Senior Living Community in El Cajon, CA

Rated 5 stars

Choosing an assisted living facility for your loved one is never easy, but when we toured La Vida Real it gave us confidence that we found the right place. You could feel the warmth and culture stepping through the door. The executive director Kim and the marketing team Christina & Carrie had answers to all of our questions and weren’t pushy with us. They take the time to learn each person’s preferences, routines, and life stories which makes all the difference in the world. The grounds itself are beautiful and has a modern style that won’t out date itself. Some of the other places we toured were tacky and didn’t have a sense of warmth. They have a great dining area with exceptional food that feels more like a family gathering rather than the institutional feel at other assisted livings. They even have an in house gym with physical therapists to help promote independence for as long as possible. What stood out the most was meeting the care team. You could tell Jerry the memory care director and Sully their nurse have been doing this for a long time. Bernadette their other nurse is also wonderful. We were thrilled to meet people that actually care, which gave us immense peace of mind. The caregivers are patient, attentive, and consistently compassionate. They encourage residents to participate in activities and social gatherings which helps with the hard transition of having to leave your home. Communication with families is clear and consistent, and any questions or concerns are addressed promptly. If you’re looking for yourself or a loved one I highly encourage touring La Vida. You won’t be disappointed 😊

Pierce Wood
Google Review

Rated 5 stars

Mom was a resident of M Court for 15 months. Her cognitive, physical and social abilities improved remarkably very soon after her move to memory care. The staff is professional, well-trained, competent, caring, friendly, accommodating and motivated. The facility is welcoming, well-maintained, functional, and aesthetically beautiful. The residents are engaged, happy and well cared for. I highly recommend Jerry and the Enliven Memory Care team.

David B.
Google Review

Rated 5 stars

Iv’e been a care provider all my life recently retired. This past week I was given the opportunity to visit LA Vida Real. Jerry Godinez, EnLiven Director took me on a thorough tour and showed me all levels of care. each wing was so beautifully thought out. The amenities were amazing. For body, mind and soul I was impressed with the posted daily activities, the full workout gym and the outdoor pool. The indoor lounge areas are resort worthy, the invitation to gather is felt throughout your beautiful facility. I got a peek into a couple bedroom units. so homey and well designed for your personal needs. In the Memory care wing, staff were very friendly and attentive to the residents they were serving. After my tour I was treated to a wonderful lunch in one of your impressive restaurants where i got to talk with a couple residents who shared there happy experiences with there home. I can’t stop talking to my friends and family about La Vida Real

T Wilk
Google Review

Rated 5 stars

It was a wonderful experience. Everyone was so welcoming. The entertainment was great.

Susannah Berning
Google Review

Rated 5 stars

I had a family member that needed care after a fall. He was in a facility in the San Diego area that was very poor. He was suffering with the on set of Dementia. I was trying to handle things from out of state and it was difficult and his care and our support was lacking. We worked to get him to La Vida and found the care and support by the staff and Hospice to be world class. I was kept informed on all things. His care was so much better. He was not wanting to make the move but I wish we could have gotten him to La Vita much sooner. I was glad his last days were in a much better facility with the care of Jerry and others. If not for the help of a care worker that assisted us and La Vida I am not sure what we would have done. Being far away was difficult but they made it possible to give him trusted care. I can say that for all facilities.

Sherry Swisher
Google Review

Rated 5 stars

The receptionist was welcoming and friendly. Our meeting with Carrie was on time. She was professional and friendly. She listened to all our questions and concerns. She genuinely cared about our plans for retirement and next new home. The information she gave us was very helpful. We appreciated the complimentary lunch. Entire staff at Vida Real was welcoming. Certainly a place to consider as our next home.

Bob & Jamari Blohm
Birdeye Review

Rated 5 stars

We moved my mother-in-law to assisted living when we relocated to San Diego. We did significant research into various communities at different price points throughout San Diego county and La Vida Real came highly recommended. Her apartment in assisted living was warm and inviting, the staff was friendly and provided good care. They were involved, concerned and attentive to her. La Vida has a service called The Club for early/mid stage dementia patients which kept her busy and eyes on her during the day. Her decline would have been much more rapid without this additional option. When it became obvious that she could no longer live in assisted living, the administrators of the ALF and the Memory Care Unit worked with us to arrange a quick and safe transition to Memory Care. The administrator and staff in Memory Care was beyond my expectations. I work in home health around San Diego county and this group was exceptional. She was able to be in a private apartment until her final days. They kept her busy and engaged, discovered her love of music and singing and would sing with her during community entertainment and even without a scheduled performer. They would always say how funny she was and how much they enjoyed her. They saw her! The administrator, Jerry is excellent! He would provide us with weekly updates and additional communication, if need be. He worked closely with use as she began her transition and provided support. He was present early in the morning for 3rd shift training when he noticed that she would not last much longer. There was not enough time for arrive and he stayed by her until she passed. This provided so much comfort to us as a family, knowing she passed peacefully with someone at her side. Both communities were warm and friendly. The facility is beautiful, clean and well maintained. We were so pleased with our choice and would highly recommend this community to anyone.

Becky Shorts
Google Review

Rated 5 stars

I am a friend or relative of a current/past resident My mother-in-law was a resident in their ALF. She received excellent care from the caregivers, who treated her like their own family. This community offers a program for early stage dementia residents to remain in their apartment for as long as possible. The club kept her busy and “eyes on her” during daytime hours, which if left on her own, would have caused a more rapid decline. It also allowed her the ability to keep her beloved cat, which was a huge benefit. After it became evident that she needed the support of memory care, they worked with us to get her into a memory care apartment, rapidly. I cannot say enough about the care she received. They were beyond my expectations and experience (I work in home health and frequently work in various memory care units around the county). They constantly told us how funny she was, got her singing and participating in activities as able. They saw her! In her final days, they were very attentive, their care of her prevented and pressure sores throughout her residence there. They did a good job assisting us through her transition, what to expect, etc. We had received a call from the administrator early on Sunday morning. He had come in early and noticed her rapid decline. He stayed with her until she passed, as there was not enough time for us to arrive prior to her passing. He was able to tell us that she passed peacefully. This gave us comfort beyond belief and is a true testament to the caring staff that took care of her. I believe the excellent care she received is a top down effect. I am very impressed and appreciative of the memory care staff and am grateful for the care they provided! The community is beautiful, the rooms are warm and inviting. The community is clean and well maintained. We toured many communities, at various price points around San Diego county. I am very pleased with our choice of La Vida Real and would highly recommend it.

Becky
Caring Review

Rated 5 stars

My mother recently passed while on hospice in her room in memory care at LaVida. I cannot express enough the level care and love shown by the staff in memory care. A couple of hospitalizations occurred before her transition, and I was so touched how the nursing staff and facility director were able to work with hospital to get mom “back home”. Prior to the end, our experience was very good while in memory care. My folks started out at La Vida in assisted living which was also attentive, however, her Alzheimer’s declined pretty quickly after my father’s passing. Mom made friends and had a circle she ate with regularly. The grounds are maintained very well. The maintenance team is very responsive. I appreciated their help hanging shelves and maintaining some of mom’s beautiful plumerias she had outside her window. They are now a gift to share in the common patio upstairs. I live close and it was hard to not keep stopping in to make sure they were being taken care of. This past month I have seen the level of care and skill at making mom comfortable while maintaining dignity. I recommend La Vida and have often said that I park in the “future resident” spots because this is my plan.

Jill Stivers
Google Review

Rated 5 stars

After experiencing a lot of other assisted living facilities and homes, La Vida Real was truly a blessing for our family. In our short time there, Jerry and his team in memory care really supported our family in providing our loved one the care she needed. We had a lot of questions throughout and although issues would arise, Jerry made the effort to address them immediately. Beyond that, the grounds were always beautiful and the times we were able to partake in the festivities were enjoyable.

AaronMac
Google Review