Villa Gardens

David

I'm on a wait list for Villa Gardens in Pasadena. I've talked to some residents. It's off the top of the chart, but it's also a buy-in community. It's very expensive. The rooms are beautiful. They've got waitstaff in the dining rooms. They've got beautiful bistros that are open 24 hours a day. It's got the nicest physical therapy facility. They've got a staff person there for eight hours a day, five days a week with no charge. It's ideal in many ways, but it's right in the middle of Pasadena. You look out the windows and you're looking at another building across the street. Two meals a day are included with your rental. They have a cook who's been there a long time. They will have aspiring actors and musicians from L.A. coming out there and regularly performing. They have a very nice theater. It's high-class. The staff was very knowledgeable and accessible.

Kathy

We like Villa Gardens, but Pasadena has its own health rules. They couldn't eat in the dining room or anything, so they were delivering meals. The hallways had chairs outside where they'd put the trays down and it just made the hallways look junky. They looked like a motel. They didn't look like a nice residential place, and it felt more like assisted living than independent living in the apartments. There just seemed to be not as much flexibility. There didn't seem to be as much a resident-driven activity. They don't hang their artwork. A lot of places have people that are rather accomplished painters. They don't honor those people with their work being displayed. I didn't even end up getting to see the art studio because the staff was just sort of sloughing it off. However, she asked us the most interesting questions of us and my husband liked her very much. I just didn't like it when she put off the thing about the residents' contributions being displayed. They also sent us home with the best cookies we've ever had. The location of it is unbelievably wonderful. You can literally in a 5-minute walk, get to a trolley stop, and go into Los Angeles on their wonderful streetcar and that is amazing. It was very compact and very urban. All the people that we met were quite nice and very thorough. We had to do a COVID test, swabs, and all that. The apartments didn't thrill us. They probably had some that were fine, but they weren't impressive. They didn't make us feel excited to be there. It looked like an old apartment complex from the outside.

Angela

A friend of mine referred me to a place called Villa Gardens. This place was amazing.If I could put my dad in there, I would. They were independent living. They did have a rehab, which I'm very much interested in. They're going to call me back tomorrow about it. The place was for the wealthy, and the dining room was beautiful. The menu was amazing. It had a library that was beautiful. I saw both the rehab center and their independent living. The grounds are amazing, and the gardens were just beautiful. They had a lot of activities. They have a gym, a swimming pool, and a Jacuzzi. They have a putting green there too, and an outdoor dining room patio that's got beautiful lights and beautiful canopy. They have a barbecue area out there, and the tables were set really nice. Their menu was amazing. They had bistro bars where they could get snacks and coffee, pizza, and that kind of stuff. They had several different gardens where family members could go out and sit with them. I was able to see some seniors; although, I must have gone at a dead time. There was a senior in the library, and a couple of seniors walking around. One was asking the front desk for the menu for the week, so she could see and review it. It seemed like the staff was very nice and helpful with them. I didn't get to see any activities because nothing was happening at the hour I was there.

Michelle H

My mother has been an active resident of Villa Gardens for over 12 years and has loved every minute of it. The apartments vary in size, but all are bright and sunny with balconies and pleasant views, and even the assisted living/hospital sections are well-appointed and homelike. Apartments have kitchen/no-kitchen options and are designed for freedom of living. There is a library, store, salon, computer café, and a number of other important amenities which create a homelike atmosphere where residents can have most all their needs met. The staff is absolutely outstanding; everyone is friendly, polite, and exceedingly patient. The facility is dedicated to keeping the residents happy, healthy, and active, and there is literally always something (outings, concerts, movies, lectures, classes, games, and programs of all sorts) going on, giving residents a chance to thrive and grow strong, mentally and physically. This is true for both mind and body, and there’s a pool and a great gym as well as many different exercise classes aimed at a huge range of physical abilities. And the residents, themselves, organize events which are very inclusive and welcoming to all. One of the stand-out things I notice is that no one is left out and staff and residents go to great lengths to attend to the needs of everyone. The dining room (which was recently re-done) is beautiful with Pasadena-themed artwork by a local artist, and the food is excellent with myriad choices per meal. In fact, there is always something to please any appetite or hunger-level. Residents can generally choose between four or five entrees with multiple side dishes or they can order steak, chicken, or salmon anytime. There is a fine salad bar, the soups are consistently delicious, and the desserts are varied and tasty. There is always fruit and other snacks available, too. And, in addition to the regular dining room, there is new Bistro option where residents can get coffee, snacks, sandwiches, salads, and treats from 7:00am to 9:00pm. I live out of state and feel extremely grateful that my mom is in such a facility. She has tons of friends and gets involved in many social events, but she also has time to herself as well. The best part, though, is the peace of mind that comes from the fact that I know she’s in good hands should anything go wrong. Residents are cared for with love and compassion and they check on people constantly – no chance of someone falling and not being discovered. If they’re sick/injured there’s a wonderful health facility in-building and a spectrum of services provided.

Mary

Villa Gardens was great. The person who led the tour was fantastic. The residents seemed super happy and very friendly. They're doing some construction now to revamp their entry and other things, but it looked great. Their facility looked good. They had an outside pool that looked like a great place for everyone to hang out or get into the pool and use. They had a small rehab facility which was more than adequate. The rooms looked nice and comfortable. I liked the fact that you can individualize them; you'd have to spend extra money, but you can make it your own. The dining area looked fantastic. They also had a cafe that just opened up. I got to see their skilled nursing, memory care, and activities in the memory care. It looked like there was a great staff-to-patient ratio and a lot of activities available for residents. The menu and the facility looked great.

Barbie

My stepmother lives in Villa Gardens. It's very attractive and pleasant. It has a large exercise and meeting area and excellent dining facilities and staff. The rooms have large windows and lots of light. I've been to their exercise activities and lectures, which were all excellent, particularly the exercise.