My father was there for 8 months with end stage Parkinson's, before passing. Personal items,…read moreincluding marked clothing, would regularly disappear. A lot of the staff are less than friendly, and a bit impatient with him, even thpugh he was quiet and calm, compaired to many of the other residents. Food quality was horrible, as family would come eat with him. A lot was inedible. Uneaten food, including fruit, would be heated again in microwave, or pureed in a blender to a mush, even though he had a good appetite and was self-feeding. Complaints met with rudeness or indifference. Considering how expensive they are, we expected better. Building and rooms were beautiful. Activities guy was very good with residents, and tried to get everyone involved in activities. My mother said she rather end it, then be put there. Awful place.

The residents at Oak Cottage are cared for with respect, dignity, a dedicated work ethic with deep…read morecompassion. The facility is clean, and comfortable. The activity director is totally involved and dedicated in making each day exciting, stimulating, enjoyable and fun for the residents. He decorates for each holiday with color, appropriate props, some moveable parts, both the interior and exterior. The food is delicious, with an appealing and appetizing presentation. I feel blessed to have my husband so well cared for and kept watched over by professional kind care takers. Linda Muzinich12/7/24

My wife has been in memory care at VA for five years. Very caring and competent staff. Absolutely…read morethe best option for anyone with a loved one unfortunate enough to suffer from dementia. The owners, who are local, also really care!

After careful consideration, thorough research, and multiple visits to memory care facilities in…read moreSanta Barbara, we decided to move my mom to Villa Alamar. Although she previously lived at an upscale memory care facility, it became apparent that the level of care and enrichment there wasn't serving her best interests. My brother and I experienced a clear turning point when we first entered Villa Alamar. We admired the festive Christmas artwork and celebration photos lining the halls, enjoyed the outdoor space with comfortable chairs and a beautiful garden, and peeked in to see a lively community participating in activities. The building didn't have any unpleasant odors, the food was good After her move, we were deeply impressed by the genuine compassion shown by all staff members, including management and housekeeping. My mother passed away in hospice at Villa Alamar, and our family received exceptional support and care, which made a difficult time more bearable.

You will notice that the company has mostly favorable reviews. But notice also that all of these…read morereviews are from five years ago. Since then, the company has changed names, and I believe changed management. I suspect that the quality of service from this company has greatly deteriorated while the price has inflated. My experience with "TheKey" has not been favorable. In their favor, they did send me a very competent and compassionate caregiver. My wife has dementia and needs a caregiver for several hours a day. So why am I complaining? Mainly about their pricing. About a year ago, we began using their services at a price of $37 per hour. I thought this to be high, especially when I learned that the caregiver was paid about half that. In November, 22, they raised this price to $39 per hour. with a $1 per hour wage going to the caregiver. At the end of March, without notifying me, they jumped the rate to $41.34 per hour, This time, our caregiver informed me that they did not increase her wage at all. Thus over the last 4 months, they have raised their rates by about 11%. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cpi.pdf the overall consumer price index by about 5% over the year ending in March 2023 and the price index for medical services has increased by 1%. Within the last 4 months, this company has increased its prices by 11%. And we can't blame this on labor costs. While they raised their price by more than $4 per hour, it appears they raised the wage rate of the caregiver by a total of $1 per hour. It appears that although the caregiver does all the work, and the company which offers little or nothing in services charges more than twice what it pays the caregiver. On the rare occasions when our caregiver could not come, they were not able to send a substitute, and one time even billed me for the day my caregiver couldn't come. My inquiries about billing were passed on from the local office to some higher authority, who either would not respond or would respond after long delays. Because I was pleased with our caregiver, I was willing to pay a substantial ransom to the company that matched us, but their last price increase without notification was for me the last straw. I have now closed the door on the Key. After this experience, I have learned that there are a number of experienced and competent caregivers in Santa Barbara, who work independently. One can pay these people far more than they would earn from the agency and still save serious money. I suggest that anyone in need of caregiving services look around for an independent caregiver. '

After researching different companies, I found three that provided services in the Santa Barbara…read more(and surrounding) area and interviewed all of them. The company that stood out the most was Home Care Assistance (HCA) based upon their detailed responses to my page-long questions, ability to provide a customized care plan for my parent and provided outstanding services for a reasonable price. It's been close to a year that I hired Home Care Assistance (HCA) to provide 24x7 care for my parent. I've been extremely happy with the Caregivers, and more importantly, my parent still has the same staff for the entire time! To be honest, I thought this industry has high turn-over. I think it has more to do with the corporate structure in staff retention than any other variable. Other positive things I have experienced, HCA management is always more than willing to work with you to 'tweak' your client care plan based upon current realities. Specifically, Shari Asmann (former Care Manager, now their Operations Manager) ensured that her staff communicated potential risks and issues that my parent experienced without hesitation. In consultation with Ms. Asmann, we devised a communication strategy between her, the Caregivers and my brother and I. If something happened, it was quickly communicated to the family. As a result of this positive communication, I was able to quickly address minor issues before they became a real problem due to the strong relationship between HCA and the family, Caregiver commitment and their professionalism. Ms. Asmann also allowed me to actively participate in the interview process for my parent's Caregiver position. She did the initial 'vetting' and let me ask a number of poignant questions. Through good times and bad, I could be assured that HCA would respond proactively and meet my family needs without hesitation. I can literally say that HCA has been there with my parent through fire, floods, family legal challenges, my parent's health problems and so much more. Of all the problems I have dealt with in the past year, Home Care Assistance is the one constant I can count on and didn't need to resolve. I'm sure there are many managers like Ms. Asmann that work for HCA and have the knowledge and experience that can provide assurance to you that you're hiring the right company. My recommendation to you is at the very least contact Home Care Assistance for an interview and you'll see exactly why I hold them is such high esteem. If you do thorough research and interview companies like I did, I'm willing to bet Home Care Assistance will rise to the top. It's stressful enough to need to hire 24x7 care for a loved one. I cannot emphasize enough that hiring the right company can help at least alleviate some of that stress. Give them a call, it's really worth it!

my sister was there for 2 years !! it's a horrible place !! the food doesn't really look that good…read more!! she was in a room in the back with a crazy lady as her room mate ! cement block walls ...the prisons would be a better choice !! take care of your loved ones ! don't take them to a place like this ! also they drugged her so she was even worse ! i believe she was hit because when i put my hand up to touch her she cowered away from me like she was afraid of being slapped !! two women were there on the night shift that didn't know we were still there the night my sister was put in another place for hospice care for a uti then died !! it sucks that i can't post this !!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had been looking for a nice place for my loving 80 year old cousin. I feel blessed to have found…read morePacifica Senior living. Sandra and Katrina went out of their way to make Jimmy feel at home and to make the process smooth for me. Jimmy had been in the hospital out of town and they both helped me deal w not only the paper work, they helped ease the emotional impact it had on both Jimmy and I. I am also thankful for the amazing staff they help get all the residence up and out to engage or take in the activities. I am there often something is always going on, live music either the residence making music or guest bands and signers. They keep it active and also clean, Jimmy loves the food. When I forget to bring him cookies Sandra always finds extra's in her office:-) Lori one of the nurses on staff has been wonderful always keeping me in the loop! Pacifica is a nice place for me to visit, the staff makes a difference ( I had looked at many places) Sincerely Grateful, Kelli Barrett

We have a beloved family member at Mission Villa. She has advanced Alzheimer's. We moved her in…read moreover a year ago after a decade in bigger, more institutional assisted living facilities. MV functions like a family home, but with the professionalism of a hotel. Home cooked healthy meals, TLC in terms of elder grooming, hair appointments, medicines, and then the lovingkindness of the staff which never ceases to amaze me. My mom is truly loved at Mission Villa. The environment is cozy: music playing, windows bright to the courtyard, Dana the owner coming in to charm all the residents & make them feel at the core of of a community. It's kind of a prototype for how America should care for its dementia population. I wish they'd do a TED talk & share their successes with the world. We feel infinitely blessed to have a spot there.

From the owner: We provide dedicated, compassionate care that allows our residents to live full and healthy lives…read more We are proud to give our clients the highest quality care, and are committed to ensuring the comfort and well-being of every person we assist. Contact us today to learn more about our assisted living, dementia memory care, and senior care. Other services include: Nutritional Menu Santa Barbara CA 93101 Special Dietary Needs Santa Barbara CA 93101 Movie Night Santa Barbara CA 93101 3 to 1 Staff to Resident Ratio Santa Barbara CA 93101 Enjoy the day, have peace of mind, and live life to its fullest with our professional care services. We understand everyone has their own unique needs and preferences, that's why we customize our services to each client. We look forward to providing you and your family an excellent hospice program, lifestyle program, and and fitness program.

Casa San Miguel provided exceptional care for my mother during her five years there with dementia…read moreand mobility issues. The staff treated her with dignity, compassion, and genuine love, and our family always felt supported and welcomed at any time. Knowing she was cared for like family in such a beautiful home brought us great peace of mind. I am incredibly grateful -- truly the best in town.

Our mother lived here for 5 years during her final stages of dementia. We couldn't have​ found a…read moremore caring, loving home. All of the caregivers were so patient and supportive​. Home​ cooked meals, clean facility​, individual rooms in a comfortable residence. My mother was finally able to get calm and not as confused here. We are confident we couldn't have​ found a better facility during this difficult time. The owner owns a couple other homes/facilities if this one is full.

A family member shared written disparaging email remarks from their leadership about me because I…read morechallenged out of cycle fee increases (that breached their admission agreement) and also because I challenged their standard of care by advocating for my loved one, as a son and Trustee. Additionally, AG markets and is equipped for assisted living, but I feel they will keep residents beyond their care capacity in the interest of revenue. This is an ideal location for your loved one if you want them devoid of stimulii, alternating between sleeping and watching TV all day and if you have a high tolerance for unresponsive and unprofessional adminstrative staff. Amazingly, their hands on care staff are commendable, but overworked, and exhibit more professionalism than their management.

Our experience after one successful month: What we want…read moremost of all for our loved ones needing assisted living services is compassionate, quality care tailored to the individual. You'll find exactly that at Alexander Gardens in an incomparable setting reminiscent of a luxurious bed & breakfast lodging. No high-rise structure screaming "facility" at its residents. Instead, intimate (only a couple dozen residents), serene, peaceful setting with carefully designed activities that foster engagement without forcing it on anyone. What a find for our Mom!

Outstanding lunch at a great price. 3 of us had the Alaskan grilled Cod with a lemon-cream sauce,…read moresalad, veggies, and spaghetti (really), along with dessert and drinks. Fourth person had grilled salmon- great. Plus, a beer and glass of wine for two of us. Cost? $18.00 a person. The restaurant is within the retirement community but open to the public, you just need to sign in and out, paying when you check out. Parking is tight, you need a good walk.

On the plus side: My…read moremother made some good friends at Maravilla. On the minus side: Food is generally good, but not great. Maravilla does not know how to do pastries, and deserts are often very disappointing. As a rule, vegetables are undercooked. Maravilla business practices are somewhat unfair. When one is absent for two weeks or more, one gets vouchers for half the meals that one missed. Why not all of the meals? And, why does one have to be absent for two weeks or more? Overall, I'd say that Maravilla does not offer good value for the money.

My mother in law spent her last year alive as a resident of Heritage House. She had required much…read moremore care as she aged, that our family could no longer handle even with outside assistance. We researched places and Heritage House was highly recommended by one of her closest friends. I've never seen another residential home that was better! The care was exemplary. The food was so good. I'd rather have eaten there than at most restaurants. They actually have a chef on staff who prepares absolutely wonderful meals. A lot of of these residential aging facilities get a bad rap for horrible food. Not heritage house! Of course, no places is perfect but the complaints that we had were so small and few that I would always recommend this facility if you have an aging parent that needs full-time care. Is it inexpensive? Of course not but none of these residential facilities are inexpensive anymore. With utilities and food and cable TV and telephone service all included in the monthly bill. We do know from experience that it's a fraction of the cost of maintaining a private house with full-time staff. That's what you get at Heritage house. You will have someone on staff 24 hours a day seven days a week that cares.

My 91 year old mother is here for the last stage and it is such a wonderful facility. So much…read morekindness and care is shown to every elder. Even in COVID I feel every precaution to protect the elders is being taken yet clearly staff tried to meet the needs if residents for human care and connection even in quarantine. They are wonderful about pets living with their elder owners. Cannot recommend more highly.

After living here for seven years now it appears that the new senior management has a directive is…read moreto charge the residents as much as possible and to cut back on services and staff and then complain that this nonprofit is only cleaning a million a year which is why they are raising prices.

Valle Verde is truly an exceptional place for seniors to live. My client Luella resides here, and I…read moream constantly impressed by the quality of care, the kindness of the staff, and the overall warm atmosphere. It feels more like a welcoming community than just a retirement home.The grounds are beautiful, the facilities are well-maintained, and the food is excellent. Staff members go above and beyond to make sure every resident feels comfortable, respected, and cared for. Luella enjoys her days here, surrounded by friendly neighbors, engaging activities, and a supportive environment.I am grateful to see how happy and secure she is at Valle Verde. I would highly recommend this community to anyone searching for a caring, professional, and uplifting place for their loved ones.