A resort-style, maintenance-free retirement awaits seniors looking for independent living communities in Los Angeles, California. Independent living facilities are senior-only communities that are similar to senior apartments but with more convenient services. They don’t typically offer care services, but some communities have connections with third-party care services. Many Los Angeles independent living communities exist on the same campus as assisted living and memory care communities, which can provide access to care services should you need them later.
This all-inclusive guide to Los Angeles independent living has detailed information on 31 of A Place for Mom’s in-network communities, all within a 10-mile radius of the Los Angeles city center. This guide walks you through Los Angeles independent living costs, ways that seniors pay for independent living, local senior-specific resources, California laws and regulations, and what to expect from your Los Angeles retirement.
The staff are friendly and they showed me around when I moved in. They offer a variety of activities including art and exercise classes. They could use come updating and the deck around the pool could use a...
I am extremely happy with how things are going for my father since she has made the move into this community. The staff have been very friendly and I am comfortable with the care he has been receiving. The...
We developed a proprietary recommendation system that orders Los Angeles community options based on factors we know are important to seniors and their families:
We collect proprietary data from our network of 14,000+ senior living communities in the U.S., with regular refreshes of data and information
We have 387,000+ reviews from senior living residents and family members that provide first-hand accounts about senior living communities
The average cost that seniors paid for A Place for Mom’s partner Los Angeles independent living facilities between 2022 and 2023 was $5,545 per month, according to our proprietary data. This cost includes room and board in addition to any extra fees and add-ons, like pet rent and upgraded amenities.
Independent living costs vary depending on location, floor plan, and included luxuries. The features below may be included in your baseline independent living monthly costs:
Though communities vary on what they include in their baseline, typical add-on fees might include the following:
The numbers below can help you compare baseline costs for Los Angeles area independent living communities. Baseline costs do not include care costs or add-on fees, like our proprietary figure above.
Most people combine their income sources to cover their independent living costs, e.g., personal income sources with options such as veterans benefits. Because independent living communities don’t provide care services, this type of senior living isn’t covered by Medi-Cal, Medicare, or long-term care insurance. However, health care insurance may help you pay for your medically necessary home health care services if you ever grow to need such.
Browse the sections below to learn about your options, including private pay, veterans benefits, Medi-Cal, and Medicare.
Independent living communities are essentially senior apartments with more amenities and services, so they don’t need to be licensed as a senior care community. The exception is if an independent living community shares a campus with other senior care facilities, such as assisted living and memory care.
In California, if your independent living community shares the same campus with a senior care facility, it must have a Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE) license through the California Department of Social Services, also known as the CDSS. With this license, the senior care facility must comply with the following regulations:
If you would like to learn more about assisted living regulations and the Residential Care Facility license in California, visit the Regulations section of our Los Angeles assisted living page.
The owners of independent living communities must provide their renters with safe and well-maintained housing, just as they would for seniors renting a house or apartment. The following are some examples of the regulations you can expect at a stand-alone independent living community rental in California:
According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), landlords must consent to reasonable accommodations and modifications for persons with disabilities. Landlords must pay for accommodations and certain structural modifications of common areas, while the renter should pay for certain structural modifications to their individual unit.[08]
Accommodations involve changes to community procedures that might restrict disabled individuals from access if not changed. Some examples of accommodations include the following:
Modifications involve changes to the structure of the building, common areas, or individual units. Here are some examples of such modifications:
The following are some other protections granted to renters under the Americans with Disabilities Act (or ADA):
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) inspects Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RFCE) annually and within 10 days of receiving a complaint.[06] While the inspections won’t apply to the independent living area of the RCFE, they will apply to the areas that are licensed as assisted living communities.
Assisted living communities that are licensed as a Residential Care Facility for the Elderly have public inspection reports in the CDSS Care Facility Search. To use this search, scroll down to “Search By Facility Group,” select “Elderly Assisted Living,” select the “Facility Type” and “Los Angeles County,” and then click on the search button. You can also search by facility name or address.
California Department of Public Health
1616 Capitol Ave.
Sacramento, CA 95899-7377
Phone: 916-558-1784
Los Angeles asks residents to stay up to date with vaccines, to get tested if symptoms are suspected, and to wear a mask in public. Read Los Angeles County Public Health’s current COVID-19 guidelines for frequently updated information.
Stand-alone independent living communities may have their own COVID-19 guidelines in place, so contact your prospective community directly if you want to learn more. If you’d like to learn about the guidelines for the assisted living wings in a shared independent living community you’re considering, check out the Regulations section of the Los Angeles assisted living page.
You have many wonderful options for your Los Angeles retirement. A Place for Mom’s network of Los Angeles independent living partners range from stand-alone communities to those with a full scope of personal care services. With A Place for Mom, you’ll easily find local communities with unique offerings — like boutique hotel living with plenty of tailored, resort-style amenities, services, and dining options. For example, some communities are completely Kosher-certified.
Los Angeles stand-alone independent living communities are similar to senior apartments regarding the layout, the freedom to come and go as you please, and the senior-specific amenities. These exclusive senior living communities typically don’t provide personal care services directly, though they may offer on-site access to third-party home care agencies. Among our partner independent living communities in Los Angeles, three of them are stand-alone — for truly independent seniors without current need for personal home care services.
Choosing a community with tiered care options means you’ll have access to senior care services without having to move to a new community when your needs change. You may only need to move to a different wing on the same campus to receive care services. In A Place for Mom’s Los Angeles network, there are 28 independent living communities that also offer assisted living and memory care services on the same campus.
After budgeting for retirement in this expensive city, you can be as specific as you want when choosing your ideal independent living community. Regarding the physical layout, our in-network offerings look similar to senior apartment communities. You can choose ground- or upper-level apartment-style rooms that range from studio to one-bedroom floor plans.
Los Angeles is home to independent living facilities that rise above the senior living stereotype. You can find communities for all walks of life, interests, and even denominations. For instance, Los Angeles has several Jewish independent living communities, with Kosher-certified kitchens, cuisine, and religious services.
There are also communities located in historic districts and some that offer boutique hotel-like senior living. Or, you can opt for a laid-back apartment style setting. You can choose from communities in desirable, upscale neighborhoods, like Beverly Hills and the heart of Los Angeles, for a more prestigious, resort-style experience. And for budget-friendly options, you can choose from communities in more affordable neighborhoods, like Santa Monica and Glendale. Wherever you choose to settle, never-ending beaches, vistas, and breathtaking West Coast sunsets are never far away.
Seniors can enjoy an abundance of senior-specific amenities in Los Angeles independent living communities. These communities lend themselves to building new relationships, staying active, and enjoying a maintenance-free retirement among peers. Pet friends are also invited to join your retirement, as 90% of A Place for Mom’s in-network Los Angeles independent living communities are pet-friendly.
Full-service beauty salons, barber shops, pools, gyms, and spas are among the most common features in Los Angeles independent living communities. Relax after taking a dip in heated outdoor swimming pools, or break a sweat in the professionally supervised fitness center. Some communities even offer manicures, private massages, and facials as part of their spa and salon experiences. Beloved pups are also welcome to enjoy a pampered lifestyle with features like dog wash stations.
Your future independent living community grounds have much to offer. Enjoy a gourmet meal on a covered restaurant-style patio, get cozy by the outdoor fireplace, or stroll along paved walking paths through the landscaped courtyards. When it’s time to explore off campus, access the community’s own transportation options, which might even include a personal limousine service. This is Los Angeles after all.
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Seniors in Los Angeles are near a number of nationally ranked hospitals and medical centers. Several of these centers also have specific programs for seniors or are nationally ranked in geriatric care.
In Los Angeles, 90% of A Place for Mom’s partner independent living facilities offer either at-cost or complimentary transportation services. These transportation services provide a secure and convenient way for you to run errands and get around the city without having to drive. Driving in Los Angeles is notoriously stressful due to the heavy traffic at all hours, so these services are especially valued.
And on days when driving isn’t necessary, you can easily access bike-friendly routes and walkable areas in Los Angeles from our partner communities. You can also access Los Angeles’ popular public transportation hubs, some with senior-specific services. Both Union Station Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Metro are popular public transportation hubs, and many of their options have senior discounts. Browse the following transportation options offered at each of these locations:
Los Angeles also has senior-specific transportation options:
The figures below represent the ease of Los Angeles’ transportation methods, according to WalkScore. Scores range from zero to 100, with higher numbers indicating a more accessible method of transportation.
Sunrise at Sterling Canyon, Sunrise of Beverly Hills and Sunrise of Westlake Village are the top-rated Independent Living facilities near Los Angeles, CA. These Independent Living facilities received the highest rankings based on verified family reviews. See full list of communities.
The average cost of Independent Living in Los Angeles is $4,695 per month. This cost may vary based on location, amenities, floorplan, level of care and other factors.
A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Sex by age by veteran status for the civilian population 18 years and over (B21001) [Data set]. American Community Survey.
U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. What’s Medicare? Medicare.gov.
State of California Health and Human Services Agency. Department of Social Services. (2008). Manual of Policies and Procedures Community Care Licensing Division: Residential care facilities for the elderly (RCFE), Title 22, Division 6, Chapter 8.
Intergenerational Housing for Senior Citizens, California Civil Code § 51.3.5 (1988 & rev. 2017).
California Department of Justice. (2003, November). Legal rights of persons with disabilities, 4th edition.
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. (2022, November 10). Guidance for community care facilities.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Age and sex (S0101) [Data set]. American Community Survey.
Weather Spark. (2022). Average weather in Los Angeles.
U.S. World and News Report. (2022). Best hospitals in Los Angeles, California.
Walkscore. (2022). Living in Los Angeles.
Ask an A Place for Mom local advisor at no cost.
A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Sex by age by veteran status for the civilian population 18 years and over (B21001) [Data set]. American Community Survey.
U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. What’s Medicare? Medicare.gov.
State of California Health and Human Services Agency. Department of Social Services. (2008). Manual of Policies and Procedures Community Care Licensing Division: Residential care facilities for the elderly (RCFE), Title 22, Division 6, Chapter 8.
Intergenerational Housing for Senior Citizens, California Civil Code § 51.3.5 (1988 & rev. 2017).
California Department of Justice. (2003, November). Legal rights of persons with disabilities, 4th edition.
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. (2022, November 10). Guidance for community care facilities.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Age and sex (S0101) [Data set]. American Community Survey.
Weather Spark. (2022). Average weather in Los Angeles.
U.S. World and News Report. (2022). Best hospitals in Los Angeles, California.
Walkscore. (2022). Living in Los Angeles.