It is expensive to live here, but if one can afford it, it is full of wonderful features,…read moreespecially the trees, the walking path by the Santa Rosa Creek, the kindness of the staff (several of whom we met that have worked here for over 34 years!), a skilled nursing facility, and the various options for apartments or cottages, many of which look out on to a huge lawn with trees that must be over 100 years old... or so it seems. And flowers planted with blossoms that last. And as you walk around, you may well be accompanied by the songs of birds that are everywhere. Also, if you're happy eating just breakfast and lunch, your monthly allotment will cover that. Dinner on its own uses up the daily points but is abundant, varied, and you can also fill up a container with your favorite things to take home. Why there are not more 5 star review of this amazing, 40 years old place, is really hard to understand. If in doubt, come check it out! :o) That said, there is usually a fairly lengthy waiting list.

My mom was a resident there until her death . The CNA that let my husband and I in her apartment…read more went back and stole jewelry from my mom's dresser. It was a good thing I had done an inventory. Spring Lake did not seal off her room to anyone but her family. When I confronted the Director about the theft, she told me I was upset about my mom's passing. I suggested she look at the log who went in and out of the room. I also told her that I had already notified Santa Rosa police , they took my report seriously. It turned out the CNA that took my Mom's jewelry also stole from others. If you put your parents there , make sure anything of value does not move in with them. Ask them for their policy on what happens when your loved one passes . It's bad enough to have a sudden death of your loved one , you also do not need to have a crime committed against your family .

Ten months ago, I moved my mom into Vintage Brush Creek. Yes, of course I was initially impressed…read morewith the beauty of the facility, but the staff is what makes this place truly amazing. Although I would love to mention by name all the staff who help my mom beyond their job description, I'm afraid I might leave out someone out who treated her with dignity and made her feel better.. Besides caring for my mom, the staff offers me support and makes me feel welcome whenever I call or come to visit. I'm glad I found a place where genuine compassion and sincere understanding are real.

I've lived here going on 3 years. Our manager, Robert, has been here since before I moved in…read more Thoughtful, smart, engaging, collegial. My late husband and I had been on the waiting list for a similar facility in Oakland. After he passed away, family up here suggested I take a look at this place. First of all: It's simply beautiful! Architecture is reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright. Main building is pretty much natural materials, high ceilings, lovely light fixtures. Huge living room w/ fireplace opens out onto the large flagstone patio, with an oak grove beyond, between us and the golf course greens. Amazingly, our whole property wasn't touched by the horrible fires up here last year. Which reminds me - at the edge of our property we have a little area for our chickens and their coop. . We have fresh eggs available for residents several mornings a week. We have a beautiful theater, movies every night - fresh popcorn included. Residents' committees are active in every aspect of this beautiful place. Wine Wednesday is one of my favorites. Wonderful hors d'oeuvres included. On nice afternoons, we can sit outside on the patio. We even have our own barber/beauty shop whose small staff are amazingly good and up to date on styles. That's one of the few things that are not included. There's medical staff available if requested, pretty much 24/7. Beautiful pool and in-ground hot tub right out back. Gym ihas amazingly up to date equipment, plus all kinds of exercise classes, aerobics, etc. all included. The food is absolutely amazing! Chef Adam is top-rate! He worked w/ me last autumn to come up with an incredible menu for my private birthday dinner in our Wine Cellar, for close friends & family. Earlier in the afternoon, I had my late husband's and my all-time favorite band play fab rock'n'roll a la the Rolling Stones, for all the residents, out on our gorgeous flagstone patio that backs up to the golf course, and partially shaded by live-oak groves. Chef made wonderful hors d'oeuvres, and a variety of nice wines were poured. I'd asked him to just do it like our weekly "Wine Wednesday" event. It would be awfully hard to beat this place! I'd simply asked him to do a party similar to our weekly Wine Wednesdays. It was all fabulous! As is Wine Wednesday! (For which there's no extra charge!) We always have a deelish assortment of hors d'ouevres, hot & cold; live music, with different musicians each week. Pianists, guitarists, flautists. Sometimes, a combo. Classical, rock'n'roll, blues. When It's nice weather, many of us take our glasses out onto the patio. Seating is comfy, plus the lowest level of the flagstone- faced concrete retaining wall which borders an oak grove with beautiful plants and flowers. We also have a series of special concert events for which we can order tix for preferred seating. Concerts are everything from blues to mariachi to classical. I got a small-breed pup after our 17-yr old kitty died 2 weeks after my husband. Happily, they found me a beautiful ground-floor apt. w/ a lovely small patio. Plus, there's a nice dog park at the end of each wing. I thank my late husband every night.

I was told that this lodge when I inquired has younger independent residents; however, they offer…read moreassisted living and memory care. Residents look old in their photographs. I don't get it. My dad is looking for a permanent place to live where they will take care of him no matter what. Do they throw him out on the street when he gets older (which everyone does) or in-firmed by poor health? Very insensitive director I spoke with. Unbelievable!

I love Friends House, and especially love their residents. So many interesting, engaged, socially…read moreconscious elders. My mother is in skilled nursing, and I have found the care to be excellent, the workers compassionate and respectful. I live very far away, and look forward to my visits as I always make some new friends. After a recent visit, my daughter said she felt as if she'd gained many "grandparents" there :) I'm a musician I always try to find a moment to share in that way when I'm there, as that's my way of connecting. The sense of community between the workers and residents alike is evident. I'm very grateful to say that my mother is at home there. The grounds are beautiful, I love to take my mom out for a stroll to enjoy the landscaping, as well as the residents' own individual gardens. It's a happy place.

My father in law was a generally pleased occupant. I visited he and his wife many times in their…read morelast 3-5 years or so. I shared many meals with them and although they were pleased, I was very disappointed by the quality of the food--really horrible. Also, the limitations on the space allowed are profound. No one person allowed to live in a 2-bedroom apt, no matter their willingness or ability to pay. I have heard good things about their newer assisted living premises, but reviews do not seem to support that impression. I am an old Quaker and AFSC employer and am way disappointed by the above concerns.

I just wanted to be sure to give this very special retirement home a good review before my mom…read moremoves with us to another town. She moved from her childhood home to be closer to us four years ago and has repeatedly told us how happy she is at Brookdale Paulin Creek. The only reason she is moving again is that we all have decided to be closer to all our family and be in one town again. All the staff has been so supportive and exceptional during these difficult times. Over the last three years she has had to be evacuated due to fire threats three times. We live two hours away from her and the fear and worry could have been so much worse. But they took over and above measures to transport the residents to safety. One particular time we were on our way to get her and they needed to move the residents to yet another of their facilities as the fire grew and approached loser to where they were housed. Representatives personally called me and determined a good meeting place that they could bring her to to meet us. We were so grateful and impressed These are not unusual actions by the staff there. My mom has been so pleased with the housekeeping included as part of her monthly fees. Every Monday like clock work Magdolina has come with a smile and cheerful attitude. My mother has been so grateful and will miss her. What she has told me she will miss the most is the cheerful faces of the young staff that now deliver their meals three times a day to their doors. They have started doing this during the Covid in order to keep safely providing their yummy food to their residents. Even though she misses the fun activities that they provided like her painting classes and Candle Light dinners, Happy Hour and Book Clubs, she understands that they are doing everything they can to keep her and other. residents safe. Another disappointment is that she will miss Robert Alvarado. He has recently returned to Brookdale Paulin Creek as Executive Director. She grew to love Robert when he was the Activities Director their and ran many fun programs. Most especially the Painting group was very active and it was not unusual to see Robert jump right in among them and do a painting himself. He is kind and caring and we know he will bring a loving touch and organization to the facility. I can not forget to mention Susan And Suzanne at the front desk! They are always patient and efficient and know each resident and most family members by name. If they don't know the answer to a question, they will find out for you. We will miss you both! We wish you luck Robert and all the staff going forward and getting life back to normal after this pandemic has passed With much gratitude, Judy Pfeifer, a Family member of a very happy resident.

I had a relative in their memory care unit for a little over 1 1/2 years. By and large, the…read morecaregivers are very kind and very good with the residents. That said, the prices are outrageous. It was not too bad to start with, but within a few months, they raised the base rent. Then, they proceeded to nickel and dime us for absolutely everything. I really felt taken advantage of. Our family member was old and had dementia. We would have moved him out, but that would likely had made things even worse for him. I really feel like they played "gotcha" and intentionally, slowly, raised their prices after he was moved in and it did not make sense to move him out. Avoid this place.

My mother has been a resident of Burbank Manor for almost 18 months and I have to say I couldn't be…read morehappier with the level of care she receives. The food she receives is home cooked and amazing . The staff are some of the most thoughtful and caring people I know.

The level of care provided at Burbank Manor was exceptional. My mother spent her last year of life…read moreas a resident at the Manor, the staff was diligent at keeping her clean, well fed and monitored. Arlin was communicative, kind and proactive with making sure my mom was comfortable. My mom required the highest level of care, at Burbank Manor she received it!

As of 1/1/25, Varenna at Fountaingrove in Santa Rosa has decided to mark their old Yelp review page…read moreas inactive and start a new one. I assume they took this action because of 2 unfavorable reviews (one of which I am reposting below) as a means to erase the past and start fresh. Sorry Varenna, it's not going to be that easy. A quick update to my earlier review below, the restaurant service went from mediocre to horrible over the last almost 2 years, and the food quality has also gotten considerably worse. I realize that Varenna is undoubtedly having staffing problems with the restaurant as are most eating establishments, but perhaps you should make some changes to the employee pay and allow tipping to attract employees who will stay with the company for more than a month or two. Most elderly people are more than happy to tip and tip very well for great service. Here is my previous review. Varenna is probably one of (if not the nicest) retirement centers in the entire Bay Area. The facility is 1st class with a beautiful setting, and a staff that is very attentive to all of your needs. So, you're probably wondering why I didn't leave a 5 star review, right? Well, if you visit their web site, they have a video describing the dining room, and an interview with their executive chef who goes into great detail about sourcing out locally fresh seasonal ingredients for their 5 star dining experience. In reality, the food is mediocre at best, more along the lines of what you might find at a Denny's restaurant. My parents moved to Varenna several months ago and overall, they're happy with their choice. As you can imagine, the place is very expensive like most retirement centers. Besides the monthly fees of around $10,000, you have to buy your apartment, which at Varenna starts at around $400,000 for a studio to well over 1.5 million for the larger suites. For those of us fortunate enough to have saved a nice nest egg for our retirement, this isn't a bad way to go. My parents like most elderly people can take care of most of their own needs, but meal preparation and eating right sometimes takes a back burner to everything else in life. So elderly people who can afford to live in Varenna generally have a very selective pallet. They know what fine dining is, and have experienced the best restaurants the bay area has to offer. What they're getting at Varenna is not what they're accustomed to. I remember the week my parents moved into Varenna, and as I drove to the main entrance, I noticed 2 semi trucks on the side on the main building unloading goods. Normally I wouldn't think much of this, but these 2 trucks belonged to a company called Sysco, which is a very large commercial food distributing company. They deliver frozen food to airlines, large restaurant chains (like Denny's) and while their food isn't bad, it's not the kind of food you get in a high end restaurant that sources out local fresh ingredients. I've eaten in the dining room with my parents at the restaurant in Varenna perhaps a dozen times, and some meals are very good, while others are really horrible. Bad meals that come to mind are a Caesar salad that was obviously made with bagged/pre-chopped Romaine lettuce that was turning brown, meat balls that were still a little frozen insides because they hadn't been microwaved long enough, all of their seafood dishes are frozen, which is ironic because fresh halibut and salmon are in season right now and plentiful, and they can't seem to find it anywhere. Hamburgers are generally dry and over-done, and my father complained about a skirt steak they served him last week, and it was so tough he couldn't cut or chew it. The waiter simply took his plate without asking how his uneaten meal was. They have a very limited daily menu, and even though they only have to be sure to have a few ingredients on-hand for that limited number of dishes, they are still frequently out of things. They have a decent wine and beer selection, and they're always out of some of the best wines (hence customers bringing their own bottles and being charged a corkage fee) and almost always out of beers that we want to order. I could go on, but you get my point. I'm writing this mini-novel not to inflict any kind of reputational damage on the staff or the facility, only to make them aware of a problem that absolutely should not exist. Most elderly people are too nice to complain about the food, but they talk amongst themselves and most agree, the food isn't great and it should be. Out in the real world, if they paid for an expensive meal and received this food, they wouldn't return, but that's not a choice they have at Varenna. If there truly is an executive chef at Verenna, fire him/her and hire somebody who knows what the heck they are doing. If there isn't a chef currently, you folks make more than enough money to hire a damn good one from just about anyplace in the world. Give these people their money's worth, and let them enjoy life

My wife and I are so grateful we found Brookdale, Chanate. We were searching for the right place…read morefor her aged mom, Jackie, to live, where she can receive the absolute best care possible. There is so much to say. First, the people who work there care deeply about the people who live there. When we met Lisa, we met someone who listened deeply, helped us solve any problem we could think of, and suggested solutions only after really understanding Jackie's needs. The tour she shared made us feel so comfortable with what life is like at BC. She was so thoughtful and considerate with helping us find a charming apt with a deck and outside area where Jackie's wee dog could get outside whenever she needed to. When Jackie's needs shifted, Lisa found a special place for Jackie in the memory care area, a bright, cheerful room, where she can look out at beautiful redwoods from anywhere in the apt. The attendants encourage her to engage with others and she feels quite at home there. When we met Robert, the GM, we knew we had met an advocate who is very flexible and such a problem solver that literally nothing seems like a problem for long. We know we can go to him with anything and he will find a way to "make it so." He has been wonderful to Jackie and us. When we worked with Stephanie to create Jackie's personal care plan, we trusted her thoughtful, comprehensive recommendation because it reflects just what Jackie needs, nothing more, nothing less. Her recommendations helped us make decisions we are very comfortable with, decisions which get Jackie just what she needs. Virtually everyone in the facility shines with a spirit that we did not see in other places. It is a spirit of love and focus on possibilities and what is best for Jackie. We feel so lucky.

Good luck if you need a billing statement from this organization. Incredibly disorganized, never…read moreresponded to countless emails or phone calls. Very disappointed - would never recommend to anyone.

Eloise is very knowledgeable and helpful. We called her looking for placement information. She…read moreoffered / came to our house (no charge) talked with us and informally assessed my mother while we ate cookies. We eventually realized we needed to look in a different geographic area- Eloise was amazing, she wrote up a little summary on my Mom and connected us to a placement specialist in a different area. She was eager to genuinely help - no pressure at all.

Anna showed me several places. If you're easy, she's fine. But if your loved one is your world and…read moreneeds are more specific, she can become impatient. She can be cold, defensive and disingenuous and one realizes she is all about the money though she tries to appear otherwise. She inappropriately placed my dad which cost me dearly. Not just monetarily but it resulted in trauma from which he has not been able to recover. Get a list of places and go see them yourself. Negotiate a move in price rather than 50% of your first month going to a placement agency.