What levels of care does this community offer?

Friendship Manor offers independent living, assisted living, and board and care.

What is Friendship Manor's address?

The full address for this community is 6647 El Colegio Rd, Goleta, CA, 93117.

Does this community offer respite care?

Yes, Friendship Manor 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.

Friendship Manor - Goleta, CA

Overall sentiment across the reviews is positive, with repeated praise for the staff, community atmosphere, affordability, and certain standout amenities. Staff are frequently described as friendly, kind, and wonderful; several reviews call out specific staff members and emphasize the helpfulness and warmth of caregivers and front-line employees. The resident community is characterized as close-knit and happy — many comments indicate long-term residency, strong social bonds, and people who feel comfortable and well-supported at Friendship Manor.

Facilities receive a mixed but generally favorable assessment. The heated pool is a consistent highlight: reviewers call it pristine and beneficial for arthritic joints. On-site services such as a hairdresser, laundry, library, and a movie theater add convenience and recreational options. Rooms are described in some reports as bright and spacious with easy access, and the complex overall is seen as well cared for despite being basic. Multiple reviewers emphasize that the grounds and shared spaces are maintained and clean. However, the building is older and reviewers note that certain repairs are needed, contributing to a perception that the physical plant is functional rather than modern or upscale.

Dining and food quality are a notable area of divergence. Several reviewers report that the dining room has been closed at times and that meal quality is inconsistent — descriptors range from "medium/okay" to "incredible" and "excellent kitchen." Some residents appreciate a room delivery option, which helps when the dining room is unavailable. The inconsistency in food quality is one of the most commonly repeated issues and stands out as a practical concern that management should address to align expectations across residents.

Activities and programming are another mixed area. There are regular entertainment options and clubs — the weekly chess club (noted specifically on Wednesday nights), movie nights, and other activities are mentioned positively. At the same time, multiple summaries indicate that activities have been reduced and have not fully returned to pre-COVID levels, which affects social opportunities for some residents. Still, for many reviewers the existing activities contribute to a strong sense of community and help prolong independence.

Operational and safety themes appear in many reviews. Management is described as "well run" in some accounts, and services such as scheduled transportation and a medical van are appreciated for keeping residents mobile and connected. Pricing and perceived value are strengths for many reviewers. Conversely, a few reviewers note safety or monitoring gaps, which is an important concern to consider given the resident population. The move-in process was called difficult by some, suggesting room for improvement in onboarding and transition support.

In summary, Friendship Manor is portrayed as a friendly, value-oriented senior living community with a warm staff and an engaged, long-standing resident population. Key strengths are the personable staff, strong community ties, useful on-site amenities (notably the heated pool and laundry/hairdresser), and reliable transportation/medical services. The main areas for improvement are consistency and availability of dining services, restoration or expansion of activities to pre-COVID levels, attention to maintenance and repairs in an older building, and addressing any perceived safety/monitoring gaps. Prospective residents and families should weigh the appealing community atmosphere and affordability against the facility’s basic physical condition and variable dining/programming experience.

Friendship Manor in Goleta, California, has served the senior community since 1973 as a non-profit charitable retirement home for people aged 62 and over, offering both affordable senior housing and several living arrangements like studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and semi-private apartments with private baths that people furnish themselves, and residents get services like housekeeping, linen, meals, and all basic utilities, so nobody has to worry about gas, water, electricity, or trash bills, and the property comes with things you don't see everywhere, like covered garage parking, heated swimming pools, gardens, a library, laundry rooms, Dorothy's Corner Store for shopping needs, and even a beauty salon and barbershop which are quite helpful for residents who find it tiring to leave the grounds for haircuts. The community supports seniors needing independent living, assisted living, and even skilled nursing levels of care, and the staff can help with things like bathing, dressing, toileting, medication reminders, monitoring insulin, wound care, and podiatry, which is nice for those with extra medical needs, and emergency help is always on hand because staff stay at the facility 24 hours. Residents who use a wheelchair or can't walk alone get help with moving, and laundry/dry cleaning is handled for those who need it.

Friendship Manor covers all the key safety features like sprinkler systems and accessible formats for seniors, plus there are washers and dryers in the units or on each floor, and some rooms have kitchenettes for those who want to cook, but everyone gets meals if they'd rather not, and the dining room is open to everyone. The staff includes a Marketing Director and Activities Director along with nurses and trained helpers, and they work hard to keep the place active and friendly, so you'll find social spaces inside and out, with game rooms, fitness centers, and areas set out for art, crafts, or devotional gatherings, plus planned activities, offsite excursions, and educational programs, while those who attend church or other religious devotions have programs set up both inside and outside, just like those who enjoy arts, crafts, or movement classes.

Transportation is available for shopping trips and medical visits, and there's even a special pricing structure that breaks out costs for more care, like high, medium, or lower levels of help, and Friendship Manor accepts Medicare, Medicaid, private pay, Social Security, veterans' benefits, and some insurance plans, so most people find an option that works with their budget. They provide tours, and even virtual visits if someone can't make it in person, and prospective residents can meet others, see the rooms, and hear from staff, getting answers to policy questions about waitlists and discharge before moving in. Since the place is state-licensed, and the records are available to check, it helps people feel confident in the standards, and the home offers nursing home services along with incontinence care, diabetic care, non-ambulatory care, and Alzheimer's support for those who need it. There are various kinds of common rooms for socializing, game activities, and even places for quiet time such as the library or gardens, with strong WiFi, cable TV, guest parking, and on-site maintenance. Friendship Manor tries to create a warm environment by encouraging friendships, activities, and a sense of dignity and respect for everyone who lives there, and with the focus on prolonging independence, it helps keep the energy and outlook of the community positive.

With over fifty years dedicated to helping elders who sometimes can't afford other options, the facility blends affordable housing, long-term care, and social activities all on one campus, keeping a discharge policy, waitlist, and specific payment types in place to make sure all residents know exactly where they stand. The sentiment rating by residents is 4.0 out of 5, which reflects satisfaction but leaves room for honest feedback, and the overall atmosphere is one where privacy is valued, and life is about maintaining self-respect and independence for as long as possible.

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