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La Vida Real

11588 Via Rancho San Diego, El Cajon, CA 92019

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

4.5

(26 reviews)

Offers Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care

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Reviews of La Vida Real in El Cajon, California

4.5

(26 reviews)

  • Facility

    4.7

  • Staff

    4.9

  • Food

    4.8

  • Activities

    4.7

  • Value

    4.2

hapydee

5

July 13, 2023

I am/was a resident of this facility

La Via Real is my home. I've been a resident for almost 2 years and I have yet to be disappointed. The residents are like family, they are friendly, helpful and welcoming. The staff is wonderful in caring about our needs & wants. The Zest team keeps us healthy & busy with all the activities they have to order. The dining room staff is well trained & eager to please. The kitchen team works hard to keep us happy & well nourished. The maintenance team & housekeeping are also great. I can't imagine living anywhere else in my "Golden Years" Thank you La Vida Real

Reviewer#DT0505

5

May 11, 2023

I visited this facility

La Vida Real was absolutely gorgeous, and the tour was great. We really connected with the lady who gave us the tour. If my son lived closer, I would go there. The staff was wonderful. Everything was clean and really showed well. It would be my second pick, if I didn't want to be by my son. They offered food, but I declined. The whole place was just beautiful. I can't say anything bad about it. It was really a five-star place. I really liked it.

Crystal

5

January 20, 2023

I visited this facility

We went to La Vida Real. It was very nice. The salespeople were very kind, and they showed us around. We got some information. They made some follow-up calls. They did not do an assessment to determine whether it was going to be assisted living or whether it would be memory care, but we did look at both facilities. I thought it was a very nice facility. The staff were very knowledgeable and very helpful. They did an assessment while we were there, so they're very thorough. They have everything that we could imagine. It seems to have everything there. They had a gym. They had a pool area, which was probably more for the independents. They had the craft room, the library, the kitchen, and the snack area was nice.

Jules

4

April 28, 2022

I am/was a resident of this facility

I'm now in La Vida Real and I'm meeting all these nice people. This is a great place, the room is great. The terrain that they make it on is flat, so I can go for walks, and the people that I meet here are all very nice. The staff are very nice and very helpful, and the food is excellent. The dining areas are pretty large, they have multiple dining areas, some for assisted living and one for independent living. They have a social hour every week on Fridays, they have discussion groups and they have a lot of room for people to do crossword puzzles, and jigsaw puzzles and they have exercise classes too. Some of the staff members are very good, and some of them it's hard to say. The facility is very fine, nice, bright, and pretty easy to navigate.

Joseph

4

April 24, 2022

I visited this facility

La Vida Real was very nice. The staff were nice, but not as good as the other facility. The rooms were very nice, but not quite as large as the other facility. The facility itself was nice. The community was good.

Debbie

5

March 1, 2022

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

My mom is living out at La Vida Real. It was great. The lady that helped me get my mom set up in here was wonderful, very sweet, and a caring lady. They have a little courtyard that my mom can walk outside in. It was a good feeling when I came through here, and my mom is adjusting very well to it. Everybody was very helpful and friendly here, too. My mom has not complained about the food. I've heard from other people around here that the food was good. They do their laundry. They have a housekeeper once a week. They help my mom in getting dressed, bathing, and pretty much in her everyday needs. But they still give her independence. They have bingo on Saturdays. They exercise every morning. There's a band that plays, and they get to go listen to the band. Somethingis going on every day for them. They go on outings too.

Irma

4

November 23, 2020

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

I found a place for my mom. It's La Vida Real. We chose it because of its location. It's a beautiful facility. It has a garden; it's beautiful. Also the price is right, and there is availability. The staff is very nice, very efficient. It's a large facility, but I think they do a great job. They have yoga, they have a movie theater, andt they have gatherings outside. There's nothing inside except very, very small, ten people per yoga class. There are very few people in the theater, too. The food is good, but there are very few people. You have to make a reservation for the dining room.

Provider Response

Hello Irma, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. I'm pleased to hear how happy you are with La Vida Real as your mother's new home. It is our pleasure to welcome her and have her join the family. Thank you for sharing your favorable feedback on all the wonderful amenities and activities we have to offer our residents to keep them happy, healthy, and active. It's great to learn that not only do our residents appreciate them but so do their families.

Mary

5

September 24, 2020

I am/was a resident of this facility

We're living in La Vida Real. We're here for 2-1/2 months before the pandemic, and we enjoyed every minute of it. I would give everything high marks, like everything else, the food is not up to its standard before the pandemic. It's a beautiful place, nice residents, good staff, and we just had a change in management, our director retired, and we have a new manager which seems to be on top of things. We're getting a lot of things open that we're closed because of the pandemic, and I don't know if it's the governor, or the director, we're just happy that we have more programs to enjoy.

Donna

5

October 8, 2018

I visited this facility

La Vida Real was one of the top places I visited. It was very quiet, very nice, very pretty, and there were a bunch of flowers and plants all around. They have a little park in between the buildings, and it’s a nice place to go and sit. The inside was a little bit dark, but the windows in the rooms were really long and tall, so you really get some light. The 1-bedrooms were a good size. It’s huge, they have a lot of places there, and it's a pleasant place to be. The food was excellent, they have people that come in and lecture, and I enjoyed the stuff like that. I liked the idea that they have a hospital thing there, and they have an in-house care center.

Russel

5

January 11, 2018

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

My mother is in La Vida Real. They have larger rooms than some of the other facilites. The level of care is as good as any of the other ones that I visited, so I wouldn't hesitate to choose them. She's in the memory care unit, and it's limited. They lock them in and they do some activities, but the residents are just not able to. The facility is excellent. She said the food is good. It's just expensive there.

Carolyn D.

5

July 30, 2017

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

My brother and I have had a great experience putting our mom into the Enliven Memory Care. She was in Assisted Living for 3 years but as her dementia increased, we decided to tour with the Assisted Living Director and the Director of Memory Care. I like how they decided to do it together to make it a seamless transition. They showed us the benefits of Memory Care and how mom would fit in perfectly. This was hard at first but once I saw some of the same caregivers that mom had in the Assisted Living side, I decided then that we could do this. We try to visit every day but can't always with our schedules. When we do, I like that they have CeCe getting my mom into the activities to keep her going. Thank you to everyone making this easier for our family and for our mom. --Carolyn

A Good Daughter

2

July 27, 2017

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

No thank you. Not for $1,000 referral fee, not for $10,000, $100,000.... Robyn and Rudy might want to give the courtesy of answering and address the issues raised in my emails and phone calls. My mom has resided in La Vida Real Memory Care about six months. Care Givers and Activities Facilitator are wonderful but recently short-staffed on a regular basis and not provided the appropriate supplies and support from management. Activities Director should provide entertainment, planned, stimulating activities and top notch art and crafts materials. "Enliven" on Tuesdays rarely happens at all. There are at least 26 residents in M Court currently and only about 22 seats in the dining room. Outdoor furniture is decrepit. This place has really gone down hill steadily since January 2017.

James

4

July 17, 2017

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

La Vida Real was beautiful. I've eaten there several times and the meals were good. Everything seemed to be good. My friends loved it, they were very happy with the staff, they thought it was great, and I agreed with them. They had Bingo, they take residents out on a bus to shopping centers, and they had musicians and entertainment come in.

Dawn

5

July 17, 2017

I visited this facility

We had a very nice tour at the assisted living unit of La Vida Real, it was amazing. Even though it's a little on the pricey end, it's worth it because of the location and the amenities. I would want to live there. The people are wonderful, informative, and were willing to work with us. They completely refunded our deposit when my uncle did not make it, they were very accommodating, and I was so thankful. There were plenty of activities and lots of things to do. They have different levels of care, including memory care. The way the place is set up, you can be either completely independent or completely dependent on medical care. Whatever level of care they determine is whatever you pay for. They have everything, like a gym, a physical therapist, even doctors on staff if needed. It's a pretty comprehensive place. The dining room looks like a restaurant, they have specials, so you go in and order whatever you like. They park your little walker outside. You can come eat with loved ones every day if you like and you can get them a room for an additional fee. If you're in independent living, they have an available option for you to bring your own help if you need it. It's in a completely different section of the community, but when you need more assistance, you'll have to move apartments. It doesn't feel like a nursing home or a senior living facility, it looks like an apartment complex. There's a front desk and security. They are very good about keeping things discrete. Every apartment you go into, there are medical things you can pull out of the wall. All the bathrooms and walk-in showers are definitely designed for someone who needs accommodations. The little apartments were so cute, they have a kitchenette with a microwave, a fridge, and a sink. It's a beautiful place, like a resort.

Marilyn648347

5

June 17, 2016

I visited this facility

I really liked La Vida Real. The setting of the community was beautiful and everyone seemed very congenial. The staff was very helpful. I liked the way it was laid out, the atmosphere, and the apartments. I was able to have lunch there, and it was good. It was easy to get around, which was important.

Tina41

5

January 13, 2016

I visited this facility

La Vida Real was fabulous but just a little bit out of our price range. It was like a cruise on land. They had activities every day, like cards, day trips, and dinners. The staff and the meals were fabulous.

Happy Visitor7

4

December 28, 2015

I visited this facility

We visited La Vida Real and loved it. It had the flexible meals where we could eat dinner anytime up until 7:00, and we could eat lunch and breakfast anytime we wanted. We didn’t have to go at 5:30 and sit down at certain table; we could sit wherever we wanted. The food was great. The facility and rooms were nice. The woman that showed us around was fantastic. We like the grounds. There were lots of activities, which is what we were looking for, both in the facility itself and places where they took us.

Caring111554950

5

August 10, 2015

I visited this facility

La Vida Real was very nice. I loved it. I would highly recommend it. It was beautiful. The marketing person had been there like 20 years. The staff there was like 7 years, so they don't have much turn over, which I liked too. They knew everything. They treated their employees right, and they treated the people they were caring for right. It was obviously a good place to work, if people were staying because working for seniors was a tough job. It was a very difficult job. They had nice rooms, beautiful grounds, and lots of activities 7 days a week.

Caring107835050

5

May 28, 2015

I visited this facility

We went to La Vida Real three times. I didn't care for the assisted living so much because the rooms were small, but the independent living was very nice, and the atmosphere was very pleasant. The people were very accommodating, and the location was very nice. I would recommend it. I really was impressed.

Tim30

5

May 14, 2015

I visited this facility

La Vida Real is a very nice upscale place. My in-laws lived there for a time which is why we have an acquaintance with the place. I can't say anything negative about it. I thought the food was excellent, and the staff was very helpful. At the time, my in-laws were in the independent living section.

Gregg3137

4

March 25, 2015

I visited this facility

Everything was very nice in La Vida Real. The only thing is it was out of our price range. The people were great. It was a converted house with several rooms. It was more home like.

Caring5201

4

October 31, 2014

I visited this facility

La Vida Real is overpowering; it is huge. I think the ratio of staff to patient is not adequate. That's my impression. I think there are way too many people there. It is highly expensive and huge. Regarding staff's work ethic, they were good. They showed me around. They were very cordial and provided the information I requested.

Her niece

5

June 2, 2014

I am a friend or relative of resident

My 99 year old aunt has lived in the independent side for the last 10 years. The staff is SO CARING - the cleaning staff, the maintenace, the yard staff, the staff in the dining hall, the activitiy - all of them! They have three buildings: independent, assisted and Memory Care. In the last couple of years, my aunt has needed some care in the morning to be there when she takes her shower and help with a few things. Instead of going to assisted that has 24/7 care, she is able to pay extra ($20 hour) and have someone just come for 1/2 hour on some mornings or 1 hour on others. This "option" has made her happy to stay on the independent side. The food is delicious - like a fancy restaurant. She still partakes in several of the activities: dance class for one. A bus takes her to church on Sundays. She can cross the street and go to the store or get a pedicure or go to the bank. I can't say enough wonderful compliments. She loves it here and we have all been impressed.

R.G.

5

January 17, 2014

I am a friend or relative of resident

I don't usually write reveiws, but felt it was important to share my amazing experience with others who may be in the process of looking for an Assisted Living. My mother has Lived at La Vida Real for over 5 years now, and I have nothing but positives to share about this amazing community. From the managers to the caregivers, we have been treated with respect, dignity, and love. This is no longer just an Assisted living that my mother resides at. This is her "Home", and the staff has become her extended family. The care, services provided and food have exceeded our expectations. My mother was initially hesitant about moving to an assisted care facility. When you ask her now, she will tell you she should have done it sooner!

Lori22

2

December 17, 2013

I am a friend or relative of a resident

I wouldn't recommend La Vida Real to anybody. The facility itself is beautiful and some of the staff care about their residents but they have too few of them and they're not trained well enough. So the facility looks pretty on the outside and it is all wrapped up nice and pretty, but there is no "meat." Their nursing care stinks. I have to pay for extra help for my mother. I have to pay caregivers to be in there with her because she doesn't get the care that she needs from La Vida.

ddial7

5

July 27, 2011

I visited this facility

I know 2 people who live there, one in the assisted living facility and the other in the independent living facility. This senior living community is like living on a cruise ship; the environment, food, services, caring staff, amount of activities, cleanliness, friendliness, and general atmosphere is warm and welcoming. Personal care for those living in assisted living is outstanding with 24/7 assistance and nursing staff on-site. Every need is taken care of; all the residents have to do is enjoy it and take advantage of all it has to offer. Plus, it's right across the street from a big plaza so it's great for shopping or just walking.

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Services and Amenities of La Vida Real in El Cajon, California

Costs

  • Rent Plus Care Fees
  • Entry Fee
  • Fee Structure Extra: Entry Fee: $5,000

Room and housing options

  • 1-bedroom apartments
  • 2-bedroom apartments

General

  • Resident Capacity: 343
  • Minimum Age: 62
  • Pets Allowed: All pets allowed

About La Vida Real in El Cajon, California

Welcome to La Vida Real, a luxurious senior living community in Rancho San Diego, CA!

There’s always plenty to do, and plenty of fun-loving folks to do things with. Work out at the fitness center, lounge and splash around in the pool, or catch up with the grandkids on Skype® in the Internet Lounge. Or take part in planned community outreach programs. There are also plenty of cozy reading nooks in the library, and always, the peace and privacy of your own, beautifully designed residence. Fit your day to your mood and still find plenty to choose from. At La Vida Real, you can be as busy — or as laid back — as you’d like. At La Vida Real, your days belong entirely to you.

Here are the amenities you will find at La Vida Real:

  • Dine Your Way™ at the Del Oro Grille restaurant with VIP service, evolving menus and daily fresh specials, available 12 hours a day so you can enjoy meals how you want, and when you want
  • Club lounge and bistro for casual bites and social hour
  • Genuine Hospitality energized and delivered by The Power of WE.
  • CARF-Accredited Assisted Living services and Memory Care for your peace of mind
  • landscaped courtyards, walking paths, gardening areas, and outdoor covered seating area to stroll, dine and relax outdoors
  • Fully-equipped fitness center and group classes to stay active and fit, including indoor and aqua-aerobics
  • Heated swimming pool and spa for a refreshing swim or soak in the courtyard
  • Fixed-seat Brabham St. movie theater to catch a great flick
  • High speed Internet lounge to keep connected
  • The Mercado sundries shop for the ultimate convenience
  • Library and Living Room with cozy nooks for enjoying a good book or a game of cards
  • Billiards room for a rousing game of pool with your pals
  • Full-service beauty salon/barbershop and manicure/pedicure spa to keep you looking your best

Independent Living at La Vida Real

As a resident at La Vida Real, you will find all kinds of opportunities for social connections, health and wellness activities, and the comforts and conveniences to help simplify life.

La Vida Real’s Assisted Living

La Vida Real’s assisted living services take a “whole-person” approach to wellness, and are tailored to meet your needs, now and in the future. Services can be dialed up, or back, at any time, so you are always getting the help you need. Residents choosing assisted living to enjoy all personalized care services as needed to support independence and wellness. Here are the services offered in assisted living:

  • Three meals daily, and snacks
  • Weekly housekeeping, personal and flat linen laundry service
  • Help with daily activities, including bathing, dressing and grooming
  • Assistance with managing medications
  • A holistic personal wellness plan that supports the whole “you”—physical, spiritual, emotional, social and intellectual
  • Alcove and one-bedroom residences
  • Individual climate controls (heating & air conditioning)
  • Safety assist grab bars in tub and showers
  • Conveniently located elevators and access to common areas
  • Smoke/fire detectors and sprinkler systems
  • Utilities, (except telephone) including basic cable TV, heating, air conditioning, water
  • Interior and exterior care and maintenance of all residences, common areas and grounds

La Vida Real's Enliven™ Memory Care

La Vida Real's Enliven™ Memory Care offers personalized care within a secure residential environment. Our carefully selected and trained staff works closely with memory-impaired residents and their families, developing individualized and innovative programs that focus on meaningful tasks that are engaging and stimulating while being stress-free for the resident.

Map of La Vida Real

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Caring.com

Caring.com is a leading online destination for caregivers seeking information and support as they care for aging parents, spouses, and other loved ones. We offer thousands of original articles, helpful tools, advice from more than 50 leading experts, a community of caregivers, and a comprehensive directory of caregiving services.

 

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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