The Montera

Pros

• Residents of The Montera appreciate the spacious and comfortable living spaces, which contribute to a pleasant home environment.
• Many families express satisfaction with the quality of meals served, noting that the food is consistently excellent and inviting.
• The staff at The Montera is described as friendly, understanding, and attentive to residents' needs, fostering a welcoming atmosphere.
• Families feel that communication with the staff is good and appreciate the willingness of team members to engage and support residents.
• Numerous activities are available for residents, including music sessions, bingo, and outdoor areas for relaxation, enhancing their overall experience.
• Visitors are impressed by the cleanliness of the facility and its well-kept appearance, contributing to a positive impression of the community.
• Many reviewers highlight the strong sense of community at The Montera, where staff members know residents by name and treat them like family.
• Families note that moving into The Montera was a smooth process, indicating effective transition support from the staff.

Cons

• Limited Interaction: The mother has no interaction with the beautiful area of The Montera and is locked away in a building in the back, which diminishes her experience.
• Cleaning Issues: Reports indicate that even after cleaning, the facilities are not up to standard, as evidenced by dirty mops and unclean surfaces.
• Poor Communication: There is a significant lack of communication during staff shift changes, leading to misunderstandings about special requests and care needs.
• Inconsistent Care: The high turnover of staff results in residents receiving inconsistent care, causing problems with continuity and familiarity among caregivers.
• Meal Choices: Residents on the memory care side do not have a choice in their meals, receiving pre-selected meals that may not be suitable for everyone.
• Neglecting Non-Ambulatory Residents: Residents who require more assistance, like the mother mentioned, receive less attention compared to ambulatory individuals, leading to inadequate support for their basic needs.
• High Costs for Minimal Services: Families find additional fees for medication management excessive given their level of independence and ability to manage routines themselves.
• Concerns About Facility Management: While some aspects met criteria for selection, there are lingering concerns about overall health, safety, and resident satisfaction due to various operational issues cited by families.
• Intimidating Environment: Some residents feel intimidated by the layout of multiple buildings that may hinder their mobility or willingness to participate in activities.
• Mixed Experiences During Tours: Although tours initially leave a good impression, subsequent experiences reportedly fall short of expectations regarding service quality and atmosphere.

Review

The Montera appears to be a community that evokes a mix of experiences, with both commendable aspects and notable areas for improvement. Several reviews highlight its overall atmosphere as warm and inviting, with many residents and families appreciating the spaciousness of the rooms and the attentiveness of the staff. One parent expressed satisfaction with their child's acclimation to the environment, noting the spacious layout, comfortable accommodations, and enjoyable meals. The staff's willingness to assist was also praised, contributing positively to the experience of those living there.

The dining options at The Montera seem to receive mixed reviews. Generally, residents appreciate the quality of food prepared by an excellent chef—several reviews mention consistently good meals and friendly service in the dining room. However, some residents have raised concerns about limited meal choices for those in memory care, where they receive pre-plated options without alternatives. This has led to dissatisfaction for some families who feel their loved ones deserve more autonomy over their meals.

In terms of activities offered, The Montera provides a range of options such as bingo, trivia games, music performances, and other recreational pursuits that help keep residents engaged. Although one reviewer noted these activities positively enhance social interaction among residents, another family member pointed out that their loved one felt isolated due to being confined largely to a building separate from communal spaces. This presents a significant concern regarding engagement and opportunities for mobility outside designated areas within the facility.

Communication within The Montera appears to be one area requiring substantial improvement according to various accounts. Families have reported issues related to staff turnover leading to inconsistent care practices—and often a lack of knowledge transfer during shift changes about individual resident needs or specific requests made by family members. Suggestions have been made regarding clearer communication strategies such as daily briefings or checklists posted prominently for staff attention at shift changes in order to ensure continuity in care.

Another critical aspect raised by several reviewers relates directly to cleanliness standards across different sections of the facility—specifically on memory care units. There were mentions from visitors about inconsistencies in housekeeping where dirt was left unaddressed after cleaning routines both in common areas and personal spaces occupied by residents. Issues like dirty mops being used during cleaning rounds suggest potential lapses in maintaining hygiene standards that families expect from such facilities.

Despite these challenges highlighted by family members—particularly concerning communication gaps and cleanliness—the overarching sentiment reflects a general appreciation for The Montera’s community ambiance and attentiveness exhibited by many employees towards residents' well-being. Some families value it as an excellent choice for their loved ones based on factors like location convenience, friendly staff interactions experienced during tours and visits, as well as high-quality dining experiences which make day-to-day life enjoyable within this residential community setting.

In summary, while The Montera generally succeeds in creating an inviting home-like atmosphere complemented by positive culinary experiences—from commendable entertainment programming dedicated toward fostering connection among peers—it faces challenges surrounding effective communication practices among caregivers alongside some operational cleanliness discrepancies needing redressal; both crucial elements necessary for ensuring elevated resident satisfaction over time amidst varying levels of acuity found throughout its resident population.

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)