Oakland Independent Living

Oakland is often treated as San Francisco's little brother, but Oaktown has its own character, history and amenities. For seniors, there are currently 73 assisted living facilities in the Oakland area. If you're interested in retiring in the city, we'll show you what to expect.

Oakland often gets a bad rap for its crime rate. There are dangerous sections of the city just as there are with any city. But there are "safe" areas as well. Consider the neighborhood around Lake Merritt. The city calls the lake their "jewel" and with good reason. Within the 3-mile perimeter of the lake are artificial islands (the oldest bird sanctuary in North America) with egrets, herons, Canada geese and many other species. Around the lake is a golf course, walking trails, tennis courts, a boating center and public library. See our listing for the Clausen House, an assisting living facility just a few blocks from the lake. Another area to consider is the Piedmont neighborhood where you'll find our listing for Piedmont Gardens.

Visit one of senior centers—north, east and west. Here you'll find activities and classes such as computers, line dancing, bridge, nutrition, exercise, nutrition and others. Each location serves a weekday lunch at noon. For the disabled, the Oakland Paratransit for the Elderly & Disabled (OPED) assists the disabled and frail with door-to-door transportation to medical appointments, shopping trip, and daily excursions. For more information on senior services in Oakland, click here for the Alameda County Social Services Agency.

Some of Oakland's cultural attractions include the Oakland Zoo, Chabot Space and Science Center, Peralta Hacienda Historical Park and Chinatown, considered by many to be better than San Francisco's.

Assisted living facilities in the Oakland area start at about $3,000 a month depending on location and amenities. To start your search, type an address or zip code into our advanced search option at the top right.