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The Montera in La Mesa, CA

The Montera is an assisted living and memory care community in La Mesa, CA.

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The Montera in La Mesa, CA

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  • Interior

    A modern living room with comfortable seating and a cozy fireplace.
  • Decor

    A spacious and modern lobby with comfortable seating and stylish decor.
  • Living Room

    A modern living room with comfortable seating, wooden flooring, and tasteful decor.
  • Building

    A modern building entrance with brick stairs and a peaked roof.
  • Architecture

    An entrance to a building with brick paving and a sloped roof, possibly a hotel.
  • Bedroom

    A cozy bedroom featuring a bed with striped bedding, a sofa, and decorative elements like lamps and framed pictures.
  • Windows

    A spacious modern interior with dining tables, a piano, and a fireplace.
  • Dining

    A modern dining area with elegant seating and warm lighting.
  • Kitchen

    Modern kitchen and dining area with white cabinets and tiled flooring.
  • Lighting

    A neatly organized office space with wooden furniture and ample natural lighting.
  • Artwork

    A modern lounge area featuring a comfortable sofa, stylish tables, and elegant lighting.
  • Seating Area

    A modern lounge area with comfortable seating and a television.
  • Floor Plan

    3D floor plan of a studio apartment with a bedroom, living area, kitchen, and bathroom.
  • Bathroom

    Modern bathroom with a vanity area and an adjacent shower.

5740 Lake Murray Boulevard, La Mesa, CA 91942

For more information about senior living options: (866) 208-4318

4.5 from 181 reviews
5 stars
131
4 stars
27
3 stars
9
2 stars
4
1 stars
10

Seniors.FYI Elite Community Awards

Top 5% Senior Living Community in 2024Top 5% Senior Living Community in 2025

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The Montera Costs & Pricing

The Montera offers a range of living options with pricing that reflects its premier amenities and location. For a studio apartment, residents can expect to pay $4,300 per month, which is slightly above the average cost in San Diego County at $4,217 and California's statewide average of $4,145. Those seeking more space can consider the semi-private option priced at $5,200; this is significantly higher than both the county average of $3,518 and the state average of $3,333. For one-bedroom units, The Montera's rate stands at $6,440, again surpassing the county's average of $4,315 and California's average of $4,340. Overall, while The Montera's costs are on the higher end compared to local and state averages, they reflect a commitment to quality that appeals to those looking for an exceptional living experience.

Floor plansThe MonteraSan Diego CountyCalifornia
Studio$4,300$4,217$4,145
Semi-Private$5,200$3,518$3,333
1 Bedroom$6,440$4,315$4,340

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Overall Review of The Montera

common 28 reviews mention this

Staff communication and responsiveness

Residents and families frequently describe staff as caring and responsive.

Many reviews focus on how kind, patient, and attentive staff feel in daily interactions and during move-in. Families also describe quick help when problems come up, along with generally good communication for coordination and updates. A smaller set of memory-care comments stand out for communication problems, including slow medication refill communication and reports of inconsistent messages across shifts.

differentiator 26 reviews mention this

Food is consistently praised

Food quality is a standout strength that comes up repeatedly in reviews.

Food is one of the most repeated positives, with multiple residents and family members saying meals taste good and are delivered with care. Several reviews call out variety and a dining experience that feels more substantial than typical senior dining. While most feedback is positive, a few memory-care reviews describe less choice or meals feeling routine rather than personalized.

  • A modern dining area with elegant seating and warm lighting.
  • A modern dining area with neatly arranged tables and chairs, featuring stylish interior decor.
  • Modern kitchen and dining area with white cabinets and tiled flooring.
common 20 reviews mention this

Cleanliness and outdoor spaces

Reviews repeatedly mention a clean, well-kept environment.

Across both assisted living and tours, reviews describe the facility as clean, maintained, and generally pleasant to move through. Multiple comments also mention well-kept outdoor areas, including gardens and places to sit, such as a koi pond area. A minority of memory-care reviews mention concerns about room cleaning consistency and housekeeping oversight during visits.

common 22 reviews mention this

Activities keep residents engaged

Residents are often described as staying busy with daily programming.

Reviews commonly mention scheduled activities and entertainment, including things like music, bingo, cards/trivia, and group social time. Several families say staff engage residents and help them participate, with some describing specific memory-care activity involvement. A few reviews suggest the activity experience can vary in memory care or during higher-restriction periods, including notes that not all residents get outside time.

caveat 10 reviews mention this

Memory care has mixed consistency

Some memory-care reviews describe rougher experiences and inconsistent care delivery.

While some residents and families describe good memory-care support, multiple reviews raise concerns about consistency. Criticisms include delayed wake-up routines, staff communication gaps, and reports that some residents are not being checked on adequately or are left with issues at mealtimes and hygiene. Other comments describe dissatisfaction with how care needs are matched, especially when transfers or non-ambulatory support are involved.

caveat 6 reviews mention this

Pricing feels high with add-ons

Several reviews describe pricing pressures from rent and care add-ons.

Some families explicitly call the community expensive, including comments about rate increases after a few months and additional monthly charges related to care or medication handling. Others acknowledge overall value but still flag the cost as a hardship for fixed incomes. The pricing concern appears alongside requests for clearer communication and consistent service delivery, especially for memory-care situations.

How we summarize

Counts show how many written reviews mention each theme; a review can touch several themes, and only frequently mentioned themes are displayed.

Features

Housing

  • 225 resident community capacity 225 resident community capacity
  • 1-bedroom apartments 1-bedroom apartments
  • 2-bedroom apartments 2-bedroom apartments
  • Studio apartments Studio apartments

Types of Care

  • Assisted Living Assisted Living
  • Memory Care Memory Care

Pets

  • Cats allowed Cats allowed
  • Dogs allowed Dogs allowed

Amenities

  • Activities off-site Activities off-site
  • Activities on-site Activities on-site
  • Air-conditioning Air-conditioning
  • Beautician on-site Beautician on-site
  • Beauty salon Beauty salon
  • Cable or satellite TV Cable or satellite TV
  • Computer center Computer center
  • Devotional services off-site Devotional services off-site
  • Devotional services on-site Devotional services on-site
  • Dining room Dining room
  • Fitness room Fitness room
  • Fully furnished Fully furnished
  • Gaming room Gaming room
  • Garden Garden
  • Ground floor units Ground floor units
  • Housekeeping services Housekeeping services
  • Indoor common areas Indoor common areas
  • Kitchenette Kitchenette
  • Laundry Laundry
  • Move-in coordination Move-in coordination
  • Outdoor common areas Outdoor common areas
  • Outdoor space Outdoor space
  • Party space Party space
  • Private bathrooms Private bathrooms
  • Resident parking Resident parking
  • Restaurant-style dining Restaurant-style dining
  • Security gate Security gate
  • Small library Small library
  • Swimming pool Swimming pool
  • Swimming pool / hot tub Swimming pool / hot tub
  • Telephone Telephone
  • Wellness center Wellness center
  • Wheelchair accessible showers Wheelchair accessible showers
  • Wi-Fi/high-speed internet available Wi-Fi/high-speed internet available

Transportation

  • San Diego International-Lindbergh (10 miles away) San Diego International-Lindbergh (10 miles away)
  • Community operated transportation Community operated transportation
  • Transportation & parking Transportation & parking
  • Transportation arrangement Transportation arrangement
  • Transportation arrangement (non-medical) Transportation arrangement (non-medical)
  • Transportation to doctors appointments Transportation to doctors appointments

Care Services

  • 12-16 hour nursing 12-16 hour nursing
  • 24-hour call system 24-hour call system
  • 24-hour supervision 24-hour supervision
  • Activities of daily living assistance Activities of daily living assistance
  • Ambulatory care Ambulatory care
  • Assistance with bathing Assistance with bathing
  • Assistance with dressing Assistance with dressing
  • Assistance with transfers Assistance with transfers
  • Coordination with health care providers Coordination with health care providers
  • Dementia waiver Dementia waiver
  • Diabetes diet Diabetes diet
  • High acuity care High acuity care
  • Hospice waiver Hospice waiver
  • Incontinence care Incontinence care
  • Meal preparation and service Meal preparation and service
  • Medication management Medication management
  • Mental wellness program Mental wellness program
  • Mild cognitive impairment Mild cognitive impairment
  • Personal care assistants Personal care assistants
  • Special dietary restrictions Special dietary restrictions
  • Specialized memory care programming Specialized memory care programming
  • Transportation arrangement (medical) Transportation arrangement (medical)
  • Transportation to doctors appointments Transportation to doctors appointments

Dining

  • Anytime dining Anytime dining
  • Diabetes diet Diabetes diet
  • Gluten-free Gluten-free
  • Guest meals Guest meals
  • International cuisine International cuisine
  • Kosher Kosher
  • Low / no sodium Low / no sodium
  • Meals provided Meals provided
  • No Sugar No Sugar
  • Professional chef Professional chef
  • Restaurant style dining Restaurant style dining
  • Room service Room service
  • Special dietary restrictions Special dietary restrictions
  • Special dining programs Special dining programs
  • Vegetarian Vegetarian

Activities

  • Art classes Art classes
  • Catholic services Catholic services
  • Community-sponsored activities Community-sponsored activities
  • Concierge services Concierge services
  • Cooking classes Cooking classes
  • Day trips and outings Day trips and outings
  • Devotional activities offsite Devotional activities offsite
  • Devotional activities on-site Devotional activities on-site
  • Educational speakers / life long learning Educational speakers / life long learning
  • Fitness programs Fitness programs
  • Karaoke Karaoke
  • Live well programs Live well programs
  • Planned day trips Planned day trips
  • Protestant services Protestant services
  • Resident-run activities Resident-run activities
  • Scheduled daily activities Scheduled daily activities
  • Visiting chaplain or priest Visiting chaplain or priest
  • Wine tasting Wine tasting

Languages Spoken

  • English English

Videos

Nearby Places of Interest

This part of La Mesa, California offers a variety of amenities and services that cater to the needs of older individuals looking for a comfortable and convenient living environment. With several pharmacies in close proximity, access to healthcare and medication is easily accessible. In addition, there are numerous dining options ranging from fast food to seafood restaurants, providing a diverse selection for dining out. The area also features cafes for casual gatherings or relaxing coffee breaks. For recreation and leisure, there are parks nearby where one can enjoy outdoor activities or simply take a stroll amidst nature. Furthermore, there are hospitals within a short distance for any medical emergencies or regular check-ups. Overall, this part of La Mesa provides a well-rounded community with essential services and opportunities for social engagement suitable for senior living.

Restaurants

  • McDonald's (0.7 miles)
  • BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse (1.1 miles)
  • Jack In The Box (1.3 miles)
  • Jack In The Box (1.9 miles)
  • Brigantine Seafood Restaurants (1.9 miles)
  • In-N-Out Burger (2.9 miles)
  • Black Bear Diner El Cajon (3.5 miles)

Pharmacies

  • CVS Pharmacy (0.9 miles)
  • Sharp Grossmont Hospital Pharmacy (1.3 miles)
  • CVS Pharmacy (1.6 miles)
  • CVS Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
  • CVS Pharmacy (2.5 miles)
  • Rite Aid (2.9 miles)
  • CVS Pharmacy (3 miles)

Transportation

  • Grossmont Transit Center (1 miles)
  • Montgomery Field Airport (MYF) (6.8 miles)

Hospitals

  • Sharp Grossmont Hospital Brier Patch (1.5 miles)
  • Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center/Kaiser Foundation Hospital (3.9 miles)
  • Stanford Court Nursing (4.3 miles)
  • Sharp Soc (6.2 miles)
  • Rady Children's Hospital (7.2 miles)
  • Rady's Children's Hospital San Diego Large Waiting Room, Frost Street, Entrance 8 (7.3 miles)
  • Sharp Memorial Hospital (7.4 miles)

Cafes

  • The Simple Coffee House (1.6 miles)
  • Starbucks (1.8 miles)
  • Starbucks (4.2 miles)
  • Starbucks (4.7 miles)
  • The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (6.6 miles)
  • Communal Coffee (6.9 miles)

Parks

  • Mount Helix Park (2.9 miles)
  • Town Center Community Park (5.3 miles)
  • Shadow Hill Park (5.8 miles)
  • Civita Park (7 miles)
  • Cal's Point (7.4 miles)
  • Balboa Park (7.9 miles)
  • Lindbergh Park (8.1 miles)

Places of Worship

  • El Camino Grace Church (3.5 miles)
  • Foothills Christian Church (4.4 miles)
  • Skyline Church (5.3 miles)

Physicians

  • Kaiser Permanente Vandever Medical Offices (4.1 miles)
  • Fereshteh Jahanpanah Medical Clinic (4.2 miles)
  • Dr Dominguez And Dr Ancona-Young Office (4.7 miles)
  • Elahe Toulouie, MD (5.8 miles)
  • Kaiser Permanente Viewridge Medical Offices 2 (6.2 miles)
  • Pushpanjalie Wijeratne, MD (6.3 miles)
  • Sharp Rees-Stealy San Diego Radiology (7.5 miles)

Theaters

  • AMC Mission Valley 2 (7.1 miles)

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to live at The Montera in La Mesa, CA?
What floor plans and room types does The Montera offer?
Where is The Montera?
Does The Montera provide care for residents with dementia or Alzheimer's disease?
Does The Montera allow residents to have pets?
What photos are available for The Montera in La Mesa, California?

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Related Resources

  • what do dementia patients think aboutDelving into the Inner World of Dementia: Insights into Thoughts and Awareness

    Dementia, primarily caused by Alzheimer's disease but also linked to other conditions, leads to cognitive decline impacting memory and daily functioning, with individuals experiencing varied awareness of their impairments. Despite memory loss, emotional connections persist, enabling responses to familiar stimuli, highlighting the need for caregivers to provide compassionate support that recognizes both limitations and retained emotional depth.

  • does my mom have dementia quizFive Subtle Dementia Indicators to Observe: An In-Depth Guide to Understanding “Does My Mom Have Dementia?”

    The article presents five subtle indicators of dementia, such as memory lapses and mood swings, to help families assess cognitive decline in loved ones. It emphasizes early detection, open communication, and seeking professional help while providing practical support steps.

  • dementia paranoiaDementia, Paranoia, and Caregiver Guidance: Understanding the Connection

    Dementia encompasses progressive neurological disorders that impair cognitive functions and can lead to paranoia due to cognitive decline and emotional changes. The article discusses the triggers of paranoia in dementia, caregiver strategies for managing it, and the importance of distinguishing between dementia-related paranoia and other psychiatric conditions.

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