Overall sentiment: Reviews of Foothill Retirement skew positive overall, with a strong emphasis on compassionate, responsive caregivers, well-run memory care, attractive grounds, and an active calendar of meals and activities. The most consistent praise centers on staff members who are caring, attentive, and quick to respond; many families describe staff as genuinely invested in residents' wellbeing and highlight good medication management, warm interpersonal care, and teamwork among caregivers. Multiple reviewers specifically recommend the community and describe residents as happy and socially engaged.
Care quality and staff: The dominant theme is that frontline staff (aides, caregivers, many nurses) are caring, patient, and supportive. Families repeatedly note that staff check on residents throughout the day, maintain cleanliness and personal hygiene, and create a nurturing atmosphere. However, there is a clear pattern of inconsistency: some shifts—especially evenings and nights—are described as less attentive, with occasional reports of staff rudeness, one nurse with a negative attitude, or providers being slow at shift change. A few reviewers reported serious safety-related incidents (a resident who fell and staff unable to assist, necessitating 911/ER involvement), and others reported missing belongings or unexplained damage that caused distress. These outlier negative experiences are important to weigh against the many positive testimonials but indicate variable performance depending on staff and shift.
Memory care and resident suitability: Foothill offers a secure memory care unit and dementia programming; many families praise how memory care residents are included in activities and how the unit is appointed and secure. At the same time, several reviewers note that the environment is better suited to older residents who require steady assistance rather than younger or more behaviorally complex dementia patients. A handful said the community was not a good fit for relatives with more aggressive or active care needs. In short, memory care is a strength for residents who match the facility's profile, but referral-fit assessment is important.
Facilities, rooms and grounds: The property and grounds receive frequent accolades: well-kept gardens, old-world Spanish charm, bright cheerful décor, and ample outdoor space. Many reviewers describe the building as clean, pleasant-smelling, and homelike. Conversely, several reviewers call parts of the property outdated, cramped, or run-down; rooms can be small and may not suit couples. Overall the setting is attractive and well-maintained in many reports, but expectations should be calibrated for an older building with some dated areas.
Dining: Dining is often a highlight. Multiple reviewers praise chef-prepared, gourmet-style meals, well-presented nutritious menus, varied options, and snacks between meals. Frequent positive notes about birthday and special meal celebrations reinforce dining as a community strength. That said, some families reported a decline in food quality after staffing changes and a minority of residents dislike the food—so dining experience can vary over time and by palate.
Activities and engagement: The community runs a robust and transparent activity program with exercise classes, painting and watercolor, music and sing-alongs, outings to local parks and the pier, and frequent holiday/social events. Activities are posted publicly and many reviewers said residents are lively and engaged. A few comments, however, suggested that some memory care residents can appear idle or under-engaged, indicating differences in program delivery between areas or times.
Management, communication and operations: Management receives mixed marks. Many reviewers praise responsive administration, helpful move-in assistance, and clear activity schedules. Others report past issues with directors, confusing contract or billing practices (extra month charge on move-out, notice requirements), and inconsistent communication—especially when follow-up is required or during certain shifts. A recurring recommendation from reviewers is to proactively follow up on requests and be alert to administrative details when moving in or leaving.
Safety, incidents and anomalies: While many reviewers felt safe and praised security in memory care, there are a few notable safety concerns and troubling anecdotes: a resident left on the floor requiring 911, complaints about insufficient assistance, and isolated reports of theft or deliberate property damage with poor explanations. These serious incidents are not the norm in the dataset but are significant and warrant inquiry during tours and family discussions.
Value and suitability: Some find Foothill pricey but worth it for the quality of care, meals, and atmosphere; others find it reasonable. The culture and community appear to favor singles or residents comfortable in a small, homelike setting rather than couples needing larger accommodations. Pet-friendliness and a secure dog yard are a strong plus for pet owners.
Conclusion and recommendations: In aggregate Foothill Retirement presents as a caring, activity-rich community with strong dining, attractive grounds, and an effective memory care option for appropriate residents. The major strengths are staff compassion, responsiveness, meals, and social programming. The main cautions are variability in staff performance by shift, occasional administrative and communication lapses, some evidence of facility aging in spots, and isolated but serious safety/asset incidents. Prospective families should: (1) tour at different times (including evenings), (2) ask specifically about shift staffing and recent staff turnover, (3) clarify contract, billing, and notice rules in writing, (4) check availability and room size relative to needs (especially for couples), and (5) discuss resident-fit for behavioral or higher-acuity dementia needs. Overall, many reviewers highly recommend Foothill and report excellent experiences, but a careful, time-staggered evaluation is advised to confirm consistency for an individual resident's needs.
