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Waterford Terrace Retirement Community in La Mesa, CA

Waterford Terrace Retirement Community is an independent living community in La Mesa, CA.

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Waterford Terrace Retirement Community in La Mesa, CA

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  • Interior

    A well-equipped home gym with various cardio machines and exercise equipment.

  • Outdoors

    A scenic garden with a central stone fountain and surrounding greenery.

  • Decor

    A cozy and elegantly decorated living room with a leather sofa, wooden furniture, and warm lighting.

  • Living Room

    A cozy living room with elegant furniture and an open kitchen layout.

  • Building

    Modern apartment complex entrance with landscaping

  • Architecture

    A modern and spacious lobby area with elegant furniture and contemporary design.

  • Trees

    A beautifully landscaped garden featuring a gazebo, vibrant green grass, and blooming flowers under a partly cloudy sky.

  • Dining

    A cozy living room with plush sofas and a coffee table, adjacent to a dining area.

  • Landscaping

    Outdoor patio area with comfortable seating and umbrellas at a modern building.

  • Garden

    A residential apartment building with balconies overlooking a well-maintained lawn and garden path.

  • Artwork

    A cozy living and dining area with comfortable seating, a television, and decorative artwork.

  • Floor Plan

    Floor plans for one and two-bedroom apartments at Mountain Trace.

  • Outdoor

    An outdoor patio with tables and chairs, shaded by sail canopies, offering a scenic mountain view.

  • Pathway

    A well-maintained residential courtyard featuring landscaped pathways, palm trees, and outdoor seating.

5580 Aztec Drive, La Mesa, CA 91942

For more information about senior living options: (866) 208-4318

4.6 from 74 reviews
5 stars
49
4 stars
21
3 stars
3
2 stars
0
1 stars
1

Seniors.FYI Elite Community Awards

Top 5% Senior Living Community in 2016Top 5% Senior Living Community in 2018Top 5% Senior Living Community in 2022

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Waterford Terrace Retirement Community Costs & Pricing

Waterford Terrace Retirement Community offers competitive pricing for its accommodations when compared to the broader market in San Diego County and California. For instance, the monthly cost of a studio at Waterford Terrace is $3,300, which is significantly lower than the county average of $4,217 and the state average of $4,145. Similarly, their one-bedroom units are priced at $4,100, undercutting both San Diego County's average of $4,315 and California's average of $4,340. Even the two-bedroom options at Waterford Terrace are more affordable at $4,600 compared to local and state averages of $5,219 and $5,270 respectively. This positions Waterford Terrace as an attractive choice for potential residents seeking quality senior living without exceeding their budget.

Floor plansWaterford Terrace Retirement CommunitySan Diego CountyCalifornia
Studio$3,300$4,217$4,145
1 Bedroom$4,100$4,315$4,340
2 Bedrooms$4,600$5,219$5,270

Overall Review of Waterford Terrace Retirement Community

differentiator 19 reviews mention this

Meals and dining feel premium

Dining is consistently described as a highlight with varied meal options.

Multiple reviews call out the quality of the meals, describing the food as very good to excellent and noting that meals are planned and served on a regular schedule. Residents and guests also mention room service and the ability to choose from menus, plus special attention for dietary preferences like vegetarian options. A couple of reviews mention frustrations with meal timing or food taking too long, and one guest contrasts a “cafeteria-type” feel with other communities.

  • A cozy living room with plush sofas and a coffee table, adjacent to a dining area.
  • A cozy living and dining area with comfortable seating, a television, and decorative artwork.
  • Outdoor patio area with comfortable seating and umbrellas at a modern building.
common 22 reviews mention this

Staff friendliness and responsiveness stand out

Residents and families frequently describe the staff as kind, helpful, and responsive.

Across reviews, residents and families describe staff members as friendly, caring, and quick to help with day-to-day needs. Several comments give specific examples of support, including helping families feel comfortable during transition, assisting with communication or getting items set up, and responding when needs come up. A few reviews still point to operational issues—like activity coverage or infrastructure limitations—but the staff tone remains a consistent positive in those same stories.

common 14 reviews mention this

Activities keep residents engaged

The activity calendar is a frequent reason people choose to participate.

Reviewers commonly mention a wide range of scheduled activities, including exercise classes, social events, and clubs. Several residents describe the community as lively and full of things to do, sometimes highlighting outings and access to transportation for appointments or errands. Not every review is fully satisfied—some say there could be more variety beyond popular staples like bingo—while others still praise the overall number of offerings.

caveat 9 reviews mention this

Cost and deposits can be high

Some families consider the pricing high, including deposits or monthly fees.

Several reviews raise pricing as a concern, mentioning that the monthly cost feels too high and that a larger down payment or buy-in requirement affected their decision. At the same time, one review states the value is strong after comparing prices to other local options. The listing also shows unit pricing that is below county and state averages across studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom ranges, which may help explain why some people view it as a better deal than alternatives even when it still feels expensive to families.

caveat 6 reviews mention this

Hillside layout affects mobility

The hillside setting and elevator limits can make movement harder.

Some reviews specifically describe physical navigation challenges, including needing to go down a steep hill to reach walking areas and difficulty getting around due to the building’s multiple levels. A resident also mentions problems with phone service on the first floor and reports concerns about elevators for emergency evacuation, while another discusses the elevator size not working well for certain mobility equipment. There are also occasional critiques of the activity spaces and transportation logistics, such as buses being difficult to get into or limited on certain days.

common 6 reviews mention this

Independent living with optional help

Independent living is the baseline, with optional support described by reviewers.

Because this is positioned as independent living, some reviews note there is no hands-on personal care as a default service. At the same time, multiple comments describe opt-in help options, including medication management support and an in-home care service that families can arrange when assistance is needed. A separate review adds that fit can depend on the level of support someone requires, emphasizing that it may not be the right match for all mobility or care needs.

How we summarize

Counts show how many written reviews mention each theme; a review can touch several themes, and only frequently mentioned themes are displayed.

Features

Housing

  • 8 resident community capacity 8 resident community capacity
  • 1-bedroom apartments 1-bedroom apartments
  • 2-bedroom apartments 2-bedroom apartments
  • Studio apartments Studio apartments

Types of Care

  • Independent Living Independent Living

Pets

  • Cats allowed Cats allowed
  • Dogs allowed Dogs allowed

Amenities

  • Activities off-site Activities off-site
  • Activities on-site Activities on-site
  • Air-conditioning Air-conditioning
  • Bath tubs Bath tubs
  • Beautician on-site Beautician on-site
  • Beauty salon Beauty salon
  • Cable or satellite TV Cable or satellite TV
  • Computer center Computer center
  • Devotional services on-site Devotional services on-site
  • Dining room Dining room
  • Fitness room Fitness room
  • Full kitchen Full kitchen
  • Fully furnished Fully furnished
  • Gaming room Gaming room
  • Garden Garden
  • Ground floor units Ground floor units
  • Handicap accessible Handicap accessible
  • Housekeeping services Housekeeping services
  • Indoor common areas Indoor common areas
  • Kitchenette Kitchenette
  • Located close to restaurants Located close to restaurants
  • Located close to shopping centers Located close to shopping centers
  • Move-in coordination Move-in coordination
  • Outdoor common areas Outdoor common areas
  • Outdoor patio Outdoor patio
  • Outdoor space Outdoor space
  • Party space Party space
  • Pet friendly Pet friendly
  • Private bathrooms Private bathrooms
  • Private cleaning services Private cleaning services
  • Resident parking Resident parking
  • Respite or short term stays offered Respite or short term stays offered
  • Restaurant-style dining Restaurant-style dining
  • Small library Small library
  • Spa Spa
  • Telephone Telephone
  • Wellness center Wellness center
  • Wi-Fi/high-speed internet available Wi-Fi/high-speed internet available

Transportation

  • San Diego International-Lindbergh (10 miles away) San Diego International-Lindbergh (10 miles away)
  • Community operated transportation Community operated transportation
  • Transportation & parking Transportation & parking
  • Transportation arrangement (non-medical) Transportation arrangement (non-medical)

Care Services

  • Assistance with dressing Assistance with dressing
  • Hospice waiver Hospice waiver
  • Meal preparation and service Meal preparation and service
  • Medication management Medication management

Dining

  • Anytime dining Anytime dining
  • Diabetes diet Diabetes diet
  • Guest meals Guest meals
  • Meals provided Meals provided
  • Professional chef Professional chef
  • Restaurant style dining Restaurant style dining
  • Room service Room service
  • Special dietary restrictions Special dietary restrictions
  • Vegan Vegan
  • Vegetarian Vegetarian

Activities

  • Art classes Art classes
  • Catholic services Catholic services
  • Community-sponsored activities Community-sponsored activities
  • Concierge services Concierge services
  • Cooking classes Cooking classes
  • Day trips and outings Day trips and outings
  • Devotional activities on-site Devotional activities on-site
  • Educational speakers / life long learning Educational speakers / life long learning
  • Fitness programs Fitness programs
  • Jewish services Jewish services
  • Karaoke Karaoke
  • Live well programs Live well programs
  • Mormon/LDS services Mormon/LDS services
  • Other religious services Other religious services
  • Planned day trips Planned day trips
  • Protestant services Protestant services
  • Resident-run activities Resident-run activities
  • Scheduled daily activities Scheduled daily activities
  • Wine tasting Wine tasting

Videos

Nearby Places of Interest

This part of La Mesa, California offers a convenient and accessible location with a variety of amenities nearby. With multiple restaurants like McDonald's, BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse, and In-N-Out Burger within a short distance, residents can easily enjoy dining out. The area also features several pharmacies such as CVS and Rite Aid for convenient access to medications and healthcare supplies. In terms of healthcare, there are hospitals like Sharp Grossmont Hospital and Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center in close proximity, providing quality medical care. Additionally, there are cafes like Starbucks and The Simple Coffee House for leisurely coffee outings. For outdoor activities, residents can visit parks such as Mount Helix Park and Civita Park for relaxation and recreation. Overall, this part of La Mesa offers a well-rounded community with various conveniences that cater to the needs of seniors looking for a comfortable living environment.

Restaurants

  • McDonald's (0.5 miles)
  • BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse (1.1 miles)
  • Jack In The Box (1.2 miles)
  • Brigantine Seafood Restaurants (1.9 miles)
  • Jack In The Box (2.1 miles)
  • In-N-Out Burger (2.7 miles)
  • Black Bear Diner El Cajon (3.6 miles)

Pharmacies

  • CVS Pharmacy (0.9 miles)
  • Sharp Grossmont Hospital Pharmacy (1.2 miles)
  • CVS Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
  • CVS Pharmacy (2 miles)
  • CVS Pharmacy (2.4 miles)
  • Rite Aid (2.7 miles)
  • CVS Pharmacy (2.7 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 (4.5 miles)
  • Sharp Soc (6.3 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 (7.5 miles)

Cafes

  • Starbucks (1.7 miles)
  • The Simple Coffee House (1.8 miles)
  • Starbucks (4.2 miles)
  • Starbucks (4.6 miles)
  • The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (6.8 miles)
  • Communal Coffee (6.8 miles)
  • Kung Fu Tea (8 miles)

Parks

  • Mount Helix Park (2.8 miles)
  • Town Center Community Park (5.5 miles)
  • Shadow Hill Park (6 miles)
  • Civita Park (7 miles)
  • Cal's Point (7.4 miles)
  • Balboa Park (7.8 miles)

Places of Worship

  • El Camino Grace Church (3.5 miles)
  • Foothills Christian Church (4.5 miles)
  • Skyline Church (5.1 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 (5.9 miles)
  • Kaiser Permanente Viewridge Medical Offices 2 (6.4 miles)
  • Pushpanjalie Wijeratne, MD (6.4 miles)
  • Sharp Rees-Stealy San Diego Radiology (7.5 miles)

Theaters

  • AMC Mission Valley 2 (7 miles)

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to live at Waterford Terrace Retirement Community in La Mesa, CA?
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