The 10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Santa Cruz, CA

This medium-sized community offers studio apartments and companion suites. Residents enjoy a variety of planned activities, such as gardening, crafting, outdoor walks, playing card and board games and enjoying a good movie on the big screen TV on Popcorn & Movie Day. Live entertainment such as musical performers and dancers are scheduled on a weekly basis. This facility does not allow pets, making it ideal for those who suffer from allergies to animals. 

We liked this facility because of its fabulous views of the harbor, proximity to the shore and Victorian-inspired architecture. Residents and their small pets can enjoy walking and relaxing in the lushly landscaped outdoor living space, and there are regularly scheduled group walks around the neighborhood. Other activities include scheduled shopping trips, picnics on the beach or trips to nearby restaurants, arts and crafts projects, board and card games, happy hours and puzzles. On-site amenities include a cozy, book-line library with a wood-burning fireplace, a full-service beauty salon and barbershop and a restaurant-style dining room. 

Family-owned and operated Alexandra Victoria is the smallest facility on our list. With just 13 residents Alexandria Victoria truly provides a family atmosphere in a beautiful setting. The well-kept outdoor garden and patio areas provide an idyllic location for sharing coffee with friends or sitting solo and enjoying a good book or crossword puzzle. Residents enjoy delicious and nutritious chef-inspired meals three times per day and snacks and beverages any time.

Situated in a residential neighborhood several blocks from Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Brookdale Scotts Valley has studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments with kitchenettes. Residents are welcome to have small pets at this facility. Activities include yoga, group outings, gardening, games, arts and crafts and movies. The restaurant-style dining room has floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the well-kept gardens, and there is an outdoor seating area where residents can dine al fresco during warm weather. There is an on-site beauty salon and barbershop and a fitness room.

Saratoga Retirement Community offers upscale living in the picturesque Bay Area city of Saratoga. We included Saratoga Retirement Community on our top 10 list because of its overall elegance atmosphere. There is an on-site wine tasting room, a bocce court, a koi pond, a woodworking shop and an arts and craft studio. This facility is pet friendly and even has a dog run where residents can exercise their furry friends. 

What we liked most about Terraces of Los Gatos was its placement on nine acres in the charming California community of Los Gatos. This facility offers apartment-style living as well as standalone cottages. There are two on-site restaurant-style dining rooms where residents can enjoy their choice of chef-prepared meals three times per day as well as snacks and beverages. Resident transportation is available to medical appointments, and there is also an on-site health center where residents can see a nurse on an as-needed basis. 

Aegis of Aptos has pet-friendly studio and one-bedroom units with private bathrooms and kitchenettes. The facility is situated in a centrally located, walkable neighborhood with easy access to parks, retail shopping, medical offices and banks. The on-site restaurant-style dining room features an elegant ambiance and serves three meals a day, and snacks and beverages are available at all times. Activities include exercise, arts and crafts, music, games and scheduled group outings to local restaurants, community events and attractions.

Montecito Manor earned its place on our top 10 list because of its variety of available activities, such as twice-weekly visits to the beach, farmers markets and other local areas of interest, ongoing art projects and other enjoyable pursuits thoughtfully curated by the full-time Activities Director. Staff also goes all-out on holiday decorations and meals and ensure that all residents are included in the festivities. The restaurant-style dining room provides three healthy and nutritious meals per day, and residents can access coffee, tea and lemonade at all times. 

Situated just several blocks from Santa Cruz Riverwalk Park in a peaceful residential neighborhood, Maple House was included on our top 10 list because of the intimate living environment the facility provides. With a resident capacity of just 22, this family-owned and operated facility offers basic care services such as help with bathing, dressing and grooming as well as group activities such as arts and crafts, board games and community outings designed to promote positive social interaction. 

Merrill Gardens at Campbell is an apartment-style community situated in the heart of the Bay Area between San Jose and Santa Clara. Residents can choose from pet-friendly studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments. There is a central courtyard with comfortable seating areas surrounding a sparkling fountain where residents can relax with friends or alone while enjoying a good book and soaking up the sun. Activities include bingo twice per week, happy hour every Friday evening, live musical entertainment, exercise classes and ongoing arts and crafts projects. Residents can also participate in scheduled group outings to the many local events and attractions found in the Bay Area.