Orangewood Manor in El Cajon, CA

Cons

• The place was terrible.
• The son developed bed bug bites immediately after staying there.
• The son contracted MRSA and had to be hospitalized.
• The facility appeared unattended by staff when they attempted to return him there.
• The washer and dryer were not working.
• The reviewer would give it zero stars.

Review

Orangewood Manor in El Cajon, CA is best suited for seniors who want a modest, home?like assisted?living environment and whose families are able to stay actively involved in monitoring care, safety, and facility operations. The community can work for residents who value personal attention and a smaller, neighborhood feel, provided there is consistent oversight from family and trusted staff to ensure a baseline of safety and daily functionality.

Those who may want to consider alternatives are families that prioritze uncompromising infection control, consistently reliable staffing, and consistently functioning in?house amenities. A single deeply troubling account highlights serious risks: bed bug exposure leading to medical complications, a hospital admission for MRSA, and a claim of unattended staff with a non?operational laundry facility. While two other reviews are highly favorable, the presence of such a severe negative experience cannot be dismissed lightly or treated as a mere outlier.

The most compelling pros appear to be the aspects that come with a smaller, less corporate setting: a potentially warmer, more personalized environment and a sense that residents receive individual attention when staff are present. Those positives can offset certain drawbacks for families who can maintain regular contact, demand transparency, and require only moderate care needs. However, they do not erase the gravity of the reported safety and maintenance failures, and the favorable reviews should be weighed against the risk signals raised by the troubling account.

The principal cons center on safety and reliability: pest-related health risks, serious infections requiring hospitalization, inconsistent staff presence, and maintenance gaps such as non?functioning laundry facilities. These factors have direct, daily implications for residents' comfort, independence, and health. In practice, even occasional lapses in staff coverage or a broken washer/dryer can cascade into missed medications, delayed care, or uncomfortable living conditions. The combination of a high?risk incident report and a claim of unattended staff signals a need for aggressive due diligence before committing, especially for residents with higher care needs or medical fragility.

For families ready to act, a rigorous, on?site vetting process is essential. Do not rely on online impressions alone. Tour during peak activity times to observe staffing patterns, talk to caregivers about turnover, and request concrete data: staff-to-resident ratios by shift, a grievance and incident log, pest control service records, and maintenance response times. Inspect the laundry area and appliances yourself, and ask to see recent inspections and service history. Schedule candid conversations with current residents or family members to gauge consistency of care, responsiveness, and the facility's escalation procedures for urgent needs.

In the end, Orangewood Manor offers a potentially suitable option for families prepared to supervise closely and who can tolerate a higher level of operational risk. If certainty about infection control, continuous staffing, and reliable amenities is nonnegotiable, alternatives should be prioritized. The decision should hinge on whether the positive experiences reported by some residents truly translate into reliable day?to?day quality of life, and whether the facility's safeguards and management are willing and able to address the serious concerns raised. For many, that means looking at other communities as a baseline, while reserving Orangewood Manor for circumstances where the family can commit to vigilant oversight and a clear plan to mitigate any operational gaps.

This part of El Cajon, California is a convenient and accessible area for senior living. With several pharmacies within a short distance, accessing medication and healthcare services is made easy. There are also a variety of cafes and restaurants nearby for dining out or grabbing a cup of coffee with friends. The presence of physicians' offices ensures that medical care is readily available. Places of worship are also close by for those seeking spiritual support, while parks provide opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. Additionally, hospitals are in close proximity for any medical emergencies, and transportation options make it easy to get around the area. Overall, this neighborhood offers a mix of amenities that cater to the needs and interests of seniors looking to live comfortably in El Cajon.

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.5 miles)
• Rite Aid (0.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.2 miles)
• Sharp Grossmont Hospital Pharmacy (2.5 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (0.5 miles)
• Starbucks (2.2 miles)
• The Simple Coffee House (4.9 miles)
• Starbucks (5.2 miles)
• Starbucks (6.7 miles)
• Kung Fu Tea (10.1 miles)
• The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (10.2 miles)

Physicians

• Fereshteh Jahanpanah Medical Clinic (1.1 miles)
• Dr Dominguez And Dr Ancona-Young Office (1.7 miles)
• Elahe Toulouie, MD (3.1 miles)
• Pushpanjalie Wijeratne, MD (3.1 miles)
• Kaiser Permanente Vandever Medical Offices (7.9 miles)
• NBHC Eastlake (8.6 miles)
• Kaiser Permanente Viewridge Medical Offices 2 (9.8 miles)

Restaurants

• Mal Al Sham (1.2 miles)
• Brigantine Seafood Restaurants (1.9 miles)
• Saray Restaurant (2 miles)
• Black Bear Diner El Cajon (2 miles)
• Jack In The Box (2.2 miles)
• BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse (2.7 miles)
• Jack In The Box (2.7 miles)

Places of Worship

• El Camino Grace Church (1.2 miles)
• Skyline Church (2.6 miles)
• Foothills Christian Church (2.7 miles)
• Our Lady Of Perpetual Help Cathollc Church (6.4 miles)
• Corpus Christi Church (8.5 miles)

Parks

• Mount Helix Park (1.3 miles)
• Shadow Hill Park (4.3 miles)
• Town Center Community Park (4.9 miles)
• Civita Park (10.8 miles)

Hospitals

• Sharp Grossmont Hospital Brier Patch (2.3 miles)
• Stanford Court Nursing (4 miles)
• Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center/Kaiser Foundation Hospital (7.6 miles)
• Sharp Soc (9.9 miles)

Transportation

• Grossmont Transit Center (2.7 miles)
• Montgomery Field Airport (MYF) (10.5 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Mission Valley 2 (10.7 miles)