Overall sentiment in the collected reviews for Encino Terrace Senior Living is strongly positive with recurring praise for the staff, dining, and activity programming, but there are important, recurring concerns about staffing levels, management communication, billing practices, and cost increases that prospective residents and families should weigh carefully.
Care quality and staff: The dominant theme across reviews is consistent praise for the people who work at Encino Terrace. Many reviewers call the staff caring, professional, courteous, and compassionate. Specific staff and department heads (names mentioned repeatedly) receive individual praise for running an organized environment and for being attentive to needs. Families frequently report prompt in-room responses, quick attention to pain and bathroom needs, effective use of alert systems, and an overall feeling that residents are safe and well looked after. Several reviews highlight long-tenured employees and a family-like atmosphere created by staff continuity. That said, a number of reviews indicate understaffing or periods when promised care could not be delivered. A minority of reviewers reported rushed or rude interactions, missed feedings, or an absence of CNA-level care at critical times. These negative experiences often center on gaps between what management promised and what care staff could actually provide.
Facilities and cleanliness: Many reviewers describe Encino Terrace as clean, bright, and recently remodeled in parts. Common praises include well-maintained hallways, clean bathrooms with safety rails, patios and balconies, and amenities such as a pool, jacuzzi, salon, game rooms and an ice cream/social room. Several reviewers appreciated private outdoor access or courtyard-facing rooms. Construction noise was noted where remodeling was underway, and there were a few isolated reports of pest sightings; most reviewers, however, reported no such problems and described the building as immaculate.
Dining and food service: Dining is another consistently positive theme. Reviewers mention nutritious, tasty meals with variety (including salad/sandwich bars, daily menus, and 24/7 snack access) and professional chefs. The dining room is frequently described as social and friendly, with waitstaff who learn resident preferences and create an upbeat atmosphere. A few reviews did note food dislikes or a single report of meals being dropped off and left unattended; overall, meal quality and presentation were standout positives.
Activities and social life: The activity program receives high marks for energy, variety, and resident engagement. Numerous outings (shopping, casinos, parks), happy hours, entertainment nights, exercise classes, and specialized offerings (Spanish classes, book club, dancing, karaoke, arts) were singled out. Residents frequently reported feeling busy and socially connected, with many forming friendships in the dining room. A few reviewers wanted more or more stimulating activities, and a small number felt socially isolated due to not being introduced on move-in.
Management, communication, and billing: This is the area with the most mixed feedback. Positive reviews highlight responsive, proactive directors and strong family communication. Conversely, several reviews describe problematic interactions with administration or corporate ownership: overpromising levels of service, poor follow-through, billing errors, and charges for services not received. A few reviews accused management of misrepresenting the level of care available and required families to hire outside nurses. Rent increases—reported as about 8% yearly in one review and otherwise described as uncapped annual hikes—created serious affordability concerns and anxiety about potential eviction for residents on fixed incomes. These cost and transparency issues are significant patterns that emerge alongside generally strong frontline caregiving.
Safety and medical concerns: Many reviewers felt safe and noted regular medication administration and available wellness services. Rapid caregiver response and attention to medical needs were praised. However, some serious concerns were reported about medication administration practices (instances described as forced medications or multiple medications given at once leading to nausea and safety worries). Additionally, there is no memory care or skilled nursing on site, so residents who require those higher levels of care may need outside services or higher-acuity placement.
Overall patterns and who this community suits: Encino Terrace appears to be a well-run, small-to-medium assisted living community that excels at meals, social programming, and day-to-day resident interactions. It is frequently described as home-like, family-oriented, and staffed by compassionate caregivers who go above and beyond. The community suits socially active seniors who benefit from frequent activities, regular dining, and an attentive staff in an intimate setting. Families seeking transparent billing, guaranteed levels of skilled nursing, or strict price caps should investigate contracts, ask detailed questions about which services are included, clarify medication protocols, and confirm historical staffing stability before committing. Prospective residents should also tour multiple times (including during a meal or activity), ask for written examples of services included versus additional fees, and check how the community handles transitions if care needs increase beyond assisted living.
Bottom line: Encino Terrace has many real strengths—standout staff, strong programming, good food, cleanliness, and a warm atmosphere—that lead to high satisfaction among many residents and families. However, recurring concerns about staffing consistency, administration transparency, billing, medication practices, and rising costs are nontrivial and were reported often enough to warrant careful contract review and direct conversations with management before move-in. Families who prioritize hospitality, social life, and attentive day-to-day caregiving are likely to be pleased, while those needing guaranteed higher-level clinical services or strict cost predictability should proceed with caution and clarifying questions.
