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    The Variel Of Woodland Hills

    6233 Variel Avenue, Woodland Hills, CA, 91367
    4.0 · 53 reviews
    • Independent living
    • Assisted living
    • Memory care
    For pricing and availability(510) 508-4507
    For the front desk(747) 302-6233

    Pricing

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    Amenities

    4.04 · 53 reviews

    Overall rating

    1. 5
    2. 4
    3. 3
    4. 2
    5. 1

    • Care

      3.0

    • Staff

      3.5

    • Meals

      3.5

    • Amenities

      4.2

    • Value

      2.3

    Pros

    • Spacious, bright apartments (including 2-bedroom options)
    • Weekly housekeeping and strong cleanliness
    • Caring, compassionate caregiving staff
    • Staff who remember residents' names and histories
    • Welcoming atmosphere and active welcoming committee
    • Excellent building amenities (pool, bar/tavern potential, common spaces)
    • Varied activities and entertainment offerings
    • Regular live music (jazz, classical) and monthly in-house opera
    • Transportation to lunch and shopping
    • Kind, helpful assisted living services
    • New, modern, and attractive facility with a luxury/hotel vibe
    • Nursing staff praised for med management and clinical care
    • All-inclusive pricing with no surprise fees reported by some
    • Memory care units with large rooms and dedicated dining
    • Dogs allowed in some units
    • Smooth move-ins and strong move-in support reported by many families
    • Positive rehab services and supportive administration
    • Engaging special events (e.g., drag-queen bingo) that foster socializing
    • Friendly, flexible, and accommodating staff/leadership
    • High-quality, tasty, healthful meals reported by multiple reviewers
    • Impressive cleanliness and positive resident satisfaction

    Cons

    • Understaffing and staffing shortages, especially on weekends
    • Memory care activities are fewer or inconsistently delivered
    • Insufficient dementia training and lack of qualified memory-care staff
    • High cost and perception of poor value by some families
    • Inconsistent dining quality and service problems (cold meals, long waits)
    • Management issues: inexperienced, unprofessional, unresponsive, or dishonest
    • Safety and location concerns (near homeless encampment; reports of violent incidents)
    • Noise and neighborhood disturbances (drag racing, loud streets at night)
    • Billing, deposit, and refund transparency problems
    • Promised amenities or services sometimes not delivered or delayed
    • Inadequate emergency support/evacuation planning reported by some
    • High staff turnover, mistakes, and inconsistent service execution
    • Poor movie selections and some low-attendance events
    • Operational problems (valet/elevator backups, building issues)
    • Forced hospice/provider changes and poor coordination with outside providers

    Summary review

    Overall impression: Reviews of The Variel of Woodland Hills present a mixed but predominantly positive picture of a new, attractive senior living community with strong amenities and many compassionate frontline caregivers. Multiple reviewers emphasize the facility’s modern, bright design, roomy apartments (including 2-bedroom options), and a luxury/hotel-like atmosphere. Cleanliness and presentation are repeatedly praised, and many families report smooth move-ins and strong initial hand-holding from staff. The amenity package and social programming are highlights for many residents: a pool, bar/tavern-style spaces, robust arts and music offerings (jazz, classical concerts, monthly in-house opera), and frequent special events that encourage socialization.

    Care and staffing: Care quality reviews are varied but often positive. Nursing staff and assisted-living caregivers are frequently described as caring, compassionate, and competent; several reviewers specifically note reliable medication administration, staff who learn and use residents’ names and life histories, and individual staff members who earned particular praise for empathy and leadership. Families report positive rehab services and strong assistance with transitions from home. However, staffing stability is a recurring concern: reviewers report understaffing at times (especially on weekends), staff shortages, and frequent turnover. This creates an uneven experience in which day-to-day caregivers are often well regarded while systemic staffing issues sometimes degrade service consistency.

    Memory care: Memory care is a focal point of both praise and criticism. Physically, the memory-care neighborhood (on the seventh floor per reviews) is described as having large rooms and a nice dining area. Some family members commend memory-care leadership, communication, and meaningful programming (games, puzzles, pet-related programs, and a monthly music program that elicits joy). Conversely, a number of reviewers say advertised memory-care activities either do not happen as described or are fewer than expected, and several raised concerns about insufficiently trained or qualified memory-care staff and a need for better dementia-specific training. These gaps contribute to reports of boredom or unmet stimulation among some memory-care residents.

    Activities and dining: Programming variety is a strong theme: daily movies, card games, art projects, jewelry making, lectures, live-string concerts, and bus trips to lunch/shopping are all mentioned. High points include large, well-attended events and specialty programming that elicit visible enjoyment. Still, execution is uneven—movie selections are criticized by some, and several activity nights were reportedly missed or poorly attended. Dining receives mixed feedback: multiple reviewers praise high-quality, tasty, healthful meals and a capable chef, while others describe inconsistent food quality (occasional cold meals), long dining waits, and service lapses. Dining service appears to be an area of fluctuation tied to staffing and operational growing pains.

    Management and operations: Reviews reveal polarized experiences with management and administration. Many families highlight exceptional communication, proactive teams, and staff who exceed promise (including adherence to pre-opening guarantees for some). Yet an equal number report serious operational problems: inexperienced or unprofessional management, poor collaboration with outside providers (including forced hospice-provider switches), unprocessed refunds, billing opacity, unmet promises on amenities, and move-in delays. These operational and transparency issues have led some reviewers to question integrity and reliability, while others feel management has been responsive and supportive—indicating inconsistency between different experiences or over time.

    Safety and neighborhood concerns: Several reviewers raised safety-related issues tied to location and neighborhood conditions. Reports include a nearby homeless encampment adjacent to the property, an alleged violent assault targeting an elderly resident, and management/response disagreements with law enforcement claims. Noise and quality-of-life concerns (drag-racing and loud streets at night) were also cited by multiple reviewers who felt these issues impacted resident comfort and safety. These safety and neighborhood concerns are distinct from on-site care quality and appear to factor heavily into some families’ hesitations.

    Value and pricing: Price sensitivity is another clear pattern. The Variel is described as expensive by many reviewers. Some appreciate all-inclusive pricing and no-surprise-fee policies; others feel the community does not deliver equivalent value for the cost—especially when operational shortcomings, inconsistent dining, or staffing problems are factored in. For prospective residents and families the community’s premium positioning may be attractive if the service consistency and promised amenities are reliably delivered, but several reviewers advise caution and recommend close inquiry into staffing levels, memory-care programming, and contractual protections.

    Patterns and likely causes: Taken together, the reviews suggest a facility that benefits from strong physical infrastructure, appealing programming ideas, and many dedicated frontline caregivers, but which is also experiencing typical early-stage and staffing-related growing pains. Praise tends to cluster around individual staff members, cleanliness, and the building’s amenities, while criticism clusters around management consistency, memory-care staffing and programming follow-through, dining service reliability, and safety/location concerns. Many reviewers note improvement over time (temporary understaffing improving), indicating that some negative experiences may be transitional as the community stabilizes.

    Bottom line: The Variel of Woodland Hills offers many attributes families seek—modern apartments, robust amenities, varied cultural and social programming, and numerous compassionate caregivers—but potential residents should weigh documented operational inconsistencies and neighborhood safety concerns. Prospective residents and families would benefit from on-site follow-up questions about current staffing levels (including weekends and memory care), dementia-specific staff training, disaster/evacuation procedures, dining-service protocols, exact amenity delivery timelines, and contractual terms for deposits/refunds. Visiting multiple times (including during evenings and weekends), speaking with current resident families, and requesting written guarantees or clarifications on promised services will help determine whether the Variel’s strong positives will consistently meet an individual’s needs and expectations.

    Location

    Map showing location of The Variel Of Woodland Hills

    About The Variel Of Woodland Hills

    The Variel Of Woodland Hills sits as an eight-story midrise in the Warner Center area, coming together through a partnership of South Bay Partners, LAMB Properties, and Columbia Pacific Advisors, and the place shows a modern Southern California design with a lot of thought for senior lifestyles, so when folks walk through the doors they notice a welcoming staff, a busy social calendar, and amenities that try to cover just about everything you'd want, from a coffee shop to a general store and a tavern with daily happy hour, and the place accepts pets with room for a dog run and a wash station, so people don't have to worry about leaving furry friends behind. The building has a gated entrance with valet parking and guest lots, and the whole place is set up for safety and convenience, with 24-hour concierge services, Wi-Fi and cable in apartments, and units that come with kitchenettes or full appliances, and for those who want to cook less, the chef-prepared meals can be enjoyed in four on-site restaurants, in-room, or even as guest meals.

    There's a wide range of floor plans like San Onofre, Monarch, Alisa, Crystal, Peidra, and Emerald for assisted living, all private, and independent living apartments go from one-bedroom spaces up to penthouse size. Health services cover a lot, including companion and hospice care, medication reminders, on-site pharmacy, and nurses available part time, and specialized memory care comes in the Mezzanine program for those in early or mid-stage memory loss and the Tessera program for those with advanced needs, trying to help with things like confusion and wandering. For folks looking for regular support, assisted living services cover bathing, dressing, and medication help, and there's also home care for those who just need a hand now and then, and respite care for short stays.

    The place puts a lot into keeping people active and engaged with fitness and wellness programs that include Tai Chi, yoga, stretching, and swimming in the indoor pool and hot tub spa, plus a fitness center, and for recreation there are opportunities like golf, horticulture, arts and crafts, music, literary and educational activities, field trips, and games. There's a movie theater and lounge for social gatherings, and cable TV runs in the entertainment areas. Nutritious meals come from chefs and meal planners who adjust menus for dietary needs, and the dining options try to keep things sociable with a communal dining room, a full bar, or room service when wanted, though some residents say movie selections are limited and could use more themed events. The Variel includes on-site religious services, a garden, and places for outside relaxation, and for housekeeping there are linen and laundry services along with private cleaning if needed.

    General transportation helps with errands and appointments, and the community assists with home sales and accepts several payment forms, including insurance. The staff makes a point of creating a friendly environment, and the facility's received awards for meals and dining quality, as well as overall excellence in senior living. The Variel covers independent living, assisted living, memory care, and nursing home needs, and uses a care needs assessment to help people figure out the right fit. The community keeps itself open and vibrant, taking pride in going above and beyond with social and wellness activities while aiming to make life easier and more enjoyable for seniors in the Woodland Hills area.

    People often ask...

    State of California Inspection Reports

    50

    Inspections

    9

    Type A Citations

    8

    Type B Citations

    3

    Years of reports

    13 Jun 2025
    Found that medications for eleven residents were properly documented and stored in locked locations within the wellness center and memory care director offices. Noted that the annual review would be completed on a return visit due to time constraints.
    • § 9058
    21 May 2025
    Determined the allegation of a resident eloping without supervision on two occasions was not supported, as the resident did not leave the building unsupervised and was located promptly.
    21 May 2025
    Found that two residents left the memory care unit unsupervised and used the elevator to reach the first floor, though they did not leave the facility grounds. Observed that the elevator on the memory care floor could be called without a key fob and that memory care doors were not always supervised, potentially allowing unsupervised elevator access.
    • § 9058
    • § 87464(f)(1)
    26 Mar 2025
    Identified the allegation that some doors were not in good repair due to door closers being loosened or removed; three doors in the independent living area had nonfunctional closers and were repaired during the visit. Found no evidence of improper medication administration, wandering without supervision, or inadequate meals for independent living residents; medications were stored, labeled, and documented correctly, and residents reported satisfaction with meals.
    • § 87303(a)
    03 Jan 2025
    Found that a staff member forged two checks from a resident’s account to themselves for service pay, totaling $3,000 and $5,000; the staff member was terminated the next day. Bank stopped the checks from clearing, so no funds were taken; the incident was reported to adult protective services and the long-term care ombudsman, and a police filing was made online after guidance, with interviews of residents showing no other suspicious activity.
    12 Dec 2024
    Identified Allegation 1 that staff did not evacuate a resident during a fire; there was insufficient evidence to support this claim, so it is unsubstantiated. Identified Allegation 2 that staff were not properly trained for fire evacuation; records show regular drills and training, so that claim is unsubstantiated.
    26 Nov 2024
    Identified fraudulent activity by a staff member involving two checks totaling $8,000 drawn from a resident's account to the staff member; the staff member was terminated, and the incident was cross-reported to protective services, the ombudsman, and law enforcement. Conducted interviews with leadership and staff, spoke with residents, performed a brief site tour, and reviewed related documents, and determined that further investigation is needed before a final licensing determination.
    21 Oct 2024
    Found insufficient evidence to prove the allegation that residents' records were falsified or that residents were charged $150 to complete insurance paperwork for long-term care benefits.
    11 Jul 2024
    Found that an unannounced, required annual visit reviewed residents' rooms, safety systems, and emergency plans with overall compliance observed. No citations were issued, and a follow-up visit was scheduled due to time constraints.
    11 Jul 2024
    Identified no issues during the annual visit.
    04 May 2024
    Found adequate quantity of food to serve residents; observations and interviews showed residents could eat as much as they wanted, though on occasion some items ran out with substitutes available and planning guided by census data and resident input.
    04 May 2024
    Investigated claim that there was insufficient food for residents and determined it unsubstantiated, with observations showing ample food options and positive feedback from residents about meal variety and quality.
    08 Mar 2024
    Identified a deficiency when staff files were not readily accessible to Licensing during normal business hours; although stored offsite, online access was not available at the time.
    • § 87412(g)(1)
    08 Mar 2024
    Determined there was insufficient evidence to conclude that there was no certified administrator; the administrator held a valid certificate. Identified that staff were not associated to the facility despite having fingerprint clearances.
    08 Mar 2024
    Confirmed that the Administrator holds required certification and all staff have appropriate TB clearances, but some staff were not associated with the facility.
    • § 87355(e)(2)
    04 Mar 2024
    Investigated two complaints; found insufficient evidence to corroborate that the dishwasher was in disrepair or that meals were served using dirty dishes. Found evidence that staff did not follow general food service requirements, with ice cream tubs left uncovered in the freezer.
    04 Mar 2024
    Confirmed that the dishwasher was functioning properly and the kitchen staff were not following proper food service requirements.
    • § 87555(b)(23)
    29 Feb 2024
    Found insufficient evidence to support the allegations that staff failed to act appropriately during an incident and failed to comply with reporting requirements.
    29 Feb 2024
    Investigated an incident in which a resident allegedly slapped another in the memory care unit; determined insufficient evidence to confirm the alleged incident or any failure by staff to report it.
    02 Jan 2024
    Found insufficient evidence to confirm the allegation that staff do not ensure hot water is available to residents. Nine residents stated they were informed of a planned water shutoff and that drinking water was provided, with notices sent to residents and responsible parties.
    02 Jan 2024
    Found insufficient evidence to confirm staff neglect in ensuring hot water availability for residents during the alleged incident.
    27 Dec 2023
    Identified an allegation that staff woke a resident by pinching nipples, with bruising observed on the chest. Internal investigation documented that staff had been told to pinch to wake the resident and that multiple staff were aware of this instruction.
    27 Dec 2023
    Identified incident of suspected abuse involving staff member pinching resident's nipples, resulting in bruising.
    • § 87468.1(a)(3)
    19 Oct 2023
    Investigated found a water main burst on the property that caused flooding, with water shut off, supplies provided, and some residents relocated during repairs; water restored by 10/14/23. The cause of the burst could not be attributed to neglect.
    19 Oct 2023
    Investigated an allegation of disrepair due to a burst water main, with findings showing timely repairs and appropriate care and resources provided for residents, leaving the cause of the burst undetermined.
    12 Oct 2023
    Found no immediate health or safety concerns at this site after reviewing the self-reported incident of 10/11/2023 involving a burst main water line and water shut-off, and noting ample bottled water available.
    12 Oct 2023
    Identified self-reported incident minimized risk of harm, water line burst addressed with bottled water provided. Good safety measures observed, no immediate concerns raised.
    22 Aug 2023
    Investigated allegations that staff mishandled residents’ medication and administered the wrong medication (ear drops) to a resident; reviewed records and interviewed the director. Found unsubstantiated at this time.
    28 Sept 2023
    Investigated an alleged incident in which staff forcefully grabbed a resident's arms to remove their sweater and sit them on the bed, the resident cried, and a nurse noted redness on the arm.
    28 Sept 2023
    Confirmed incident involving resident and staff, leading to redness noted on resident's arm. Staff actions were investigated and deficiency identified.
    • § 87468.1(a)(3)
    08 Sept 2023
    Investigated the allegation that staff prevented a resident from leaving. Found the resident was allowed to leave unassisted per physician’s order and left on multiple dates; interviews with residents and staff indicated no concerns about leaving.
    08 Sept 2023
    Reviewed an allegation that staff were not allowing a resident to leave, but found evidence that the resident had left the facility multiple times unassisted, and that staff cannot prevent residents from leaving.
    22 Aug 2023
    Reviewed allegations of staff mishandling and not administering medication as prescribed; both deemed unsubstantiated due to lack of evidence and inability to identify involved residents.
    09 Aug 2023
    Identified that a gas-line extension by a vendor did not shut off the gas, causing a kitchen fire that triggered alarms and evacuations; the kitchen was closed and awaiting clearance from health officials. Power to Building B was interrupted overnight for 26 residents, as the generators were not triggered.
    09 Aug 2023
    Conducted unannounced visit due to fire in kitchen, resulting in evacuations, damage to ceiling and food, and disruption of electricity for residents. Repairs and cleaning scheduled to make kitchen operational again.
    07 Jul 2023
    Identified an incident where a staff member waved a soiled brief in a memory care resident’s face and laughed while the resident protested, with another staff member present and a witness reporting the events. Written statements from the involved staff confirmed what happened; other residents described caregivers as nice and professional, and one citation was issued.
    07 Jul 2023
    Confirmed incident of inappropriate behavior towards a resident during toileting assistance.
    • § 87468(a)(1)
    12 Jun 2023
    Identified safety deficiencies: several resident rooms had water temperatures ranging from 121 to 130 degrees Fahrenheit and cleaning supplies were accessible to people in care.
    12 Jun 2023
    Identified deficiencies related to excessive water temperatures in resident rooms and accessibility of cleaning supplies during an inspection conducted by state regulators.
    • § 87309(a)
    • § 87303(e)(2)
    24 May 2023
    Found an allegation that staff did not ensure the correct medication was dispensed properly to a resident. Identified that a new wellness nurse helped a resident self-administer the wrong eye medication, causing irritation and an emergency hospital visit.
    24 May 2023
    Found insufficient evidence to support a complaint regarding incorrect medication administration to a resident.
    • § 87465(c)(2)
    25 Apr 2023
    Found two residents in isolation for COVID-19, with two positive cases as of 04/25/2023 and planned isolation completion on 04/27/2023; no staff tested positive and independent living residents had completed isolation. Reviewed COVID-19 policies and procedures; no citations issued.
    25 Apr 2023
    Reviewed COVID-19 policies and procedures during visit, observed two residents in isolation but no staff tested positive.
    12 Sept 2022
    Identified that staff pulled a resident by the wrists during a transfer, resulting in bruising on the forearms. Found that an unusual incident report was not submitted to licensing, though the bruising was reported to supervision and the resident's family.
    • § 87468.2(a)(4)
    • § 87211(a)(1)
    12 Sept 2022
    Identified that a resident admitted on 8/20/2022 required more than two staff for care and transfers, but this was not accurately reflected in the care plan or medical assessment. Inconsistent statements about feeding and all-activities-of-daily-living dependence indicated that retaining the resident would be prohibited if all daily activities require assistance.
    12 Sept 2022
    Identified deficiencies in care planning and documentation for a resident with extensive care needs during an unannounced inspection. Inconsistent statements noted regarding resident's ability to feed themselves.
    • § 87463(a)
    • § 87458(c)
    29 Jun 2022
    Found that a dementia program was included, a fire clearance for 416 non-ambulatory residents with a maximum of 20 bedridden residents, and a Hospice Waiver for 50, with three buildings and a memory care unit on the seventh floor plus various safety and amenity features. Found that operation could not commence until license approval is granted by the CAB.
    29 Jun 2022
    Confirmed approval for a new dementia program and capacity for bedridden residents in a newly inspected facility with adequate amenities, safety measures, and infection control protocols.
    17 Feb 2022
    Completed COMP II via telephone, identity verified, and understanding of Title 22 confirmed; advised to submit signed LIC 809 with a copy of photo ID.
    17 Feb 2022
    Confirmed successful completion of COMP II by CAB, with applicant and administrator demonstrating understanding of required regulations and responsibilities.

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