The Heathers - Seaside Cottage I

    1019 Cheyenne Street, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626
    4.4 · 5 reviews
    • Memory care
    AnonymousLoved one of resident
    4.0

    Compassionate staff, good care, pricey

    I'm very pleased overall: a compassionate, thorough manager and exceptional caregivers provided coordinated medical care in a clean, beautiful, homelike facility with delicious meals and a comfortable environment that gave me peace of mind. The manager was responsive and helped find the right place for my mom, but the owner seemed money-focused, not hands-on and was often rude to staff; routines felt regimented and the place can feel isolated with limited activities (worsened by COVID) and repetitive meals. Good care and warm staff, but I didn't feel it was entirely good value for the price.

    Pricing

    Schedule a Tour

    Amenities

    4.40 · 5 reviews

    Overall rating

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

      4.8
    • Staff

      4.8
    • Meals

      4.0
    • Amenities

      3.5
    • Value

      2.0

    Pros

    • Compassionate, thorough manager
    • Caring, warm, and exceptional caregivers
    • Coordinated medical care
    • Clear explanation of medications and activities
    • Safe, homelike, comfortable environment
    • Beautiful, well-maintained facilities
    • Good cleanliness
    • Delicious meals
    • Responsive staff who provide peace of mind
    • Helpful in placing residents and recommending the facility
    • Overall positive resident and family experiences

    Cons

    • Owner perceived as money-focused
    • Owner reported to be rude to caregivers and to have screamed at employees
    • Owner not hands-on in daily operations
    • Limited outside engagement and community interaction
    • Activities reduced/limited (noted due to COVID)
    • Regimented routines contributing to an isolated feel
    • Repetitive meals (same offerings each day)
    • Small library and limited activity amenities
    • Concerns about value for money

    Summary review

    Overall sentiment across the reviews is predominantly positive about direct care, the facility environment, and daily operations, but there are consistent concerns about management at the ownership level and limited programming. Multiple reviewers praise the on-site leadership (a compassionate, thorough manager) and the caregiving staff, describing them as caring, warm, responsive, and exceptional. Families report coordinated medical care, clear communication about medications and daily activities, and a reliable, safe, homelike atmosphere that provides peace of mind. The general tone when discussing caregivers and the manager is highly favorable, with specific mentions of helpfulness in placing loved ones and strong, attentive care.

    Facilities and cleanliness receive consistently positive comments. Reviewers describe the building and common areas as beautiful, comfortable, and well-maintained, and they note good cleanliness standards. Meals are frequently called delicious, contributing to resident satisfaction. These tangible strengths (appearance, cleanliness, food quality, and safe environment) are important contributors to the positive overall impressions and often cited as reasons families felt comfortable placing their loved ones there.

    However, there are notable and repeated concerns about activities, engagement, and social programming. Several reviewers mention a limited range of activities, an isolated feel, and a small library or other limited amenities. Some of the activity shortfalls are explicitly attributed to COVID limitations, but others describe regimented routines that can feel isolating and monotonous. Meal variety is another recurring issue — while meals are described as tasty, reviewers note they can be repetitive (the same each day). These weaknesses affect perceived resident enrichment and lead some families to question whether the facility offers enough engagement to justify cost.

    A consistent and significant pattern in the reviews is a tension between the praised on-site management/staff and problematic owner behavior. While the manager is repeatedly described as compassionate and hands-on, the owner is characterized by several reviewers as money-focused, not sufficiently engaged in day-to-day care, and in at least a few accounts rude to staff (including screaming at employees). This contrast is important: the caring culture at the caregiver level appears strong, but reported owner conduct and priorities raise concerns about staff morale and the long-term organizational culture. Such reports can also influence perceptions of value and trustworthiness, even when direct care remains good.

    Value-for-money concerns appear in multiple summaries. These concerns are linked to limited activities, repetitive meals, and the perceived owner focus on financial considerations rather than resident experience. While many reviewers explicitly recommend the facility because of its caregivers and environment, some feel the programming and administrative issues reduce the overall value proposition.

    In summary, The Heathers - Seaside Cottage I is portrayed as a clean, attractive, and safe community with strong, compassionate caregiving and effective medical coordination. Families commonly feel reassured by staff responsiveness and the homelike environment. The primary areas to watch or question are activity and engagement offerings (some reduced by COVID and some described as overly regimented), meal variety, and management at the ownership level — specifically reports that the owner prioritizes money, is not hands-on, and has behaved rudely toward staff. Prospective residents and families who prioritize excellent direct care, a pleasant facility, and responsive staff are likely to have a positive experience; those who place a higher value on robust programming, variety in dining, and a stable, transparent ownership culture may want to ask specific questions and seek clarifications during tours and interviews with staff and leadership.

    Location

    Map showing location of The Heathers - Seaside Cottage I

    About The Heathers - Seaside Cottage I

    The Heathers - Seaside Cottage I sits on McKinley Way in Costa Mesa, California, surrounded by a white picket fence and palm trees, with bright sunlight and a craftsman-style home decorated with beach themes, offering a peaceful and safe setting for senior living. The community has semi-private and private rooms, studios, and one-bedroom apartments, with central air, wheelchair access, safety features, and cable TV, and folks can enjoy outdoor gardens, a game room, a library, a hair salon, a lounge, and a cafe snack area. The staff takes care of residents around the clock, offering memory care, assisted living, hospice, respite care, and skilled nursing, with daily showers, walks, and three shifts of caregivers, plus on-call physicians, nurses, therapists, and podiatrists providing many medical services like medication help, incontinence care, speech, physical, and occupational therapy, cardiac and stroke care, and even mobile x-ray and lab services if needed.

    The meals come prepared by a dietitian, with healthy snacks, vegetarian and kosher options, gluten and allergen free, low sodium, and diabetic-friendly choices, and there's even special dining programs, so nobody feels left out, and guests or small pets can visit too. The pharmacy partner bubble packs medicine and delivers it for free, and incontinence supplies come right to the room as well. Memory care residents get help avoiding confusion and wandering, and the whole place is designed for folks with dementia or Alzheimer's, with an enclosed courtyard, special programs, and a focus on keeping everyone safe, happy, and as independent as possible. There's also personal care for hygiene, food preparation, and housekeeping, and the property offers both spiritual activities, arts and crafts, bingo, movies, music and dancing, daily exercise, social gatherings, scheduled outings, and offsite activities, so there's always something to do.

    Transportation is ready when needed, and the staff keep an eye on residents, offering supervision 24/7. Families can take a break knowing there's respite care available, and the community works to respect each person's dignity, culture, and spiritual needs. Reviews mention high satisfaction, with an average rating around 4.3 to 4.5 out of 5, and many residents or visitors have left positive notes. The Heathers network also connects residents to brain fitness options and offers advice for families, so people have support when making decisions. The property feels cheerful and calm and aims for a spa-like atmosphere, hoping families and residents feel comfort and peace of mind. Pricing isn't posted, but care levels and services can change based on each person's needs. The Heathers - Seaside Cottage I is recognized as a secure, supportive home for seniors who need special attention, especially those living with memory loss.

    People often ask...

    Nearby Communities

    • Exterior front of the Coastal Heights Senior Living building with its entrance sign, landscaped lawn, and palm trees.
      $3,150+4.3 (94)
      1 Bedroom
      independent, assisted living, memory care

      Coastal Heights Senior Living

      2283 Fairview Rd, Costa Mesa, CA, 92627
    • Front exterior view of Oakmont of Huntington Beach, a three-story building with a beige facade, red tile roof, and multiple windows. The entrance features arches, palm trees, and a landscaped area with shrubs and rocks. A car is parked on the street in front, and the sky is clear and blue.
      $4,595 – $5,595+4.5 (56)
      Studio • Semi-private
      independent, assisted living, memory care

      Oakmont of Huntington Beach

      18922 Delaware St, Huntington Beach, CA, 92648
    • Front facade of the Merrill Gardens senior living building with balconies, an American flag on a pole in the foreground, and benches flanking the entrance.
      $4,795 – $6,233+4.2 (57)
      Semi-private • 1 Bedroom • Studio
      continuing care retirement community

      Merrill Gardens At Huntington Beach

      17200 Goldenwest Street, Huntington Beach, CA, 92647
    • Front exterior view of Crown Cove facility showing a brown shingle-style building with a covered entrance, white railing, blue planters with flowers, and an American flag. A tree trunk is visible in the foreground on the left side.
      $5,000+4.6 (16)
      suite
      assisted living, memory care

      Crown Cove

      3901 East Coast Highway, Corona Del Mar, CA, 92625
    • Entrance sign for Ivy Park at Tustin assisted living and memory care facility with landscaped greenery and trees, set against a colorful sunset sky.
      $4,890 – $5,550+4.3 (71)
      1 Bedroom • 2 Bedroom
      assisted living, memory care

      Ivy Park at Tustin

      12291 Newport Ave, Santa Ana, CA, 92705
    • Front exterior view of Ivy Park at Laguna Woods, showing a three-story building with balconies, palm trees, and a circular driveway with a globe sculpture in the center surrounded by flowers.
      $4,000 – $5,200+4.3 (33)
      Semi-private • 1 Bedroom • Studio
      independent living, assisted living

      Ivy Park at Laguna Woods

      24441 C. Sonora, Laguna Woods, CA, 92637

    Assisted Living in Nearby Cities

    1. 405 facilities$5,769/mo
    2. 396 facilities$5,747/mo
    3. 154 facilities$6,575/mo
    4. 290 facilities$5,514/mo
    5. 239 facilities$6,235/mo
    6. 432 facilities$5,501/mo
    7. 116 facilities$6,488/mo
    8. 443 facilities$5,498/mo
    9. 145 facilities$6,228/mo
    10. 477 facilities$5,583/mo
    11. 247 facilities$6,239/mo
    12. 339 facilities$5,694/mo
    © 2025 Mirador Living