Aegis Assisted Living

Pros

• The staff greeted residents warmly and ensured their comfort.
• The facility is clean, well cared-for, and homey.
• Residents are treated with respect and individuality; staff learn and greet them by name.
• The food is good with a variety of options, including a daily soup.
• Activities are varied, published daily, and encourage group participation.
• The environment is comfortable, fun, and feels like a hotel where residents are treated as guests.
• Staff are kind, helpful, patient, and responsive; leadership focuses on individualized care.
• The Life Enrichment program keeps residents engaged, moving, and enjoying themselves.
• Move-in experiences are well supported, with staff going above and beyond to ease transitions.
• Residents form friendships and become happier and healthier after joining.
• The dining and kitchen staff are sweet, and meals are delicious.

Cons

• Anne Marie, the managing director, was described as rude and borderline racist.
• The memory care area reeks of urine.
• There are odors in the rec room.
• The previous director Anne Marie was described as the only and worst negative of the SF operation, who drove away top staff.

Review

Aegis Living comes through in these experiences as a place that many residents and their families describe as warm, inviting, and genuinely homey. Across the accounts, the environment is repeatedly praised for feeling welcoming the moment you walk in. The hallmarks mentioned are a staff that greets people by name, a clean and well-kept setting that still manages to feel comfortable rather than clinical, and a culture that treats residents with a genuine sense of hospitality. In particular, the everyday details - from the daily menu with a new soup each day to the variety of activities that range from entertainment and games to physical exercise - contribute to a sense that life at Aegis is about more than just care; it's about engagement, dignity, and enjoying daily routines together. The overall impression is that Aegis Living is designed to feel like a welcoming community rather than a sterile facility.

One recurring thread centers on moving a loved one into assisted living and how that transition is handled. Several family members describe their experience with particular gratitude for the level of attention and respect shown to their loved ones, noting that staff treat residents as guests in a hotel - well accommodated and attentively considered. The reviews emphasize how staff remember names, greet residents warmly, and tailor interactions to each person's needs. This individualized approach shows up in practical ways: encouraging safe mobility with walkers, offering appropriate assistance, and providing reliable medication distributions. For families balancing emotion and logistics, these stories highlight care teams that are patient, kind, and perceptive about when to prompt participation in activities and when to give space.

The caregivers' attentiveness appears to have a direct, positive impact on residents' well-being. In one family's experience with their grandmother, the care team is described as helping her stay engaged with a broad spectrum of offerings - movies, art, scenic drives, happy hours, lessons, and exercise - while remaining respectful of her pace and preferences. The staff's ability to help residents stay active, while also ensuring safe mobility and calm support during moments of confusion, is repeatedly cited as a reason families feel grateful for the change from life at home to life at Aegis. Food also receives widespread praise, with residents and families noting a satisfying variety and the inclusion of beloved favorites. The result, for many, is a notable improvement in mood and overall health, reinforcing the sense that the move was the right choice for their loved ones.

On the San Francisco location, there is particular emphasis on the depth of personal connections that staff forge with residents and families. The accounts highlight several standout team members who became central to the transition and ongoing care: Devon Kessler, the Director of Marketing, is described as supportive and appropriately paced - engaged but not pushy - and her role in arranging visits during a delicate process is repeatedly praised. Chris Lyons, the General Manager, is portrayed as someone who quickly captures a resident's interests and matches them with companions and experiences from day one. The detailed attention extends to specific staff like Ayub, the head of maintenance, who helps handle logistics during moves, and Sushi, who earns high marks in housekeeping and personalized approaches to resident needs. In Life Enrichment, Jane is singled out for her engaging programming, helping residents stay active and connected. When a resident has particular interests or needs, such as laundry preferences or social connections, the team demonstrates flexibility and a willingness to go the extra mile to ensure those preferences are respected.

This depth of connection sometimes intersects with broader organizational realities. Some reviewers acknowledge that the move-in process can be smoother, noting a staff transition that temporarily reduced hands-on guidance during a critical window. They describe how, despite the initial transition hiccups, the team eventually rallied - Chris and Devon in particular are credited with creating a more personalized plan for their mom and ensuring she formed meaningful relationships from day one. The broader narrative of leadership at Aegis SF includes praise for the leadership changes that brought in a new director and the overall sense that the current era is characterized by compassionate professionalism. The sentiment is that, while no place is perfect, the community has emerged as a leader in its field, especially in terms of resident engagement, health, and genuine hospitality.

Within the mixed landscape of feedback, there are also pointed but constructive criticisms. Some reviewers mention concerns about a former managing director - described as rude and borderline racist by one family member. Others refer to areas where odors or cleanliness in specific memory care spaces were less than ideal, and they note that such issues can be disheartening reminders that even well-regarded facilities must continually address every corner of the home. These critiques are balanced by broad commendations for the current teams, the quality of the food, and the overall atmosphere. In some notes, families express appreciation for the presence of volunteers and the general sense that the community is continually investing in its facilities and staff to improve resident experiences.

Overall, the mosaic of experiences paints Aegis Living as a place where warmth, attentiveness, and a broad menu of activities come together to support residents' well-being. Families describe a setting where residents are treated with dignity, where caregivers remember names and preferences, and where daily life feels lively and purposeful. The stories highlight the difference a compassionate, well-coordinated staff can make during emotionally challenging transitions, especially for loved ones who are adjusting to assisted living after many years in their own homes. And while there are notes of room for improvement - particularly around onboarding during staffing transitions and a few concerns about past leadership - the prevailing tone across these accounts is one of gratitude, renewed health, and confidence in the ongoing commitment of Aegis Living to provide a respectful, engaging, and high-quality living environment for seniors and memory care residents alike.

This area of San Mateo, California offers a variety of amenities and services that may be appealing to seniors looking to relocate. With multiple cafes nearby such as Starbucks and Philz Coffee, residents can enjoy their favorite beverages and socialize with friends. The proximity to pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens provides convenient access to necessary medications and health supplies. Additionally, there are various dining options ranging from fast food chains like McDonald's and Chick-Fil-A to upscale restaurants like Lark Creek Grill. For outdoor recreation, there are several parks within a few miles, including Leo J Ryan Memorial Park and Coyote Point County Park. Medical care is easily accessible with hospitals such as Mills-Peninsula Health Services and Kaiser Permanente Redwood City Medical Center in close proximity. Overall, this part of San Mateo offers a mix of conveniences and recreational opportunities that may make it a desirable location for senior living.

Cafes

• Starbucks (0.2 miles)
• Starbucks (6 miles)
• Philz Coffee (6 miles)
• Coffeebar (6 miles)
• San Francisco Giants Clubhouse (7.1 miles)
• Starbucks (7.8 miles)
• Café Venetia (10.4 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
• Walgreens (2.2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.5 miles)

Restaurants

• McDonald's (0.6 miles)
• In-N-Out Burger (3.7 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (5.4 miles)
• New England Lobster Market & Eatery (5.8 miles)
• In-N-Out Burger (5.8 miles)
• In-N-Out Burger (6.1 miles)
• Lark Creek Grill (6.6 miles)

Parks

• Leo J Ryan Memorial Park (0.6 miles)
• Central Park (2.2 miles)
• Marlin Park (2.9 miles)
• Coyote Point County Park (3 miles)
• Laurelwood Park (3.4 miles)
• Washington Park (3.5 miles)
• Burton Park (4.7 miles)

Transportation

• Hillsdale Station (1.8 miles)
• San Carlos Airport (SQL) (3.7 miles)
• San Carlos Airport Control Tower (4 miles)
• Redwood City Caltrain Station (6 miles)
• Millbrae Caltrain Station (6.3 miles)
• Boarding Area C (6.6 miles)
• Delta Sky Club (6.6 miles)

Theaters

• Cinepolis San Mateo (2 miles)

Physicians

• Bundy Opticians (2.3 miles)
• California Skin Institute (2.6 miles)
• Urology: San Carlos Center: Palo Alto Medical Foundation (3.5 miles)
• California Skin Institute (5.8 miles)
• Redwood City Women's Health Center (6 miles)
• Kaiser RWC Birch Building (6.1 miles)
• CCRM Fertility of San Francisco (7.9 miles)

Hospitals

• San Mateo Medical Center (2.3 miles)
• Mills-Peninsula Radiology (2.4 miles)
• Mills-Peninsula Health Services (5.9 miles)
• Sequoia Hospital (5.9 miles)
• Kaiser Permanente Redwood City Medical Center (6 miles)
• A & C Convalescent Hospital (6.8 miles)
• VA Medical Center-Menlo Park (9.4 miles)