Hayward Village Senior Apartments in Hayward, CA

Pros

• Hayward Village Senior Apartments are described as a decent community with amenities like a spa, fitness center, business center, and a garden, with friendly and welcoming management.
• The property manager, Hai Garcia, is portrayed as very kind, knowledgeable, and always available to help with applications and renewals.
• The interior and exterior are well maintained, the complex is quiet, and it feels safe.
• The staff, including Patricia, Martha, Ramon, Ed, Roman, and others, are consistently praised for their friendliness, helpfulness, and professionalism.
• The community is described as very clean and well-kept, with secure gates and safe surroundings.
• Residents express that they love living there and plan to stay long-term, describing it as a great place to live.
• The application process is depicted as easy, smooth, and quick thanks to attentive staff.
• The atmosphere is welcoming and the staff make residents feel at ease.
• New management is seen as an upgrade, improving the property, maintaining cleanliness, and enhancing the living experience.

Cons

• The place is described as the worst place to live.
• There have been constant issues since move-in, including two-year expired elevator certificates.
• Elevators break down about once a month.
• The walk-up gate is broken at least once a month.
• The staff have no senior programs and do not care if residents live or die; more services are needed.
• The pigeons problem cannot be controlled, making the patio unusable.
• The dumpsters outside are always overflowing.

Review

Hayward Village Senior Apartments is best suited for independent seniors who want a clean, quiet, and secure home with a responsive on-site team, straightforward residency processes, and convenient access to shopping and transit. It works well for those who prize a well-maintained building, welcoming front-desk interaction, and amenities that support daily wellness - fitness options, a spa, a garden, and a generally predictable environment - without expecting full-service care or memory-support programs.

Those who may want to consider alternatives are seniors who require extensive on-site assistance, medical oversight, or a richer slate of senior programming. If flawless elevator reliability and pest control are non-negotiables, or if a community must deliver substantial social activities and daily living services, other properties with stronger care-enrichment offerings may fit better. Families seeking extensive, campus-style services, or memory care, should evaluate options that provide more robust care customization than Hayward Village tends to emphasize.

The current frontline leadership and staff are the defining strength. Reviews consistently highlight a capable, accessible management team - most notably Hai Garcia, Roman, Ramon, and Martha - whose responsiveness translates into faster problem resolution, smoother move-in and recertification processes, and a welcoming, professional tone. Cleanliness is repeatedly praised, as are security measures and the general sense of safety. These operational strengths meaningfully offset the drawbacks by delivering predictable reliability in daily life, making it easier for families to feel confident about a long-term residency.

The main drawbacks revolve around infrastructure and pest concerns that reflect the property's age and historic turnover. Elevator certificates and occasional breakdowns, a gate that is not immune to uptime issues, and pests such as cockroaches in some units are tangible friction points. Outdoor areas can be affected by a pigeon issue, and some reviews point to aging carpets and overflowing dumpsters. While newer leadership has improved maintenance discipline and resident experience, these issues still matter, especially for residents with mobility challenges or heightened sensitivity to cleanliness and odors. The gap between high-average service and ongoing infrastructure flaws remains the most consequential tension here.

Prospective residents should approach a tour with specific, hard questions and a careful inspection. Ask for the latest elevator maintenance logs and any outstanding code requirements, request current pest-control records and a walk-through of several units to assess cleanliness and odor control, and verify how the recertification process will unfold and who will mentor it. Check hot-water reliability, test the fitness and spa areas, and observe the garden and common spaces for upkeep. Speak with multiple residents about responsiveness and the consistency of management, and observe how the front desk and gate operate at different times of day. These steps help determine whether the present strengths will continue to outweigh the known drawbacks for a given resident's priorities.

In sum, Hayward Village Senior Apartments is a practical, solid option for independent seniors who value a safe, clean, well-staffed environment and don't require extensive on-site care. The current management team has transformed daily life into something reliably smoother and more welcoming than several years of turnover might suggest, and that makes a meaningful difference for families seeking stability. If comprehensive assisted living services, perpetual elevator reliability, and fee-free pest control are non-negotiables, alternatives deserve a serious look. For those who can live with occasional infrastructure quirks in exchange for strong leadership, a friendly community, and accessibility, Hayward Village warrants careful consideration.

This part of Hayward, California, offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities for seniors looking to reside in the area. With multiple pharmacies and physicians within close proximity, residents have easy access to healthcare services. The presence of hospitals like Kaiser Permanente and Eden Medical Center ensures that medical care is readily available. Additionally, transportation options such as BART stations and Oakland International Airport provide ease of travel for both residents and visiting family members. There are also several dining options including fast food chains like McDonald's and healthier choices like Chipotle Mexican Grill. For those seeking recreational activities, nearby parks like Lake Chabot Regional Park offer opportunities for outdoor enjoyment, while cafes like Starbucks provide a comfortable setting for socializing with friends or relaxing alone. Places of worship such as First Baptist Church Of Castro Valley cater to the spiritual needs of the community, making this area a well-rounded choice for senior living.

Restaurants

• McDonald's (0 miles)
• McDonald's (1.4 miles)
• In-N-Out Burger (1.9 miles)
• McDonald's (1.9 miles)
• Chipotle Mexican Grill (2.5 miles)
• Sonic Drive-In (5.1 miles)
• Top Hatters Kitchen & Bar (5.2 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (1.3 miles)
• Walgreens (1.4 miles)
• Walgreens (1.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.4 miles)
• Walgreens (2.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.4 miles)
• Walgreens (2.6 miles)

Physicians

• Dr Mark Mandel M.D. - Optima Medical Assoc (1.6 miles)
• Kaiser Medical Offices (2.5 miles)
• Kaiser Permanente Pediatrics (2.5 miles)
• Reproductive Science Center (9.7 miles)
• Luxor Dental Prosthodontics & Implant Surgery (10.3 miles)
• Golden State Dermatology (10.9 miles)
• Foothill Optometric Group (10.9 miles)

Hospitals

• Kaiser Permanente Post-Acute Care Center (1.7 miles)
• Eden Medical Center (2.3 miles)
• Kaiser Permanente San Leandro Labor & Delivery (4.2 miles)
• Washington Hospital Heliport (10.3 miles)

Transportation

• Castro Valley BART Station (2.4 miles)
• South Hayward BART Station (3.5 miles)
• Terminal 2 (6.5 miles)
• Southwest Airlines Ticket Counter (6.5 miles)
• Oakland International Airport (OAK) (6.6 miles)
• Escape Lounge (6.7 miles)
• JSX (6.8 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (2.5 miles)
• Starbucks (2.9 miles)
• Starbucks (5.1 miles)
• Boba Bliss (9.8 miles)
• Panera Bread (10.1 miles)
• Panera Bread (10.3 miles)
• Philz Coffee (10.4 miles)

Parks

• Castro Valley Park and Community Center (3 miles)
• Eden Landing Ecological Reserve (3.1 miles)
• Lake Chabot Regional Park (3.3 miles)
• Bay Trees Park (3.7 miles)
• Parsons Park (3.8 miles)
• Chabot Park (4.7 miles)
• Beard Staging Area, Alameda Creek Regional Trail (6.6 miles)

Places of Worship

• First Baptist Church Of Castro Valley (3.4 miles)
• Bethel Presbyterian Church Of San Leandro (3.6 miles)
• Bay Area Chinese Bible Church (8.4 miles)
• Wat Buddhanusorn (8.5 miles)