Senior Living Apartments in Long Beach, CA

It’s likely that you’ll use your own personal resources to cover the monthly costs of living at a senior apartment community since it’s considered a form of general housing. However, there is financial assistance available to help you offset certain costs.

To give you a better idea of your potential options, you’ll find additional information on a range of payment methods below, including private resources, VA benefits, Medicaid, Medicare, and public assistance.

Because senior apartment communities are considered a form of general housing, owners and landlords aren’t required to obtain a license for operation. Still, there are housing laws associated with these properties. The Fair Housing Act, for example, applies to senior rentals, prohibiting owners and landlords from discriminating against or offering less favorable terms and conditions to renters in protected classes. The Housing Authority of the City of Long Beach helps break down barriers to equal opportunity for local residents.

Apart from the Fair Housing Act, senior apartment communities must also comply with all laws associated with the Americans with Disabilities Act. For instance, a property owner would be required to make reasonable modifications (adding a bathroom grab bar, building ramp, etc.) to the inside or outside of a rental unit to ensure renters with disabilities have equal opportunity to use the property.

Long Beach Development Services has put together a Tenant/Landlord Rights and Responsibilities guide for more details. The California Department of Real Estate also has a renter’s guide available, which delves deeper into the rental process, repair requests, security deposits, lease terminations, evictions, and other valuable information.

Inspections

Though owning and operating a senior apartment community requires no special license, the property is subject to regular inspections as part of the Proactive Rental Housing Inspection Program. If a property has four or more dwelling units, then the city will conduct an inspection within 60 days of November 1 each year.

Occupancy requirements

In Long Beach, the only requirement for living in a senior apartment community is based on age. You must be at least 55 or older to rent a unit.

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.

COVID-19 regulations for Long Beach senior apartments communities

The City of Long Beach does have health orders in place to help control the spread of COVID-19. These orders are in general alignment with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. However, senior apartment communities may have their own guidelines, so it’s always important to contact the community of interest prior to signing a rental agreement.

Long Beach senior apartments are great places to retire. Without as much hustle and bustle of nearby L.A., but with plenty of access to big-city amenities and a gorgeous seaside lifestyle, it’s not hard to see why seniors enjoy leisure living in Long Beach.

Retirees who move into a senior apartment community usually want to age in place and live among peers. Properties often come equipped with age-friendly features that enable a combination of independence and accessibility. Additionally, many communities provide ways to build social connections with other residents. For instance, some schedule an array of recreational activities for seniors to enjoy while socializing.

Apartment features

The features found in any given unit will vary greatly from one community to the next. The senior apartments in the Long Beach area are no exception. If you’re moving into a senior apartment, you’ll likely enjoy a full kitchen, full bath, and spacious living area. You may also benefit from extra additions such as a private balcony or patio, an individual office space, a walk-in closet, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, hardwood floors, ceiling fans, and more.

Community amenities

Looking for a senior apartment community in Long Beach? Your options range from affordable to luxury. Affordable communities may offer recreation rooms, gated courtyards, and laundry facilities. However, some of the luxury apartments may offer additional amenities, including clubhouses, fitness centers, on-site maintenance, and concierge services. You’ll want to have plenty of opportunities to spend time outside to enjoy the gorgeous Long Beach weather and perhaps some coastal views.

Location considerations

One of the more important considerations when moving to a senior apartment community will be its location. All of the partner communities listed in this guide are within a 10-mile radius of the downtown Long Beach area, so you’ll have easy access to many restaurants, shops, and sights. However, you’ll also want to consider how far away you are from family, friends, public transportation stops, and medical providers.

Health care for seniors in Long Beach

Transportation for seniors in Long Beach

According to Walk Score, which ranks cities’ transportation methods on a scale of 0 to 100, Long Beach is both very bikeable (with a score of 70) and walkable (with a score of 73).^[09] Most people can walk to an average of three restaurants, bars, or coffee shops in as little as five minutes. Overall, Long Beach transportation is rated as a 49, meaning that it has some transit options.

In terms of public transportation, Metro Blue Line, the area’s light rail system, runs through downtown Long Beach. There’s also Long Beach Transit, which has a number of routes that will get seniors around town for just $0.60 per one-way trip. You can also purchase one-day, five-day, and month-long passes. If you’re at least 62 years old, you can apply for a senior TAP card, which provides discounted fares.

If you’re looking for a rideshare company, Dial-A-Lift offers curb-to-curb services to individuals with qualifying disabilities who cannot use the bus system. Public Works of Los Angeles County also offers transportation services for seniors and people with disabilities who are unable to use fixed-route transit systems. Call 800-827-0829 for more information.

Senior activities in Long Beach

There is no shortage of things to do in Long Beach, California. Whether you like spending time outdoors, supporting the arts, or exploring history, there’s a wide array of activities and attractions perfectly suited for seniors.

The El Dorado East Regional Park features plenty of green space, picnic areas, two fishing lakes, bike trails, an archery range, and a physical fitness course. There’s also a nature center that has educational displays, an art gallery, a gift shop, and 105 acres of natural habitat filled with various plants and animals. You could spend an entire day just walking the trails. Seniors can expect to pay a vehicle fee per visit or purchase a discounted annual parking pass.

If you’d like to get up close and personal with wildlife, check out the Aquarium of the Pacific. This public aquarium sits on more than five acres of land and has more than 11,000 animals. Exhibits include a penguin habitat, a sea otter habitat, a shark lagoon, and a coral reef. Tickets cost $33.95 for seniors. Get even closer to marine life with Harbor Breeze Cruises, which offers regular whale-watching excursions. Tickets cost $35 for seniors over 62.

If history is more your game, you may want to visit The Queen Mary, a British ocean liner that now serves as both a hotel and tourist attraction. Tours are available every day, with your choice of a historical tour, mechanical tour, or even a haunted tour. There’s Rancho Los Cerritos, one of the largest adobe residences in California that offers free house and garden tours of the property. Much of the historic homes and gardens can be accessed by wheelchair. Finally, there’s the Museum of Latin American Art, which is the only museum in the U.S. dedicated to modern and contemporary Latin American Art. Seniors can expect to pay $10 for tickets and can rent a wheelchair for free if need be.

Of course, no city would be complete without a senior center. Long Beach has more than a few, including the Long Beach Senior Center, Chavez Park Senior Center, and Silverado Park Senior Center. If you’re over the age of 50, you can take part in a range of activities, such as tai chi, Zumba, aerobics, chair aerobics, weight lifting, meditation, crocheting, knitting, sewing, wood carving, board games, dancing, karaoke, and more.

Last but not least, you can always plan a trip with your family to Disneyland, which is just a 30-minute drive from Long Beach. As the self-proclaimed happiest place on earth, the park has made sure to provide accommodations for people with mobility disabilities. Many of their attractions allow guests to remain in their wheelchairs.