Candlewood Care Home III

Pros

• Cristina and Emanuel genuinely care about others and consistently go above and beyond for residents.
• The staff at Living the Dream Care Home treat residents with love, tenderness, and respect, making them feel like family.
• Christina's health knowledge, integrity, passion, and compassion shine in her care for residents.
• LTDCH offers a small, home-based environment that preserves dignity and independence while meeting medical and emotional needs.
• Cristina proactively coordinates hospital beds, home health, medications, and supplies, restoring continuity of care.
• The care team handles transitions gracefully, including end-of-life care, with hospice coordination and compassionate support.
• The facility is clean, organized, and comfortable, with a welcoming, home-like atmosphere.
• They celebrate residents' birthdays and holidays with thoughtful meals, decorations, and special attention.
• Families appreciate Cristina's clear communication, transparency, and willingness to accommodate loved ones who live out of state.

Review

Cristina and Emanuel run Living the Dream Care Home (LTDCH) with a warmth and devotion that shines through in every detail of their operation. Across countless heartfelt notes, families describe people who would go to extraordinary lengths to care for others, placing the comfort and dignity of residents at the forefront. The unassuming strength of their approach - combined with a genuine sense of generosity - creates a welcoming, home-like atmosphere where residents feel valued, protected, and deeply understood. In conversations with relatives and caregivers, the impression is consistent: LTDCH is more than a place to stay; it's a community that treats each person as family.

Many families highlight the home-like environment as a defining feature. The facility itself feels intimate and personal, not institutional, and residents are encouraged to participate in daily life as if they were living in a well-loved home. This sense of belonging is especially important for seniors who want to feel comfortable during challenging times, including the last months and days of a loved one's life. The caregivers - fronted by Cristina and Emanuel and supported by a compassionate team - provide attentive, respectful care that emphasizes tenderness, safety, and personal connection. Visitors repeatedly note the clarity with which residents' needs are acknowledged and respected, even in moments that require tough decisions or transitions.

Cristina, in particular, emerges from these testimonials as more than an administrator - she is described as exceptionally knowledgeable, principled, and deeply devoted to the well-being of residents. Families meet her as the owner with a level of expertise and heart that reassures them during stressful placement decisions. Her colleagues, such as May, Yesenia, and Leah, are frequently named alongside her as integral parts of the care ecosystem. The overarching sentiment is that Cristina's leadership blends professional rigor with a familial warmth, resulting in a culture where residents are treated as beloved members of the family and where families feel heard, involved, and cared for as well.

The care provided by LTDCH is documented as being comprehensive and deeply coordinated with medical professionals. In one moving account, Cristina proactively assessed a father's needs after a stroke, arranging a hospital bed, coordinating home health services, and handling medication delivery and medical supplies. The result is care that not only addresses immediate needs but also restores routines and personal rituals, such as regular grooming and dental hygiene, that help preserve a sense of normalcy and dignity. When therapies are slow to schedule, Cristina intercedes to expedite access to therapists who resonate with the resident, underscoring a philosophy that every detail - whether a haircut or a therapy appointment - contributes to the resident's sense of independence and respect.

End-of-life care at LTDCH is described with particular reverence. Families recount how Cristina and the team navigated hospice referrals, ensuring the resident's comfort while preserving family connection. In one poignant example, the two parents were kept together in a shared room so they could remain side by side during a difficult period. The level of planning and thoughtfulness extended beyond medical needs to everyday moments - special meals, thoughtful hospitality, and even arranging a simple lunch after a funeral with the same grace and attention to detail that mark every LTDCH interaction. This thoughtful, patient-centered approach helps families feel that their loved ones are safe, cherished, and supported through the natural progression of care.

Another recurring thread is the example LTDCH sets in terms of atmosphere, routines, and family involvement. Families describe special meals to celebrate holidays, barbecue gatherings, and personalized touches that celebrate each resident's birthday. The presence of a well-cared-for, child-friendly home environment - a two-year-old son living at the home - adds to the sense that LTDCH is truly a family space rather than a sterile facility. The staff's willingness to accommodate extended family visits, decorate spaces like the gazebo, and coordinate visit schedules for relatives living out of state speaks to a culture built on accessibility, inclusion, and genuine hospitality. Cleanliness, organization, and the seamless integration of outside professionals - physical therapists, eucharistic ministers, and other healthcare providers - further reinforce the impression of an organized, dignified, and responsive home.

The consistency of praise across multiple perspectives reinforces the impression of LTDCH as a standout option among board-and-care homes. Reviewers commend the facility's cleanliness, professional communication, and reliable access to necessary medical professionals. They praise the caregivers' attentiveness to each resident's needs and the sense that residents are not just cared for but celebrated as individuals with their own histories, likes, and routines. The emotional tone of the testimonials is one of gratitude and relief - parents and grandparents who may have previously felt adrift find in LTDCH a place that respects their dignity, preserves their autonomy, and embraces them with kindness.

In sum, the testimonials paint a portrait of Living the Dream Care Home as a sanctuary of compassionate, well-coordinated care where Christina and Emanuel's leadership, joined by a devoted team, creates a truly restorative environment. Families describe a home that transcends its physical walls - a place where residents are protected, comforted, and cherished, where end-of-life care is managed with grace and empathy, and where the needs of loved ones and their families are always prioritized. For those seeking a caring, capable, and profoundly human approach to 24-hour home-based care, LTDCH stands out as a beacon of warmth, professionalism, and unwavering dedication.

This part of Tustin, California, offers a variety of amenities and services that cater to the needs of seniors. With several pharmacies in close proximity, accessing necessary medications is convenient. The diverse range of restaurants and cafes nearby provide ample dining options for socializing or enjoying a meal out. Additionally, the presence of parks like Tustin Sports Park and healthcare facilities such as Kaiser Permanente Tustin Medical Offices ensure access to recreational activities and medical care. The area also offers easy transportation options with John Wayne Airport and Artic nearby, making travel convenient for visiting loved ones or exploring the surrounding areas. Overall, this part of Tustin provides a well-rounded environment for seniors looking for a comfortable and accessible location to call home.

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.7 miles)
• Walgreens (3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.1 miles)

Restaurants

• McDonald's (0.8 miles)
• BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse (1.3 miles)
• Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar (1.3 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (1.4 miles)
• In-N-Out Burger (1.4 miles)
• McDonald's (2.5 miles)
• Del Taco (3.2 miles)

Cafes

• Kean Coffee (0.9 miles)
• Starbucks (1.2 miles)
• Starbucks (1.3 miles)
• Starbucks (1.4 miles)
• Orobae (2.7 miles)
• Starbucks (3.7 miles)
• Diamond Jamboree Shopping Center (4.1 miles)

Parks

• Tustin Sports Park (1.2 miles)
• Peters Canyon (2.2 miles)
• Resort at the Groves (2.6 miles)
• Plaza Park (3.5 miles)
• Eastwood Village Park (3.6 miles)
• Jeffrey Open Space Trail (4.2 miles)
• Ashwood Park (4.4 miles)

Physicians

• Kaiser Permenente Tustin Medical Offices (1.3 miles)
• Cardiology Specialists of Orange County (1.9 miles)
• Hoag Tustin Legacy (2 miles)
• Hoag Medical Group (2 miles)
• Coastal Kids (4 miles)
• Kaiser Permanente Orthopedics (6 miles)
• The 200 Building (6.1 miles)

Theaters

• Amc Tustin 14 At The District (3.4 miles)
• AMC Movie Theater (5.9 miles)
• Century Theatres (6.1 miles)
• Regal Irvine Spectrum Screenx, 4Dx, Imax, RPX & Vip (7 miles)

Places of Worship

• Islamic Center of Irvine (3.8 miles)

Hospitals

• Choc (4.5 miles)
• Kaiser Permanente Hospital (6 miles)

Transportation

• Terminal A (5.4 miles)
• John Wayne Airport (SNA) (5.5 miles)
• Artic (6 miles)