Looking for Assisted Living in California? Start Here
June 27, 2024Seniors and their loved ones who are looking for assisted living in California are fortunate to have plenty of options. The state has more senior assisted living homes than any other in the country.
Depending on which source you consult, the number of California assisted living facilities ranges from approximately 4,400 to more than 7,800. Some of the variation may be due to the types of facilities included.
For example, some may only include those that can accommodate a certain number of residents. Others may count only those that are strictly for assisted living, while others may include memory care as well.
At any rate, if you’re searching for assisted living, California offers a wide array of choices — along with a mild, sunny climate and a profusion of pastimes, particularly here in the Los Angeles area.
What Is Assisted Living?
If you’re new to the language of senior living, you may be wondering about the difference between assisted living and independent living.
An assisted living community is one that offers its residents assistance with everyday tasks such as bathing, dressing and getting into or out of bed or a chair. These are known as activities of daily living, or ADLs. Some communities provide other types of assistance as well, such as making sure residents take their prescription medications properly.
The goal of assisted living is to provide person-centered care that enables older adults to live with dignity and as independently as possible for as long as possible.
At The Variel, we create personalized care plans for assisted living based on residents’ unique needs, collaborating with family members and residents’ physicians when possible. To help ensure residents get the nutrition they need — which can be a challenge for seniors who live on their own — we provide three delicious meals each day featuring fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
In case you’re wondering, residents in assisted living at The Variel have access to the same amenities, services and activities as those in independent living. And all residents at The Variel have the advantages of living in beautiful new apartments and being supported by attentive, highly trained, caring staff members.
How Independent Living Is Different From Assisted Living
Independent living communities are for older adults who don’t require assistance on a regular basis. Along with maintaining residents’ homes, these communities offer social activities, security, meals, amenities and services that encourage a healthy, active lifestyle.
Assisted living communities usually offer a comparable range of activities, amenities and services — along with the extra level of assistance with ADLs.
Many communities offer both assisted and independent living. Some, like The Variel, also offer memory care for older adults who have cognitive impairment associated with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia.
How to Choose an Assisted Living Community
As with any home, when exploring your options for assisted living you’ll want to narrow your choices to those that fall within your location and price parameters.
When looking at prices and comparing communities, you’ll want to consider what the monthly fee includes. Many communities, but not all, include utilities, meals, housekeeping and laundry services, transportation and other expenses in their monthly fees.
A commonsense approach when shopping around for the right assisted living community is to start by making a list of what you or your loved one requires, and then prioritizing the items on your list. You can also create a secondary list of amenities and services you’d like to have but aren’t deal-breakers if a community doesn’t offer them.
For instance, you might prefer to live in a community like The Variel that:
- Gives you the option of renting rather than requiring you to pay a hefty entrance fee
- Offers multiple levels of care, which can be especially important for couples who may have different needs in the years ahead
- Allows pets
- Has a staff-to-resident ratio that permits plenty of personalized interaction
- Provides a choice of on-site dining venues with chef-inspired cuisine
- Has amenities that inspire you to continue participating in activities you enjoy or pursue new interests
- Places an emphasis on its residents’ health and well-being
- Lets you set your own schedule
Consider developing a checklist to help you easily compare communities while conducting an online search, placing your key priorities at the top of the list.
Assisted Living at The Variel
When it comes to assisted living, Southern California offers a plenitude of choices. We’re confident you’ll find that assisted living in our community more than meets your requirements and offers a whole lot more besides.
The Variel offers six different floor plans for those interested in assisted living, ranging from studios to one- and two-bedroom apartment homes. You can explore them now on our interactive community map.
And when you come to live in our community, you’ll have the flexibility that renting on a monthly basis affords. No long-term lease to sign. No entrance fee or expensive penalties to worry about.
If you and your spouse or partner ever need different levels of care (for example, if one of you needs assisted living or memory care and the other does not), you can both enjoying living right here at The Variel.
Here’s another feature at The Variel you won’t find in all senior living communities: Some communities require you to qualify for independent living when you first move in, but that’s not the case here at The Variel. You can join us in assisted living right away.
Inspired senior living at The Variel offers an abundance of first-class amenities, from our Zenergy wellness programming and fitness center to our golf simulator, theater and elegant dining venues — all just an elevator ride from your front door.
Plus, we’re in the heart of Warner Center and convenient to countless attractions in the L.A. area. There’s never a shortage of ways to spend your days — and nights.
Even with all of this, it’s our fun-loving residents who make The Variel truly shine. You can see for yourself when you come visit.
To connect with us and arrange a visit, simply fill out this short contact form. Or, call us at 818.651.0168.
Featured Image: shurkin_son / Shutterstock