can review past inspection reports by calling 916-558-1784 or searching specific facilities online. Nursing homes must also adhere to federal regulations in addition to those from the state.
California Department of Public Health
1615 Capitol Ave.
Sacramento, CA, 95814
Phone: 916-558-1784
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Long Beach has COVID-10 health orders in place to prevent the virus from spreading. They align with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for prevention. However, these orders may be different from the guidelines at the senior living community you’re looking at. You’ll want to contact the facility for more information.
Long Beach encourages people to get vaccinations and boosters.
People are encouraged to wear masks but it isn’t required.
Senior living facilities are encouraged to follow enhanced cleaning and disinfecting protocols.
People are encouraged to isolate themselves for five days if testing positive for COVID-19.
Long Beach isn’t as crowded as its neighboring cities of Los Angeles and Anaheim. This makes the SoCal city a great place for retirees. You or your loved one can enjoy its seaside charm and Mediterranean climate at a senior living community that best suits your needs.
When making the move to a senior care facility, you might first think about nursing homes. However, this term actually refers to skilled nursing facilities which provide 24/7 supervision and medical care to residents. This level of care may be perfect for seniors who live with a chronic disease or recently underwent surgery. However, it might be too much for a senior who just needs assistance with daily activities, such as bathing, getting dressed, or mobility issues.
It’s important to determine exactly what type of care is needed when reviewing senior living options. If a senior is still somewhat active but can no longer live entirely on their own, then an assisted living community may be a good choice. If a senior has Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, then a memory care facility might be best. It all depends on the individual’s needs.
Most of our partner communities in Long Beach offer transitional care. This means seniors can age in place and still receive the level of care they need. Here’s a breakdown of available options in Long Beach: Of the 68 senior living communities we partner with, five are stand-alone assisted living facilities, and four are stand-alone memory care facilities.
Our partner assisted living and memory care facilities offer services such as housekeeping, laundry, meal preparation, and medication management. Additional health care services are available at many of our partners; for example, more than half bring in visiting medical professionals like podiatrists and physical therapists. In fact, 65% of our partner facilities have visiting nurses.
In addition to the quality of life and health care, many of our partner senior living communities focus on engagement. They want to create an environment where seniors can remain active and form social connections. This is done in a number of ways. At our partner communities, you’ll find facilities that offer regular stretching classes, live musical performances, and devotional activities.
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Number of seniors over the age of 65 currently living in Long Beach
Median annual income for Long Beach seniors 65 and older
MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center is considered high-performing in the areas of heart attack, colon cancer surgery, orthopedics, and 13 other specialties.
St. Mary Medical Center has been recognized by HealthGrades with an excellence award for critical care and a 5-star designation for gallbladder surgery.
Lakewood Regional Medical Center is located just outside of Long Beach. This hospital is recognized for its performance in three specialty areas. It also offers the convenience of online check-in for emergency room services so you can do most of your waiting at home.
Depending on the assisted living or memory care community you or your loved one choose, you may not need to worry about transportation. Out of our partner communities, 65% offer complimentary transportation, and 47% offer at-cost transit.[02]
However, there are other transportation methods available. Long Beach offers a light rail system called the Metro Blue Line that takes city residents from the downtown area to Seventh Street. It also has Long Beach Transit, which offers special rates for seniors. Finally, Dial-a-Lift provides curb-to-curb services.
The facilities we partner with in Long Beach have a large assortment of in-house activities for seniors. Cooking classes, arts and crafts, and gardening are just some of the many recreational offerings hosted by our partners. These activities allow seniors to socialize with other residents and provide a way for residents to have fun with visiting friends and family.
The city of Long Beach also has plenty to offer seniors and their families. Most senior living communities schedule day trips to take advantage of all that the area has to offer. As a coastal city, Long Beach features plenty of popular beaches that you or your loved one will enjoy, including Bay Shore Beach and Alamitos Beach.
Looking for something a little less sandy? Shoreline Village, a popular Cape Cod-style shopping center and waterfront boardwalk, is home to quirky boutiques, interesting shops, delicious restaurants, boat rentals, and an arcade. There’s even a carousel at the Pelican Pier Pavilion.
Not far from the shopping center, you’ll encounter another highlight of the area: the Aquarium of the Pacific. This tourist attraction features more than 11,000 animals on around five acres of land. You or your loved one will enjoy seeing the shark lagoon, sea otter habitat, penguin habitat, coral reef, and aviary. The aquarium costs $33.95 for seniors, and it has accommodations for guests who are blind or deaf and guests with wheelchairs, service animals, or sensory concerns.
Those looking to learn more about the area may want to check out Rancho Los Cerritos. Here, visitors get a chance to explore the property’s gardens and historic buildings. It’s not only a state historic landmark but also one of the largest adobe homes in California. Tours of the residence and the gardens are scheduled regularly.
You or your loved one may also enjoy a trip to El Dorado East Regional Park. On the grounds, you’ll find two fishing lakes, a stream, and forested areas — all serving as a sanctuary for local wildlife. The park is also home to a nature center, which features walking trails, educational displays, an art gallery, and more. With over 105 acres, the nature center offers plenty for you or your loved one to explore.
If you or your loved one is more interested in art, the East Village Arts District won’t disappoint. Serving as a hub for the creative community, this district features several galleries, shops, wine bars, restaurants, and more. Located nearby is the Museum of Latin American Art, the only museum in the U.S. dedicated to modern and contemporary Latin American and Latino art.
Sunrise of Beverly Hills, Harbor Terrace Retirement Community and Sunrise of Orange are the top-rated Nursing Homes facilities near Long Beach, CA. These Nursing Homes facilities received the highest rankings based on verified family reviews. See full list of communities.
The average cost of Nursing Homes in Long Beach is $5,147 per month. This cost may vary based on location, amenities, floorplan, level of care and other factors.
Genworth Financial. (2021). Cost of Care Survey.
A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Veteran Status (S2101) [Data Set]. American Community Survey.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Age and Sex (S0101) [Data Set]. American Community Survey.
Department of Health Care Services. (2023). Medicare Savings Program in California.
U.S. News & World Report. (2023). MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center.
U.S. News & World Report. (2023). Lakewood Regional Medical Center.
Ask an A Place for Mom local advisor at no cost.
Genworth Financial. (2021). Cost of Care Survey.
A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Veteran Status (S2101) [Data Set]. American Community Survey.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Age and Sex (S0101) [Data Set]. American Community Survey.
Department of Health Care Services. (2023). Medicare Savings Program in California.
U.S. News & World Report. (2023). MemorialCare Long Beach Medical Center.
U.S. News & World Report. (2023). Lakewood Regional Medical Center.