Retiring to San Diego? How to Plan for Future Care Now

San Diego is a popular retirement destination, but retirees who move here should plan early for the care they may need later. Consider homes you can age in (single-level, near services and family), budget for San Diego’s higher care costs, put legal documents and long-term care funding in place, build a local support network, and learn your care options before you need them. Planning while you’re healthy keeps choices in your hands.

Many retirees move to San Diego for the weather, the coast, and to be near children or grandchildren. The move often happens when people are active and healthy, and future care needs feel far away. But a home, a neighborhood and a financial plan chosen at 65 will shape your options at 80. If you are retiring to San Diego, planning care after retiring to San Diego now keeps your options open later.

This guide covers what to think about now, from choosing a home to building a support network.

What should you consider when choosing a home?

• Single-level living or a main-floor bedroom and bathroom: Avoids stairs when mobility changes
• Walk-in shower or space to add one: Safer bathing
• Near family: Easier support and visits
• Near medical care: Shorter trips to doctors and hospitals
• Near shopping and transit: Independence if you stop driving
• Community and neighbors: Social connection and informal help
• 55+ community or continuing care community: Built-in services and activities

Coastal and inland areas differ in cost, heat, wildfire risk and access to care. See our guide to in-home senior care in San Diego.

How much does senior care cost in San Diego?

San Diego’s care costs are higher than national averages:

• In-home care (licensed agency): $40 to $50 per hour, depending on the level of care
• Board and care home: About $5,500 to $9,500 per month
• Assisted living: Varies widely by community and care level
• Skilled nursing: Often $12,000 or more per month

See Cost of In-Home Care in San Diego County and in-home care vs. assisted living.

How should retirees plan financially for care?

1. Estimate potential care costs and include them in your retirement plan.
2. Consider long-term care insurance or hybrid policies while you’re healthy enough to qualify. See using long-term care insurance for home care.
3. Understand home equity options, including selling, reverse mortgages and California’s Prop 19 rules for homeowners 55 and older buying a replacement home.
4. Know your benefits: Medicare doesn’t pay for long-term non-medical care; VA benefits and Medi-Cal programs may help. See How to Pay for Home Care in California.

What legal documents should be in place?

• Durable power of attorney for finances
• Advance health care directive naming a healthcare agent
• Updated will or trust under California law
• HIPAA authorizations for family members

If you’re moving from another state, have a California attorney review documents.

How do you build a local support network?

• Find a primary care doctor early; new-patient waits can be long.
• Get involved in a senior center, faith community or club.
• Meet neighbors and exchange contact information.
• Learn local resources. See in-home senior care in San Diego.
• Talk with family about expectations: who helps, and how.

What if you’re moving to be near your children?

Talk openly about expectations before the move. Adult children often have jobs, kids and limited time. Agree on how family will help, and plan for professional support so the arrangement works long term.

How do you choose a San Diego neighborhood that works for aging?

Retirees often pick a San Diego neighborhood for the beach, the views, or the weather. As you plan for future care, think also about what will matter when you are older.

• Distance to doctors and hospitals. Consider how far you would travel for routine care and emergencies.
• Walkability. Can you reach groceries, pharmacies, and parks without driving?
• Transportation. Is there public transit, paratransit, or community shuttles nearby?
• Community. Are there senior centers, faith communities, or clubs nearby?
• Caregiver access. Will caregivers be able to reach your home easily?

Choosing a neighborhood with these factors in mind can make aging in place easier later.

How do you plan for care if you have no family nearby?

Many retirees move to San Diego without family close by. Plan ahead for who will help if you become ill or need care.

Build relationships with neighbors and friends, choose a trusted person for health care and financial decisions, and research home care agencies before you need one. Retiring to San Diego is easier when you have a plan for support.

How do you revisit your plan over time?

Review your plan every few years or after major health changes. Update legal documents, financial plans, and care preferences.

A plan that evolves with your needs keeps you prepared.

How do you choose a home with aging in place in mind?

If you are buying or renting a home in San Diego for retirement, look for features that will make aging in place easier. Single-level living, wide doorways, a walk-in shower or space to add one, good lighting, minimal steps at entrances, and a bedroom and full bathroom on the main floor can all make a big difference later.

Think about the outside of the home as well. Steep driveways, long staircases, and large yards may become harder to manage. A home that fits your needs at 80 is often easier to stay in than one that fits only your needs at 65.

An occupational therapist or a certified aging-in-place specialist can review a home and suggest changes before you move in.

Frequently asked questions

Is San Diego a good place to retire? Many retirees love it for the climate and lifestyle, but costs, including care, are higher than average.

How much does home care cost in San Diego? Licensed agencies, including Nona’s, charge $40 to $50 per hour depending on the level of care, and Nona’s has no minimums.

When should I buy long-term care insurance? Often in your 50s or early 60s, while you’re healthy enough to qualify.

Should I buy a single-story home when retiring? It’s a smart choice for aging in place, or ensure a main-floor bedroom and bathroom.

What senior resources are available in San Diego? Aging & Independence Services, caregiver resource centers, senior centers, paratransit and more.

Retiring to San Diego: what to remember

Retiring to San Diego is easier to enjoy when you plan for future care early. Choose a home you can age in, budget for the cost of senior care in San Diego, put legal documents in place, and build a local support network while you are healthy. Aging in San Diego is more comfortable when care options are researched before they are needed.

The best places to retire in San Diego County are close to family, services, and hospitals. Retirement planning for long-term care in California should include long-term care insurance or other funding. Licensed in-home care costs $40 to $50 per hour depending on the level of care, and 24-hour care runs $850 to $1,100 per day. See the cost of in-home care in San Diego and in-home care vs. assisted living in San Diego.