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University Care Center in San Diego, CA

University Care Center is a nursing home community in San Diego, CA.

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University Care Center in San Diego, CA

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  • Interior

    A spacious gym with exercise equipment and wooden flooring, ideal for fitness and rehabilitation activities.
  • Landscaping

    Entrance sign for the University Care Center surrounded by palm trees and landscaping.
  • Bathroom

    A modern walk-in shower with tiled walls and grab bars.
  • Lobby

    A cozy office reception area with a wooden front desk, comfortable seating, and warm hardwood flooring.
  • Palm Trees

    A beautiful house with a large driveway and palm trees at sunset.
  • Office

    A welcoming lobby area with a reception desk and staff.
  • Healthcare

    A well-lit hospital room with two patient beds and a view of an outdoor garden.

5602 University Avenue, San Diego, CA 92105

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

4.3 from 111 reviews
5 stars
90
4 stars
1
3 stars
2
2 stars
3
1 stars
15

Seniors.FYI Elite Community Awards

Top 5% Senior Living Community in 2024Top 5% Senior Living Community in 2025

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Overall Review of University Care Center

caveat 4 reviews mention this

Care response is inconsistent

Some residents say call-button responses were slow or missed.

A recurring concern is difficulty getting staff attention when residents pressed for help. Multiple reviewers describe nurses not arriving after requests, or inconsistent response times, even when help was urgent. One reviewer also mentioned problems reaching staff by phone and feeling that medication and evaluations were not handled promptly. This doesn’t match the many positive care experiences others report, so experiences appear mixed depending on the situation.

common 23 reviews mention this

Staff kindness shows up often

Many reviewers describe staff as genuinely caring and respectful.

Across the reviews, residents and families frequently describe respectful, friendly, and attentive staff. Several mentions call out specific departments like nursing, therapy, social services, and housekeeping as being accommodating and supportive during recovery and visits. While there are also negative reviews about care and cleanliness, the more consistent tone in many accounts is that staff treat people with compassion and respond to needs when possible. The community also emphasizes meal preparation, activities, and support services in its offering, which aligns with why many families talk about day-to-day reassurance.

differentiator 17 reviews mention this

Rehab therapy is a highlight

Residents often credit physical and occupational therapy for progress.

Many reviewers specifically mention physical therapy (and related rehab services) helping with mobility and recovery. Several accounts describe tailored therapy that encouraged patients to regain strength and independence, with positive experiences for both rehab and daily support. This fits the facility’s skilled nursing focus and the emphasis on meal preparation and assistance services alongside therapy. A few negative reviews criticize staffing and care execution, but the majority of therapy-focused comments are strongly supportive.

common 8 reviews mention this

Food is mixed but present

Meal quality shows up as a frequent point of feedback.

Some reviewers say the meals were prepared fresh, served neatly, or included enjoyable variety, even when appetite was limited. Others report food that felt below expectations at times, including descriptions like poor-to-good or items not matching what was advertised. The community offers restaurant-style dining and supports special dietary needs, and that helps explain why several reviews discuss both general satisfaction and specific dietary adjustments. Overall, dining seems to affect day-to-day experience for multiple reviewers.

caveat 9 reviews mention this

Facility cleanliness varies by review

Cleanliness and upkeep are praised by some but criticized by others.

A number of reviewers mention the building being very clean, organized, and well maintained, and some highlight infection control and fresh improvements. However, several low-star reviews describe unpleasant odors, dust, visible wear, and rooms or furnishings that did not meet expectations. There are also accounts of ongoing updates and remodeled areas, which likely contribute to why experiences can differ depending on timing and room condition. Taken together, cleanliness is a meaningful factor in both the strongest and most negative feedback.

common 4 reviews mention this

Activities and social support matter

Residents and families mention activities and social services support.

Several reviews describe participating in activities, celebrating events, and socializing with other residents, which some people say helped their mood and recovery. Others specifically credit social services for making the process easier and helping with discharge planning and next steps. The community also lists organized daily activities and resident-run events, which aligns with why families mention meeting others and feeling informed. At the same time, a few negative reviews focus on staffing and attention, so the day-to-day activity experience may depend on care execution.

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

  • 87 resident community capacity 87 resident community capacity

Types of Care

  • Skilled Nursing Facility Skilled Nursing Facility

Amenities

  • Air-conditioning Air-conditioning
  • Beauty salon Beauty salon
  • Cable or satellite TV Cable or satellite TV
  • Computer center Computer center
  • Dining room Dining room
  • Fitness room Fitness room
  • Fully furnished Fully furnished
  • Gaming room Gaming room
  • Garden Garden
  • Housekeeping services Housekeeping services
  • Kitchenette Kitchenette
  • Move-in coordination Move-in coordination
  • Outdoor space Outdoor space
  • Private bathrooms Private bathrooms
  • Restaurant-style dining Restaurant-style dining
  • Small library Small library
  • Telephone Telephone
  • Wellness center Wellness center
  • Wi-Fi/high-speed internet available Wi-Fi/high-speed internet available

Transportation

  • San Diego International-Lindbergh (7 miles away) San Diego International-Lindbergh (7 miles away)
  • Community operated transportation Community operated transportation
  • Transportation arrangement Transportation arrangement
  • Transportation arrangement (non-medical) Transportation arrangement (non-medical)
  • Transportation to doctors appointments Transportation to doctors appointments

Care Services

  • 12-16 hour nursing 12-16 hour nursing
  • 24-hour call system 24-hour call system
  • 24-hour supervision 24-hour supervision
  • Activities of daily living assistance Activities of daily living assistance
  • Assistance with bathing Assistance with bathing
  • Assistance with dressing Assistance with dressing
  • Assistance with transfers Assistance with transfers
  • Diabetes diet Diabetes diet
  • Meal preparation and service Meal preparation and service
  • Medication management Medication management
  • Mental wellness program Mental wellness program
  • Special dietary restrictions Special dietary restrictions

Dining

  • Diabetes diet Diabetes diet
  • Special dietary restrictions Special dietary restrictions

Activities

  • Community-sponsored activities Community-sponsored activities
  • Concierge services Concierge services
  • Fitness programs Fitness programs
  • Planned day trips Planned day trips
  • Resident-run activities Resident-run activities
  • Scheduled daily activities Scheduled daily activities

Nearby Places of Interest

Pharmacies

  • CVS Pharmacy (1.2 miles)
  • CVS Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
  • Walgreens (1.9 miles)
  • Rite Aid (1.9 miles)
  • Rite Aid (2.5 miles)
  • Walgreens (2.6 miles)
  • Walgreens (2.9 miles)

Cafes

  • Starbucks (1.8 miles)
  • Communal Coffee (3.8 miles)
  • The Simple Coffee House (4.2 miles)
  • Kung Fu Tea (5 miles)
  • Copa Vida (5.5 miles)
  • Ghirardelli Ice Cream And Chocolate Shop (5.6 miles)
  • Tabac Specialty Coffee & Cigars (5.7 miles)

Restaurants

  • In-N-Out Burger (1.9 miles)
  • Sombrero Mexican Food (3 miles)
  • In-N-Out Burger (3.3 miles)
  • McDonald's (3.3 miles)
  • Pecs (4 miles)
  • Jack In The Box (4.1 miles)
  • Cheers (4.2 miles)

Physicians

  • Kaiser Permanente Vandever Medical Offices (3 miles)
  • Internal Medicine Associates (5.1 miles)
  • Sharp Rees-Stealy San Diego Radiology (5.8 miles)

Hospitals

  • Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center/Kaiser Foundation Hospital (3.2 miles)
  • Naval Medical Center San Diego (4.4 miles)
  • Sharp Grossmont Hospital Brier Patch (4.7 miles)
  • Sharp Soc (5.3 miles)
  • UC San Diego Medical Center (5.3 miles)
  • Rady Children's Hospital (5.6 miles)
  • Rady's Children's Hospital San Diego Large Waiting Room, Frost Street, Entrance 8 (5.7 miles)

Transportation

  • Grossmont Transit Center (4.3 miles)
  • Fashion Valley Trolley Station and Transit Center (5.6 miles)
  • Gaslamp Quarter Trolley Station (5.7 miles)
  • Montgomery Field Airport (MYF) (5.8 miles)
  • San Diego Santa Fe Depot (5.9 miles)

Theaters

  • AMC Mission Valley 2 (4.5 miles)
  • AMC Fashion Valley 18 (5.5 miles)

Parks

  • Balboa Park (4.5 miles)
  • Cal's Point (4.7 miles)
  • Civita Park (4.8 miles)
  • Balboa Park South Loop (5.1 miles)
  • Quartyard Dog Park (5.3 miles)
  • Mount Helix Park (5.5 miles)
  • Pantoja Park (5.9 miles)

Frequently Asked Questions

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