The Best Independent Living Communities in Ventura County, CA

"We toured Oakmont of Agoura Hills. The one who took us through was lovely, very enthusiastic, and couldn't have been more helpful. She showed us all the different types of rooms and showed us all the activities. Everyone seemed very engaged. It was just lovely. Their atrium is beautiful. They have activities all day long. You can participate in them or not. The rooms were quite large and really, really well done. We saw some that people had decorated. They were actually nicer than the ones I saw at the other community. These were lovely. They had a very nice dining room. I think there were two different dining rooms. Parking seemed fine to me. We just pulled in, and it was fine."

"I was very impressed with it. I like the independence that they have, their dining room, and the services they provide. The staff was great. Their menu was impressive. The facility was excellent. The size of the rooms was fine. The atmosphere was very comfortable. The dining area was very nice."

"We toured Clearwater at Riverpark. It was very nice and we were very interested in it. The tour was terrific. The person who assisted us with the tour was Roman, and I believe he's the manager of the facility. He was wonderful, and a really lovely man. The apartments were gorgeous, and very well-appointed, from the smallest to the largest. They had granite countertops, big and roomy, very nicely laid out floor plans, nice flooring, and lots of cabinetry in the kitchen. They were very well put together. Each apartment had a balcony or a patio with lovely views, depending on what level you were on. Some faced inside which had a courtyard that was lovely and quiet, others faced the beautiful mountains. That was spectacular, as far as we were concerned. The building was immaculate. The place was beautifully appointed, very clean, and very well maintained. The amenities were very nice and the people were nice. It was an active community. There weren't a bunch of old people waiting around to die. Even if they were older than us, they were active. They were out doing things. All the apartments had full kitchens, washers, and dryers. Those two items were very important to me because I'm not eating all my meals with them. Another really nice thing was their point-system meal plan. They give you X amount of points for the month and you can eat whatever meals you want there. They give you the option of just using your points however you want to use them. If you don't use them, you can roll them over till you reach their maximum limit. The points were enough for you to have two meals a day all month. Their restaurant was lovely, and the food was the best that we had tasted on all the tours. What we had was chef-inspired restaurant food. This wasn't portioned-out cafeteria-style food. This was really nice and well presented, like in a Michelin-star restaurant. This place was outstanding. The thing I would criticize is they make you pay for your parking, which I feel is inappropriate. You should be able to have parking coming into an independent facility. And I will say that their second person fee is too high. Those are my only two criticisms. "

"My mom moved into Ivy Park at Simi Valley. I liked the cleanliness. The staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. One thing that was important to me was that my mom was able to move her cat in with her. So that was kind of the tipping point with other facilities because of her memory care. She's right on the border of assisted living versus memory care. She can take care of her own animals. And that was hard for a couple of places to understand or accept. So that was the final decision-making piece that came into place for us. They include three meals a day, and they always have little snacks available if they get hungry in the middle of the night. They have musical performances and water coloring. There is a library and an area where they can do puzzles if they want to."

"We have moved my mom into Cypress Place Independent Living. The facility is very bright. It's very friendly, and it has a lot of amenities that are acceptable. The price was very reasonable. The staff truly care, and they're so supportive and responsive to all the needs. They really all are very happy, friendly and caring. It's amazing. My mother is very happy with the food. She's a picky eater, yet she really enjoys what they have there. They have so many activities. There's something almost all day long. They're age appropriate and accessible, and everybody is very encouraging to participate in the activities they have. However, there's carpeting in the bedroom. Other than that, it's very clean. It's very easily accessible. It's very compact, and yet it doesn't feel crowded. It's perfect for somebody who isn't quite as mobile. It's easy for my mom to get to everything."

"My mom is a current resident of The Lexington. Regarding the facility itself, I really like the idea that it has a pool in the center of it, so that made a huge difference in the sense of it feeling more like a resort living. They also have a couple of different patio areas. She has only been there since October 19th. At that time of the transition, it was very stressful for the family, not just for my mom. However, they helped us and made the move easy. When we had trouble, like something mechanical, they had someone up there to help us. They just made the transition easy even if it was out of their norms. They went the extra mile. They're just wonderful! Everybody from the cook, the chef, the CNAs, etc., they were wonderful and have been helpful. I ate there probably once or twice a week with my mom and I found the food to be very good. They have a very fresh salad bar and residents are given choices. If they don't like the two entrees that are on, they'll bring them a sandwich. If they're in the mood for a hotdog, they'll fix them one and they don't argue with them. If Mom wakes up and just feeling a little overwhelmed, she'll ask that a tray be brought to her room, and they'll go that extra mile and they'll take a tray up to her room. With regards to participating in any activities, since she is still making the adjustment, the answer would be more than not. However, she's gone to bingo and she's eating in the dining room. Also she joined the Halloween thing with all the kids. "

"It's got six stories, and it’s an old facility, but very neat, clean, and attractive. We were leaning very much towards Ventura Townehouse, but the two people who were in charge there, both my daughter and I got the feeling they don't really care about you. You put your money in there, and they don't really care. We considered it because it seemed like there was a lot to do, a lot going on, and a lot of people participating. It's old, but it's very well taken care of. "

"Home Care of West Hills, LLC #2 was close to where I live and that is good. What I liked about it was that it had just about everything that my wife would need. They're very friendly and they seem to know enough about taking care of old people. They were very nice and informative. They have a little porch in the backyard where they can go out and eat. They also play some games, like card games. There's no exercise or anything like that. Then they have a dining area (one inside and one outside). From what I saw, the facility looked very clean. One of the girls was with a mop and a bucket when I got there."

"It was very friendly, the residents and staff have much to offer as far as outings go, and I was impressed with their transportation. They were kind enough to pick me up at my son's house, take me to the facility, take me back home, and it was really a very nice and enjoyable two or three hours that I was there. The food was delicious and I was very impressed. I wish they had more apartments than just one. Other than that, everything else was fine."

"At Summerhill Villa, they took me on a walk-in tour of the facility. It was an older facility, but they have kept it remodeled and it was still very nice. I like the way it was set up. I like just the way they had the hallways look nice and clear. They took me to different rooms, i.e., a room that would be for sharing with another person, and then a room that you could also get individually. They do allow you in certain instances, to bring your small cat or dog if you have one. Some of the rooms have a small balcony or a place where you can have a chair just outside your own door. If you don't have that, then you also have access to the larger community area. Overall, I felt it was a really nice location. At that time, the residents were playing bingo in the activity room. The dining room was very nice. The food seemed varied, totally adequate and well balanced. In terms of living environment, it was extremely nicely decorated, it was very clean, it smelled nice, and the people there seemed to be involved in whatever they were doing. There didn't seem to be anybody that was just hanging about with nothing to do. The staff was very knowledgeable about the facility and very interested in the individual they were working with. They seemed to be really into whatever they were doing. At that time, I saw a lady walking with another staff member and they were having a nice conversation. They seemed very caring. It has a warm feeling about it. "

"Our room is excellent. We love the food and we have wonderful meals. They have excellent programming. I’m not in my room much because I like to see my friends and I enjoy learning from all the interesting instructors and lecturers that come here."

"My wife has moved into AvantGarde Senior Living. They're very nice and they have a memory area. They have programs going on, there's sufficient staff there to help everybody, and they have entertainment and activities there. The place smells good, and the food is decent. They had a rabbi who had service there on Friday, and they had a band that entertained the residents after that. The holiday party was nice. It's closer for me, it's very nice, and also less money."

Ciela is a retirement community designed for better aging. Luxury senior living community in Pacific Palisades, California offering Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care.? Our state-of-the-art community features incredible 360-degree views, expansive outdoor spaces, floor-to-ceiling windows, light-filled residences, gourmet California cuisine, engaging activities and a robust wellness program designed specifically for you by Los Angeles top health professionals. AMENITIES/SERVICES: Appliances & Technology Washer & dryer in every living unit (except memory care) Microwave oven Refrigerator and freezer with ice maker Salto wireless access control for keyless entry Robust Wifi throughout the building Design Features Floor-to-ceiling windows Views of the Santa Monica Mountains Designer custom cabinetry and millwork Porcelanosa tile and Quartz countertops kitchenette at Ciela senior living laundry and linen service at luxury senior living Santa Monica Service tailored to your needs: A few of the many ways we can help Housekeeping, personal laundry and linen services 24/7 concierge service Local Transportation Room service Personalized Care Our Memory Care Approach: We use a unique approach to caring for those with cognitive decline that uses relationship-based methods to help loved ones make connections through music, dance, art, food, movement and sensory stimulation. ? Our memory care residences feature thoughtfully designed spaces that promote safe mobility for people living with cognitive impairment. We also use circadian lighting systems designed to regulate sleep and mood, as well as feature comfortably furnished and fully-enclosed green spaces.To learn more about this providers license and review other available state reports, please visit: California Department of Social Services Licensed Facility Search

"I went to Oakmont of Valencia. It was fabulous. The grounds are gorgeous. We got to see everything. We got to meet a resident. The staff was very informative, very friendly, and very helpful. The rooms that he was able to show me, they showed them furnished to kind of give you an idea of how your furniture might fit, even though that's not going to be the furniture that you use, but it just kind of gives you the feeling. Oh, that's what I can put in there. So, I like the fact they were shown furnished even though they let you know that's not your furniture. So, it makes it warmer and more homey than just an empty room. Amenities include game nights and painting classes. We talked about it like they had a luau. They have a petting zoo come in once in a while. There is a special family room you can reserve and have a big family come in to have a family gathering to sit in the dining room. They have a library. They have a theater, and just about everything you would want. It's a cruise ship on land. He took us into the dining room and they were already starting to serve. So I could see a sample of the food that was sitting on the counter. It looked wonderful. And this particular thing they have, they're set dining hours. But then they also have any-time dining where you could go in and order off a different menu any time of the day. We had the opportunity to meet the chef, and I was very impressed by how he talked about his culinary delights and how he likes to change up the menu, so he doesn't serve the same things over and over."