I toured nearly every San Francisco and Marin facility, and I have a spreadsheet to prove it. I was…read moremoving my parents to the Bay Area, and we needed assisted living for people with memory issues who do not meet the threshold for memory care. Also, both of my parents had been dramatically declining for a couple of months, so we needed to act fast to get them new doctors with weekly appointments and consistent caregiving. Aegis Corte Madera is the right place for them. An excellent UCSF doctor visits the community every Tuesday, and she has improved my parents' medical care. She works closely with the nurses onsite, so there is clear communication and implementation. Both parents made trips to Marin Health (hospital), so it was not an overnight success, but their health has stabilized. I have faith in their medical care, and they are in better shape than when they lived in their home. The management is exceptionally welcoming. They made my parents feel like they belonged right away. The GM buddied up to my dad to make him comfortable. The nurses and caregivers display a lot of care and even affection, which helped my mom adapt. The management staff is deeply invested in each individual and will do whatever it takes to settle people into the community. The cost is high, and the entrance/community fee is too high. However, I could not find another option offering medical support, very comfortable living spaces, a sunny apartment with views of the Marin ridgelines, and lively community activities. When I looked at my spreadsheet, the monthly costs for almost all the facilities were very close. I bit the bullet and paid the higher community fee, and we've had an excellent outcome. I recommend Aegis.

I moved my husband into Aegis Corte Madera 14 months ago. He has received not only excellent care,…read morebut I have been given the support that I needed to help guide us both on this journey. They love when I bring our pets to visit and it really feels like a family atmosphere. The communication is good and getting better all the time with the new General Manager. What I feel is most important, is that the most of the staff has been there for over five years. That really says something about the company. The activities are really great. They include weekly field trips which include beaches, symphonies, and baseball games. Ever day there is a schedule of wonderful classes from exercise to poker! Everyone has been warm, friendly, helpful, and most of all they have been attentive to all of our needs.

Bello Gardens is nestled in a beautiful residential area of San Anselmo. It is located across the…read morestreet from Saint Anselm school. They have 24 rooms as well as a beautiful outdoor garden area in the back of the house. They provide light to mid assisted living services and offer all private rooms. Their pricing is all inclusive.

After "shopping" high and low throughout the Bay Area for a higher level of care for our mother, I…read moreknew Bello was the place we would choose when I first walked up the bricks steps to the front door. My intuition was confirmed over the next three weeks as we went through layers of decision making supported by the Bello staff resulting in our realization our mother needed an even higher level of care. Failure? Absolutely not! Our mother's condition declined rapidly concurrent to her move date​ -- creating surprises for all​. ​ Bello did everything possible to make it work and continued to problem solve and provide workarounds until the family decided a​ locked facility was required. During that three weeks my mother experienced true camaraderie with other residents, was consistently treated with respect (even though she was a handful) and was able to experience Bello's truly homelike atmosphere without oppressive clinical or patronizing "help." Residents are supported to be as mentally, socially, emotionally and physically independent as they can possibly be, there is a focus on community issues outside of declining health (Juanita-the-duck's leadership permeates the facility), and each individual staff person takes ownership and responsibility for the Bello mission. What can I say? The place has a good feel. We were very reluctant to let go of Bello because we trusted them. Was it perfect? No -- I can attest perfection doesn't exist anywhere at any cost when it comes to elder care. ​I've learned that t​rust is far more valuable than perfection when it comes to leaving your relative full time in the care of others. We were told on the first tour that what you see is what you get and that seemingly simple, but precious truth bore out during our three weeks ​at ​B​ello. ​I​ would highly recommend Bello ​Gardens ​to anyone wishing to place their relative in a comfortable community with experienced caregivers.

Hi, This is Pat, I have lived in three residences so far and…read moreDrake Terrace is decidedly the best! this is mainly because the staff is really caring. You see and feel the relationship[s build between us. The attention paid to preferences and recognition and care of physical conditions. The building isn't the most modern around the edges - But that doesn't really matter, ones former home sometimes was too. However the garden is really lovely - a green and peaceful place where the birds come and drink at the fountain where we can sit with our friends and family and watch entertainment provided by the management. And the FOOD (no small matter) is good! Definitely several cuts above what one expects of an institution of this sort. All in all, by most standards. I would give Drake Terrace High marks! and I'm happy and grateful to be leaving here.

I love living at Drake Terrace: 1- Great location and…read moreLandscaping 2- NO CAR NEEDED - all transportation is provided 3- Delicious meals, alternative choices, and meals offered 7am - 7pm daily. 4- I love my appartement and my balcony garden with a view. 5- All levels of exercise available (class, gym and competitive mental games, such as trivia and brain games). 6- Residents association, with no staff, meets every 3rd Wednesday to discuss clubs, old business and new business, with comments from the floor. Any perceived need for change is then taken to administration to be acted upon. 7- Communication is open, which keeps residents happy and well. 8- Programs and outings are varied, with monthly signe ups if participant participation must be limited. 9- Residents come from all over and bring new experiences to share. 10- Personal ambassadors assist new resident personally. The drake Terrace population is defined by a HAPPY SMILE!!!

Letting go of your home is one of the hardest decisions a family can make, but when that moment…read morecomes, Vincent is truly one of the best places you can choose for your loved one. From the moment we walked in, it felt less like a facility and more like a home--warm, loving, and full of compassion. The caregivers are truly special, especially Isabel and Gabby, whose kindness and dedication never went unnoticed. The Health and Wellness Director is simply amazing. Nav is exceptional at what she does, but more importantly, she leads with her heart. She took the time to truly know my dad and to understand what our family was going through. Once something was brought to her attention, she made sure it was addressed promptly and thoughtfully. Her kindness, patience, and gentle nature meant more to us than words can express. While there is room for improvement with the med techs, and the move-in process could benefit from clearer communication and better explanations upfront, the compassion and care we received outweighed those challenges. ED Pari was understanding, professional, and supportive during difficult moments. I am deeply grateful to Nav and the entire Vincent team for the love, support, and comfort you gave my mom and our family. Knowing that you were there--day and night--brought us peace during one of the most emotional times of our lives. Thank you for making such a difficult transition feel a little less overwhelming and a lot more filled with care.

A Truly Exceptional Community -- The Vincent, San Rafael…read more My dad has been living at The Vincent since March 2024, and the experience has grown into something truly exceptional. When he first moved in, the community was only a couple of years old and, like many new assisted-living facilities, was working through some early growing pains. Staff turnover was higher at that time, and there were occasional glitches as the building found its rhythm. Over the past year, that has changed significantly. Quality staff have stayed, new team members have been strong additions, and many of the issues we saw early on have simply disappeared. The stability and consistency now are remarkable. What has remained steady from the beginning is the heart of the community. My dad was welcomed into a warm, supportive environment where residents truly look out for one another. The caregivers are attentive, compassionate, and incredibly dedicated -- they know the residents well and treat them with genuine respect and tenderness. It feels like a place where people are cared for, not just looked after. We visit often, and our family has had many dinners in the beautiful white-tablecloth dining room. Meals are freshly prepared by the private chef, and the food is consistently very good. The Vincent also hosts happy hours a couple of times a week with live entertainment, which is a highlight for many residents and adds to the sense of community and joy in the building. The housekeeping team keeps everything spotless, and the overall atmosphere is clean, calm, and welcoming. Their points-based care system is fair and transparent, and as my dad's needs have increased, I've found their re-evaluations thoughtful and reasonable. On-site services -- like the podiatrist and monthly dentist visits -- have been invaluable. More recently, my dad's health has declined, and we are transitioning him into the Memory Care unit and beginning hospice. It's a very emotional step for any family, but the memory care team has given us tremendous comfort. The unit is bright, clean, and staffed with people who clearly have experience and a deep understanding of cognitive decline. While moving his things, I've had the chance to observe how gently they care for the most vulnerable residents. It speaks volumes about the philosophy that guides this community. Although the surrounding neighborhood is not my favorite, the quality of life inside the building is exactly why families choose assisted living. It is safe, uplifting, and genuinely resident-centered. I've been a front-line medical professional for 30 years and toured every senior living community in Marin when preparing for my parents' transition. The Vincent stands out. They have supported my dad with dignity, kindness, and professionalism -- and they've supported our family through some difficult turns as well. I'm deeply grateful for the care my dad has received here, and I hope this review helps other families looking for a place where their loved one will be truly cared for.

Atria Tamalpaias Creek is a gem among assisted living communities in terms of its people, its…read moresetting, and its authentic caring for its members. My father joined Atria 3 months ago after touring other communities in the area and chose Tamalpaias Creek due to the warm welcome he received from residents and staff combined with his repeated observations that the community seemed happy, social and vibrant. As a social person he was seeking friendly and kind people with a busy activity calendar and was relieved to find what he sought. The series of performances, outings, and in-house social events have offered a changing menu of enjoyable choices to stay busy and engaged. Highlights for my father have included: feeling that every staff member knows him and offers help and warm greetings whenever they see him, consistently excellent food (he can be very particular so this was huge!), regular and easy access to a driver for shopping and banking, many nice residents to get to know and to meet for meals together, and truly well-run operations that reliably take care of so many important details of daily life while constantly looking out for the residents' needs and well-being. As my father's primary caretaker (with much appreciated help from my sister) I have been impressed with this community from the beginning with not only all of the aspects noticeable to my dad, but also all of the wonderful, responsive, caring, professional, and helpful interactions I have had with every staff member. The directors of Atria Tamalpaias Creek should feel proud of the truly exceptional community and operations that they have developed and continue to actively cultivate every day. Our family has felt fortunate and blessed to have found this gem in Novato.

It is rare to work with any business where there is visible team work and overall excellence--this…read moreplace seems to fit the bill! Supervisors, Managers, Directors, Assistants, Aides, all "floor staff" are at ease, well matched to their position, and friendly. ( a rough edge here or there surely exists, as it does for anyone...). I am writing as the family member most involved with the care of my Mother, and as a former long-time employee of places very similar to Atria Tam Creek. My Mother has been there about 3 months. It was not always an easy adjustment for my Mother and I, but we have been met MORE than halfway by all the people working there, all the way up to, and including, the superb Executive Director. The recreational activities are excellent (imaginative and well run) and the food is the best I have tasted in "institutional" fare--more like a good restaurant...day after day! (I know because I visit 2 x week.)

Aegis San Rafael is truly a special place. The staff here are absolutely amazing kind, attentive,…read moreand genuinely committed to the well-being of everyone in the community. A special shoutout to the General Manager, who consistently goes above and beyond to make things happen and turn possibilities into realities. You can really feel the leadership, care, and dedication in everything they do. It's more than just a residence it's a warm, supportive, and uplifting community. I'm grateful to see such a high level of compassion, teamwork, and heart in one place. Highly recommend!

Such a lovely facility, it looks like a resort! Always a pleasure to visit family here :)read more

If you are looking for excellent, loving residential care for a loved one, look no further than…read moreBretano House. My mother lived their for two plus years as dementia slowly took her away from us. We would walk in at any time of the day or evening and see that she was beautifully taken care of. They would be painting her fingernails and talking to her. The aroma of cooking food at dinner time was always enticing. The home was light, airy and clean. The gardens always a delight to walk through or just look at from a window. Best of all the staff are the sweetest, loving, and caring people that you will ever find. If you have any questions, Marilyn and Chris Fries, the owners, are easy to talk to and always available.

I had to find my 92 year old Dad 24 hour care after a bout of pneumonia and Bretano House made it…read morevery easy for me to move him in. This can be one of your most difficult life decisions and I am very happy with my choice. They make my father feel very comfortable and cater to his needs. Thank you to Marilyn and the entire staff for the support.

Oakmont has been a wonderful place for my mom to call home. The facility is beautiful, from top to…read morebottom! Always clean and tidy. My mom especially enjoys the theater and outside area. The staff makes not only the resident but their family feel welcome! Traci at reception greets you with a big smile and friendly voice, Phillip (great sense of humor) drives us safely to and from appointments and outings. We especially enjoyed going to the De Young for the Monet exhibit! When we have had an issue, it is addressed promptly and effectively by management. Highly recommend!

Oakmont Novato deserves more than five stars. If you're looking for a place where your loved one…read morewill be cared for with genuine compassion, professionalism, and dignity, this is it. From the moment we arrived, we felt surrounded by people who treated my Mom with genuine kindness. Scott was incredibly compassionate and reassuring--he made us feel like Mom wasn't just moving into a facility, but into a real home. And Mildred... there are no words. She cared for our Mother as if she were her own, with so much love and tenderness. She even came to my Mom's funeral and sat with our family, which meant the world to us. The environment itself is beautiful, warm, and thoughtfully designed. The meals are restaurant-quality--menus in leather-bound books and always beautifully presented. I wouldn't hesitate for a second to recommend Oakmont Novato. They cared for my Mom in a way we will never forget.