Berkley East Healthcare Center sits at 2021 Arizona Ave in Santa Monica, California, with 207 beds and a clean, modern building that gets plenty of sunlight and has wide open spaces and a comfortable, quiet environment that many find calming and warm. Founded in 2019, this privately held center has skilled nursing services, assisted living, memory care for Alzheimer's and dementia patients, physical and occupational therapy, speech therapy, and both long-term and short-term recovery services, so people needing help after surgery or an illness or those needing more daily support will find care here. Assisted living happens in studio, one-bedroom, or two-bedroom apartments, with rates between $3,000 and $10,000 a month, while the nursing home side offers private and semi-private rooms ranging from $8,000 to $14,000 each month. Each room has cable TV, safety and handicap features, a kitchen or kitchenette, washers and dryers, and a sprinkler system, with some bright rooms getting so much sun they just feel better than the fluorescent ones you might remember from old hospitals, and the place stays very clean, with regular housekeeping and maintenance.
The dining room serves meals every day and there's a salon/barbershop, a fitness center, WiFi, and several activity rooms for games, arts and crafts, and daily movie showings, which tend to bring people together without being too loud or bothersome. The large outdoor spaces and inviting communal areas encourage both relaxation and social connection, and the staff plans social activities, wellness programs, and education programs so there's usually something going on. For those who need medical help, there's wound care, medication support, skilled nurses, podiatry, transportation to appointments, personal care help with bathing, dressing, walking, toileting, and laundry, and they really do emphasize safety and privacy with careful move-in procedures, tours, and assessments, plus detailed care plans and clear billing.
The administrative and nursing team keeps a close eye on patients' needs, and names like Center Nurse Executive Kathleen Abastillas, RN, BSN, and others like Admissons Director Katelyn Bouda, LVN Case Manager Richard Salgado, LVN Brenda Lopez, and nurses like Miriam or Karina, have all earned recognition for supporting residents with compassion. Therapists lead therapy sessions that can last longer than some other places, working to improve mobility and strength, and the rehab program is known for having good results in patient recovery. Residents and their families can get help with paperwork, billing, and insurance, and there's a "connect" option to schedule tours and assessments, which helps take some of the guesswork out.
Modern amenities like guest parking, cable TV, salon services, and daily cleaning don't make it a hotel, but it can feel like a five-star place to many, and the nursing staff pay attention to the smaller details, offering recliners and meals some say are quite good compared to what you'd expect. Berkley East is fully licensed, works with professional therapists, stays in line with industry regulations, and accepts different payment types, including insurance, to try to keep things flexible for families. There's a detailed brochure for those who want all the facts written down about what to expect, and the support staff will walk families through the recovery or long-term care process if they need help. The focus stays on combining skilled care with a safe and uplifting environment, making it a place where seniors can recover, live with support, or spend their days comfortably in Santa Monica.
