Mother Gertrude Balcazar Home sits in San Fernando, CA, and people know it for its caring staff, which includes Franciscan Sisters and other team members, with Sister Elia handling things alongside them, and residents here get help with daily living, like bathing, dressing, taking medicine, and they've got memory care and Alzheimer's care programs for folks who need that extra support, and you'll find rooms that are large and let people bring their own furniture and things to feel right at home, plus two full-sized closets for storage and plenty of space for personal touches, and the whole place uses soothing earth tones and soft décor to help everyone feel calm and safe. There's a chapel on-site, too, with daily Mass and religious icons around both inside and outside, plus a waiting room with stained-glass windows and a reading corner stocked with books and religious-themed paintings in bookcases, and you'll also see a courtyard and lawns and spots decorated with animal statues and fountains, all looked after with care. Seniors can take part in music groups, art and crafts, exercise classes, and game nights, and weekly events like bingo, checkers, and music with instructors are always happening, sometimes led by residents, and you find quiet spaces for reading or relaxing, a recreation room, and a game room for more active times, plus birthday names up on the wall to celebrate together.
The home provides nutritious meals made with good ingredients in a dining room that's cheery with pink tablecloths and yellow flowers, and if you want a snack or a gift, there's a small gift shop selling sundries and religious figurines right on-site, and with a cafeteria, nearby cafés and bakeries, and regular shopping trips out, there are always meal and treat options. For those who like to be outside, the grounds have secured walkways, a peaceful enclosed patio with murals of the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, and spots for sitting with friends, and there's a garden and walking paths for short strolls or visits with family. Pets come through for therapy visits and the resident fish tank brings a bit of life and calm to the common area, and you'll see visitors often since there's parking, and the staff even takes care of getting residents to appointments with the free transportation service, which makes daily life easier.
Mother Gertrude Balcazar Home handles incontinence and diabetic care, gives medication, manages showers and toileting, and there's a 24-hour call system for help whenever it's needed, plus supervision for those who need it, and staff keep things clean with in-house laundry, dry cleaning, and regular housekeeping. Residents who want to stay independent can choose studio apartments with independent living options, and there are respite care options for families needing short-term solutions, as well as rehab programs and physical fitness classes tailored to abilities. The home is licensed by the state of California-License #191290719-and folks here can get help with VA benefits or other financial programs as needed, and services are offered in both English and Spanish. Many people say Mother Gertrude Balcazar Home stands out because of its strong sense of community, respectful staff, musical programs, friendly dining, and open spaces for everyone to gather, so when you walk in under the entrance arch with its tile pattern or sit in the chapel on a quiet afternoon, you notice the care the Franciscan Sisters and everyone else give to making seniors feel welcome, safe, and valued in their later years.
