Santa Barbara Memory Care sits in a quiet neighborhood near Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and local medical offices, which can make trips to the doctor easy for residents. The facility mainly serves those with Alzheimer's disease and other kinds of dementia, with both Memory Care and Respite Care options. What stands out is the Legacies memory care program, which uses personal approaches like art and pet therapy, a Music and Memory program, and various activities such as yoga, fitness classes, gardening, and arts and crafts, so residents have regular ways to keep busy and active. Staff stay on site 24/7 and watch over everyone to keep them safe, using security measures like a gated property, wander alert systems, and bracelets that sound alarms if a resident tries to leave an unsafe area. They help with everyday needs, from bathing and getting dressed to handling medications, and they're trained to handle behavioral and wandering issues too. Both doctors and nurses are available if someone needs medical attention, and there's always someone there to help with things like insulin shots or extra medical needs.
The community itself feels homey and never like a hospital. Both private and semi-private rooms are available, each with emergency alert systems, cable TV, individually controlled thermostats, private bathrooms, and easy ways to get around. Housekeeping, laundry, and linen services are done every week, and meals are served three times a day in a restaurant-style dining room, giving people choices for their diets, whether that means low salt, gluten free, organic, or something else, and snacks are always nearby. Pets are welcome, including dogs and cats, and there's even help for taking care of them.
Residents can take part in all sorts of programs from karaoke, art classes, cooking classes, and intergenerational events to stretching, chair yoga, and trips outside of the community. There are outdoor gardens, courtyards, community lounges for relaxing, and even beautician and hospice care services if needed. Santa Barbara Memory Care makes it easy for families to keep in touch through video chats too. Transportation is available for appointments, errands, shopping, or just getting out for a bit.
For those staying only a short while, respite care is an option, letting people recover or give caregivers a break. The staff is described as kind and attentive, always trying to keep everyone's best interests in mind, and the whole set-up aims to help people live as independently as possible while staying safe and comfortable. The community provides all the modern technology you might need, like internet, cable, and phone hookups in every room. Bible studies and other devotional services are offered both on-site and off-site, and the staff helps with things like home sale assistance or finding financial guidance for families when needed. The setting is clean, with nice touches like updated interiors, outdoor gardens, and places to sit and visit with friends or family. Santa Barbara Memory Care is licensed under state license number 425802116, and offers both studio and semi-private rooms, with pricing usually in the $3,300 to $4,300 range.
People often ask...
Santa Barbara Memory Care offers competitive pricing, with rates starting at a cost of $4,200 per month.
Santa Barbara Memory Care offers assisted living and memory care.
There are 18 photos of Santa Barbara Memory Care on Mirador.
The full address for this community is 325 W Islay St, Santa Barbara, CA, 93101.
Yes, Santa Barbara Memory Care 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.
State of California Inspection Reports
55
Inspections
26
Type A Citations
17
Type B Citations
5
Years of reports
25 Jun 2025
25 Jun 2025
Found that staff mismanaged a resident's medications, with Olanzapine 2.5mg missing when handed to the resident's responsible party on 05/01/25, despite records showing it was under custody since 04/22/25, and it was later delivered to the resident's new facility on 05/19/25.
§ 87217(i)
21 May 2025
21 May 2025
Identified that a direct care staff member was not registered and not present in the licensing system, despite claims of clearance. Found that a resident register was not available during normal business hours, and a new register was created during the visit.
§ 87508(b)
§ 9058
§ 87355(a)
16 Apr 2025
16 Apr 2025
Found that the licensee accepted a non-conserved individual who currently resides in the locked memory care setting, does not have a dementia diagnosis, and does not require the level of care provided. Deficiencies were cited.
§ 9058
§ 87705(f)(4)
04 Apr 2025
04 Apr 2025
Identified lawsuits against the management company with no financial impact on properties, residents, or staff. Management had communicated the changes to staff and residents, and there were no other pending suits against any entities; the former management company was no longer in charge of communities and residents had been notified of the changes.
§ 9058
19 Mar 2025
19 Mar 2025
Found that death reporting within seven days was not completed as required, with the administrator describing the omission as an oversight.
24 Feb 2025
24 Feb 2025
Identified entry security with a coded gate and posted contact number; fourteen residents were present with two staff on duty and the administrator and business office manager on site. Found deficiencies included no hospice notification for a resident placed on hospice within five business days, staff not properly associated to the licensing system, and food storage concerns such as unpackaged lettuce.
§ 87355(b)(9)
§ 87632(d)(2)
§ 87355(e)(2)
11 Jun 2024
11 Jun 2024
Found that activities were provided for residents, with participation and ongoing programming observed. Found insufficient evidence to prove the other concerns—no formal diet order for a resident in the records though notes described a bland diet, and medication changes were communicated via end-of-shift reports and updates in the QuickMAR system.
11 Jun 2024
11 Jun 2024
Investigated four allegations and determined they lacked sufficient evidence: mismanaging residents' medications, a clogged toilet, dirty conditions, and a verbal altercation in view of residents.
11 Jun 2024
11 Jun 2024
Found safety and sanitation concerns, including dirty hallways, unflushed toilets, dried feces, and unclean linens, with no cleaning logs available. Observed a fall that left a resident unresponsive and required emergency responders, with several residents transported to hospitals.
§ 87303(a)
11 Jun 2024
11 Jun 2024
Determined that the allegations that staff did not notice a change in the resident’s condition, did not respond to the resident’s representative’s requests for assistance, and did not notify the representative about changes were unsubstantiated. Also found that the allegations that staff did not assist with hygiene, did not feed the resident, did not administer medications as prescribed, and that there were not enough staff to meet needs were unsubstantiated.
11 Jun 2024
11 Jun 2024
Found that staff did not provide the resident’s records to the responsible party after requests, and that visitors were kept waiting at the front gate for a long time.
§ 87468.1(a)(11)
§ 87468.2(a)(19)
11 Jun 2024
11 Jun 2024
Investigated multiple allegations—dehydration, a fall, vaccination without consent, failure to notice decline in condition, and restricting family contact—and found insufficient evidence to prove any of them.
11 Jun 2024
11 Jun 2024
Investigated the allegation that a resident became septic due to neglect, specifically the delay or failure to secure prescribed medications after hospital discharge. Found that gaps in medication coordination and follow-up contributed to the sepsis, based on records and interviews.
11 Jun 2024
11 Jun 2024
Confirmed staff properly managed medications, resolved toilet maintenance issue, found the facility clean, and determined staff did not engage in a verbal altercation in front of residents.
§ 87211(a)(1)
03 Jun 2024
03 Jun 2024
Found that two prospective residents’ pre-admission fees were not refunded after they decided not to move in.
§ 87507(g)(5)
03 Jun 2024
03 Jun 2024
Confirmed the allegation that a refund was not given to prospective residents who decided not to move in.
§ 1569.312(a)
06 May 2024
06 May 2024
Found insufficient evidence that staff neglect or abuse caused the injury on 6/20/2023; the resident said the bruises resulted from a fall, and staff described dementia-related aggression with a related skin tear noted in the records.
06 May 2024
06 May 2024
Identified that during a COVID-19 outbreak cleaning supplies were locked away and inaccessible, hindering proper disinfection. Identified that the laundry room key was lost, leaving towels, toiletries, and toilet paper unavailable (a locksmith installed a new knob on 9/5/23), and noted ongoing plumbing problems, water damage, a broken heater, and toilet issues.
06 May 2024
06 May 2024
Identified that there was no permanent administrator on record from December 2023 through February 2024, with interim leadership in place and ongoing efforts to appoint a certified administrator.
Found that a resident left the front gate unsupervised and was later found at a bus stop, indicating supervision concerns.
§ 87405(a)
§ 87468.2(a)(4)
06 May 2024
06 May 2024
Confirmed insufficient evidence of neglect or abuse in the case of a resident sustaining an injury.
§ 87307(a)(3)
§ 87303(a)
§ 87470(b)(1)
06 Mar 2024
06 Mar 2024
Investigated the allegation that staff did not ensure timely mail delivery to residents. Found mail was distributed as observed, mailboxes were locked, residents reported no issues with mail, and no evidence indicated late or undelivered mail; concluded there was insufficient evidence to support the allegation.
06 Mar 2024
06 Mar 2024
Confirmed allegations of delayed mail delivery were found to be unsubstantiated after interviews with residents, staff, and responsible parties, as well as observations of the mail distribution process at the facility.
30 Jan 2024
30 Jan 2024
Identified safety and sanitation concerns during an unannounced visit, including foul odors in several resident bathrooms and fire extinguishers that had not been serviced recently. A civil penalty was issued.
30 Jan 2024
30 Jan 2024
Identified deficiencies related to physical environment and accommodations during the inspection.
24 Jan 2024
24 Jan 2024
Identified that staffing shortages led on-duty staff to miss calls and be unable to retrieve voicemail on the main line. Also identified that staff did not notify an authorized representative about a resident’s hospital visit and did not file the required incident report.
§ 87211(a)(d)
§ 87411(a)
24 Jan 2024
24 Jan 2024
Confirmed lack of staff availability to answer calls and failure to notify family of resident incident.
18 Dec 2023
18 Dec 2023
Verified an unannounced case management visit followed up on an immediate exclusion order issued on 11/16/2023 for a staff member; the staff member had not been present since 12/6/2023, and their fingerprint roster association was removed during the visit. Reminded that any future presence or interaction would violate the order.
18 Dec 2023
18 Dec 2023
Reviewed an immediate exclusion order and conducted a follow-up visit to ensure compliance with the order.
§ 87203
§ 87303(a)
13 Jun 2023
13 Jun 2023
Found that a refund was not issued within fifteen days after a resident’s belongings were removed following the resident’s death. The administrator reported that the accounting was still being reconciled and there had been a message from the resident’s representative.
13 Jun 2023
13 Jun 2023
Confirmed: Facility staff did not issue a timely refund following a resident's death.
30 May 2023
30 May 2023
Found that the allegation that no refund of the deposit was issued after deciding not to move in involved a $2,500 refund that should have been issued by 4/1/2023 and no later than 5/11/2023.
30 May 2023
30 May 2023
Reviewed report confirmed failure to provide refund for deposit to prospective resident who decided not to move in.
§ 1569.652(c)
21 Feb 2023
21 Feb 2023
Identified that no hospice notifications or death reports had been received since 2021. Reviewed hospice care waiver requirements and noted that some hospice residents were transferred to another facility based on hospice agency recommendations.
§ 87211(a)(1)
§ 87632(d)(2)
21 Feb 2023
21 Feb 2023
Identified an infection-control issue when a staff member was observed without a face covering and later agreed to wear one; civil penalties were assessed.
21 Feb 2023
21 Feb 2023
Identified deficiencies in notification and reporting procedures regarding hospice care and death reports.
§ 87507(g)(5)
14 Dec 2022
14 Dec 2022
Identified that 21 COVID-19 positive cases reported on 11/28/2022 were not submitted in writing within seven days as required, and related serious illness/injury reports were not submitted. A deficiency was cited and a civil penalty assessed.
§ 87211(a)(1)
14 Dec 2022
14 Dec 2022
Identified failure to submit serious illness/injury reports for several residents within seven days and no administrator acknowledgment of intent to comply; civil penalties of $800 were assessed and will continue to accrue until proof of compliance is received.
14 Dec 2022
14 Dec 2022
Identified deficiency: failure to submit reports on COVID-19 cases as required.
§ 87368.1
05 Dec 2022
05 Dec 2022
Investigated an allegation that multiple residents were taken to the hospital during the early hours of 11/26/2022 due to health and safety concerns. As of today, no reports of serious illness or injury for five residents on 11/26/2022 were received.
05 Dec 2022
05 Dec 2022
Confirmed deficiencies during a visit to address reported incidents of resident hospitalizations.
14 Nov 2022
14 Nov 2022
Found that an administrator did not wear a face covering in a common area with residents nearby, then put on a mask after being asked.
14 Nov 2022
14 Nov 2022
Observed deficiency in following COVID-19 safety protocols during unannounced visit.
§ 87211(a)(1)
16 Sept 2022
16 Sept 2022
Found that a resident's rate was increased in violation of a promised two-year rate guarantee, and that the increase was later rescinded after the guarantee was confirmed.
§ 87507(f)
16 Sept 2022
16 Sept 2022
Found deficiencies related to leadership coverage and the process to name a new administrator, including the absence of a designated substitute at times and incomplete documentation. Identified two staff not fully covering their noses with masks.
16 Sept 2022
16 Sept 2022
Confirmed improper rate increase for a resident with a rate guarantee.
§ 87468.1
05 Jul 2022
05 Jul 2022
Found an abandoned washing machine beside the recycling and trash bins that had not been removed as promised, remaining visible to residents, staff, visitors, and passersby. Identified a failure to maintain a clean environment at all times.
05 Jul 2022
05 Jul 2022
Confirmed failure to maintain a clean environment due to abandoned washing machine not being removed as promised.
§ 1569.618
§ 87468.1
10 Mar 2022
10 Mar 2022
Identified two allegations: that a refund for October 2020 was not issued promptly, and that a signed Admission Agreement copy was not provided to the resident or their representative at admission. Found the refund check was mailed in January 2021 and that there is no documentation showing the Admission Agreement was provided at admission.
§ 87507(e)
§ 1569.652(c)
10 Mar 2022
10 Mar 2022
Investigated allegations of a resident assaulting other residents and of inadequate staffing; identified staffing concerns in April 2020 and noted that admission paperwork for a new resident appeared to be in order.
10 Mar 2022
10 Mar 2022
Investigated allegations and determined the facility failed to issue a timely refund after a resident's passing and did not provide a copy of the signed admission agreement to the resident’s representative.
§ 87303(a)
25 Feb 2022
25 Feb 2022
On 02/25/22, identified infection-control gaps, including PINs not posted for residents and sinks lacking paper towels; also found one staff member working without the required criminal record clearance, who was removed from the schedule. Issued a deficiency with a civil penalty; exit interview conducted.
25 Feb 2022
25 Feb 2022
Conducted unannounced annual infection control visit and noted deficiencies in displaying important notices for residents and lack of required background checks for staff.
§ 87411(a)
§ 1569.312(a)
30 Jul 2021
30 Jul 2021
Found a bird cage outside that attracted flies and left bird feces around it, indicating a rodent/insect issue. Found adequate personal hygiene supplies in multiple locations, cleaning did not disturb residents, and staffing levels appeared sufficient to meet residents' needs.
30 Jul 2021
30 Jul 2021
Verified allegations of birds attracting flies in the common area and findings were that the staff failed to keep the facility free of rodents and insects. Additionally, allegations of insufficient personal hygiene supplies were unsubstantiated, while concerns about cleaning chemicals exposure to residents were unsubstantiated as well. Lastly, claims of insufficient staff to meet residents' needs were unsubstantiated.
§ 87355(e)(1)
29 Jan 2020
29 Jan 2020
Identified deficiencies in water temperatures, storage of toiletry items, and failure to submit criminal record transfer for staff.
