I toured La Vida Real and loved the resort-like, beautifully maintained grounds, bright rooms, cruise-ship vibe, great location and abundant amenities - pool, gym, theater and nonstop activities with excellent dining most days. Staff were warm, attentive and made residents feel at home, and the community offers independent through memory care with on-site nursing. My main concerns were the high cost and repeated reports of understaffing, uneven training and occasional care/maintenance lapses in assisted/memory care. Overall I was impressed and would consider it if the budget and staffing reliability check out.
La Vida Real sits on 11 landscaped acres in Rancho San Diego, where the Spanish-style buildings have balconies, arched doorways, and bougainvillea draped over trellises, and the grounds include walking paths, courtyards, gardens with palm trees, ornamental fountains, a putting green, and a Bocce court, so people can spend time outdoors or just sit and enjoy the sun, and the three-story building holds independent and assisted living apartments ranging from studios to two-bedrooms, with sizes between 473 and 1278 square feet, and most units allow pets, which can be a comfort for many folks. The community provides a wide set of senior living options covering independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and something they call The Club, and the staff includes med techs, caregivers, and licensed nurses who are there day and night. Memory care is set up for people living with dementia or Alzheimer's, with secure areas and trained staff to help prevent wandering and confusion, and assisted living gives help with daily needs like bathing, dressing, and medication, so folks get support while keeping as much independence as they can.
Dining here includes restaurant-style meals, bars, and bistro and cafe options, with health-focused menus and no sugar, vegan, and vegetarian meals alongside standard offerings, all covered over 12 hours a day, so people can eat when they want and with choices to fit just about any diet or craving, and guest meals are available too. La Vida Real offers a heated swimming pool, spa, art studio, cinema, library, hair and nail salon, fully equipped gym, and regular group fitness classes through their ZestFit and Zest wellness programs, which cover mind, body, and social wellness, plus professional support and activities meant to keep people engaged. Activities range from live music and art lessons to weekly social events, with club lounge areas and a range of classes, so there are always ways for residents to connect or stay busy if they want to.
On the practical side, the facility is licensed for up to 177 residents, and it carries CARF accreditation, which means it meets certain standards for care, and staffing levels, licensing info, and details on capacity are listed for those who want more facts. Housekeepers are on site, separate from other staff, and take care of cleaning and upkeep, so residents have less to worry about at home, and caregiving staff are there at all hours, so help is always close by if someone's needs change or something unexpected comes up. La Vida Real is one of the communities that serve clients through the San Diego Regional Center, and veterans can use VA benefits for long-term care if they qualify. Housing comes in several layouts, including alcove, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom options for independent living, and there are studio and one-bedroom apartments for assisted living, often with outdoor or garden views. In short, La Vida Real has a range of living and care options in a setting with lots of outdoor spaces, onsite services, and social activities, which can be a good fit for adults looking for independent, assisted, or memory care living in the San Diego area.
People often ask...
La Vida Real offers competitive pricing, with rates starting at a cost of $5,000 per month.
La Vida Real offers independent living, assisted living, and memory care.
There are 20 photos of La Vida Real on Mirador.
Yes, La Vida Real allows residents to age in place and adjust their level of care as needed.
The full address for this community is 11588 Via Rancho San Diego, Rancho San Diego, CA, 92019.
Yes, La Vida Real offers respite care.
Respite care in assisted living communities provides temporary, short-term relief for primary caregivers by offering professional care for their loved ones. It allows individuals to stay in an assisted living community for a limited time, giving caregivers a break while ensuring residents receive necessary support and assistance with daily activities.
State of California Inspection Reports
57
Inspections
3
Type A Citations
10
Type B Citations
6
Years of reports
08 Aug 2025
08 Aug 2025
Issued an Immediate Exclusion letter for a staff member during an unannounced case management visit, and the Executive Director acknowledged; no deficiencies were identified.
§ 9058
08 Aug 2025
08 Aug 2025
Identified an allegation that a staff member forcibly restrained a resident during an aggressive episode, with insufficient information to determine a violation of the resident's personal rights; also noted twenty-five incident reports submitted outside the required time frames between July 7 and August 7, 2025, and a five-day delay in administering prescribed medication to a resident after returning from the hospital, with prescriptions dated July 19 and started the night of July 23.
Issued two deficiencies.
§ 9058
§
§
07 Mar 2025
07 Mar 2025
Investigated allegations that R1 did not receive two prescribed medications and was charged for services after moving out. Found the medications were issued as prescribed with prior blood pressure checks, and that charges extended through October 11, 2024 per the admissions agreement.
07 Mar 2025
07 Mar 2025
Found that the allegation that staff did not answer call buttons in a timely manner and left a resident in soiled clothing was unsubstantiated. Found a preponderance of evidence of a strong urine odor in a resident's room.
07 Mar 2025
07 Mar 2025
Found insufficient evidence to confirm the staff-on-staff verbal altercation and the claim that staff did not treat residents with dignity and respect, based on interviews and record reviews.
27 Dec 2024
27 Dec 2024
Found a clean, well-maintained care setting with adequate furnishings and spaces for dining, laundry, and activities. Water temperatures were within acceptable ranges; medications and records were securely stored, fire extinguishers were accessible, no pools or firearms were present, and no deficiencies were cited.
01 Oct 2024
01 Oct 2024
Identified two allegations of suspected abuse involving a staff member and two residents in two separate incidents, and collected health and safety records during an unannounced case management visit. Conducted an exit interview with the director and explained licensee appeal rights.
27 Sept 2024
27 Sept 2024
Identified evidence that a staff member violated a resident's personal rights by refusing to assist with a medication request and removing the call button while using inappropriate language; interviews and outside sources noted prior similar behavior, the resident has a major neurocognitive disorder but can communicate needs, and the staff member has since been separated from the site.
06 Feb 2024
06 Feb 2024
Found an unannounced visit, during which records were collected and an exit interview with the administrator occurred.
27 Sept 2024
27 Sept 2024
Confirmed personal rights violation and inappropriate behavior towards a resident by a staff member.
28 Aug 2024
28 Aug 2024
Found that a resident’s call button was not answered promptly on several dates and pain medication prescribed as needed was not issued on January 12, 2023, based on records and staff interviews.
§ 87411(a)
§ 87465(a)(4)
28 Aug 2024
28 Aug 2024
Confirmed allegations of staff not responding promptly to resident call buttons and failing to administer prescribed medication as needed.
§ 87625(b)(3)
29 May 2024
29 May 2024
Found no evidence that neglect caused a pressure injury for the resident; there are no current pressure injuries, a prior injury had healed, and redness observed did not meet the criteria of a pressure injury. Found no evidence that neglect resulted in falls or that meals were withheld; the resident is monitored and receives three meals daily.
29 May 2024
29 May 2024
Investigated allegations of resident neglect found no evidence of pressure injuries, falls caused by neglect, or staff withholding meals. Confirmed resident experienced redness but not pressure injuries and exhibited behavior of moving onto the floor independently without sustaining injuries.
24 Apr 2024
24 Apr 2024
Found the allegation that a staff member harassed a resident to move to a higher-priced area unfounded after reviewing records showed the resident lives in an independent living area outside licensing jurisdiction.
24 Apr 2024
24 Apr 2024
Found no preponderance of evidence to prove the allegation that staff did not provide the authorized representative with resident records and that the resident was not reassessed timely.
24 Apr 2024
24 Apr 2024
Determined harassment allegation unfounded due to resident living in section outside jurisdiction of licensing authority.
§ 87468.1(a)(1)
16 Feb 2024
16 Feb 2024
Found insufficient evidence to prove the allegation of neglect causing injuries to a resident after an unwitnessed fall and related treatment. Interviews and records did not provide corroboration for the claim.
16 Feb 2024
16 Feb 2024
Investigated a complaint of neglect resulting in multiple injuries to a resident; found insufficient evidence to support the allegation.
06 Feb 2024
06 Feb 2024
Identified deficiencies during the visit.
10 Jan 2024
10 Jan 2024
Found that, for a portion of the night, staffing levels were insufficient to meet residents’ needs. In memory care, two aides clocked out early and overnight staff arrived late, leaving that area short-handed for a brief period; in assisted living, the overnight shift was short-handed for about 22 minutes due to late arrival.
10 Jan 2024
10 Jan 2024
Found no evidence the resident’s suppository was not given as prescribed during April and May 2021. Review of MARs and bowel movement logs showed the suppository was administered on only a few days, with bowel movements occurring on most other days.
10 Jan 2024
10 Jan 2024
Confirmed that allegations of not providing medication as prescribed were unsubstantiated.
29 Dec 2023
29 Dec 2023
Found most items in compliance, including clean rooms, proper furnishings, safe bathrooms, proper medication handling, and adequate staffing. Identified an allegation that some room showers lacked non-slip mats, creating a potential health and personal rights risk, and a technical violation was issued.
§ 87303(e)(5)
29 Dec 2023
29 Dec 2023
Identified deficiencies in the facility included missing safety equipment and inconsistencies in medication administration, while overall compliance with regulations was mostly maintained. An unannounced inspection was conducted by a Licensing Program Analyst.
20 Dec 2023
20 Dec 2023
Investigated allegations that a resident sustained a hand fracture from physical abuse; found inconsistent explanations for the injuries and no clear evidence of abuse, with the treating physician not suspecting abuse. Also found that whether the resident could access a call button could not be conclusively determined.
20 Dec 2023
20 Dec 2023
Investigated allegations that a resident's hand fracture resulted from physical abuse and that the call button was inaccessible; determined insufficient evidence to support either allegation.
20 Nov 2023
20 Nov 2023
Found the call button system was functioning and not in disrepair, and found no evidence to support the allegation that staff did not assist residents with incontinence care in a timely manner.
20 Nov 2023
20 Nov 2023
Confirmed that the call system was operational and staff met incontinence needs as required.
17 Nov 2023
17 Nov 2023
Found insufficient evidence to support the allegation that staff did not follow hospice care plans for the resident receiving hospice services. Found insufficient evidence to support the allegations that trash and laundry were overflowing, that there were blood stains on a resident's furniture, that residents did not receive clean linens, that residents' medical records were not current, and that staff did not have sufficient training before working independently.
17 Nov 2023
17 Nov 2023
Found that staff did not replace a resident's lavatory cover in a timely manner, resulting in unsanitary conditions inside the toilet tank.
17 Nov 2023
17 Nov 2023
Confirmed unsanitary conditions in a resident's bathroom due to a delay in addressing a maintenance issue with the toilet cover, resulting in small worm-like insects found in the lavatory tank.
09 Nov 2023
09 Nov 2023
Investigated allegations that staff did not accurately assess a resident after a fall and did not protect the resident from hazards, and that a hazardous nightstand caused injury. Found insufficient evidence to confirm these allegations; interviews showed caregivers sometimes conducted a basic post-fall check, and a nightstand was described as not hazardous.
09 Nov 2023
09 Nov 2023
Investigated allegations that staff improperly assessed residents after falls and failed to protect a resident from a hazardous nightstand; determined not enough evidence to support these claims.
§ 87411(a)
26 Sept 2023
26 Sept 2023
Found that the licensee allowed a staff member to work from 05/05/2023 through 09/09/2023 without criminal record clearance or an exemption. The staff member was removed from resident contact on 09/09/2023, administratively terminated on 09/19/2023, and an immediate civil penalty of $500 was assessed for the clearance violation.
26 Sept 2023
26 Sept 2023
Confirmed a violation for allowing an employee to work without proper background clearance.
12 May 2023
12 May 2023
Identified a May 10, 2023 AWOL incident involving a resident who left without authorization and returned the same day; conducted health and safety checks, interviewed staff, reviewed records, and spoke briefly with the resident; no deficiencies cited.
12 May 2023
12 May 2023
Unauthorized absence of a resident from the facility on a specific date was reported to the licensing agency, which conducted a follow-up visit to investigate the incident. No deficiencies were found during the visit.
17 Mar 2023
17 Mar 2023
Found no evidence to support the allegation that staff did not provide adequate food service or that residents were yelled at by staff; interviews and observations showed meals were ordered, prepared, and served promptly and residents had no complaints about food or staff behavior.
17 Mar 2023
17 Mar 2023
Confirmed that residents did not have issues with food service and were not yelled at by staff.
03 Feb 2023
03 Feb 2023
Found infection control measures in place at the site, including universal entry screening, visitor sign-in, signs promoting hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette, staff mask use, readily available hand sanitizer, a designated visitation area, and ample cleaning supplies and PPE; no deficiencies noted.
03 Feb 2023
03 Feb 2023
Verified compliance with infection control practices; no deficiencies cited.
§ 87303(a)
28 Jun 2022
28 Jun 2022
Investigated the allegation that sanitary conditions were not maintained and residents were spitting in public and dining areas. Found no evidence to support the claim after interviews, observations, and records review.
28 Jun 2022
28 Jun 2022
Verified complaint allegation of unsanitary conditions unsubstantiated after inspection and interviews.
§ 87355(e)(1)
14 Feb 2022
14 Feb 2022
Investigated the self-reported death of a resident; conducted a wellness check, obtained additional records, and found no health or safety issues or deficiencies.
14 Feb 2022
14 Feb 2022
Confirmed no deficiencies were found during the visit in response to a resident's reported death. Residents observed appeared appropriate for the facility.
21 Jan 2022
21 Jan 2022
Found no deficiencies identified during the on-site visit; a debriefing was conducted.
21 Jan 2022
21 Jan 2022
No deficiencies were found during the visit by the California Department of Social Services.
02 Dec 2021
02 Dec 2021
Identified infection control measures in place, including symptom screening for staff, residents, and visitors; posted signs promoting hand washing and cough etiquette; and procedures for hand hygiene, testing, PPE, and disinfection. No deficiencies were observed.
02 Dec 2021
02 Dec 2021
Identified no deficiencies in infection control procedures during the inspection.
23 Jul 2021
23 Jul 2021
Identified an AWOL incident involving a resident; located unharmed but disoriented a short distance away, and no deficiencies were cited.
23 Jul 2021
23 Jul 2021
Investigated an incident involving a resident who went missing but was later found safe and disoriented; no deficiencies cited.
02 Nov 2020
02 Nov 2020
Identified a staff member who touched a resident’s private area over clothing to check if the briefs were soiled and admitted doing so, saying it happened because the resident refused care. Found the claim that the resident was left in soiled clothing or briefs lacked sufficient evidence.
02 Nov 2020
02 Nov 2020
Confirmed inappropriate behavior by staff member but found no evidence of neglect regarding resident's care needs.
23 Jul 2020
23 Jul 2020
Confirmed that Individual 1 no longer works at the facility and has not been onsite since April 2020. No deficiencies were noted during the video-call inspection.
19 Dec 2019
19 Dec 2019
Visited facility met all safety and operational requirements during inspection. All records and staff documentation were found to be current and complete.
§ 87468.1(a)(1)
17 Oct 2019
17 Oct 2019
Confirmed allegations of failure to meet incontinence needs for a resident were found to be unsubstantiated. Allegations of failure to maintain comfortable room temperatures were also found to be unsubstantiated.
