34 facilities, but not cheap. Santa Ana is one of the pricier markets in California. Safety scores are about average for the area.
These scores are part of the FYI Safety Scorecard, California's independent safety rating for assisted living. See how Santa Ana compares statewide.
6 beds · $8,000/mo
Best safety record in Santa Ana. Small home, more personal attention. On the pricier end.
6 beds · $8,000/mo
Very clean inspection history. Small home, more personal attention. On the pricier end.
6 beds · $8,000/mo
Very clean inspection history. Small home, more personal attention. On the pricier end.
6 beds · $8,000/mo
Very clean inspection history. Small home, more personal attention. On the pricier end.
70 beds · $4,495/mo
Very clean inspection history. Large community with more amenities. Offers memory care. Lower cost than most in the area.
124 beds · $6,745/mo
Very clean inspection history. Large community with more amenities. Offers memory care.
74 beds · $7,014/mo
Solid inspection record. Large community with more amenities.
Showing 34 of 34.
Mostly smaller, home-like settings. Santa Ana has 34 licensed assisted living facilities. The majority (29) are residential care homes with 6 beds or fewer, so if you're looking for something intimate where your parent isn't one of dozens of residents, you'll have options. There are also 5 larger communities with 50+ beds if you prefer structured activities, on-site dining, and more staff on hand.
Expect to pay around $5,961/mo. That's about 13% more than the statewide average of $5,291/mo, so this isn't the cheapest market. Prices range from $3,800 up to $8,000 depending on the facility, room type, and level of care. 28 of 34 facilities publish pricing, which is better transparency than most areas.
Look at the safety scores before you visit. The average score in Santa Ana is 8.1 out of 10. That's about average for California. Some facilities here have excellent records and others don't, so check individual scores before you visit. Our scores come from real California state inspection data, not self-reported reviews.
A few things that might narrow your search. Only 15% of facilities here accept Medi-Cal through the Assisted Living Waiver program, so your options will be limited. 8 facilities offer specialized memory care if that's what you need.
Start by comparing facilities on what actually matters: safety record, pricing, care types, and size. We list all 34 licensed assisted living facilities in Santa Ana with their FYI Safety Scores, drawn from California state inspection data, plus any verified pricing, so you can narrow the list before you ever pick up the phone. Many placement services are paid referral agents who only show you facilities that pay them. Here you can compare every licensed option directly.
It's on the pricier side. The average in Santa Ana is $5,961/mo, about 13% more than the typical California city we track. If budget is a concern, it's worth looking at neighboring cities too.
Safety varies a lot by facility. Of the 34 facilities in Santa Ana with a FYI Safety Score, 21 land in the Good or Excellent range and 5 fall into the Poor or Severe range. Across the 34 facilities with an inspection record, 79% have zero substantiated complaints. These scores come from California state inspection data, not online reviews, so they reflect what regulators actually documented.
Guardian Angels Homes Ii currently has the highest safety score in Santa Ana at 9.6 out of 10. These scores are based on real state inspection data, not online reviews. We'd recommend checking individual scores for any facility you're considering, since they can vary a lot even within the same city.
Among our top-rated facilities, Ivy Park at Tustin starts at $4,495/mo, and it has a safety score of 9.3. Across all 34 facilities in the area, published prices range from $3,800 to $8,000/mo. Keep in mind that the actual cost depends on the level of care needed.
15% of facilities in Santa Ana participate in the Assisted Living Waiver (ALW) program, which is California's way of covering assisted living costs through Medi-Cal. Eligibility requirements can be strict, so it's worth calling ahead to ask about availability and waitlists.
Yes, 8 facilities in Santa Ana offer specialized memory care for residents with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia. Among the top-rated: Ivy Park at Tustin and Clearwater at North Tustin. Memory care units typically have additional security measures and staff trained in dementia care, so expect higher pricing than standard assisted living.
Every licensed facility we track in Santa Ana, ranked by our recommendation. Each links to its full safety record, pricing, and details.