458 Assisted Living Communities near Santa Ana

What is Assisted Living?

In California, assisted living facilities are commonly referred to as residential care facilities, and they are licensed and regulated by the Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division. Santa Ana seniors who need assistance with general tasks, such as laundry, meal prep, grooming, and housekeeping, to maintain healthy, active lifestyles can choose to reside in an assisted living facility as long as they are at least 60 years of age. If your loved one is under 60 years old, they can still choose to live in an assisted living community, as long as their needs match the needs of the facility's current residents.

What Services are Available in Assisted Living in Santa Ana?

During your search for assisted living, you'll find that services available in communities in Santa Ana can vary by size and location; however, here are some standard services available at most assisted living near you:

• Assistance with activities of daily living
• Medication management
• Security & supervision
• Basic housekeeping
• Daily meals
• Health and exercise programs
• Transportation

Assisted living communities in Santa Ana provide residents with room and board, as well as a variety of basic services. This includes help with the resident's activities of daily living (ADLs) such as personal grooming, bathing, dressing and bathroom assistance. Facilities also commonly provide assistance with self-administering medications, make arrangements for medical and dental care, prepare meals for residents and have 24-hour supervision.

If your loved one requires assistance beyond the scope of care provided at their assisted living community, you should check with your chosen community about hiring private personal caregivers and assistance to help meet their needs. For example, if your loved one enjoys bathing on a daily basis, and the community only bathes residents three times per week, you can pay a private caregiver to come into the facility to bathe your loved one the remaining four days.

Getting Ready to Move to Assisted Living in Santa Ana

Moving your loved one into a Santa Ana assisted living facility is probably a lot easier than you think. To make the transition a smooth process, you should keep your loved one involved in the process as much as possible. When seniors know exactly what to expect upon arrival, it helps them feel good about the move and confident in their decision.

Assisted living communities in Santa Ana are required to complete a pre-admission exam prior to your loved one's move-in date. This helps staff members understand the type of care your loved one needs, and ensures the facility fits their needs. These are typically basic exams that access your loved one's ability to perform normal ADLs independently, evaluate their mental condition, and get a good idea of how well they'll fit in with other residents.

Even though facilities complete pre-admission exams, you should have your loved one visit their physician to assess their medical condition before you start looking at assisted living communities. This way you're sure you're researching suitable options.

You should also:

• Talk to your loved one about their upcoming move to address any concerns they may have and answer their questions.
• Obtain a list of items from the facility detailing what type of items your loved one should bring with them on moving day, as well as a current copy of the facility's policies and procedures. Consider reviewing the policies and procedures with your loved one before moving day so you both know what to expect.
• Begin the process to cancel your loved one's current rental or lease agreement or sell their home.
• Give your loved one's car to a younger family member or friend in need if you don't want to sell or donate it.
• Go through all of your loved one's belongings with them to determine what they need to keep. Then, sell, donate or gift the remaining items — according to your loved one's wishes.
• Review your loved one's finances, make a list of their assets and pay their outstanding bills.
• Make a list of any services or subscriptions you need to cancel before your loved one moves such as utilities, cable television or meal services.

How Much Does Assisted Living Cost in Santa Ana?

The average cost of assisted living in Santa Ana is $4,275 according to the Genworth Cost of Care Calculator.

The average monthly assisted living costs in Santa Ana are $4,275. This is on par with the rest of the state, but higher than the national average monthly assisted living cost of $3,750. However, assisted living costs vary depending on the type of community and the amenities offered.

If you're looking for an affordable option, you should consider an assisted living facility that offers the basic services your loved one needs. Eliminating facilities that offer amenities your loved one doesn't need, such as a swimming pool or a private apartment, saves money.

Boutique facilities offer a slightly higher level of care than basic communities, and they often come with added bonuses such as high-quality meals, regular social activities and enrichment classes.

If your loved one prefers the best of everything, you should consider a luxury assisted living facility. These communities normally offer gourmet, restaurant-quality meals, multi-room apartments, premier exercise facilities and regular day trips.

Our local Seniorly Partner Agents often have the ability to negotiate monthly rent and fees on your behalf at many of the communities you might be interested in. This is a free service to you. To connect to a Seniorly Partner Agent email us now at ask@seniorly.com or call (855) 866-4515.

What’s the Difference Between Assisted Living vs. Other Senior Care Types?

The primary difference between assisted living and other forms of senior care is that assisted living sits on a continuum of care between independent living and skilled nursing facilities, commonly referred to as nursing homes.

Before you start searching for suitable assisted living communities, it's a good idea to have a basic understanding of the type of facilities available. After all, there are numerous types of assisted living facilities in Santa Ana, and you need to choose one that provides the type of care your loved one needs.

• Independent living communities are ideal for active, independent seniors who no longer want the responsibilities that come with owning a home. Most offer private apartments with kitchens to give seniors as much privacy and freedom as possible.
• Skilled nursing facilities provide basic medical care to residents coping with chronic illnesses or recovering from a recent hospital stay.
• Memory care facilities are safe residential communities that care to seniors with memory loss, dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
• Hospice care works with seniors who have decided to stop treating a chronic illness to ensure they remain comfortable and happy in their remaining days.

Helpful Websites for Assisted Living in Santa Ana

If you're looking for ways to enhance the assisted living lifestyle, Santa Ana has plenty of service-based businesses. These three websites only give you a glimpse of the services available to seniors in the area.

• Lyft lets you schedule a ride using a mobile app. It's a good option for seniors who need to schedule rides on an as-needed basis.
• Soothe brings a massage therapist right to your door. Simply schedule a Swedish or deep tissue massage to help you relax. However, it is important to check your facility's rules and regulations before scheduling your massage.
• MTS Pet Spaw comes to your home to groom your favorite furry friend. They offer a wide range of dog grooming services including baths, hair trimming, nail trimming and ear cleaning.

Resources for Caregivers in Santa Ana

Even after your loved one moves into an assisted living facility, you might find yourself caring for them on a semi-regular or regular basis. However, it's important that you don't let your own needs go to care for your loved one. Santa Ana has several organizations that offer resources for caregivers, including the three listed below, that help you maintain a healthy, balanced lifestyle.

• Easterseals of Southern California offers a variety of resources for caregivers including respite care for seniors that's designed to give their caregiver the opportunity to relax and recharge without worrying about their loved one.
• Caregiver Resource Center provides assistance to caregivers and their families in the form of family consultations, counseling, referrals and help with care planning.
• Orange County Office on Aging has a caregiver support program that offers individual counseling, support groups and respite care.

Government Resources for Seniors in Santa Ana

In addition to community and local organizations, there are also several government-run programs available to assist Santa Ana area seniors and their loved ones. Some examples include:

• The City of Santa Ana operates two senior centers that provide seniors with health insurance counseling, legal aid and preventative health care services in addition to a variety of classes, social events and senior excursions.
• Orange County Transportation Authority has a senior mobility program that provides seniors with door-to-door transportation throughout the city.
• Southern California Council on Aging has an ombudsman program available to seniors residing in assisted living facilities. They also regularly host events and activities that give seniors the opportunity to learn new skills and socialize.

Santa Ana Demographics

Even though the median age in Santa Ana is 15 percent lower than the median age in the state, the city has a fairly large senior community. Seniors age 55 and older make up 16.5 percent of Santa Ana's 334,217 population.

Santa Ana Weather

Seniors residing in assisted living facilities in the Santa Ana area can enjoy the city's mild climate and weather. The highest monthly average temperature in August is 72 degrees Fahrenheit and the lowest average temperature in December is 57 degrees Fahrenheit, so it's easy for seniors to participate in outdoor activities year round.

Transportation In and Around Santa Ana

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) operates Santa Ana's public bus system. Seniors age 60 and older can apply for a Reduced Fare ID to pay reduced rates on for regular route fares, express routes fares and bus passes.

Fun Facts About Santa Ana

Santa Ana is the largest city in Orange County, so it's not surprising that the city has plenty for seniors to see and do. The historic downtown area boasts a distinct art colony with rows of museums, art galleries and shops to explore. It's also home to the Santa Ana Zoo and Bowers Museum.

Movie-loving seniors will appreciate the fact that Michelle Pfeiffer and Diane Keaton are both from Santa Ana. Also, the Main Place shopping center was used to film Arnold Schwarzenegger's movie “Kindergarten Cop.”

Even though over 4 million people live in Los Angeles, Santa Ana is more densely populated. The city isn't as spread out as L.A., so people live in closer quarters. However, for seniors, the city's compact size is a good thing because it makes it easier to get around the city.

Santa Ana Hospital Information

Two hospitals provide emergency medical care to Santa Ana seniors: Orange County Global Medical Center and South Coast Global Medical Center. The Kindred Hospital Santa Ana is also located within the city limits, but it's a transitional hospital. It provides similar specialized care and services as traditional hospitals but their patients stay there through the recovery process instead of returning home or going to a transitional facility.

Assisted Living Community Ratings, Inspection Reports and User Reviews for Santa Ana

It's important to do some of your own research to ensure the assisted living community you choose fits your loved one's needs. Fortunately, it isn't hard to find information on Santa Ana assisted living facilities.

The California Department of Social Services has a Facility Search option on their website. You simply search for each community you're considering by name to pull up information on the facility dating back five years, including complaint investigation reports. You can also view complaints using the California Better Business Bureau's website.

If you prefer first-hand accounts of the facilities you're considering, read reviews on Google Maps and/or Yelp. Seniorly's website also has detailed reviews for Santa Ana assisted living communities.

What Questions Should I Ask When Touring Assisted Living Facilities in Santa Ana?

On your visit to assisted living facilities in Santa Ana you should ask these 10 important questions:

1. What is the staff turnover rate?
2. Do staff members speak your loved one's language fluently?
3. Are background check performed on staff members?
4. Can residents personalize and decorate their own apartments?
5. Can residents bring their own chair, other furniture or large items?
6. Do rooms come equipped with 24-hour emergency response systems?
7. How many meals are provided each day?
8. Is special food prepared for special occasions, such as birthdays and holidays?
9. Are there any shared community animals, such as dogs, cats, birds, and fish?
10. What common spaces are available to residents?

Before you begin touring facilities of interest, you should make a list of the questions you want to ask. This way you get all of the information you need to make your final decision. Seniorly's website has a comprehensive list of questions to ask during an assisted living facility tour, but the questions above are a few good options to get you started.