The 10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Alamo, CA

Page Reviewed / Updated - June 23, 2020

Alamo, California, is a suburb of San Francisco near Mount Diablo State Park. Seniors here have access to all of the amenities of one of the largest cities in the country, plus the slower pace of a small town. 

Crime rates in Alamo are lower than the national average, which may help retirees feel more secure. The Bay area is known for temperate climate year-round, without the bitter cold and summer heat spikes that more central regions of the country experience. This may help those with health conditions affected by extreme temperatures find relief. California offers several tax breaks for seniors, including exemption from taxation of Social Security income and special deductions for the elderly and the blind. 

According to the Genworth Cost of Care Survey 2019, assisted living fees in Alamo are slightly higher than the rest of the state, at $4,750 on average per month compared to $4,500. Other large metro areas in the state, such as Los Angeles and Sacramento, are in line with the state monthly average of $4,500. 

Note: The figures for Alamo were not available, so costs for the nearest metro area, San Francisco, were used.

We've collected the 10 best assisted living facilities in the Alamo area to help you or a loved one decide on the most suitable accommodations. Additionally, find out more about the cost of assisted living in Alamo and what financial assistance programs are available.

The Best Assisted Living Facilities in Alamo, California

Welcome Home Senior Residence - Alamo

220 Bolla Avenue
Alamo, CA 94507
​(925) 588-1356 

Welcome Home Senior Residence is a small facility tucked in a serene residential neighborhood. With a capacity of just six residents, it has a feeling of closeness and camaraderie among residents and staff. Each private room has roll-in showers and grab bars for safety. Help with bathing or personal care is available when needed. The integrated services include personalized care plans, formulated by consulting with doctors and determining the needs of each resident. Meals are prepared on site in the community kitchen and served family-style in the dining room. Health is emphasized here, including physical movement and proper hydration. 

• 24-hour-a-day call system and supervision
• Medication management and prescription refills provided

Alamo Residence Home

836 Stone Valley Road
Alamo, CA 94507
(925) 837-0521

We added Alamo Residence Home to our list for its combination of a quiet residential setting and thoughtful design that accommodates accessibility for the elderly. Each room is private, with an en suite bathroom equipped with safety features, and some have private balconies. American-style cuisine is prepared fresh each day, with dietary needs or personal requests accommodated. Residents are encouraged to make suggestions for group activities or outings. With a small resident capacity and low staff-to-patient ratio, this facility meets residents' needs immediately, from emergencies to simple assistance with the tasks of daily living. A large, landscaped yard affords seniors space to enjoy fresh air. 

•  Cable and Wi-Fi provided
• Wheelchair ramp access into the facility

Carlton Senior Living Downtown Pleasant Hill

175 Cleaveland Road
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
(800) 227-5866

Life at Carlton can be a whirlwind of exciting activities and entertainment for seniors. Live music and dancing, yoga classes in the fitness center or Wii sports tournaments are some options for residents. Outdoorsy seniors can choose to spend time gardening. Meals are served in the Carlton Cafe, which is open 24/7 for anytime dining. Diabetic-friendly and low-salt options are available. Guests are welcome to join their loved ones for a meal or overnight visit. Professional caretakers are available day and night to lend a hand with personal care or mobility, and a skilled nurse is on staff during the day. 

• VA benefits consultation 
• Emergency call systems in all rooms

Oakmont of Montecito

4756 Clayton Road
Concord, CA 94521
(925) 203-9197

Oakmont of Montecito is on our list because of its wealth of amenities for seniors, all in a beautiful, luxurious setting. Residents may choose to take a dip in the community pool or relax in the spa. Outdoors, large palm trees surround the garden and patio, making these areas pleasant places to walk a pet or enjoy quiet conversation over a cup of coffee. Each resident has a personal care plan with oversight from a nurse. Attentive staff can help with grooming, bathing and mobility assistance to meals or group activities. Foodies may be delighted to sample the fine cuisine created by a professionally trained culinary team. 

• Small pets allowed
• Housekeeping and linen services included

Atria Walnut Creek

1400 Montego
Walnut Creek, CA 94598
(925) 478-4259

Atria Walnut Creek is centrally located in Walnut Creek, with sweeping views of nearby Mount Diablo. Residents enjoy an active lifestyle with discreet assistance as needed. Dozens of events give residents constant variety in their days, from group fitness classes to book clubs to bingo tournaments. The community choir and theater club let residents express their creativity and entertain their friends. The cozy common areas and sunny patio provide space to unwind. Nurses are available 40 hours per week and are on-call 24 hours a day. Scheduling of medical appointments and follow-up compliance supervision is provided. 

• Staff fluent in English, Spanish and Tagalog
• Meal options include diabetic-friendly, low fat, low salt and vegetarian

Sunrise of Oakland Hills

11889 Skyline Boulevard
Oakland, CA 94619
(510) 931-5460

This is a newer assisted living facility, located in the hills just outside the city, with beautiful views and an enclosed courtyard full of shady trees and comfortable furniture. Inside, Sunrise has many amenities for residents, such as a computer room, a beauty and barbershop and a library. Awake staff is scheduled day and night, with people who speak English, Mandarin, Spanish and Tagalog. A licensed nurse visits monthly for wellness checks. Three nutritious meals are prepared on-site and served restaurant-style, with a choice of food options. Each private apartment has free cable and Wi-Fi.

• Off-site activities and group outings
• Weekly housekeeping and laundry services

Brookdale San Ramon

18888 Bollinger Canyon Road
San Ramon, CA 94583
(925) 233-6304

Brookdale provides a sense of community and camaraderie, with personal care services and a secure environment designed with the mobility needs of the elderly in mind. Each private apartment is equipped with a kitchenette, and cable and internet are included. Brookdale is conveniently close to several shopping centers, medical care facilities, pharmacies and tourist destinations like Fisherman's Wharf. The activity calendar changes daily and includes art classes, group yoga and book clubs. There's a community garden for resident use and a sunny patio for unwinding. Apartment maintenance and housekeeping services are included, and transportation is available for errands and appointments. 

•  Home sales assistance, financial guidance and VA benefits consultation available
• Anytime dining from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Sunrise Villa San Ramon

9199 Fircrest Lane
San Ramon, CA 94583
(925) 303-4928

Sunrise Villa made our top 10 list for its outstanding reviews, which praise the friendly, professional staff and the beautiful common areas, grounds and private apartments. Seniors are encouraged to retain as much independence as possible, with certified caretakers on hand to help with mobility, incontinence care and personal grooming. Guests are welcome, both at mealtimes and overnight, and party space is open for private celebrations. Dancing lessons are a popular activity for fun and fitness. Seniors may also opt to work out in the fitness center and stroll along the community walking paths. Religious services and Bible study groups are scheduled weekly. 

• Skilled nurse on staff
• Pets are welcome

Atria Park of Lafayette

1545 Pleasant Hill Road
Lafayette, CA 94549
(925) 357-9837

Seniors at Atria Park of Lafayette are provided all the comforts of home without the worry of owning one. A beautiful garden and patio area, with a fountain and shady pergola, is an inviting area for residents to read a book or socialize with friends. A sun-drenched living room houses a grand piano, and sing-alongs or performances are a popular pastime. Other activities include arts and crafts, morning meditation and a gardening club. Meals are created using fresh ingredients by a professional chef and served restaurant-style. Socialization is important for the elderly, so community gatherings and daily happy hours are scheduled.  

• Skilled nurse on staff 
• Caregivers scheduled around the clock

Carlton Senior Living San Leandro

1000 East 14th Street
San Leandro, CA 94577
(510) 636-0660

Carlton Senior Living is designed to let seniors age in place, transitioning from assisted living to memory care as their needs change. Meals are shared in the dining room, with optional room service available. Compassionate staff helps the elderly with the tasks of daily living, including diabetes care and medication management. A high-ceilinged common room with a fireplace is a cozy spot to play a hand of cards or read a book from the community library. Outdoors, seniors may practice their swing on the putting green and relax in the zen garden. Group activities like guest lectures and brain games help the elderly keep their wits sharp. 

• Private cleaning and laundry services included
• Fitness center and group exercise classes

The Cost of Senior Living and Care in Alamo

Costs related to senior care tend to be significantly lower in Alamo than the state average for similar services, according to the 2018 Genworth Cost of Care Survey. In most surveyed areas, Alamo is at or close to the lowest costs for care in the state, sometimes by several hundred dollars.

Note: Senior care cost data wasn’t available for Alamo, so the data for the closest city, Vallejo, was used.

How much does Assisted Living Cost in Alamo?

Assisted living in Alamo costs seniors an average of $4,350 a month. This is $150 a month less than the $4,500 seniors pay on average in the rest of the state. Seniors in Los Angeles and San Diego also pay $4,500 a month, while seniors in Sacramento pay about $120 more than in Alamo at $4,473. Seniors in Bakersfield pay just $3,150 a month for assisted living, which is $1,200 a month less than in Alamo and one of the lowest prices among surveyed cities.

How much does Home Care Cost in Alamo?

Home care in Alamo costs an average of $4,576 a month. This is nearly $400 a month less than the average of $4,957 seniors in the rest of California pay; it's more than $1,000 less than the higher price of $5,625 in San Francisco. Seniors in Chico and Bakersfield both pay less than the average cost in Alamo, at just $4,433 and $4,385 a month, respectively.

How much does Adult Day Care Cost in Alamo?

Adult day care costs Alamo seniors an average of $1,354 a month. While this is among the lowest prices among the surveyed cities, Hanford ranks as the lowest at $867 per month.

San Francisco, Sacramento and San Diego all report costs of $1,733 a month, which is just above the statewide average of $1,679. Seniors in Los Angeles pay the closest price to Alamo, at $1,565 a month for adult day care, while Chico seniors pay one of the highest prices among surveyed cities, at $2,134 a month.

How much does Nursing Home Costs in Alamo?

Nursing home care in Alamo costs an average of $8,167 a month. This is $198 a month less than the state average, though some cities in California report lower costs for similar services. A semi-private room in Los Angeles, for example, costs seniors an average of $7,604 each month, while seniors in Bakersfield pay $7,513, one of the lowest rates found. San Francisco reports some of the highest costs in the state, at $9,148 a month for nursing home care.

Financial Assistance Programs in Alamo

Medicaid Program in Alamo

Seniors in Alamo can apply for help with their medical costs to the federal Medicaid program, which is known as Medi-Cal in California. This is an entitlement program that is open to all seniors who meet the residency and income requirements, without waiting periods or limits to annual enrollment. Seniors who qualify for Medi-Cal can get assistance paying for basic medical care, urgent care, some prescription drug coverage and many of the costs of residential care.

Medi-Cal administers these benefits through a private sector network of insurance providers, such as Kaiser Permanente and Blue Cross/Blue Shield. These carriers offer both HMO and PPO options, which seniors can ask about while applying for care at a county Human Services office or online at the Covered California website. Covered California also lets seniors browse through private plans, choose the one that fits their needs, and change plans without penalty during the annual open enrollment period.

To enroll in a Medi-Cal authorized plan, seniors in Alamo must be citizens or legal residents of the United States and residents of the state of California. Annual income is capped at 138% of the Federal Benefit Rate. This put the 2019 limit at $16,395 a year from all income sources combined and $22,108 for married couples applying together. Families with additional adults in the household may add an extra $5,741 to their annual income cap and still qualify. Seniors who earn more than these limits, up to 300% of the Federal Benefit Rate, can still apply for Medi-Cal, though they may be asked to pay an annual share of the cost for their coverage.

Medicaid Waivers in Alamo

Assisted Living Waiver Program (ALWP)

Seniors in Alamo may be eligible for help with the cost of assisted living through the state's Assisted Living Waiver Program (ALWP). ALWP benefits are open to Medi-Cal eligible seniors who waive their right to obtain residential care at a nursing care home, and who choose instead to move into an assisted living facility. This program is available in only 15 counties in California, including Contra Costa, and only among participating assisted living communities. Seniors can inquire about getting an ALWP waiver from their Medi-Cal caseworker, or they can apply through the benefits specialist at their assisted living facility.

Multipurpose Senior Services Waiver

Seniors who opt out of assisted living can remain safe and independent in their own homes with the help of a waiver from the Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP). This program pays many of the direct costs of home care, including caregiver and housekeeping services. Other benefits of the program include:

• Caseworker services to help find programs seniors can use
• Interpreter and translation services
• Financial advice from certified senior advisers
• Caregiver assistance in the home
• Respite care, adult day care and protective supervision in the home
• Meal service for seniors at home or in a local facility
• Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) hardware to quickly summon help in the event of a fall or medical emergency
• Home weatherization and accessibility repairs, such as ramp and rail installation
• Vouchers for public transportation, including bus and rail service of BART, and call center support booking non-emergency medical transportation within a certain radius of Alamo

Home and Community-Based Alternatives (HCBA) Waiver

The Home and Community-Based Alternatives (HCBA) waiver program helps Alamo seniors move out of residential care settings and return to their own homes. Seniors leaving any level of care, from assisted living to nursing home care, may benefit from this program, which replaces several older waivers. Vouchers cover reasonable expenses related to the move, and applications can go through the discharge planner at a residential care facility.

Community-Based Adult Services (CBAS)

Seniors who live at home in Alamo can stay in touch with their community, and get the direct assistance they need to thrive, through the Community Based Adult Services (CBAS) waiver. CBAS waivers pick up much of the cost of several necessary services, including mental and physical therapy and adult day care. In addition to direct assistance, CBAS organizes monthly social events for seniors in the Alamo area at no charge.

Other Financial Assistance Programs in Alamo

In-Home Support Services (IHSS)

California's In-Home Support Services (IHSS) program pays the cost of in-home caregiver assistance for seniors in Alamo who meet program requirements. To apply, seniors must be Medi-Cal eligible and in some medical need for help around the house. Applications can be made through Human Services or a Medi-Cal caseworker, or directly through an IHSS office by phone or by mail. As part of the approval process, an IHSS worker visits seniors at home to assess their needs and to assign a set number of hours the program can pay for.

This program is recipient directed, which means seniors have control over how funds are disbursed. Caregivers can be anyone the senior designates, including a spouse, family member or friend. Applications for caregivers go directly through the IHSS office. Prospective caregivers must pass a background check and attend one training session at IHSS offices. After approval, caregivers may submit a timesheet signed by the senior for compensation, which arrives by mail every two weeks.

Paid Family Leave

Seniors in Alamo can get help in their homes from a close family member through the state's Paid Family Leave Act (PFLA). PFLA pays employed adults for up to six weeks of medically necessary leave to care for a close relative, including a senior parent going through an illness or recovering from surgery. Funds come out of workers' paychecks, and benefit amounts are based on the average of the worker's pay over the three-year look-back period prior to the application.To apply for PFLA leave, workers can call the state's Employment Development Department (EDD) office up to a month prior to leave being taken. EDD usually schedules a phone interview and asks for documentation of the senior's medical needs and family relationship to the person requesting the benefit. Once funds are exhausted, workers must replenish their benefit account with more payroll deductions before taking leave again. State law requires employers to hold open vacant positions for the entire six week period for employees taking PFLA.

More Senior Living Resources in Alamo