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Sunshine Villa

80 Front Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

(800) 558-0653 (Call a Family Advisor)

4.25

(20 reviews)

Offers Assisted Living and Memory Care

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Reviews of Sunshine Villa in Santa Cruz, California

4.25

(20 reviews)

  • Facility

    4.6

  • Staff

    4.6

  • Food

    3.7

  • Activities

    4.0

  • Value

    3.3

Reviewer#RD1113o

4

November 25, 2023

I am a friend or relative of a current/past resident

My mom is now at Sunshine Villa. We chose it for its location. It's very nice. The room seems to be a nice size. The bathroom also is a nice size. The dining room is spacious and has several different set-ups of tables, so it's great. The people working there seem friendly and nice. They're great. With regards to their food, I like the fact that they have good sandwiches for lunches. My mother likes the set-up as far as seating. There are several choices. You can sit at bigger tables with lots of people or choose to sit at your own smaller table. They also have activities. They have movies, and they have people come in and sing and do projects with them. I think she enjoys that. They also do bingo.

Provider Response

Hi there, thank you so much for taking the time to leave us this review! Please don't hesitate to reach out if you ever need anything.

Reviewer#LD110423A

5

November 9, 2023

I visited this facility

Sunshine Villa was a very nice building. The atmosphere was lovely, and it was an interesting location to have, it is on the hill, just by the ocean. Although they didn't have as much of a view of the ocean, they were right there sort of next to it. People who lived there could go out and come back. They had a lot of entertainment. They also had very nice rooms where you could sit and be quiet, or go watch TV, or listen to music or dance. They had nights of entertainment and things that you could do on your own and a nice schedule to know what was going on. They showed movies every week. I just saw a 1-bedroom apartment, but I was told that they had some apartments for couples. There was a nice garden to get from one to the next building. Some rooms just had a table or two or a couple of chairs where people could just sit and enjoy themselves and relax. The staff was excellent. They had all the information you needed and they were very pleasant.

Provider Response

Hi there, thank you so much for taking the time to leave us this review! Please don't hesitate to reach out if you ever need anything.

awife

3

November 2, 2023

I am a friend or relative of a current/past resident

My husband has only been in this facility for 2 weeks, so I don't know their system very well yet. I visit nearly everyday. The facility is beautiful and clean. It has a lovely library and courtyard. It is very safe; no resident can wander away. The staff is very pleasant, though some have such strong accents that I literally cannot understand them. Staffing ratio, according to what they told me, is 15 residents to 1 staff. My husband likes the food, though my one experience with it was disappointing. There is about a 2-hour window for each meal which is very nice. Activities are numerous and varied. There are 1 or 2 exercise classes each day, plus walks several times a week. However, the little I have seen of the activities reminds me of a school---- a bunch of residents to keep busy with little one-on-one staff involvement. (The "sing along", for instance, is on a screen, not with a live musician.) The laundry has been reliable--harsh, wrinkled, poorly hung up on hangers, but prompt. We have had some miscommunications regarding my husband's care, but we are still figuring out how to communicate with the team. I guess with a 15 to 1 ratio, you can't expect everything to go smoothly. My husband's room is clean and modern, but small and hot. Every room/apartment's door locks automatically. Overall, it is a beautiful physical facility with pleasant staff and a lot of seemingly lonely residents, which I am afraid is typical of care facilities.

Provider Response

Hi there, thank you so much for taking the time to leave us this detailed review. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you ever need anything.

Donald

4

March 31, 2022

I am a friend or relative of a current/past resident

My mother is in Sunshine Villa. It's a community set up on top of a hill. It's got a beautiful inner quad individual units and all the meals are there. They have recreational activities, exercise activities, and out in the public, too. They have a lot of people that work there that are specific for that type of care and the care is very, very good. The staff is very professional, very friendly and very patient. It's very expensive, but she gets good value. They have a lot of different programs depending on your income, so they adjust. It's a pretty good bang for the buck. The food is very good. If people have specific diets, they cater to them. My mom has a one-bedroom that's pretty large with a big living room. It's got just a little kitchenette and a full walk-in shower. The dining area is good. It's set up like a restaurant where they serve you. Each individual has their own spot where they dine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They have a menu and it's catered to their diet needs. They're in pretty good contact with all the physicians like my mother's doctor. There's always good monitoring, dietary, prescriptions, and all that are managed at the facility. They have a recreation room where they do exercises, a walking club, their own activity bus that goes on tours, movies and they have a big-screen TV, a library, and different areas and nooks that they can congregate. It's a very nice facility. Upkeep and maintenance are excellent. They have a full staff. They've got a pool table, an open garden area, little ponds or birdfeeders, a lot of plants, and a little area back in the center of the community. It's up on a hill in a very busy area near the Santa Cruz boardwalk. They don't allow anybody to just pop out anyway. Certain residents such as my mom can't do anything on their own.

Kim

5

March 16, 2021

I visited this facility

Sunshine Villa is a smaller community; it has about a hundred residents. The main building is an old Victorian with rooms off of it. It has a beautiful activity room, the dining hall is nicely done as well, and they have a beautiful garden that you can walk in. It's about 65% women and 35% men. They have two elevators and it's just really pretty. Their services are great, it's assisted living only so there's no independent living; assisted and memory care is what they have. And the assistance is based on the care level that you need. They do a medical test to determine the care that they need, and then there are different levels of care depending on how many hours a week they need. The rooms have heating, some have air-conditioning, some have kitchenettes with a sink and some just have no kitchenettes. We didn't really get to try the food because they're not really serving food in the dining room because of COVID. But it's going to be nice to have a doctor and nurses on staff. We met the sales manager, Kathleen, and she was very nice and very informative.

Provider Response

Hi Kim, it's so wonderful to see you had such a positive experience with us! We do our very best to provide top-notch service, so it's great to see we're living up to this goal.

Suzanne

5

January 2, 2019

I visited this facility

Sunshine Villa was a very beautiful place. You had views of the ocean from some of the rooms. It's an old Victorian that's been beautifully fixed up and well cared for. The director was very helpful and very open to trying to find a way to make a placement there work out. It was cost prohibitive. They had a choir if residents were interested in singing.

Scott

5

August 9, 2018

I visited this facility

Sunshine Villa has very friendly and supportive staff. They have lots of activities and they have a beautiful garden in the middle. They have good residents too. They have musical programs, arts and crafts, flower arranging, crossword puzzles, movies, and they take people on trips on the bus. They take people for a walk around the neighborhood too. There are a lot of musicians who come in to perform. They have a memory care unit downstairs and they help with medications, help them get dressed, help them go to doctors, and assist with bathing.

carolyn425115

5

May 31, 2017

I am/was a resident of this facility

Sunshine Villa is very well maintained. It has everything that we need. Activities are organized everyday. We have been out to the country and have toured around. People are very polite. They take care of everything you need. The kitchen is really great. Food is great too. They're really an excellent community.

Dan-97209

5

February 3, 2017

I visited this facility

I am in the senior living industry, but not affiliated with Sunshine Villa. I have visited hundreds of communities across the country and Sunshine Villa is one of the best anywhere. Very caring & compassionate staff and a high level of professionalism. Teri, Maureen & Kathy are three of the best at what they do, but everyone there goes above and beyond to personalize the experience for the residents and their families. If I could, I would give this community 6-stars.

kim powell

5

December 1, 2016

I am a friend or relative of a current/past resident

5 Star First Class Assisted Living and Memory Care and so much more! My mother has lived at Sunshine Villa for several years and she is thriving! My brother and I were reluctant to relocate mom from her Condo to assisted living but it was the best decision we ever made for her care and happiness. From our first meeting with Kathy and Maureen, we felt like a solution had been found and we were no longer in crisis mode. My mother had taken a fall while alone in her Condo and fractured her lower back. While she was on the mend, Maureen and Kathy assured us that the staff and community of Sunshine Villa would take great care of her. We could not be happier nor more impressed by the level of care and professionalism that is provided at Sunshine Villa. As you walk into “ the Villa” you are greeted by a wonderful receptionist who has a watchful eye on who enters or leaves the premises. Your eyes are soon filled with the glow from a cozy fireplace in a library filled with antique sofa chairs and countless books to choose from. Tea, coffee, lemonade and snacks are always available. The dining room is nicely decorated and provides 3 hearty meals each day with a variety of selections. Residents may also order off a menu. The dining room servers are so well trained and polite-top notch! There is a private dining room with antique furniture and china available for families to use at any time for private gatherings. Beyond the library there are lovely nooks and crannies to enjoy and a beautiful outdoor garden and sitting area. On the third floor is the nurse station. If mom ever has any medical issues, within minutes of calling I have reached a medical staff member. A nurse will check in on mom and promtly provide pertinent updates to me. A phone call from Sunshine Villa always starts with “Kim, your mom is fine”, another testimony to the professional training the entire staff receives. If your senior enjoys keeping an active schedule, the activities coordinator provides a unique daily repertoire of activities. A schedule is sent to the family each month so you can remind your loved one to get out there and enjoy an event. Scenic drives, museum visits, luncheons, stretching, happy hours, art classes and bingo are just a few of the many activities that seniors may choose from. They will even send one of their sweet staff members to remind residents of an activity they were planning to attend. Staff check in on residents in their private living quarters throughout the day which is yet another layer of assurance that our mom is well cared for. If you are looking for the very best care for a family member, please consider Sunshine Villa. It provides a loving community in a safe environment that feels like a home, bright and cheerful.

EA881626

4

November 6, 2016

I am a friend or relative of a current/past resident

I did not move my aunt. I kept her at Sunshine Villa, and she loves it -- except that she does not like the food. But she thinks that maybe they’ve got a new chef now because things began to change. The place is beautiful, and they take really good care of her, but my aunt is really picky. They have activities every day. Every day they have some sort of a little exercise class, they have people come in and do music, they have outings on their bus, sometimes they’ll go shopping, or sometimes they will go to a restaurant or for scenic drives.

BC302800

5

September 30, 2016

I visited this facility

Sunshine Villa was very nice, and they were very helpful, but they were just too expensive for me. It’s way over what my parents and I can afford.

Julia646216

5

June 10, 2016

I visited this facility

I visited Sunshine Villa. The location was very nice with views of the harbor. The people were very nice. However, I concluded that I’m not ready to go into an assisted living apartment. There were some single rooms and some apartments that were very lovely. You put your own furniture in. There were nice gardens and entertainment. The food looked very nice. Sunshine Villa was just a lovely place with lovely location and very nice accommodations, but I’m not ready for it myself. They do have a locked facility and when I need to do that, that might be the answer.

Marc3

4

March 27, 2016

I visited this facility

Sunshine Villa was clean and decent, and had friendly people. It seemed fine.

S H

4

March 27, 2016

I am a friend or relative of a resident

The main selling point of Sunshine Villa was that it’s the closest one to where we lived. The staff is wonderful, but we really didn’t get to know them until they moved in. The rooms are very expensive but very nice. The food is not so good. They have to sit in the same place every day to eat with the same people, and they don’t get to mingle in the dining room, which is the main point of socialization, so it’s a little awkward. They have a lot of music performances and different activities, like group activities and different bingo-like games. The music is too loud in the dining room, and it’s not necessarily soothing music. That was another complaint we had that we brought to the staff. If people want to talk, it’s just too loud and distracting in the dining area. They’re wonderful people.

Anonymous104904850

2

April 27, 2015

I am a friend or relative of a resident

I think Sunshine Villa is extremely clean, and the people who work there are really kind people. I also think that it is a great place for people who have minor dementia or problems. I find it is a nice place for assisted living. They put mom in assisted living, and I think she probably should have been in memory care. Her dementia has increased, and we are now going through taking her out of the room she is in to put her in another temporary room because she has a roommate in her current room. We do not know what they are going to do with her. We are kind of startled. They evaluated her a number of times, and we are confused about why they said yes to her which was not going to work, but at the same time I feel like they are trying the best they can to figure out what we can do. Overall, it looks great, it smells great, they have nice activities, and the people are wonderful, but they are having a difficulty meeting her needs and communicating with us to try some other things. I am giving them a rating of two after having my mother there, only because they do not have the ability to take care of her.

Provider Response

Thank you for providing feedback about your mother’s experience in assisted living with us. We’re so glad to hear you found our community to be clean and inviting. We take pride in providing a warm and accommodating home for our residents.

We are, however, sorry to hear about the lapses in communication you describe surrounding your mother’s accommodation. We understand how difficult navigating these decisions can be and we appreciate you bringing these concerns to our attention. Please reach out to Executive Director, Teri Cilley-Kruzic at (831) 459-8400 to discuss any other concerns you may have.

Caring101188150

5

January 25, 2015

I visited this facility

We saw two apartments, and they seemed roomy with nice views. I was impressed with the care they give to their clientele. We didn't sample the food, but the formal dining room seemed nice at their memory care section, and they had assigned seating. We only had interaction with one person there, and she was very friendly. Sunshine Villa Assisted Living was a very formal facility. I was just thinking somebody that is not used to that level of formality might be a little uncomfortable there.

Bill42

3

March 27, 2014

I am a friend or relative of a resident

Mom did some rehab post-op at Sunshine Villa. The rooms were good, the food was very good, the staff was decent. The nursing aspect of it was very deficient. They have a gamut of activities going on for people. They probably don't have as much exercise, because I didn't see too many facilities for that and it seemed to be an older clientele. She was happy, but they really mishandled her long term care insurance and so the result was we had to get a lawyer involved just to get the insurance company to pay. I would say administratively, they were deficient but in every other way, they were acceptable. Another thing about Sunshine Villa is it's very expensive.

Marny

3

June 12, 2013

I visited this facility

At Sunshine Villa, the memory care unit was very small and very dark. There wasn't enough place for people to sit and talk except in the hallway and the only outside light was coming from the patients' rooms. The rooms were also small. The facility itself was unimpressive. I wouldn't recommend this facility.

commercesd

4

June 14, 2012

I visited this facility

We decided to visit Sunshine Villa Assisted Living since it is relatively close to where our aunt has vacationed in the past. The grounds were spacious and well tended. We liked the area a lot and there are plenty of affordable accommodations for family members who visit from out of town. We liked the vibe - it was friendly and casual, yet the business of taking care of those who needed it was being attended to. There is plenty of staff to take care of basic needs and cleaning, so everything works out fine. All of the areas were pleasant to be in and we could see that the residents thought so, too. The activities ranged from board games, to discussions, private reading and watching film and TV some people were also using computers. The staff is well-versed at taking care of a variety of types of people, from those who are not ambulatory to people who have memory issues. Our aunt is in the early stages of dementia it comes and goes so she needs to live in a place that can handle this. The food looked well-prepared and appetizing. Dining areas were welcoming and nicely designed. All of the indoor areas were all clean and bright. There is plenty of sunlight so that they do not need to use lighting when it is sunny outside. This is true for many of the dwelling spaces, as well. Our aunt likes to make artwork, so the lighting is really appreciated. The activities they plan regularly include everything from visiting local restaurant favorites, the public library and movies to day trips to the ocean. They have planned exercise classes but also offer residents to work out any time they wish. We liked that they encourage exercise a people with early dementia can be forgetful. This is a lovely facility and we would recommend that those interested go and check it out for their loved ones.

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Costs for Sunshine Villa in Santa Cruz, California

Assisted Living

This level of care provides support for those who need help with personal care needs such as cleaning, bathing, and dressing. Residents selecting this level of care are treated to many amenities in a home-like atmosphere, while getting support in their daily lives.

$3,470

Starting Price

Memory Care

Memory Care is specifically designed to meet the needs of those with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia. Specially trained staff members assist with activities of daily living (such as bathing and dressing) and provide therapies to slow further loss of cognitive abilities.

$5,975

Starting Price

Services and Amenities of Sunshine Villa in Santa Cruz, California

Costs

  • Rent Plus Care Fees
  • Entry Fee
  • Fee Structure Extra: We offer a month-to-month rental

Room and housing options

  • 1-bedroom apartments
  • Companion Suites: We offer companion suites
  • Studio Apartments

Dining options

  • In Room Kitchenette
  • Dining Room Shared Meals
  • Room Service For Meals

About Sunshine Villa in Santa Cruz, California

Located on Beach Hill, just minutes from the shore, Sunshine Villa is a premier senior living community. The beacon of our grounds is the beautiful Victorian architecture, which has served residents since 1990. We offer:

  • Assisted Living - for those seeking a little extra help with ADLs
  • Illuminations Memory Care - quality care and programming for those facing forms of dementia
  • Respite Care - care for shorter periods, such as after a hospital stay
As well as features like:
  • Restaurant-style meals
  • Wellness programs
  • Full-service beauty salon

Contact us to set up a time to tour our facilities.

Map of Sunshine Villa

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The material on this site is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal, financial, professional, or medical advice or diagnosis or treatment. By using our website, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

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