AnonymousLoved one of resident
    4.0

    Compassionate care in older facility

    I loved the genuinely caring, family-like staff - this Catholic, family-owned non-profit run by nuns really goes above and beyond. The facility is very clean, supportive, has lots of activities and a pleasant dining room, and is reasonably priced. Be aware it's an older, low-budget building with small rooms (you can bring your own furniture), limited renovations, mobility restrictions (walkers mostly stay on the first floor), and some service limits (no ironing, beds not always fully made) and inconsistent food quality. Overall great care if you prioritize compassion over a modern facility.

    Pricing

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    Amenities

    3.80 · 5 reviews

    Overall rating

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

      5.0
    • Staff

      4.5
    • Meals

      3.0
    • Amenities

      2.5
    • Value

      3.0

    Pros

    • Individualized care
    • Family-like, friendly atmosphere
    • Staff genuinely cares and goes above and beyond
    • Comfortable and supportive environment
    • Family-owned for over 25 years
    • Non-profit, faith-based (Catholic, run by nuns)
    • Very clean
    • Lots of activities
    • Pleasant dining room and some positive reports about food
    • Reasonable / affordable price
    • Ability to bring personal furniture

    Cons

    • Aging facility with limited renovations
    • Low-budget operations and resource constraints
    • Mixed to poor food quality reported by some
    • Laundry ironing not offered
    • Beds not always fully made
    • Small rooms and general space limitations
    • Not a warm or modern feel in parts
    • Mobility/access restrictions (walkers limited to first floor)
    • Mention of possible relocation or instability

    Summary review

    Overall impression: Reviews portray Little Flower Haven as a small, long-established, non-profit senior living home with a strong, family-oriented culture and committed staff. Many reviewers emphasize genuine, individualized care delivered in a warm, supportive atmosphere — a place where staff often go "above and beyond." The facility's Catholic identity and hands-on management (run by nuns, family-owned for over 25 years) is a prominent theme and appears to shape a caring, community-focused environment that many residents and families appreciate.

    Care quality and staff: A major strength across the comments is the quality of interpersonal care. Multiple reviewers describe staff as friendly, family-like, and genuinely caring. There are consistent notes that caregivers do individualized care and create a comfortable, supportive atmosphere. The faith-based leadership and long family ownership are repeatedly linked to staff dedication and a mission-driven approach, which contributes to residents and families feeling supported and valued.

    Facilities and physical condition: The building is described as older and showing its age. Reviewers consistently note limited renovations and an overall low-budget operation, which translates into an older aesthetic and a less modern facility. Some praise the cleanliness despite its age, but small rooms, space limitations, and an overall "not warm" or dated feel are recurring comments. Positive specifics include a nice dining room and the option to bring in personal furniture, but the constraints of an older building are a clear downside.

    Dining and meals: Opinions about food are mixed and appear inconsistent. Several reviewers praise the food — saying it looked good or was "good" — while others report poor food quality and food-related issues significant enough to prompt consideration of relocation. This split suggests meal quality may vary over time or by kitchen staff/management. If dining is a priority, prospective residents should taste meals and ask about menu planning and dietary accommodations before deciding.

    Activities and daily life: Activity offerings receive favorable mention; reviewers note that there are "lots of activities," which supports an engaging daily routine for residents. Combined with the small, family-style setting, this suggests opportunities for social interaction and organized events, contributing to the supportive atmosphere many reviewers highlight.

    Operational details and limitations: Several operational and practical concerns are noted. Basic services such as ironing laundry are not offered, and there are reports that beds are not always fully made. Accessibility limitations are also important: walkers are reportedly restricted to the first floor and the facility's layout/space constraints may impede mobility for some residents. Additionally, at least one review mentions consideration of relocation and the facility's low budget, which could indicate periodic instability or limited capacity to invest in improvements.

    Value and fit: Cost comes up as a positive — Little Flower Haven is described as reasonably priced, which can make it an attractive option for families on tighter budgets seeking warm, personalized care rather than upscale amenities. The facility will likely be a good fit for families who prioritize compassionate, faith-driven, small-community care and are comfortable accepting trade-offs in terms of modern facilities, room size, and some service limitations.

    Bottom line and recommendations: Little Flower Haven's strengths are its committed, caring staff, family-like culture, and affordability within a faith-based, mission-driven non-profit setting. Its primary weaknesses are its aging physical plant, limited renovations, variable food quality, and operational constraints around laundry, bed-making, and mobility accommodations. Prospective residents and families should weigh the importance of personalized care and community feel against the facility's physical limitations. Practical steps before deciding would include touring to evaluate room size and layout, sampling meals, asking about accessibility policies (walker restrictions), and clarifying what day-to-day services (linen care, bed-making) are included.

    Location

    Map showing location of Little Flower Haven

    About Little Flower Haven

    Little Flower Haven sits on a 4.1-acre property in La Mesa and is undergoing redevelopment with support from the city council, and the project is set to finish by the end of 2019 or early 2020, keeping much of the original Mission-style architecture from 1939, including the bell tower and stained glass windows, to honor its nearly 100-year history as a former convent and senior retirement community that used to be run by the Carmelite Sisters, and now the new plan calls for six three-story residential buildings and 130 apartments with studios, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom options, including 68 one-bedroom/one-bath units, 55 two-bedroom/two-bath units, and seven studios, most averaging about 777 square feet. Little Flower Haven plans to offer both independent and assisted living services for up to 85 residents, with a focus on personalized care in a home-like setting, including memory care, respite and hospice care, and support for aging in place, plus staff-like nurses, therapists, and aides-stay on-site 24 hours a day, ready for needs that include medication support, bathing, dressing, and more, and residents can get help with laundry, cleaning, and transportation for shopping and medical visits. On the grounds, one finds a chapel with daily Catholic Mass, gardens with walking paths, outdoor and indoor common areas, recreation rooms, and a large auditorium, along with a pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, exercise rooms, Bocce Ball court, fire pit, pet park, and places set up for BBQ and gatherings, and the new recreation room includes a kitchen and overlooks decks by the pool, while the garden areas, fire pit, and walking ramps give folks a safe place to enjoy the outdoors. Apartments come with energy-efficient appliances like refrigerator with ice maker, dishwasher, microwave, range, as well as in-unit washer and dryer, heating and air conditioning, modern finishes including quartz countertops and wood-look flooring, plus private patios or balconies and walk-in closets in some units, with select apartments having island kitchens. Residents get three daily home-cooked meals with healthy snacks, including special diets when needed, have access to on-site and off-site devotional services, as well as social activities, movie nights, arts and crafts, music plans, animal therapy, tabletop games, creative programs, and outings, and there are nightly community events along with guest and family programs. Language support is available in Spanish, and the community stays pet-friendly with a dog park and plenty of landscaped grounds, while housekeeping, scheduled transportation, and in-room cable TV come standard, and residents can also use the library, full-service beauty and barber shop, and health and fitness facilities. Safety is a priority with alert staff and emergency maintenance available at all times, all within a smoke-free setup that meets city parking codes by providing 193 total spaces, even though the project saw local public hearings due to the parking swap for fewer spaces than the usual rule. The location puts residents close to Downtown La Mesa and a short drive to SDSU, and plans call for at least 10 percent of the units to be affordable for 55 years, and the entire project meets California Department of Social Services requirements, offering a range of care for light and moderate needs, including diabetic and incontinence care for those who manage it independently, as well as transportation to faith-based programs, and the large, historic front structure and church bell tower will stay as landmarks for this California Register-eligible site. The community asks a one-time fee of $800 with monthly pricing by room type and offers both private and shared rooms, flexible for different needs, with personalized care plans for everyone, and while Little Flower Haven continues as a multifamily community, its attention to seniors' comfort, well-being, and history holds strong through this big change.

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