Colina Board and Care, sitting at 4752 Lake Forest Avenue in San Diego, feels much like a family home, with personalized care for each resident, and there's space for only six people, so everybody gets to know each other and there's always a feeling of being looked after. The staff's small and they follow the state rules closely, making sure everybody's needs don't go unnoticed and providing all kinds of help, whether that's getting dressed, taking medicine, getting in and out of the shower, or even getting insulin shots or help with tough transfers. Folks living here get 24-hour care, and there's support for memory issues with programs to keep things calm, help prevent wandering, and make the days easier for people with dementia or Alzheimer's. There's also hospice care and respite relief for caregivers who need a break sometimes, and no complaint about pets, because cats and dogs can stay here too.
Residents eat three home-cooked meals a day and have assistance with bathing, grooming, and getting to doctor's appointments, and if a person's got conditions like diabetes or needs a certain diet because of high blood pressure, the staff tries to keep track and help out. You'll spot a game room, book room, hot tub, and even a steam room for relaxing, along with outdoor garden spaces, music therapy, exercise activities, and nights set aside for movies or socializing, so there's always something to do or someplace quiet to sit outside.
The building allows both independent and more hands-on care, with wheelchair-accessible showers and bathrooms, non-ambulatory care, and help for high-acuity needs or incontinence, and if a person can't get around easily, there's still ways to join in social life or have a bit of company. The facility has transportation aids, parking, indoor and outdoor common areas, a beauty shop, and they run activities throughout the day, so nobody's left to sit alone for long if they don't want to be.
People here pay with personal checks and the cost is considered on the lower side compared to big facilities, though it's meant to feel more like a regular neighborhood home than an institution. Since opening in 2009, Colina Board and Care has aimed to keep things simple, peaceful, and supportive for seniors who want a small, caring place in San Diego to live out their days with dignity, independence, and help available whenever it's needed.
