Assisted Living & Board and Care in Santa Ana, CA — 37 Licensed Homes

When a parent or spouse needs more help managing daily activities but does not require skilled medical care, the search for the right residential setting begins with understanding what options exist locally and how to compare them. Santa Ana has 37 licensed senior care homes offering a total of 984 beds, ranging in size from 6-resident homes to a facility licensed for 328 residents. This mix gives families in the area a meaningful choice between smaller, home-based settings and larger communities, each with distinct tradeoffs to weigh during the decision process. The 31 board and care homes in Santa Ana are typically converted residential houses licensed to serve 6 or fewer residents, while the 6 larger assisted living communities accommodate 7 or more residents. Both types are licensed by the California Department of Social Services as Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly, or RCFEs. An RCFE provides support with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, meals, and transportation, but it does not provide skilled medical services. That distinction matters: if a parent or spouse needs skilled medical services such as wound care or intravenous therapy, a different facility licensed by the California Department of Public Health would be the appropriate setting. An RCFE is the right fit for someone who is generally stable medically but needs hands-on help to remain safely at home. Choosing between a smaller board and care home and a larger community involves questions families should ask directly of each home: What is the daily routine and how are residents supported throughout the day? What activities or outings are available? How does staff respond to requests? What are the costs and what services are included? Visiting multiple homes and speaking with current residents and their families will reveal which setting matches a parent's or spouse's needs and personality. Before narrowing the list, families should verify each home's current standing by reviewing license status and inspection reports through the CDSS Community Care Licensing Division, which maintains public records on all RCFEs. This step takes a few minutes online and provides important context for conversations with each home's management. Paying for care most commonly begins with private funds—savings or proceeds from the sale of a home—supplemented by long-term care insurance if available, or VA benefits such as Aid and Attendance for eligible veterans and surviving spouses. Orange County participates in California's Medi-Cal Assisted Living Waiver, which can help pay for care services (not room and board) at participating homes. Slots are limited and there is currently a waitlist; new applicants enroll through a Care Coordination Agency. In Santa Ana, 5 homes on this directory are marked as accepting the Assisted Living Waiver. This directory identifies 5 homes in Santa Ana as waiver participants. Costs vary significantly depending on the home's size, services, and location; families should contact homes directly for current rates and what is covered. Starting with the board and care homes listed below—which make up the majority of licensed options in Santa Ana—and then comparing one or more of the larger communities will help narrow the search to the right fit for a parent or spouse.