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Key information
Palo Alto Commons is a 250-resident assisted living community in Palo Alto. It has been licensed since June 2021.
It also offers independent living and memory care. The nearest hospital, Palo Alto VA Medical Center, which has an emergency room, is 1.2 miles away.
Inspectors have visited 26 times since November 2023, most recently on September 16, 2026. State licensing inspectors (CCLD) cited 3 citations in that time (3 Type A). Regulators looked into 2 complaints in that time (1 unsubstantiated and 1 unfounded). State licensing (CCLD) imposed 1 penalty totalling $500 in that time (1 fine).
Rating and inspection report
Official rating
Care & pricing
Care available
- Licensed capacity
- 250 beds
- State license
- CA 435202819 · Active
Pricing
- Assisted Living starting price: $6,350 per monthAssisted living
- Price range: $6,350–$11,500 per monthAll care types
- Assisted Living / Studio: $8,500–$8,800 per monthAssisted living
- Assisted Living / One Bedroom: $9,850–$10,800 per monthAssisted living
- Assisted Living / Private Room: $10,500 per monthAssisted living
- Assisted Living / Two Bedroom: $11,950–$13,900 per monthAssisted living
- Independent living / Studio: $8,700 per monthIndependent living
- Independent living / One Bedroom: $9,550 per monthIndependent living
- Independent living / Two Bedroom: $11,500 per monthIndependent living
- Memory Care / Shared Bedroom: $7,050 per monthMemory care
- Memory Care starting price: $11,500 per monthMemory care
- Memory Care / Private Room: $12,000–$14,000 per monthMemory care
Payment types accepted
Room type
- Studio
- One bedroom
- Two bedroom
- StudioIndependent living · Spacious studio apartment
- One bedroomIndependent living · One bedroom apartment
- Two bedroomIndependent living · Two bedroom apartment
- Private roomMemory care · Private accommodations where residents can have comforting mementos and favorite furnishings
- Shared roomMemory care · Shared accommodations where residents can have comforting mementos and favorite furnishings
- StudioAssisted living · Light-filled studio with kitchenette with refrigerator and microwave, private bathroom, large walk-in closet, high-end finishes
- One bedroomAssisted living · One bedroom apartment with kitchenette with refrigerator and microwave, private bathroom, large walk-in closet, high-end finishes
- Two bedroomAssisted living · Two bedroom, two bath apartment with kitchenette with refrigerator and microwave, large walk-in closet, high-end finishes
- 1 Bedroom
- One bedroom apartment
- Two bedroom apartment
- One Bedroom$9,550 per month
- Private Room$10,500 per month
- Shared Bedroom$7,050 per month
- Studio$8,700 per month
- Two Bedroom$11,500 per month
Daily life
Details
Facilities
- Activity room
- Air Conditioned
- Air conditioning
- Arts and Crafts Center
- Arts room
- Barber /
Salon - Barber Shop
- Beauty Salon
- Business room
- Cable TV
- Choice menu
- Climate control
- Fitness Center
- Fitness room
- Furnished
- Game room
- Garden
- Indoor Atrium
- Indoor Common Areas
- Kitchenette
- Library
- Meeting Room
- Movie or Theater Room
- Outdoor Common Areas
- Outdoor common space
- Outside Patio
- Piano or Organ
- Private bathroom
- Spa /
sauna / wellness room - Swimming pool /
jacuzzi - Telephone in room
- Walking paths
- Wi-Fi and internet access
- Wi-Fi /
high-speed internet - State-licensed residential care facility for the elderly (California CDSS)
- Staff description
Activities
- Activities Off-site
- Activities On-site
- Art Classes
- BBQs or Picnics
- Birthday Parties
- Brain fitness /
Dakim - Community-sponsored activities
- Cooking Classes
- Day Trips and Outings
- Devotional Activities Offsite
- Educational Speakers /
Life Long Learning - Fitness programs
- Happy Hour
- Holiday Parties
- Live Dance or Theater Performances
- Live Musical Performances
- Movie nights
- Music program
- Outdoor programs
- Planned activities
- Resident run activities
- Scheduled daily activities
- Sensory-based Programs
- Stretching Classes
- Trivia Games
- Water Aerobics
- Yoga /
Chair Yoga
Services
- 12-16 hour nursing
- 24-hour call system
- 24-hour nursing
- 24-hour supervision
- Activities of daily living assistance
- Administer insulin injections
- Assistance with bathing
- Assistance with dressing
- Assistance with transfers
- Awake overnight staff
- Beautician
- Bed-bound residents
- Cognitive learning center
- Concierge
- Continuing learning experience
- Dementia /
memory care - Dementia waiver
- Diabetes care
- Diabetes management (glucose checks)
- Diabetic Care
- Family support services
- Grocery Shopping and Errands
- Help arranging medical and dental appointments
- High Acuity Care
- Housekeeping
- Incontinence care
- Laundry service /
dry cleaning - Licensed nurse on site 24/
7 - Mechanical (Hoyer) lift
- Medication management and reminders
- Mental wellness program
- Mild cognitive impairment
- Move in coordination
- Non-ambulatory care
- Other injections
- Outside hospice allowed
- Oxygen
- Physical, occupational or speech therapy
- Secured (locked) unit
- Special diets (diabetic, renal, pureed)
- Specialized memory care programming
- Staffing & Ancillary Services
- Transportation arrangement
- Transport to medical appointments
- Wheelchair accessible
- Wheelchair users accepted
Dining
- All day dining
- Allergy sensitive
- Diabetes diet
- Dining room
- Gluten free
- Grill
- Low /
No Sodium - Meal preparation and service
- Meals Provided
- No Sugar
- Professional chef
- Restaurant style dining
- Special dietary restrictions
- Three meals a day and snacks, including diets a physician prescribes
- Vegetarian
Safety and security
- Emergency alert system
Transportation
- Complimentary Transportation
- Transportation and parking
Policies
- Accepts private pay
- Cats Allowed
- Pet-friendly
- Rent And Care Fees
Faith
- Faith Based
Languages spoken on site
- English
Come and see for yourself
The best way to know if a place is the right fit is to experience it in person. Arrange a visit to explore the space, get a feel for daily life there, and ask any questions along the way.
Reviews and listings
What families and listing sites say.
Ratings on other sites
- 8/10
- 4.5/5
Reviews
Review for Palo Alto Commons
I'm very happy with the Commons. Mom is happy. The food is good, location is fair. The staff are great. It's a wonderful place. It is very expensive.
Read full reviewFamily member
Dec 19, 2025
Verified- Caring.com5/5
I went to Palo Alto Commons for my husband. We love it. The most important thing is that they treated us as humans coming to them. Their main goal is the well-being of the body, brains, and minds of the residents. And also, this is a very small place. It's a small population, only 29 people, and each one of those people had their own individual caregivers, and they developed a relationship with them. And that is wonderful, and that is where my husband is. Also, they said they're being fully entertained with different activities, so the day will not be stressful for them. My husband loves music. He used to play the guitar. He was a dancer. So, this is a place that is suitable for him. The staff was wonderful. The facility was wonderful. There is facility transportation to wherever he wants to go and whoever he wants to go with, him and me, or maybe with some relatives.
Read full reviewVisitor
May 22, 2024
Our Experience
My loved one is currently a resident at Palo Alto Commons and everything about her experience at this facility has been great so far. Things seem to be working out well for her. The move in process went smoothly. The food is excellent. Communication with the family could be better, but is by no means insufficient. The housekeeping is okay, I have heard no complaints. I would recommend Palo Alto Commons to others.
Read full reviewFamily member
Oct 20, 2023
VerifiedWe took a tour of Palo Alto Commons during our search for a facility for a loved one. The staff at this facility were extremely helpful. They also offered many activities for the residents to participate in. Great place!
Read full reviewVisitor
Oct 5, 2023
Verified- Caring.com4/5
Palo Alto Commons looked very clean and welcoming. I felt very comfortable there. The room was adequate. The woman during the tour was very good, very kind and welcoming, and interested in my problems and how to solve them. I was offered the opportunity to come to have a meal there, but I have not taken them up on that. It looked like a nice sociable facility and socialization would be very important. We passed by a physical exercise class and that was good. I certainly think that my husband would be able to participate in that.
Read full reviewVisitor
Jul 5, 2023
- Caring.com4/5
I thought Palo Alto Commons was beautiful. The two units that they showed me were decorated beautifully, and I know that anybody who moves in brings their own furniture and things. The only thing I had against the building is it's in a lousy part of town. There are all kinds of industrial buildings in front of it. When you're in the unit, the only thing you're looking at is the atrium in the center of the whole complex. I had a gentleman showing me around. He was very nice and knowledgeable and the people at the desk were very good and welcoming me. It was very good. The layout was very good. They had a beauty shop in the building. The rooms were spacious, so people don't have to worry about walking into things. It had a very nice little kitchenette with a microwave. It was very nice. There were quite a few things to do there. They have a van that will take people shopping or go to their doctor's appointments or whatever. They have exercises every morning, which is very good. I don't think you'd have to worry about help. They seem to have a good staff from what I could see. The decoration was just beautiful.
Read full reviewVisitor
Nov 3, 2021
- A Place for Mom4.5/5
Palo Alto Commons assessment
The Palo Alto Commons Assisted Living section has proved to be an excellent place for my sister with early dementia to reside. It provides all of the services she needs in a very friendly as well as professional atmosphere.
Read full reviewFamily member
Apr 5, 2019
- Caring.com5/5
My visit at Palo Alto Commons was OK. I just showed up, and they showed me around. The room that would have suited my mom wasn't a regular apartment but like a dorm room that was nicely appointed. They seemed to have all kinds of activities and stuff on-site, and they also had a van to take the residents out. There's a senior center in Palo Alto that has a connection with them as well. The community seemed to have all the right things for my mom. I would rate the staff a 5 because I didn't have an appointment, but they jumped right in, so it was nice. The building looked very nice. They had a roundabout to drop off or pick up. They also had a nice-looking lobby. The only downside was that the street was crowded.
Read full reviewVisitor
Jan 2, 2019
Good Care
They took very good care of my mom at Palo Alto Commons. She recently passed away but I was very happy with the care they provided for her. They did a good job of making sure she was comfortable. They were very attentive and responsive to her needs. I liked that they had plenty of staff and did not seem overworked like they were at the previous community. There was a nice big beautiful courtyard. And they have a little aviary inside one of the common areas. I would definitely recommend this community to others.
Read full reviewFamily member
Sep 26, 2017
VerifiedMy mother stayed in the elite care needing a lot of assistance. We were happy with her care.
Read full reviewFamily member
Aug 29, 2017
- Caring.com4/5
Palo Alto Commons was small and OK. The room sizes varied, and there was a big program of activities. I would recommend them.
Read full reviewVisitor
Jul 13, 2016
- Caring.com4/5
Palo Alto Commons was high-end and very expensive living. The staff was very polite. The conference room was done very nice.
Read full reviewVisitor
Oct 28, 2015
- Caring.com5/5
The staff at Palo Alto Commons is very accommodating and very nice.
Read full reviewVisitor
Jun 19, 2013
Next to Goodwill. Monthly fee covers 24-hour trained staff, three meals from menu choices; full calendar of activities, utilities excluding phone and cable, emergency response system in apartment, transportation, weekly housekeeping/flat linen service; wash own laundry; overnight security on duty; fitness center w/weekly trainer support, concierge services included; don't feed - encourage to feed self. Meadow Wing-Dementia wing Provide own supplies. Focus care unit - more care facility; if don't like daily meal menu can select from general menu. You pay for personalized care
Read full reviewVisitor
Dec 30, 2012
VerifiedReally liked the place and the offerings. Only draw back is they do not have 2 bedroom units.
Read full reviewVisitor
Dec 14, 2012
Verified- Caring.com5/5
I had the pleasure of visiting Palo Alto Commons last week with my mother, and we left extremely impressed with the community there. The physical amenities are excellent, and a new building will be coming online in the next 18 months that will have a lap pool, which will be a wonderful addition to the existing facility. The rooms are large and sunny, and virtually all of them have either balconies or porches; additionally, there are numerous areas throughout the community to sit and relax in a casual atmosphere. We stayed for lunch and the food was top notch, with a wide variety from which to choose. Every staff member with whom we met was positive, pleasant and genuinely interested in us and in helping in any way possible. Many of the staff have been with Palo Alto Commons for over ten years, and the turnover of the front line staff is very low. Behind the building is a very pleasant residential neighborhood perfect for a stroll, and in front of the facility are numerous restaurants and small shops for coffee, etc. The assisted living support ranges from independent living to elite care with nurses available around the clock. The staff also is extremely focused on feedback from its residents, and does an excellent job at listening to and acting on input with a formal closed loop process. In summary, we were both exceptionally pleased and my mother is very interested in relocating to The Commons.
Read full reviewVisitor
Sep 24, 2012
Location
4075 El Camino Way, Palo Alto, CA 94306