Campbell-Manor Care Home

Pros

• Villa Santa Barbara is a wonderful residence.
• The care staff are fantastic.
• The residents seem very happy.
• It is one of the best in town, with caring staff, a beautiful garden and patios, and clean facilities.
• Bob and Tina were very professional and educational about the facility, answering all questions.
• The residents are cheerful, lively and engaged with the activities.
• The facility is clean, with nice staff and great amenities.
• It is one of the loveliest facilities in town.
• The community is friendly and well-run, with a great location and happy residents.
• Everyone is super sweet there; good souls.
• Staff are helpful and friendly, creating a comfortable, welcoming and safe environment.
• The chef provides tasty, substantial meals.
• The tours are comprehensive and educational; the tour director is knowledgeable and excellent.
• The place feels like a family; staff are warm, friendly and always helpful.

Cons

• The facility is understaffed.
• A staff member was belligerent, threatened to tow a car, and the reviewer felt unsafe, leading to moving their mother.
• The father was signed out while intoxicated and the family was not notified until only seven days before he was asked to leave, which horrified them.
• Personal belongings started to go missing after six months.
• Some staff were not friendly or helpful, including an instance where a cleaner hesitated to provide directions and appeared biased toward a Hispanic resident.

Review

Villa Santa Barbara stands out as a warm and inviting senior residence in the heart of Santa Barbara, drawing high praise for its caring staff, beautifully kept grounds, and a strong sense of community. Reviewers consistently describe a place where residents appear happy, engaged, and well cared for, with many noting that the facility feels like a family atmosphere. The property itself earns compliments for its appealing setting - gardens and patios that provide pleasant spaces for outings and social time - and for being clean and well maintained. Several visitors emphasize the location's advantages, including proximity to downtown and the ocean, which enhances the overall experience of living there.

From the outset, families and prospective residents are met with informative and professional introductions. In one well-remembered tour, Bob and Tina guided the family through the facility and answered questions with clear, thorough explanations. Tour participants observed cheerful, lively residents who were actively participating in the activities offered, and they appreciated the staff's approachable and educational manner. These early impressions often set the tone for what reviewers describe as a meaningful, well-rounded living experience at Villa Santa Barbara.

Once inside, many residents and families credit the staff for creating a welcoming and safe environment. Dining is repeatedly highlighted as a standout feature, with reviewers describing meals as flavorful, substantial, and diverse, and noting that additional choices are readily available. The activity calendar is praised for its breadth, giving residents opportunities to socialize, exercise, and enjoy planned celebrations and holidays. The team, including directors and caregivers, is frequently described as dedicated, with several accounts naming individuals who go above and beyond during challenging times - especially when a resident experiences health issues or emergencies. For example, staff members such as the Executive Director and the Wellness Director are frequently singled out for their responsiveness and kindness, keeping families informed and ensuring residents feel secure and respected.

Several testimonials emphasize the strong leadership and the ongoing improvements under new or continuing management. Families speak highly of Stephanie, the Executive Director, and her colleagues who oversee day-to-day operations and overall quality of care. They describe a culture of care that remained strong through difficult periods, such as the pandemic, with staff members like Armando, Melanie, JoAnn, and Anita cited for their positive interactions in dining and daily life. There is also appreciation for a proactive approach to safety and communication, including a new guest sign-in system that reviewers note as efficient and helpful. The Villas' kitchen, under the direction of a new chef, is mentioned as better than ever, contributing to a sense that the community is continually refining its offerings.

Individual stories reveal both the joys and the occasional concerns that come with community living. Positive anecdotes include a 103-year-old resident who has thrived with attentive staff and activities, a sister who speaks highly of the director and the care her sister receives, and a family member who found solace in knowing the staff would communicate promptly during health events. The sentiment that "your loved ones will be in good hands" recurs in multiple accounts, underscoring a foundational trust in the staff's ability to balance independence with compassionate support. The dining team, activity staff (including a much-loved activities director named Alma), and caregiving staff are consistently described as kind, patient, and thoughtful, contributing to a sense of normalcy and warmth for residents and visitors alike.

Of course, no community is without its challenges, and a few reviews reflect issues that potential residents might want to consider. Some families expressed concern about understaffing and its impact on daily operations. There was a troubling incident involving parking where a car was towed after a brief notice, accompanied by a confrontational interaction with a staff member that left a family feeling unsafe and ultimately deciding to relocate their loved one. Other smaller experiences included questions about lost personal possessions after an extended period, a language-related miscommunication with a cleaning staff member about elevator directions, and a belief that some policies - like the timing of a 30-day notice during a spouse's illness - were handled in ways that were distressing to families. While these stories are not the norm, they highlight the importance of continuing to strengthen staffing levels, policy communication, and respectful, professional behavior across all staff roles.

Despite these concerns, the prevailing mood across most reviews is one of gratitude and optimism. Families repeatedly describe Villa Santa Barbara as a beautiful building with a strong sense of community, a professional and caring leadership team, and staff who genuinely treat residents like family. The campus's ocean view, nature-filled surroundings, and convenient urban location contribute to a high quality of life for residents who wish to remain engaged and connected. With a dedicated group of professionals - ranging from nursing care when needed to the dining room crew and activity directors - Villa Santa Barbara emerges as a place where residents can feel valued, nurtured, and connected to both their own stories and those of their neighbors.

In sum, Villa Santa Barbara presents itself as a beloved, well-run retirement community that combines a vibrant schedule of activities, nutritious dining, and attentive care with a strong emphasis on family involvement and open communication. The facility is celebrated for its compassionate leadership, its clean and welcoming environment, and its location that offers convenient access to downtown amenities and scenic surroundings. While some experiences point to opportunities for improvement - particularly around staffing levels and policy-related concerns - the overall narrative is one of warmth, safety, and a community that residents and families are proud to call home.

This part of Santa Barbara, California, offers a variety of amenities and services that cater well to seniors looking for a convenient and accessible neighborhood. With several physicians' offices, hospitals, pharmacies, and cafes within close proximity, residents can easily access healthcare services and daily essentials. The area also boasts a selection of restaurants serving different cuisines, as well as parks for leisurely walks or outdoor activities. Additionally, the presence of theaters and places of worship provides opportunities for entertainment and spiritual nourishment. Overall, this neighborhood provides a well-rounded environment for seniors seeking a comfortable and vibrant community to call home.

Physicians

• Eastside Neighborhood Clinic (0.3 miles)
• Dyne Godfrey Godfrey D Dyne Md Santa Barbara (0.4 miles)
• California Retina Consultants (0.4 miles)
• Ma'an Nasir (0.4 miles)
• Carrillo Surgery Cente (0.4 miles)
• Kind Dermatology and Medical Spa (0.4 miles)
• Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery Medical Clinic of Santa Barbara (0.5 miles)

Restaurants

• Taco Bell (0.4 miles)
• The Shop Cafe (0.4 miles)
• Yoichi's (0.5 miles)
• La Super-Rica (0.5 miles)
• Los Agaves on Milpas (0.6 miles)
• Zaytoon (0.6 miles)
• Buena Onda (0.7 miles)

Parks

• Kid's World (0.6 miles)
• Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens (0.7 miles)
• Alameda Park (0.7 miles)
• Mission Historical Park & Rose Gardens (1.1 miles)
• Palm Park (1.4 miles)
• Parma Park (1.5 miles)

Hospitals

• Santa Barbara County Environmental Health Services (0.6 miles)
• Summit Surgery Center (1.5 miles)
• Cottage Health System (1.5 miles)
• Rehabilitation Institute At Santa Barbara (1.6 miles)
• Cottage Children's Hospital (1.6 miles)

Cafes

• Arnoldi's Cafe (0.6 miles)
• Handlebar Coffee Roasters (0.7 miles)
• Low Pigeon (0.8 miles)
• Cajé Coffee - Arlington St (0.8 miles)
• Dune Coffee Roasters - State Street (0.8 miles)
• Savoy Cafe & Deli (0.8 miles)
• Dune Coffee Roasters (0.9 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.8 miles)
• Better Body Santa Barbara (0.8 miles)
• Scolari's Food Co. (0.9 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.3 miles)
• Sansum Pharmacy (1.5 miles)

Theaters

• Arlington Theatre Ticket Agency (0.8 miles)

Places of Worship

• Santa Barbara Mission Church (1.1 miles)
• Old Mission (1.1 miles)

Transportation

• Santa Barbara Amtrak (SBA) (1.3 miles)