As we reflect upon our 2019 decision to select URC At Davis (URCAD), it was primarily based on "word-of mouth" from residents and family members and friends of URC residents. The phrase that stood out was the quality of the food ("just like a high-end cruise ship"). When we made our URC reservation deposit in 2019, the URC Marketing representative said we could expect annual increases of 3.0% to 3.5% in our monthly occupancy fees. For our first year (2024) at URC we were proud to repeat the earlier positive reviews of URC. Unfortunately, more recently, our "word-of-mouth" for URC dining has become "mixed reviews" and the monthly occupancy fees have increased by 5.75% rather than the expected 3.0% to 3.5%. URCAD seems to be in a solid and strong financial position and enjoys a high occupancy (98% to 99%) rate each month and a long waiting list for new pending residents. The recent fee increases and dining disappointments are inconsistent with the strong URCAD financials, both current and projected. We remain hopeful that fresh resident initiatives will motivate URC and PRS management to limit future fee increases to 3.0% to 3.5% and restore services to previous commendable levels. read more

There are two evening dining facilities- one is considered 'fine dining'- which means reservations required and one is served their meal -the other is cafeteria style dining - one moves through a line of various food items and takes those items back to their table. Both places have a 'dress code' - in particular no shorts for anyone and collard shirts for men - even guests (children are allowed to wear shorts and t-shirts). This is a senior facility so when anyone wears shorts here they are to the knee, not ripped, often pressed and men usually wear a belt. One can go into almost any restaurant in CA wearing a clean t-shirt and clean shorts. But to be told that one cannot dine in the cafeteria where they LIVE -in shorts or a clean plain t-shirt is beyond the pale. Imagine having to change your clothes everyday to go eat in a cafeteria? Imagine having to tell your guests that they must 'dress' for a dinner in a cafeteria? It's disappointing and a bit heavy-handed. read more

The University Retirement Community at Davis had a history of being an excellent continuing care retirement community. It charges a non​-refundable entrance fee of a few thousand dollars. My wife and I entered the facility a number of years ago as independent residents. Unfortunately, since the current executive director took the rein eight years ago, the services overall have been slowly declining. We used to have excellent dinning in buffets style. Now, dining style has gone upscale with expensive prices, but the overall quality has declined. The contract calls for one meal a day, but the points allocated per month would only allow one moderate meal a day. Think twice before signing your non-refundable contract. read more

If you are looking for a retirement community full of interesting people and a wonderful staff, you need to consider URC. I have taken five years to tour CCRC's from Oregon and California to AZ - and had many lunches and dinners with residents. I had to narrow it down to what was most important to me for the next phase of my life. If I needed a Ritz Carlton environment, or golf was central in my life, URC would not have stayed top on my list. However, access to the University, manageable traffic, the Mondavi Center, and the tree-lined Davis streets - added to URC's community support - made the transition pleasant. Luckily I am still healthy. So I can lock my apartment door and take off - knowing that URC's has my back for future health issues. read more

HAVE AGAIN: The La Brisa Bisto at URC is convenient and good. The Bistro Burger with cheddar cheese was good, but needed some spices like salt and pepper. Very good service read more

My mother has lived at URC for four years and it's been wonderful for her. She's made marvelous friends and loves living in Davis. URC is very well run. There are lots of activities and a wonderful, supportive community of interesting people. I live near Chicago and love staying there with her for visits. The grandchildren and great-grandchildren love visiting and swimming in the indoor pool. read more

The facilities are nice, but they force you to purchase an expensive unit for six figures, which you don't own. This model doesn't make sense. You pay a huge amount of money for a condo upfront that you can't even hand down to your relatives or sell if you are unsatisfied with their service. Basically, you're locked in, and if you leave, you lose your entire investment. They also do high pressure sales. They tell you that if you don't buy right now, it won't be available later. I don't like that. The name is also misleading. It has no association with UCD. Despite their non-profit status, the management earns good salaries. It's clearly all about the money. I would recommend looking elsewhere. read more

My Grandparents lived here for over 10 years before my Grandmother passed. They lived in the independent cottages until my grandmother became ill, then they moved to semi-assisted living. My Grandfather always says moving here was one of the best decisions they ever made. We have gone up to visit quite a bit over the years. When I was going to school at UCDavis I was over there almost every weekend to visit. The food in the dining room is actually quite good. The pools are nice. There are LOTS of events and social groups. My Grandparents really enjoyed this. The location isn't great in terms of proximity to the bay area, but the college makes the town interesting especially performing arts, music, food, etc. It is very clean and well kept. Never smells, even in the Alzheimer's unit. It is rather expensive. But, you get what you pay for. read more

The University Retirement Community "URC" provides residential living, assisted living and skilled nursing. This community has a significant entrance fee to their Independent Living Residences which affords its community members with priority access to their assisted living and skilled nursing facilities. There is a waiting list of several years or more to access their assisted living/skilled nursing facilities which is the a significant benefit of retirement in the exclusive Independent Living Residences. The facility has no connection to the University of California other than some of the retired faculty and employees reside here. read more

Expensive and unsafe. Davis greed at its best. How we ever began to equate expensive furnishing with quality, or cheerful for competent is a societal issue. It takes training, a temperment of tollerance, and a rotation of four shifts to cover a single day of care. The price of the facility is in keeping with oppulant drapes, reasonable food and a roof, but if they did an adequate job on patient care the prices would need to go up. In considering a place in the future I will be looking for plain and simple with clean beds, organic foods, and competent care. At University Retirement the funds go to looks and lining the pockests of the administration. An educated town like Davis can do better. read more

I always told myself that I would retire in a nice retirement home- I am no where near the age of retirement, but I happen to visit this campus... I have to say it was very serene, beautiful and peaceful... just the kind of place I would want to retire in. Lots of events were going on too when I was visiting so for those who want a lot of activities, they can find it there too. I know a lot of people have been looking around for a retirement community and from what I can tell, this place is reasonably priced compared to the ones in the bay area. read more

Mom moved to URC in 2006. She has needed more and more care over the years and they have been very attentive and helpful. Moving her from independent care to the assisted living facility and now to the memory center. We are very glad that Mom is in a safe place that they can adapt to her increasing needs. Highly recommend. read more

I was a patient in the skilled nursing facility portion of this center. I had come from an acute hospital setting where I had been hospitalized for a few months with a very rare and potentially deadly infection. My family worked hard to get me into this facility because they believed it to be the best in the area. When I arrived there after my lengthy hospital stay I was in an extremely weekend condition,(I could not walk, sit up, or care for myself in any way). The goal for my stay was to rehab and the expectation was that I would fully recover. Shortly after I arrived I contracted C-diff, a serious hospital born infection. In my weakened condition I deteriorated rapidly. My 23 yr old daughter watched me decline and was very concerned. As the weekend approached she worried that a dr would not be working and I would not get the immediate help I might need. She expressed her concern to Dr DaSilva and he told her not to worry, they were on it and taking good care of me. On her laptop, at my bedside she begin to research my condition, discovering that it could be lethal. She discovered how to watch for the signs of sepsis. As she observed me she began to think that I was already showing those signs. I was unconscious and could not take care of myself. She then went to the doctor again asking if he would reevaluate. She thought I needed to go back to the hospital. He was very rude to her and told her literally "I have paperwork to do I'll check her on Monday'. My daughter went back to my bedside, thought I looked even worse, asked the nurse who agreed with her but deferred to the doctor. Then my very shy, authority respecting daughter aggressively dogged the doctor until he finally, in an effort to get rid of her, called an ambulance. I was admitted to the ICU immediately and the staff told my family that I had come almost too late, I was in septic shock and my kidneys has begun to shut down. They did not expect me to make it through the night. Clearly since I'm writing this review I did , but it was my daughter who saved my life and the skilled ICU staff who took very good care of me. We have a friend who works there as a nurse who has since told my husband that she never expected me to live. I am now back working full-time and have resumed my former condition. But in the course of my rehab and recovery I have learned that Dr. DaSilva seems to have a terrible reputation in the community. I don't understand why such a well respected facility would continue to employ a physician who is more concerned with paperwork than caring for his patients. I do retain some slight kidney damage specifically from this experience. I have been told that had i been taken to the hospital sooner my kidneys would not have been damaged. Malpractice attorneys have told me that I while I have a very good case, given that I did live, trial costs would outweigh the remuneration. I am not litigious and was not motivated by money. My motivation was to bring a strike on Dr DaSilva's record in the hopes of improving his care of elderly sick pts, but I could not support the cost of a trial. So my recourse is to write reviews like this in an an attempt to warn other consumers. This skilled nursing facility is medically overseen by a doctor who is more concerned with paperwork than patient care, and almost let me die. If you value the life of your loved one, find another place. read more

Skilled nursing staff was decent; some excellent. Food was very good. Surprisingly modest mental stimulation for older patients even though that is their target population and they have lots of experience with that group. Billing has been a nightmare. Private pay patients are required to pay in advance and URC estimates generously in their favor. It's two months after discharge and we still don't have our refund after numerous attempts. read more

My parents moved here a year ago after reviewing many such communities around Northern California. They love it! They've made many friends, and really appreciate the food service, the concerts, movies and the gym. We think it's going to add years to their lives to be a part of such a vibrant community. read more

I've grown to love all college towns the older I get. Like most Americans, I'm struggling with the decision to retire in my house of 42 years, or move to where "the old people" go. Ever since my wife died, I've finally forced myself to look into where I want to retire, and keep getting my attention drawn to Davis, CA. There's just something about that city that reminds me of all the good of the Bay Area without the crime. I also want to continue to learn at the UC Davis campus and not rot away in my home watching TV. I finally visited the community and wasn't let down. The food was fantastic, the people were warm and friendly, and I can get a whole lot more space to live in than I can for the same price here in San Jose. While I don't think I'm ready to move yet, I put down my $1000 to join the wait list for when I chose to move in. They told me I'll have a better chance of getting the one bedroom apartment I want that way. I guess a lot of single retired folks are looking into the one bedrooms. Well, I've got a few years left in me before I feel like I'll be going, but who knows? read more

My mother lived at URC in Independent Living for 17 years and in the Memory Care unit for almost a year. The staff was great and she loved it. Now that she's passed no one but the front desk answers their phone and I've come to expect no call back. If it weren't for that I'd up the "stars" to 5. But not returning calls really pisses me off. read more

Worst place I have ever visited. No real care for residents. Went from non profit to profit organization. Lost my dads medications. And still charged me for them. Allows intruders, and wire taping. Yes you read that right. Had an relative With a restraining order and they still let him in and my dad was tape recorded. Activities are the worst and the Facebook contains more pictures of staffs babies then actual residents. Omg the food is awful. Assisted living dining room is a tomb now that, good staff left. Director only cares About money and I heard he cut the hours of the hardest working cnas who work there butts off. Very very poor experience forum dad and for my Family. read more

The facility and the food here are fantastic. And the profit and loss statement and investment in the foundation fund and the ROI for the umbrella organization are impressive. The downside is really only discovered when someone you love lives there. Coming IN, everyone values their privacy and independence. But the real reason you're there is to be cared for when you decline and to be in an accessible community. All the managers have closed door offices and hardly ever come out to interact with the staff who provide direct services, much less the disable-bodied residents. The ones who can still talk and walk and be on the Committees get all the attention from the administration. Assisted Living apartments are isolated behind closed doors with only the dining room downstairs as a community area. Skilled Nursing is clean. And isolated. I can't remember ever seeing the "director of nursing" in my parents' room. When someone dies there is not even a good bye note, but boy do they keep collecting rent on that apartment. It is weird that the facility is so much like a Ritz Carlton, but there is way less personal involvement. Every executive in that building needs to open up their walled-in doors and interact with the people there. There are a few great employees who break through the walls to deliver personal care. But the proof is in the pudding. Even in Assisted Living and the health care center, if you want your loved one looked after you will have to hire private duty folks to pay attention to them. The exception is the Rehab Department. They actually get involved and take initiative to help. read more

The infrastructure of this facility is beautiful but the staff and management is lacking. There is little flexibility for residents and very little interaction or help for residents or their families. If you compare with Covell Gardens, they allow much greater flexibility and seem to have greater concern for the residents. read more

My Mother has resided in URC for more than five years. We have been greatly pleased with the responsiveness and kindness of staff. The facility is lovely, well-maintained and the fees are among the most reasonable for a retirement center of this caliber. The quality of the food in the dining room is better than adequate- not Chez Panisse- but pretty darn delicious. I would like to particularly recommend the assisted living nursing staff- they have gone above and beyond the call of duty on so many occasions. I would be delighted to call URC "my home". Lisa L read more

My mother lived at URC for almost 2 years before her death. She loved it. The staff was so helpful. They helped my mother transition and helped her find other residents that shared some of her interests like monthly book club and playing Mexican Trains. My mother spoke about how good the food was as well as the various activities. When I was unable to take her to a doctor appointment the shuttle was always available. I can't say enough about the wonderful people at URC. She spent time in the SNF and everyone was so kind and caring. The SNF was excellent. She did PT and also was able to do water exercise therapy. Everyone she worked with was top notch. I have seen many retirement homes as well as SNF and find URC to be the absolute best. I would recommend URC to anyone who wants to live in a retirement community in Davis. read more

We moved into URC in January 2010 and have nothing but positive things to say for the facility, residents, staff and programs. One comment posted in February 2010 said that there is a multi-year waiting list for skilled nursing and assisted living. It was not true then and it is certainly not true now. There is no waiting list for either, or for independent living. You may have to wait for the specific type of independent living unit desired, but if you are willing to move in now and wait for its availability get ready to call the movers. read more

I work here for a private client and this place is amazing. Great staff. Beautiful environment. Great gym...I could go on. My client loves living here. read more

University Retirement Community is a continuing care retirement community where your entrance fee guarantees that you will be cared for life. Yes, the entrance fees are getting higher. They are tied to which level of care you want (independent living, assisted living, nursing home care, or Alzheimer's care). In independent living what size apartment or cottage you want to live in will largely determine the buy-in cost.. The range of apartments and homes is quite wide - and the prices vary accordingly. If residents run low on money (through no fault of their own) the URC Foundation will help support the residents' fees. URC is a community run by and occupied by caring and thoughtful people. About half of the residents are from Davis and the rest have moved here from all over the country and a few from other countries as well. Most who come from across the country land up in Davis because they have children in the area, because they want to live in a university town, they want what Davis has to offer - restaurants, theaters, bike and pedestrian friendly, or they want access to San Francisco and to Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, and Ashland, Ore. It is an extremely busy place with myriad activities to keep the residents' minds and bodies active and engaged: 3 different book clubs, half a dozen different kinds of exercise classes from Tai Chi and water aerobics to a class combining yoga and pilates plus a fully-equipped exercise room for those who just want to work out. There are current or classic movies and performing groups almost every night, either in the auditorium or on the in-house TV station. There is WiFi in many of the public spaces, and about 40 more clubs run by residents - such as bocce ball, bridge clubs, cribbage, and an in-house newsletter published by the residents for the residents. There are art classes and art shows, and every week there are bus trips to shopping centers and malls as well as bus trips to museums, concerts, wine tastings or performances in Sacramento, San Francisco. and elsewhere. My husband and I moved to URC almost exactly 5 years ago from Philadelphia. It is the best decision we ever made. read more

If you are choosing this facility for the skilled nursing services, think again. They are lacking as being team members for their patient's care. There have been errors in arranging transportation to important appointments, failure to communicate test results with the patient's care team, and no pre-planning to guard against additional stress on their patients. If your loved one's comfort and stress levels are important to you, look elsewhere. However, if the quality of the food is important to you, this facility does serve good food. read more

Our impression is that the staff is extremely cold both in the health center and independent living. While the facilities are nice, there are significant problems with management and staff attitudes. This is shown in the deli renovation (where many residents are left without food for an extended delay) and in other areas. read more

I've looked at retirement communities in the area, and this one was our first choice. The place is beautiful and staff/management is friendly. read more

This place is the bomb. My grandparent was discharged from the Sutter Hospital and received excellent therapy and went home happy and healthy. She wants to move into the Independent Living now because she loves the place and the wonderful people who live there. You know what they say "you get what you pay for" and you get every penny at this place. I am only 40 and I want to move in! There is nothing like it.... read more

The good parts of URC are the lovely residents and nice staff (front desk people, food servers, maintenance people, etc.). Unfortunately the administrative staff lack professionalism and do a poor job of working with the families of the residents. My mother died in skilled nursing and it was a horrific experience. The level of care depended entirely on who you got for the shift. If it was one of the difficult nurses, you knew you had 8 hours of fighting, negotiating to just get basic things like meds, etc. Our roommate would call out for regularly for help and no one would come. I regularly had to go to the head nurse on her behalf. Spending many nights there, a man would scream loudly and continuously all night. I finally asked someone to close his door. I was told NO- it violated a rule. I strongly pushed back and said my mother had a right to rest. The door was closed. It is unfortunate that you have to fight for your basic rights. The medicine is also a quagmire. My mom got a horrible rash and it took almost 24 hours to get some cream. Totally unacceptable. She was on hospice and only had 2 days left to live. URC needs to figure out a better system -- 24 hours matters when you are dying. If you don't have a fiercely strong advocate, you will die without dignity at URC's skilled nursing. I can only hope I can get my father to move. read more

My folks have lived at URC since 2005. The first time I went there, I was so amazed at how beautiful the place is, how well kept it is, and how friendly and amazing the residents who live there are. However, as time has gone on, things have steadily gone downhill. The problem here is not the grounds or the residents. The problem is the management. You are really just treated as a number. Very impersonal with the families too. I echo Jeannie E's review about management having closed doors and how really once you are not in independent living anymore, the administration does not pay as much attention to you. The general staff is amazing....the front desk girls, all the staff in the dining room (and the food is fabulous by the way) but the way it is run needs to be evaluated. I think it is pretty safe to say that these "not for profit" places are anything but, and I am sure it takes an exorbitant amount of money to run the place and pay the employees, but the MAIN focus needs to be the residents and not lining their pockets with money. My parents worked hard their whole life and deserve nothing but the best, as I am sure most of the residents there have as well. But able bodied or not, EVERYONE deserves to be treated as an equal. It really is a nice place, considering the alternatives, but management needs to take a crash course in people skills. read more

My very active 80+ year old parents moved from their home at a country club in the Bay Area to this community over a year ago. They couldn't be happier! They have fully immersed themselves in all the offered activities-bridge, tennis, cultural activities, field trips, gym, and active classes to only name a few. While I, as their daughter, do live in town, they are so busy enjoying all the new friendships and activities, that we hardly have a chance to visit! My husband and I can attest to the delicious food in their cafe, as well as their deli which is open as an alternative to their cafe. We especially love the Sunday brunches which can rival any of our local restaurants-not only with the quality but also the quantity of the food served! For them this move was fantastic! We would highly recommend this community for anyone looking for this type of living situation! If down the road they need memory care, assisted living, skilled nursing, etc those services are available right on the grounds so one spouse can remain nearby. Everything is perfect! read more