Visiting Angels in San Diego, CA

Pros

• Joy McDonald is attentive, kind, and patient.
• Visiting Angels are easy to deal with and take care of everything needed.
• Their caregivers are patient, gentle, and skilled with seniors, including those with memory issues.
• The care teams bring professionalism, compassion, and warmth to families.
• They provide a personal touch and feel like an extension of the family.
• Sabrina is outstanding, accommodating, and has excellent bedside manner.
• Lauren and Sabrina offer exceptional leadership that ensures safe, caring service.
• The caregivers are consistently on time, professional, and genuinely caring.
• Visiting Angels is a highly recommended option for in-home care, bringing peace of mind to families.

Cons

• One reviewer described Visiting Angels as awful and said there was no replacement when a caregiver no-showed, leaving them on their own.
• A reviewer criticized the cost, saying the only reason they gave fewer stars was the price.
• Another reviewer felt the service was overpriced, noting the caregiver is paid much less than what the family pays the agency.
• They reported a negative experience where a suggested caregiver started on Monday but was a no-show, with no replacement offered.
• A reviewer labeled Visiting Angels as “a terrible organization.”

Review

This community is best suited for families seeking deeply personal, in-home senior care that preserves independence while delivering reliable, compassionate support. It shines for memory-care–related needs and post-acute recovery where transportation, companionship, medication reminders, and light housekeeping matter as much as medical oversight. Elders who prefer not to relocate to a facility but still require structured daily routines, safe assistance, and a steady presence will find Visiting Angels a practical, next-step option. Those contemplating a stay-at-home arrangement with 24/7 demands or highly complex medical needs should weigh the cost and scheduling reliability, but for most families the approach is a strong fit when a trusted home-based model is desired.

The practical advantages are concrete and consistently reinforced across numerous cases. Caregivers are described as warm, attentive, and patient, with Lauren and Sabrina driving a high level of oversight that aligns caregiver skills with individual personalities and living situations. The agency’s strength lies in making introductions to the care team, sustaining clear, proactive communication, and quickly adapting to shifting needs, sometimes coordinating with hospice or hospital teams to ensure continuity. Beyond basic daily tasks, physical care is complemented by meaningful engagement, such as companionship during errands, walking, baking, and other routines that preserve dignity and a sense of normalcy. Transportation, meals, and reminder systems form a reliable backbone, and the recurrence of the same caregivers on consistent schedules builds trust and reduces stress for families managing care from afar.

Some families should explicitly consider alternatives. A notable minority of reviews flags a real risk: a caregiver no-show without an immediate backup plan, leaving families scrambling and feeling unsupported. Price sensitivity also recurs as a theme; several families perceive the overall cost as high relative to what is delivered, noting that much of the payment goes to the agency rather than the caregiver. For households with an imperative for absolute predictability, or for those requiring uninterrupted 24/7 staffing with guaranteed coverage, other models, such as facilities or different agencies with different staffing guarantees, may be worth evaluating. Additionally, elders who resist outside help or who prefer a highly structured institutional setting may fare better with alternatives tailored to stricter supervision or centralized care.

Yet the positives frequently outweigh these concerns when managed with clear expectations and smart planning. The personal touch, care teams being integrated into the family, with leadership that is responsive and hands-on, consistently translates into less anxiety for caregivers and elders alike. The ability to customize care for memory challenges, delivering both companionship and purposeful routine, often yields meaningful improvements in mood, safety, and activity engagement. Families credit transportation to doctors and social events with reducing isolation, and meal preparation or light housekeeping can significantly extend independence. The leadership’s reputation for reliability and empathy, especially in matching caregivers and maintaining continuity over time, provides a practical anchor for families navigating complex care trajectories.

From a decision-making standpoint, a disciplined, proactive approach is essential. Request a concrete backup plan if a caregiver cannot attend a shift, and confirm how 24/7 coverage would be maintained during peak demand or scheduling changes. Demand transparency around rates, minimum hours, and what is included in the price, transportation, medication reminders, meal preparation, and light housekeeping should be clearly delineated. Insist on meeting the coordinating team, particularly Lauren and Sabrina, and arrange trial periods with a few candidates to gauge compatibility with the elder’s routines, preferences, and cognitive needs. Align this plan with any existing medical teams or hospice services to ensure a seamless transition and cohesive care.

Overall, Visiting Angels San Diego represents a powerful, practical option for keeping a loved one safe, engaged, and supported in the comfort of home. It is especially strong for families needing flexible staffing, compassionate caregivers, and a management structure that can respond to changing circumstances. This is not a risk-free choice, given the occasional scheduling hiccup and cost considerations raised by some families, but with explicit expectations, a solid backup strategy, and a defined trial period, the model delivers substantial value: caregiver continuity, thoughtful dementia- and recovery-focused care, and genuine peace of mind for families dispersed across distances. Prospective clients should begin with a candid needs assessment, press for direct engagement with Lauren and Sabrina, and enter with a clear, time-bound trial to confirm fit before committing long-term.

This part of San Diego, California, offers a convenient and vibrant location with easy access to essential amenities. With multiple pharmacies within close proximity, medical services are easily accessible, including Naval Medical Center San Diego and UC San Diego Medical Center. The area also boasts several beautiful parks such as Balboa Park and Waterfront Park, providing scenic spots for leisurely strolls. There is a diverse selection of restaurants offering various cuisines to indulge in, along with cozy cafes like Ghirardelli Ice Cream And Chocolate Shop for a delightful treat. Transportation options are plentiful with nearby trolley stations and the San Diego International Airport just a short distance away. Additionally, there are theaters like AMC Fashion Valley 18 for entertainment purposes. Overall, this area offers a blend of convenience, recreation, and healthcare facilities suitable for senior living in sunny San Diego.

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.5 miles)
• Rite Aid (0.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.3 miles)

Parks

• Balboa Park South Loop (0.1 miles)
• Waterfront Park (0.7 miles)
• Balboa Park (0.8 miles)
• Pantoja Park (0.9 miles)
• Quartyard Dog Park (0.9 miles)
• Embarcadero Marina Park South (1.4 miles)
• Centennial Park (1.9 miles)

Restaurants

• Barbusa (0.5 miles)
• Ballast Point Tasting Room And Kitchen (0.6 miles)
• McDonald's (0.6 miles)
• Pure Project - Ba (0.7 miles)
• Miguel’s Cocina (0.8 miles)
• Barleymash (0.9 miles)
• La Puerta (1 miles)

Transportation

• San Diego Santa Fe Depot (0.8 miles)
• Gaslamp Quarter Trolley Station (1.2 miles)
• Firefly Car Rental (1.4 miles)
• San Diego International Airport (SAN) (2.2 miles)
• Terminal 2 (2.6 miles)
• TSA Pre-Check (2.6 miles)
• Fashion Valley Trolley Station and Transit Center (2.9 miles)

Hospitals

• Naval Medical Center San Diego (0.9 miles)
• UC San Diego Medical Center (2.1 miles)
• Rady Children's Hospital (5.1 miles)
• Kearny Mesa Convalescent and Nursing Home (5.1 miles)
• Sharp Memorial Hospital (5.2 miles)
• Rady's Children's Hospital San Diego Large Waiting Room, Frost Street, Entrance 8 (5.2 miles)

Cafes

• Ghirardelli Ice Cream And Chocolate Shop (0.9 miles)
• Tabac Specialty Coffee & Cigars (0.9 miles)
• Copa Vida (1.1 miles)
• Communal Coffee (2 miles)
• Kung Fu Tea (5.3 miles)

Physicians

• Internal Medicine Associates (1 miles)
• San Diego Mental Health Services (4 miles)
• Sharp Rees-Stealy San Diego Radiology (5 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Fashion Valley 18 (3 miles)
• AMC Mission Valley 2 (3 miles)