Cliff View Terrace

    1020 Cliff Dr, Santa Barbara, CA, 93109
    4.8 · 34 reviews
    • Assisted living
    • Memory care
    • Skilled nursing
    AnonymousLoved one of resident
    5.0

    Compassionate clean attentive small facility

    I'm grateful for Cliff View Terrace - the staff were consistently kind, professional, long-tenured and attentive, and they nursed my family member back to health. The facility is immaculate, bright and well-kept, with great meals, engaging activities and pleasant outdoor space. A geriatric physician on staff and responsive management gave me confidence in medical care and safety. I highly recommend it for compassionate, family-oriented care; it's smaller and quieter, so may not suit very active residents.

    Pricing

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    Amenities

    Healthcare services

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

    Healthcare staffing

    • 12-16 hour nursing
    • 24-hour call system
    • 24-hour supervision

    Meals and dining

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

    Room

    • Air-conditioning
    • Cable
    • Fully furnished
    • Housekeeping and linen services
    • Kitchenettes
    • Private bathrooms
    • Telephone
    • Wifi

    Transportation

    • Community operated transportation
    • Transportation arrangement
    • Transportation arrangement (non-medical)

    Common areas

    • Beauty salon
    • Computer center
    • Dining room
    • Fitness room
    • Gaming room
    • Garden
    • Outdoor space
    • Small library
    • Wellness center

    Community services

    • Concierge services
    • Fitness programs
    • Move-in coordination

    Activities

    • Community-sponsored activities
    • Planned day trips
    • Resident-run activities
    • Scheduled daily activities

    4.79 · 34 reviews

    Overall rating

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

      5.0
    • Staff

      4.8
    • Meals

      5.0
    • Amenities

      4.9
    • Value

      2.5

    Pros

    • Attentive, compassionate caregivers
    • Long‑tenured, low‑turnover staff
    • Professional and knowledgeable team
    • Individualized medical support with geriatric physician on staff
    • High staff responsiveness and family‑like atmosphere
    • Immaculate, well‑kept and nicely decorated facility
    • Beautiful grounds and outdoor access
    • Engaging activities (music, exercise, crafts, social hours)
    • Delicious, high‑quality meals
    • Strict safety measures and prompt COVID response
    • Manager involvement and strong communication
    • Residents appear happy, well‑groomed, and comfortable
    • Smaller, more affordable facility option
    • Quick attention to concerns and personalized care
    • Home‑like, private and quiet environment

    Cons

    • Occasional reports of poor staff interaction or unprofessional behavior
    • At least one report of unpleasant odor
    • Perception of being overpriced by one reviewer
    • Not ideal for very active residents (more convalescent/older population)
    • Some desire for clergy or mental health services
    • Uncertainty or lack of clarity about the weekly menu
    • Perception by a family of business‑focused ownership (e.g., no condolence after a resident's passing)

    Summary review

    Overall sentiment: Reviews of Cliff View Terrace are overwhelmingly positive, with a clear and consistent emphasis on the quality and consistency of staff, the cleanliness and attractiveness of the facility, and strong medical supports. The dominant theme across summaries is that residents are well cared for by attentive, compassionate caregivers and by a professional, often long‑tenured team that fosters a family‑like atmosphere. Many families explicitly state they would recommend the community and express gratitude for the transition and ongoing care.

    Care quality and staff: The single strongest theme is the staff. Multiple reviewers describe caregivers as attentive, kind, patient, and compassionate. Long tenures and low turnover are repeatedly mentioned, which reviewers tie to continuity of care and trust. Several comments note that staff go "above and beyond," quickly respond to concerns, and prioritize resident comfort and safety. There are repeated references to managers who are involved and communicative — for example, managers who attend medical appointments via Zoom or promptly handle COVID vaccinations. The presence of a board‑certified geriatric physician or frequent physician involvement is noted as a meaningful clinical strength and supports individualized medication adjustments and medical decision‑making.

    Facilities and environment: Cliff View Terrace is frequently described as immaculate, well maintained, and nicely decorated. Reviewers highlight fresh, clean interiors, sparkling common areas, planted exterior spaces, and grounds that offer outdoor access and pleasant views. Photos of smiling residents and remarks about residents being well groomed reinforce impressions of a comfortable, home‑like environment. Several reviews state that the facility is smaller and more affordable relative to others, which some families view as an advantage for personalized attention and a quieter, more private setting.

    Dining and activities: Dining and social programming earn many positive comments. Meals are characterized as delicious or fantastic in multiple summaries. Activities are varied and engaging — music, exercise classes, crafts, social hours, live music, and opportunities to watch sporting events on flatscreens are mentioned specifically. Staff are credited with encouraging participation and maintaining an upbeat atmosphere, and many residents are reported to enjoy their days. That said, at least one reviewer noted uncertainty about the weekly menu, indicating a small information‑sharing gap for some families.

    Management, safety, and medical supports: Safety protocols and pandemic response come up positively: reviewers cite strict COVID measures, prompt vaccine handling, and proactive managerial involvement. The combination of attentive caregiving, strong communication from management, and on‑site or frequently present medical staff creates a sense of security for families. Several reviewers explicitly mention peace of mind and that their loved ones were nursed back to health or stabilized after needs changed.

    Patterns of concern and suitability: Negative feedback is relatively limited and appears isolated. A small number of reviews express concerns: one reviewer described a very poor experience (complaining about smell, poor staff interaction, and pricing), and another family perceived ownership as overly business‑focused (citing lack of condolence after a resident's passing). A few notes indicate that the resident population skews older or more convalescent; one family felt the community was not the right fit for an especially active person. Other recurring minor requests include the desire for clergy or mental health services and clearer weekly menu communication. These concerns are important to note but appear far less prevalent than the positive observations.

    Conclusion and recommendation: Synthesis of the reviews positions Cliff View Terrace as a high‑quality assisted living option where the principal strengths are caring, experienced staff; strong clinical and medical oversight; a clean, attractive environment; robust programming; and responsive management. Most families report safety, comfort, and satisfaction with care and atmosphere. Prospective residents and families should weigh the overwhelmingly positive staff and clinical indicators against a few isolated negative reports and consider whether the community's quieter, perhaps more convalescent, population aligns with an individual resident's desired activity level. If spiritual or specialized mental‑health supports are important, ask the community how those needs are met. Overall, the reviews support Cliff View Terrace as a recommended choice for those seeking attentive, medically informed, and homelike assisted living care.

    Location

    Map showing location of Cliff View Terrace

    About Cliff View Terrace

    Cliff View Terrace sits on the Mesa in Santa Barbara near the Harbor and Pier, so people staying there get lovely views and easy access to shops and the coast, and the whole place aims to look and feel like an elegant, high-end hotel with glowing chandeliers, polished wood, cut flowers, and a big central courtyard garden with a bubbling stream and a fish pond that everyone can enjoy, and they've filled the rooms with things like floral curtains, armoires, framed art, and comfortable chairs to give it a cozy, bright feeling throughout. The community serves seniors who like their independence but might need help from kind staff around the clock for daily tasks like dressing, grooming, showering, toileting, and managing medicines, and there's hands-on care from nurses, aides, and therapists for those who need more help, from skilled nursing to rehabilitation and even memory care for those with Alzheimer's or other cognitive needs, including secure areas to help people with dementia feel safe and less confused. The building has space for up to 72 residents, and offers quite a lot of choices, including studios plus one-, two-, or three-bedroom apartments, and some folks can create private suites, so people who want more privacy or space have options, and they even have names for different rooms and programs for easy navigation. Meals are cooked and served in the community dining room, and there's support from nutrition and dietary staff, with added help for people who need their medicines with meals, and regular visits from doctors and therapists, including a Board-Certified Geriatrician who's on site five days a week, so medical care comes right to residents. People at Cliff View Terrace can join in daily activities, exercise programs, musical groups, or just relax in the recreation room, and for those who need help with laundry, housekeeping, or haircuts, all those services happen on site, as do things like community religious services and outings to enjoy the Santa Barbara area. Staff at Cliff View Terrace accept credit cards and checks, offer VA benefits help, and will discuss financial planning, and the place is licensed to care for people who can't walk, need hospice care, or need special dementia services. The facility ranks very high in the area with a 9.5 out of 10 score, making it the fifth highest rated community in Santa Barbara, and it's large enough for a good range of social options but still keeps a home-like feel, with long-term and respite stays available, and staff with decades of experience who focus on comfort, safety, and resident dignity. Cliff View Terrace is currently unavailable for new residents.

    People often ask...

    State of California Inspection Reports

    4

    Inspections

    0

    Type A Citations

    0

    Type B Citations

    3

    Years of reports

    05 Mar 2024
    Conducted annual inspection. Facility met all requirements and no deficiencies were found.
    14 Feb 2023
    Conducted an inspection of a one-story residential care facility for the elderly. The facility was found to be in good condition, with proper infection control measures in place, and no citations were issued.
    24 Aug 2022
    Investigated allegations of uncomfortable room temperature, inadequate hydration, lack of resident activities, and untrained staff; all claims found to be unsubstantiated based on observations, interviews, and document reviews.
    04 Apr 2022
    Unsubstantiated allegations of insufficient staffing and unqualified staff handling medication were investigated and found to lack supporting evidence. Residents confirmed their needs were being met.

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