St. John Kronstadt Health Care Center

    4432 James Ave, Castro Valley, CA, 94546
    4.5 · 35 reviews
    • Assisted living
    • Memory care
    • Skilled nursing
    AnonymousLoved one of resident
    5.0

    Attentive, compassionate staff; excellent rehab

    My grandmother stayed a week for post-surgery rehab and I was impressed - attentive, compassionate, professional staff helped her regain strength, kept us updated, and provided excellent, home-like care in a clean, well-maintained facility with spacious rooms, nutritious meals, beautiful gardens, and a quiet atmosphere. Amenities are austere (two-person rooms, only one shower, limited walking space and a small garden; recreation shares the dining room), but the caring, responsive team goes above and beyond. I highly recommend their rehabilitation services.

    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

    • 24-hour call system
    • 24-hour supervision

    Meals and dining

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

    Room

    • Cable
    • Fully furnished
    • Housekeeping and linen services
    • Kitchenettes
    • Telephone
    • Wifi

    Common areas

    • Beauty salon
    • Dining room
    • Garden
    • Outdoor space
    • Small library

    Community services

    • Move-in coordination

    Activities

    • Community-sponsored activities
    • Resident-run activities
    • Scheduled daily activities

    4.46 · 35 reviews

    Overall rating

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

      4.9
    • Staff

      4.8
    • Meals

      5.0
    • Amenities

      4.3
    • Value

      4.5

    Pros

    • Compassionate, caring and attentive staff
    • Responsive staff who keep families updated
    • Clean, bright and well-maintained facility
    • Home-like atmosphere
    • Spacious and comfortable rooms (larger inside than exterior suggests)
    • Nutritious and well-prepared meals
    • Effective rehabilitation services (helped residents regain strength)
    • Ample staffing levels
    • Attentive CNAs and nurses
    • Quiet environment with beautiful gardens and gazebo
    • Security and comfort for residents
    • Bilingual or Spanish-speaking friendly (patient satisfaction noted in Spanish)
    • Strong leadership and management integrity
    • Highly recommended by multiple reviewers

    Cons

    • Austere appearance or limited luxury amenities
    • Two residents per room (shared rooms)
    • Only one shower room for residents
    • Recreation room shared with dining room
    • Limited walking space and small outdoor area
    • Limited variety of amenities and activities implied by shared spaces

    Summary review

    Overall sentiment across the reviews for St. John Kronstadt Health Care Center is strongly positive, with consistent praise centered on the quality of care and the staff. Multiple reviewers emphasize that staff are compassionate, kind, and go above and beyond standard duties. Attentive CNAs and nurses are repeatedly mentioned, and families note that staff are responsive and keep them informed about residents’ conditions. Several comments specifically praise rehabilitation services: short-term, post-surgery stays and therapy programs that helped residents regain strength are highlighted and the facility is expressly recommended for rehab care.

    Facility cleanliness and maintenance are frequent strengths in the reviews. The center is described as clean, bright, and well-maintained, with many reviewers noting that it feels home-like rather than institutional. Some reviewers observed that the interior is larger than it appears from the outside and that there are beautiful gardens and a gazebo that contribute to a peaceful, quiet environment. Reviewers also report nutritious, well-prepared meals and describe the overall environment as comfortable and secure for residents.

    Staffing and management receive favorable mentions beyond direct caregiving. Reviewers report ample staffing levels, professional behavior, and an administration characterized by integrity. Several testimonials come from family members who felt reassured by the team’s communication and care coordination. There are multiple endorsements in different languages (e.g., Spanish) indicating satisfaction across at least some non-English-speaking residents or family members.

    The most notable concerns revolve around the facility’s amenities and physical layout rather than clinical care. Several reviewers describe an austere or modest appearance and point out practical limitations: rooms are shared (two residents per room), there is only one shower room for residents, the recreation room is shared with the dining room, and outdoor/walking space is limited. These points suggest constrained common areas and fewer leisure or mobility spaces than some families might expect from higher-end facilities. The shared recreation/dining space may limit activity variety and scheduling, and a single shower room could create wait times or reduced privacy. Overall, these negatives relate to facility design and amenities rather than the quality of hands-on care.

    In summary, St. John Kronstadt Health Care Center appears to excel at clinical and personal care: compassionate, responsive staff; effective rehab programs; and a clean, comfortable environment that families appreciate. The principal trade-offs are modest amenities, shared rooms and facilities, and limited walking/outdoor space. For families prioritizing attentive clinical care, strong staff communication, and a home-like atmosphere—especially for rehabilitation or post-surgical stays—this facility is highly recommended by reviewers. For those seeking more private rooms, multiple personal bathrooms/showers, or expansive recreational and walking areas, the facility’s more austere physical layout and shared spaces may be a limitation to weigh against the quality of care.

    Location

    Map showing location of St. John Kronstadt Health Care Center

    About St. John Kronstadt Health Care Center

    St. John Kronstadt Health Care Center sits in Castro Valley, California, and runs as a nonprofit skilled nursing facility with 49 beds, so it stays on the smaller, friendlier side. The community gets a 2-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services but people rate it higher, about 8.7 out of 10, and folks notice how caring the staff tends to be. The facility offers both short-term rehabilitation and long-term care, taking in nursing home patients who need help with daily life. They've got studio room layouts as well as private rooms and family rooms, so there's some choice about where to stay, and being a nursing care place, there are always licensed staff around, 24 hours a day, delivering care when needed. You'll find memory care and assisted living services, as well as options for home care too. People can use wireless internet, cable TV, and even iPads. There are gardens, outdoor spaces, a big BBQ area, and a fountain that make it feel a little more like home, and some people like sitting out under the trees. Dietitians help with food choices, and there are social and spiritual activities for residents, so folks get a chance to spend some time together and keep busy. Rehabilitation focuses on getting people mobile again and helping with communication if there's been a stroke or illness. Someone can expect care paid for by Medicare or Medi-Cal if needed. The center is run by Serenity 4 Management Services and stays open all week, every hour, so people always have support close by.

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