Jo Anne's Retirement Manor III

Pros

• Sunrise Mission Viejo is a wonderful community with a warm, home-like atmosphere.
• The staff are highly trained, genuinely caring, and treat residents like family.
• The Sunrise Mission Viejo team is caring, attentive, and truly dedicated to residents.
• Charlene is an outstanding, knowledgeable, and friendly tour coordinator.
• The facility is very clean inside and out, with an infectious positive energy throughout.
• Residents and families report friendly, warmhearted staff who are consistently helpful.
• The community provides a welcoming environment where residents form friendships and enjoy a variety of activities and outings.
• Dining experiences are enjoyable, with events like pasta bar and tiramisu.
• The music therapy program at Sunrise MV is valued, with engaged and happy residents.
• Families praise staff like Denise and Charlene for making moves smooth and ensuring comfort.
• The care and attention to residents are described as exceptional by visitors.
• Sunrise MV is highly recommended by families and visitors for its exceptional care and kindness.
• The environment feels like a warm, inviting home and a close-knit community.

Cons

• A reviewer states they would not recommend Sunrise, citing Tisset's inaction while residents face mistreatment and claiming she just sits and smiles.
• They note Gilberto's failure to improve the residence center's environment or compatibility as troubling.
• They describe the facility's warmth as a facade, with "fake smiles" and "fake attitudes" misleading families.
• Charlene's "grand tour of hell" is referenced as illustrating a deceptive view of the facility's true conditions.
• There is a pervasive sense of insincerity among staff, who allegedly only pretend to care for Sunrise.
• A family member in reminiscence care reportedly experienced mistreatment and the manager did nothing.
• Billing issues, lack of communication, and apparently inadequate caregiver training are alleged at Sunrise's Memory Care facility.
• The reviewer advises exploring alternative senior living options due to the alleged neglectful practices and lack of genuine care.

Review

Sunrise of Mission Viejo comes across in these notes as a community that many families describe as warm, welcoming, and very much like a home. Visitors repeatedly mention a clean, inviting environment both inside and outside, with residents seeming comfortable and well cared for from the moment you step through the door. Across numerous reflections, the atmosphere is often framed as small-town, family-feel care where staff know residents by name and take genuine pride in making each day meaningful. Several reviewers credit this ambiance with giving families confidence that their loved ones are in a safe and supportive setting.

A large portion of the praise centers on the staff, who are frequently described as highly trained, attentive, and truly compassionate. Charlene stands out repeatedly as a standout coordinator - an information-rich resource who guides families with patience and kindness, and who earns praise for her knowledge and approach during tours and questions. Denise appears frequently as well, noted for thorough tours and clear explanations of services; several families credit her with helping to position Sunrise as the right choice for loved ones, including a relative who said Denise highlighted the offerings that ultimately led them to select Sunrise. Roselle is singled out by families for her morning greetings and the positive energy she brings to her interactions with residents. Other names that pop up with consistent positivity include Christina, Michelle, Micheal, Jennifer, Barb, KC, and the administrative and sales teams, all described as professional, friendly, and deeply engaged in residents' well-being.

Tours and admissions frequently come through as a smooth, customer-focused experience. One reviewer mentioned being squeezed in for a tour on the same day they visited, underscoring the flexibility and responsiveness of the team. A number of families appreciate the thoroughness of the tours, the ability to ask questions, and the sense that the facility is a place you can picture calling home. The phrase "grand tour of hell" appears in one contrasting account, attached to a negative perception of the facility's management of care, but the majority of notes emphasize much more favorable, welcoming tour experiences and a transparent, informative process.

The memory care experience is a mixed thread in these notes. Several families speak highly of the care and attention provided in memory care settings, noting that staff are attentive, detail-oriented, and genuinely committed to residents' comfort and safety. There are also accounts praising the broader care environment - events, activities, and meaningful engagement - that make memory care residents feel connected. However, there is one particularly critical review that mentions billing issues, communication gaps, and concerns about training, describing a tense impression of inattention and a perceived lack of responsiveness in the memory care context. This serves as a reminder that, as with any community, experiences can vary and prospective families may wish to inquire specifically about memory care practices, staffing training, and financial processes before choosing.

Life at Sunrise of Mission Viejo is peppered with both everyday pleasures and meaningful programs. Families celebrate a lively calendar that includes events like Mothers Day brunches and other gatherings where staff collaborate to create a warm, festive atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the sense of teamwork among staff during these events, noting how the community comes together to ensure residents enjoy quality meals and companionship. Food quality is described as appealing, with mentions of enjoyable dining experiences such as pasta bars and tiramisu, underscoring the emphasis on creating a pleasant, restaurant-like social scene alongside care. In addition to on-site activities, some families appreciate off-site outings and a small bus with wheelchair access, though these add-ons may come with additional charges for tickets or meals.

Beyond the social and care routines, several reviewers credit Sunrise with having a meaningful, often life-affirming impact on their loved ones. One account describes a grandmother who is "so well taken care of," with staff who are friendly, the facility clean, and a welcoming atmosphere that supports a sense of belonging. Another story highlights a music therapy program in which the therapist notes the supportive climate created by the staff - residents are engaged, smiling, and willing to participate, with strong collaboration between the therapy provider and Sunrise's team. In some family anecdotes, the staff's reliability and consistency are framed as something that adds years of quality life to a loved one, reinforcing a sense of gratitude and peace for families navigating senior care decisions.

Taken together, the reviews paint a portrait of Sunrise of Mission Viejo as a community that many families feel confident in recommending. The overwhelming emphasis is on warmth, attentiveness, and a homey environment where residents are treated with dignity and care. Tour experiences, staff engagement, and daily life within the community are repeatedly described in terms of thoughtful, person-centered service, with Charlene, Denise, Roselle, and others frequently named as key contributors to a positive experience. While there are a few critical notes that call for closer attention to memory care practices, billing, and communication, the prevailing sentiment across the majority of reviews is one of reassurance for families seeking a supportive, go-the-extra-mile kind of care for their loved ones in Mission Viejo. If you're considering Sunrise for a family member, these narratives suggest starting with a visit to meet the team - especially Charlene, Denise, and the care staff - to see firsthand the environment that many families describe as warm, nourishing, and community-centered.

This part of Mission Viejo, California offers a convenient and well-equipped neighborhood for senior living. With several CVS Pharmacies and hospitals in close proximity, residents have easy access to medical care and prescriptions. The area also boasts a variety of parks for outdoor recreation, as well as a selection of cafes and restaurants for dining out. Places of worship such as Saddleback Church are nearby for spiritual support. For entertainment, there are theaters like Regal Foothill Towne Center within a short drive. The transportation options are also convenient with the Amtrak and Metrolink Irvine Station just a few miles away. Overall, this part of Mission Viejo provides a comfortable and accessible environment for seniors seeking a vibrant community with essential services within reach.

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.8 miles)
• Walgreens (3.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.2 miles)
• Walgreens (3.4 miles)

Parks

• Vintage Park (0.8 miles)
• Lake Forest Sports Park (1.7 miles)
• Baker Ranch Community Park (2.7 miles)
• O'Neill Regional Park (3.9 miles)
• Lago Santa Margarita (3.9 miles)
• Sheep Hills Park (4.8 miles)
• Cadence Park (5 miles)

Restaurants

• McDonald's (0.9 miles)
• Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers (2.6 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (2.6 miles)
• Del Taco (2.7 miles)
• In-N-Out Burger (2.8 miles)
• In-N-Out Burger (2.9 miles)
• McDonald's (3 miles)

Places of Worship

• Saddleback Church (1.6 miles)
• Harvest Community Church of Irvine (4.6 miles)
• Corpus Christi Catholic Church (6.8 miles)

Cafes

• Kona Loa Coffe (2.3 miles)
• Starbucks (4.1 miles)
• The Alley (5.4 miles)
• Starbucks (5.6 miles)
• Starbucks (6.4 miles)

Theaters

• Regal Foothill Towne Center (2.6 miles)
• Regal Irvine Spectrum Screenx, 4Dx, Imax, RPX & Vip (5.3 miles)
• Regal Edwards Aliso Viejo & IMAX (6.2 miles)

Hospitals

• South Coast Medical Center For New Medecine (3.7 miles)
• Palm Terrace (4.2 miles)
• Head & Neck Associates Of Oc (5.4 miles)
• CHOC Children's at Mission Hospital (5.6 miles)
• Kaiser Permanente Hospital (7.1 miles)

Physicians

• Saddleback Medical Group (3.9 miles)
• Mission Pain & Spine (4 miles)
• South County Orthopedic Specialists (4.9 miles)
• Community Orthopedic Medical Group (5.3 miles)
• Advanced Eye Medical Group (5.4 miles)
• Leon Joseph Baginski (5.5 miles)
• Mission Hospital Mission Viejo (5.6 miles)

Transportation

• Amtrak and Metrolink Irvine Station (4.7 miles)