Heritage House-An Assisted Living Community sits at 5200 Hollister Ave. in Santa Barbara and looks like a big country home, with covered porches, gardens, and even lemon trees, where you might feel like you're out on a farm, and it's split into four neighborhoods that lead into central gathering spots for meals and activities, which really does give it a peaceful, family-owned bed and breakfast feeling, and there you'll find 56 apartments in studio and one-bedroom layouts, with options for private rooms, kitchenettes, and wheelchair-accessible showers, and folks always remark on how clean it stays and how friendly the staff are, who seem to care about everyone's dignity while helping with bathing, dressing, toileting, and medication management or even just a haircut from the traveling stylist.
This community allows adults, usually age 55 or 62 and up, to pick the services and support that match what they need, because they offer three levels of care-with regular health checks-so as needs change, help steps up, whether someone's mostly independent or needs help because of memory problems like Alzheimer's or dementia, and it's worth mentioning they have a special memory care program with safeguards for wandering, memory prompts, and staff trained to help with dementia behaviors, which makes a big difference for peace of mind.
Inside, folks get one to three home-cooked meals every day from a professional culinary team, either in a dining hall, the café, or a pub, and if there's a doctor's order for a special diet, say for diabetes or blood pressure, they can make those meals too, and there's always laundry service, housekeeping, and help with getting ready each day, which makes life less stressful, and the whole place is licensed to care for up to 68 seniors with both assisted living and nursing home options.
There's a long list of ways to keep busy or stay active, like music therapy, art plans, pet therapy, movie nights, dances in the ballroom, games in the billiards lounge, book rooms, computer centers, fitness spaces, garden areas, and even a sauna or hot tub, not to mention organized outings thanks to planned transportation, and if you want to be social, they seem to really encourage that with a structured calendar packed with events so no one has to feel alone, and they're always finding ways for people to make new friends, laugh, and share stories.
Heritage House offers support for those who need insulin or help moving around, and staff are always near if there's an emergency, even at night, plus if someone needs short-term respite or hospice care, they do that too, which can give families a break or added support during tough times, and overall, the management and caregivers seem to have earned a good reputation over the years for kindness, reliability, and keeping both residents and families at ease with a strong sense of safety and respect.
The place includes extras like transportation to appointments, a beauty parlor, regular entertainment, and healthy meals made with quality ingredients, so folks can feel at home while getting what they need to stay comfortable, engaged, and cared for, and that attention makes Heritage House a well-known spot in Santa Barbara for seniors seeking comfort, activity, and various levels of care all in one community.
