Pricing ranges from
    $6,150 – 9,630/month

    Willow Creek Alzheimer's & Dementia Care Community

    22424 Charlene Way, Castro Valley, CA, 94546
    4.7 · 13 reviews
    • Assisted living
    • Memory care
    AnonymousLoved one of resident
    5.0

    Warm compassionate staff supported family

    I'm deeply grateful for the warm, compassionate staff who went above and beyond for my father-preserving his dignity, prolonging his life, and supporting our family when he passed (they even prepared meals for visitors). The place felt like a peaceful, family-focused home with large grounds and happy, social residents. I highly recommend it.

    Pricing

    $6,150+/moSemi-privateAssisted Living
    $9,630+/moSuiteAssisted Living

    Schedule a Tour

    Amenities

    Healthcare services

    • Activities of daily living assistance
    • Assistance with bathing
    • Assistance with dressing
    • Assistance with transfers
    • Medication management
    • Mental wellness program

    Healthcare staffing

    • 24-hour call system
    • 24-hour supervision

    Meals and dining

    • Diabetes diet
    • Meal preparation and service
    • Restaurant-style dining
    • Special dietary restrictions

    Room

    • Cable
    • Fully furnished
    • Housekeeping and linen services
    • Kitchenettes
    • Telephone
    • Wifi

    Memory care community services

    • Mild cognitive impairment
    • Specialized memory care programming

    Common areas

    • Beauty salon
    • Dining room
    • Garden
    • Outdoor space
    • Small library

    Community services

    • Move-in coordination

    Activities

    • Community-sponsored activities
    • Resident-run activities
    • Scheduled daily activities

    4.69 · 13 reviews

    Overall rating

    1. 5
    2. 4
    3. 3
    4. 2
    5. 1
    • Care

      5.0
    • Staff

      4.8
    • Meals

      4.7
    • Amenities

      4.0
    • Value

      4.7

    Pros

    • attentive, friendly and outgoing staff
    • caregivers frequently go above and beyond
    • compassionate and dignified end-of-life care
    • family-oriented, home-like atmosphere
    • residents appear happy, social, and engaged
    • staff support for families during bereavement
    • meals prepared for visiting family on occasion
    • clean facility and well-maintained grounds
    • large outdoor grounds and peaceful atmosphere
    • staff actively engage residents in daily activities
    • helpful and hospitable staff interactions
    • positive staff–resident relationships observed
    • safe and comfortable residential environment
    • visitors report a welcoming, warm experience
    • several reviewers would recommend the community

    Cons

    • resident death mentioned (end-of-life occurs on-site)
    • at least one reviewer described experience as only slightly better than average
    • reviews provide limited critical feedback, making negative patterns hard to identify

    Summary review

    Overall sentiment: The reviews for Willow Creek Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care Community are strongly positive and emphasize the quality and warmth of the staff, the family-focused culture, and the peaceful, well-kept environment. Multiple reviewers highlight caregivers who are attentive, compassionate, and willing to go above and beyond routine duties. There is a consistent theme that staff preserve resident dignity and provide meaningful, person-centered care; reviewers specifically cite support during end-of-life situations and gratitude for how residents and families were treated during those times.

    Care quality and staff: Staff performance is the dominant theme across reviews. Reviewers describe caregivers as friendly, outgoing, helpful, and compassionate. Several accounts note that staff engaged residents in daily activities and maintained positive, respectful interactions. Specific praise includes caregivers who exceeded expectations, provided individualized attention, and offered emotional support to families (for example, preparing meals for visiting relatives and expressing condolences). One reviewer attributed a measurable extension and preservation of life and dignity to the care received, indicating strong confidence in clinical and personal caregiving.

    Facilities and environment: The physical setting receives favorable comments. Multiple reviewers describe Willow Creek as always clean, with nice grounds and a peaceful atmosphere. The facility is characterized as large with extensive outdoor areas, which many visitors found pleasant and calming. The environment is repeatedly described as safe, home-like, and welcoming — consistent with the family-oriented impression reported by several reviewers.

    Dining, activities, and daily life: While direct, detailed commentary about the regular dining program and the full range of activities is limited in these summaries, reviewers do note that staff actively engage residents in daily activities and that visitors experienced hospitable interactions during visits. One reviewer specifically mentioned meals being prepared for visiting family members, which suggests a degree of flexibility and family focus in hospitality. However, there are fewer explicit comments about menu quality, variety, or the scope and frequency of structured activities compared with the volume of commentary about staff and atmosphere.

    Management and family communication: The reviews imply effective communication and family-centered management practices; examples include staff supporting families through bereavement and being responsive during visits. Several reviewers remarked that staff made both residents and families feel supported and welcome, which points to an administrative culture that prioritizes family involvement and compassionate care.

    Notable patterns and limitations: The strongest and most consistent positive themes are staff compassion, individualized caregiving, a family-like atmosphere, and a clean, peaceful campus. There are few explicit negative comments: one reviewer described the community as only slightly better than average, and at least one review mentions a resident death (which is not an indictment of care but a factual note that end-of-life events occur at the facility). Another limitation is that some reviews omit details about certain operational areas (e.g., regular meal quality, detailed activity offerings, amenity specifics, or pricing/value), so a comprehensive assessment of those dimensions is not possible from these summaries alone.

    Bottom line: Based on the reviews provided, Willow Creek Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care Community appears to excel in compassionate, family-oriented dementia care, with attentive staff, a clean and calming environment, and positive experiences reported by families. Prospective families should weigh these strong endorsements of staff and environment against the lack of detailed feedback on amenities, dining programs, and activity schedules; visiting the community and asking targeted questions about those areas would round out the largely favorable picture painted by these reviews.

    Location

    Map showing location of Willow Creek Alzheimer's & Dementia Care Community

    About Willow Creek Alzheimer's & Dementia Care Community

    Willow Creek Alzheimer's & Dementia Care Center is located in Castro Valley, CA and offers a secure and spacious community for residents to thrive in. The facility is set on over an acre of grounds, with wide hallways and outdoor walking paths that residents can enjoy. The enclosed patio is scented with pear trees, creating a tranquil and inviting atmosphere for residents to relax and socialize in.

    The community at Willow Creek is designed to cater to the specific needs of individuals living with Alzheimer's and dementia. The staff at Willow Creek are dedicated to providing quality and compassionate care to each resident, treating them with respect and helping them maintain their independence as much as possible. Residents have the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities to keep them engaged and stimulated, ensuring their time spent at Willow Creek is enjoyable and fulfilling.

    One of the highlights of Willow Creek is the large outdoor aviary, which is a favorite among residents. The gazebo also provides a perfect spot for family gatherings and resident activities. The facility can accommodate up to 48 residents, creating a close-knit community where individuals can feel safe and supported. The staff at Willow Creek work together seamlessly, demonstrating amazing teamwork and a positive attitude in all situations.

    Families of residents at Willow Creek have expressed their gratitude for the excellent care provided by the staff. They commend the staff for their dedication, patience, and kindness in looking after their loved ones. The clean environment, delicious food, and thoughtful amenities such as the fish tank and TV area create a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere for residents and their families to enjoy. Willow Creek Alzheimer's & Dementia Care Center truly goes above and beyond to ensure the well-being and happiness of each resident in their care.

    People often ask...

    State of California Inspection Reports

    23

    Inspections

    2

    Type A Citations

    3

    Type B Citations

    5

    Years of reports

    16 May 2025
    Investigated allegations that a resident sustained an unexplained injury while in care and that staff did not seek medical attention. Found no evidence to prove these allegations; documentation showed the injury was observed, a physician was notified, and a medical evaluation was pursued.
    04 Feb 2021
    Identified that cleaning supplies were stored in a storage closet with the door unlocked during a tele-visit. Medications were locked, fire extinguishers were functioning, and there were no obstructions to emergency exits.
    • § 87705
    14 Sept 2021
    Found no deficiencies after an unannounced infection-control review, with COVID-19 signage, hand-washing reminders, entry screening, available PPE and supplies, hand sanitizer at the entrance, and disinfection of commonly touched surfaces 2–3 times daily.
    29 Sept 2023
    Found medications stored securely in a locked room with all prescriptions matching orders; freezer was 0°F, refrigerator 40°F, and hot water measured 111.4°F in the hallway and 107.7°F in a resident room. Found staff TB tests and health screenings on file, residents’ physician’s reports and care plans up to date, all 5 medications matching orders, detectors working, and safety items (sprinkler and fire measures) current; no deficiencies identified.
    20 Jan 2021
    Identified an incident in which a resident received two vitamins and another resident's medication on 01/12/2021, with the error discovered immediately afterward. Spoke with the administrator by phone to review the incident and noted a deficiency related to medication administration.
    • § 87465
    20 Aug 2020
    Determined that the unlawful eviction allegation was unfounded; the resident was never evicted and returned after being cleared from a contagious medical condition.
    09 Nov 2022
    Found strong infection control measures in place, including a single entry point with universal screening, proper PPE use, hygiene posters, and readily available PPE supplies. TB tests were on file for all five staff records reviewed, and updated administrative documents were requested by 12/01/2022.
    15 Feb 2024
    Reviewed the incident that led to the resident's hospitalization and the medication administration. The resident returned home with new medications and a diet change, is now on home health, and the daughter had no questions about the condition.
    12 Oct 2022
    Found that indoor compassion care visits were not allowed as alleged, despite guidelines, based on interviews and records.
    • § 87468.1(11)
    12 Oct 2022
    Determined the allegation that medication was not dispensed properly resulting in a questionable death; evidence did not prove that the alleged violation occurred.
    01 Aug 2024
    Found all safety systems functioning, medications securely stored, and staff and resident records complete; no deficiencies cited.
    01 Jul 2022
    Investigated the allegation that staff lacked proper understanding of medication procedures; training records showed all six staff were current and three staff demonstrated the procedures during interviews; no additional information was provided, and the allegation was not proven.
    01 Aug 2024
    Inspection identified no deficiencies in the facility and all records and documents were found to be complete and up-to-date.
    15 Feb 2024
    Interviewed individuals regarding a medication incident that resulted in hospitalization. No deficiencies were found during the visit.
    29 Sept 2023
    Inspection found no deficiencies in the facility, with proper storage of medications, operational safety equipment, and up-to-date records for staff and residents.
    09 Nov 2022
    Confirmed no deficiencies cited during inspection, with proper infection control measures observed throughout the facility. Staff records showed compliance with health screening requirements.
    12 Oct 2022
    Investigated allegation that improper medication dispensing led to a questionable death and determined not enough evidence to conclude it contributed, with the cause of death being Alzheimer's disease.
    01 Jul 2022
    Investigated a claim of staff lacking proper understanding of medication procedures; determined there was insufficient evidence to support the allegation.
    14 Sept 2021
    Confirmed no deficiencies during the inspection of the facility.
    04 Feb 2021
    Identified deficiency regarding unlocked storage closet during visit.
    • § 87705
    20 Jan 2021
    Identified incorrect administration of medication in a review conducted.
    • § 87465
    20 Aug 2020
    Determined that the allegation of "unlawful eviction" was unfounded, as the resident in question was hospitalized for a contagious medical condition and returned once cleared.
    10 Jan 2020
    Found allegation of illegal eviction unfounded. Resident returned to facility same day after consultation between PCP and hospital MD.

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