
Retirement is a time when life changes in many ways, and where there’s no place like home. With many options for retirement living, such as assisted living communities and continuing care retirement communities, it can be difficult to know which Santa Barbara retirement community will offer the best fit with your needs.
We’ve compiled a list of 10 of the Best Santa Barbara Retirement Communities to help you make an informed decision about your future!
10 Best Santa Barbara Retirement Communities
1. Granvida Senior Living
Granvida is an assisted living and memory care facility with a difference. It’s located in Carpinteria, California, on the border of the Carpinteria Bluffs Nature Preserve and just a short walk from the ocean, where it offers exceptional services at reasonable prices.
It has a reputation for offering excellent care and services without the high cost associated with other facilities. No two people are alike, so Granvida tailors its service to each resident’s individual needs; no cookie-cutter here!
Granvida offers an array of choices in terms of assisted living services, including medication management, 24 hour care, and housekeeping.

2. Oak Cottage of Santa Barbara
The Oak Cottage in Danville, California is a dementia care facility where residents can live with the assistance of Alzheimer’s disease. This luxurious and serene assisted living community offers individualized care in a beautiful, comfortable environment.
The Oak Cottage offers services for residents with Alzheimer’s disease and is notably more affordable than many other facilities. Oak Cottage provides its clients with the highest quality of dementia care available.
Oak Cottage has a unique approach to life, which they stand behind for all community members. This includes being inspired by the sense of spirituality and embracing social moments that are important in one’s journey towards happiness.
3. Pacifica Senior Living
The Pacifica Retirement Community in Santa Barbara is dedicated to providing professional, one-on-one care for those suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s while also offering respite services for family caregivers.
Pacifica Senior Living has earned awards, including the US News & World Report 2013 award for top Alzheimer’s care provider in the country and CareScout’s 2013 Gold Seal Award for exceptional dementia care.
Pacifica provides services in multiple areas of concern to seniors, including Alzheimer’s disease, advanced memory loss, and dementia.
4. Maravilla
One of the best things about living at Maravilla is that it feels like a five-star hotel. Whether you’re there for just a few weeks or retiring from your job as an active senior, residents can enjoy spa treatments and pool time with friends in this luxurious 24 hour community!
It has lots of new features to enjoy, including crown molding and hardwood flooring throughout the facility. The bathrooms are all equipped with new fixtures and beautiful designs! Maravilla offers several levels of care for clients, but they all feature the fabulous restaurant which aims to make everyone feel like a VIP.
They even serve complimentary breakfast every day! You’ll be close to shopping, dining and entertainment options with an affordable retirement living plan. You can also enjoy the scenic views of San Jose Creek!
5. Mariposa at Ellwood Shores
Mariposa at Ellwood Shores is one of the top retirement communities in Santa Barbara County if you’re seeking an assisted living arrangement. It’s located in Santa Barbara, California and offers exceptional services at reasonable prices. It also boasts an award-winning chef for your dining pleasure!
6. Vista del Monte
Vista del Monte is a retirement community where you can enjoy the beautiful views of both land and sea. There’s plenty of open space, fresh air to take in all that nature has to offer as well as dining prepared by chefs just for your convenience!
The community is located in Santa Barbara, California and offers assisted living with all the amenities of home.
7. Villa Santa Barbara
Take a break from the hustle and bustles of city life to enjoy your retirement years in style. Choose between three different types for living close to all that downtown has to offer, but without sacrificing comfort or independence.
Villa Santa Barbara, located in Goleta just a few miles from the ocean is a great place for assisted living.
8. Samarkand
The Samarkand retirement community offers so many different living options and activities that it is hard to choose what you want. There is the Covenant Living for those who enjoy good food, fitness classes on-site and the option of joining existing social activities.
There is also the Independent Living community with its vegetarian menu, transportation and fitness center for those who would like a little extra help but still want to maintain their independence. The third option is the Assisted Living program that provides housekeeping services, 3 meals a day and a 24-hour doctor on call.
Samarkand offers the perfect place to retire for those who appreciate luxury amenities and spacious grounds. Located in Santa Barbara, it is close to everything you need!
9. Cliff View Terrace
Cliff View Terrace is a skilled nursing facility that offers private residential accommodations for seniors, along with highly-trained specialized nurses. They provide long term care and short term rehabilitation covering physical therapies. Nursing staff is available 24 hours a day and competitive rates of pay are offered.
In addition, the facility offers its residents an on-site restaurant that serves generous portions of home-style cooking, generous snacks from 11 am to 1 pm, and a complete set of essential amenities including access to personal laundry facilities on site! This is just one of the many retirement facilities in California.
In addition, there is a large garden where residents can take pleasure of doing their gardening tasks and also enjoy some leisure time with friends! A barber shop is available for those who want to keep looking good at all times! As for entertainment, there are special interest groups that meet regularly to discuss various topics and to enjoy some time out in the area!
10. Valle Verde
One of the most premier living communities in all California, Valle Verde has it going on. They provide residents with excellent facilities and their location right by Downtown Santa Barbara makes for easy access to everything that life can offer.
They offer six different types of living arrangements. Reserve your spot in one of their affordable luxury residential communities today!

What’s Common Among These Communities
There are several options throughout the state that provide excellent living conditions for seniors, including some of the best health care available in all of America.
You can find an assisted living home in any corner of California with a little research and effort on your part.
There are several options throughout California for first class living conditions, so research your options and find a nice place to retire today.
What are the reasons why Santa Barbara is the best place to retire:
- It has so many different options for seniors. Whether you need assisted living or independence, there are many different options for all budgets and needs.
- It’s also close to nearby wineries with plenty of outdoor activities for seniors who enjoy being active.
- It is a small town feel with all of the major amenities you would want in your golden years. It’s close to many different types of dining and shopping, but also far enough away from LA or San Diego that there isn’t much traffic.
- It has the best weather in all of California. Residents enjoy mild winters, sunny summers and warm springs throughout the year.
- It has the most beautiful scenery in all of California. There are mountains, lakes and beaches nearby with plenty of hiking trails throughout different parts of town that residents can enjoy.
What amenities should you look for when moving into a retirement community:
- It depends on what you’re looking for and where your priorities lie. For example, some communities offer different styles of living while others focus more on security or dining options.
- Great outdoor activities that you can participate in. Many locations will have options like bocce ball, croquet or even horseshoes!
- It’s always important to look at what dietary options are available to you so you know exactly the type of food your able-bodied friends and family will be bringing over when they come visit.
- Check for amenities. One of those is on-site dining; this allows seniors to enjoy a meal with their friends instead of having to travel off-site somewhere else every day.
- Another amenity that’s important when moving into a retirement community is security systems and 24/hour emergency response teams, these are crucial for residents who need help getting around or have medical conditions.
How safe are Santa Barbara Retirement Communities?
Santa Barbara retirement communities offer some of the best security in all California.
The majority have medical staff on site to help any residents who need immediate care, plus 24-hour surveillance systems for when you want peace of mind at night or while away during the day.
Many people feel much safer when living in a retirement community because there is always someone around to help and answer questions.
With so many different activities available, it can be hard for seniors who love being active and outdoors to find the right place that has all of their needs catered too!
Most communities have on-site dining options which allow people to enjoy company and a meal with friends.
The best Santa Barbara retirement communities offer great amenities like pools, bocce ball courts and grills on site as well as easy access to Downtown Santa Barbara for any residents who want to explore the local restaurant scene too!

Final Thought
If you’re looking for a place to retire that will offer the perfect balance of active and relaxing, Santa Barbara is where you want to be. This coastal city has plenty of opportunities for adventure such as surfing or hiking while still offering enough cultural amenities like museums and galleries so there’s never a dull moment.
There are many different types of retirement communities in this area with something for everyone from resort-style living to assisted living facilities.