A Caution to Families Considering Clearwater Assisted Living in Newport Beach…read moreMy uncle has lived at Clearwater Newport Beach for over 2.5 years. For much of that time, it felt like home. The residents and families are warm and welcoming, and many longtime staff members are truly exceptional. There is a lot to love about this community.
However, after numerous management changes--including an estimated seventh or eighth director since the community opened in 2024--my experience has changed significantly.
My biggest concern is the consistency of resident care and management's response when problems are reported.
Staff turnover among care partners has been high, and new employees may not know residents' individual needs and schedules. When I raise concerns, I am too often met with responses such as "the care partner said they did it" or "that's not our job," rather than accountability and a plan to prevent the problem from happening again.
For example, my uncle has repeatedly been late to personal training appointments because staff failed to bring him to the gym, despite advance calls and daily reminders from both his trainer and me. Management recently suggested that his private trainer should retrieve him from his room, requiring them to help him dress, and wheel him downstairs. Yet we pay Clearwater to assist with his dressing, hygiene, and daily needs. His trainer is not a home health aide, and for two years, these appointments had not been a recurring problem.
This is more than an inconvenience. Keeping my uncle strong enough to stand and walk is essential to his mobility, independence, and well-being. The gym is inside the building, yet ensuring he gets there on time has become a struggle.
There was also a serious problem with timely transportation for his radiation appointments. After the Clearwater refused to transport him and after he was brought down late for private shuttle pickup, I had to take five weeks off work to drive him myself and help ensure his cancer treatment was not disrupted again.
These experiences are especially disappointing because I had not encountered this pattern of problems in the same way under previous management.
Clearwater is an affordable option, and the absence of a community fee may appeal to families comparing assisted-living residences. However, families should understand that consistent care cannot be taken for granted. There are wonderful employees, but you cannot choose who will be assigned to your loved one each shift.
My advice to prospective families: Visit several times, meet with the director and nursing and Resident Care coordination: Health Service Assistant manager, and ask detailed questions about staffing, accountability, hygiene, medication management, transportation, and how individual care needs are communicated between shifts. Make sure you understand each manager's responsibilities and feel confident that concerns will be addressed rather than deflected.
Based on my experience, I would strongly recommend that families live nearby and be prepared to visit frequently--ideally four to five times a week--to monitor their loved one's care. If you are considering moving someone in, I would also consider waiting until the current Resident Care Coordinator / Health Service Assistant management and staffing changes have had time to settle.
I hope the new leadership will use the coming months to strengthen communication, support staff, and restore families' confidence. Clearwater has the potential to be an excellent community, and many of its employees already demonstrate the compassion residents deserve.
Clearwater's promise of anticipating residents' needs must be reflected in everyday care, not just in its philosophy. Our loved ones deserve dignity, reliability, and accountability--especially when they cannot advocate for themselves. I sincerely hope this community gets back to the standard of care that made it feel like home.
