San Francisco, California
Portola Gardens
Assisted Living · Memory Care
350 University Street, San Francisco, CA 94134
Portola Gardens is a licensed Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE) offering assisted living and memory-care-appropriate support in San Francisco's Portola district.
- Licensed capacity
- 132 residents
Maximum licensed size, not current occupancy.
- Licensed since
- April 2019
License history may include previous operators.
State inspections
Review licensing, findings, and available inspection reports. A record is one part of understanding a community.
Findings to review
Complaint investigations · 3 years before our last check
- Type A citations
- 3
- Complaints with substantiated allegations
- 3
AI summary
Portola Gardens has 4 Type A findings across 7.3 years of operation, with 3 of them concentrated in the past three years, alongside a pattern of frequent complaint activity that families should raise directly with the community.
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- Track record — Over its licensed period the community has accumulated 4 Type A findings (the state's most severe citation class, tied to resident safety or care) and 13 Type B findings (administrative issues like paperwork or posting gaps), which is a notable count for a single license.
- Recent 3 years — Most of the severity is recent rather than historical: 3 of the 4 Type A findings and 5 of the 6 substantiated allegations fall within the past three years, meaning the concerning pattern is current, not something the community has since moved past.
- Complaints — Complaint investigations (22 lifetime, 10 in the past three years) far outnumber routine inspections, and roughly 16% of all investigated allegations were substantiated, which points to an active pattern of outside complaints rather than issues found only through routine review.
- Operating tenure — At 7.3 years licensed, the community has a moderate operating history — enough inspection cycles to give this pattern real weight, though not yet the decades of data that would allow a fuller long-term read.
- 1.Which categories of allegations were substantiated in the past three years, and what corrective actions were taken and verified?
- 2.What specific issues led to the 3 recent Type A findings, and has the community changed staffing, training, or oversight in response?
- 3.Given that complaint investigations far outnumber routine inspections here, what is the community doing proactively to reduce complaints rather than just responding to them?
Source: California Department of Social Services (CDSS)
View inspection historyHide inspection history
- License number
- License #385601045
- License status
- Licensed
Full history on file
These totals cover the available license history, including older findings. Citation totals include inspections, complaint visits, and other visits.
- Inspection visits
- 4
- Complaint investigation visits
- 22
- Type A citations · most severe class
- 4
- Type B citations · administrative
- 13
- Substantiated allegations
- 6
Available reports · 34
Complaint investigation
Apr 7, 2026
Facility evaluation
Mar 24, 2026
Complaint investigation
Mar 24, 2026
Facility evaluation
Mar 18, 2026
Facility evaluation
Feb 4, 2026
1–5 of 34 reports
Monthly pricing
Total monthly costs depend on room type, select services, and the level of care needed.
Assisted LivingStarting at$3,695 / mo
- Shared Rooms
- $3,695 / mo
- Private Rooms
- $4,595 / mo
Memory CareStarting at$5,795 / mo
- Shared Rooms
- $5,795 / mo
- Private Rooms
- $7,595 / mo
Financial Assistance
What is the ALW?
The Assisted Living Waiver is a Medi-Cal program that pays for assisted living care in place of a nursing home. Residents must be on Medi-Cal (no share of cost) and meet a nursing-facility level of care; only communities enrolled with the state can accept it.
Listed as a participating provider by the California Department of Health Care Services (Jan 2026 list).
Care & support
Daily Care Services
9 services
- Medication management
- 24-hour supervision
- Activities of daily living (ADL) assistance
- Diabetes / insulin management
- Incontinence care
- Non-ambulatory care
- Bathing & dressing assistance
- Mobility assistance
- Wheelchair accessible
Specialized Care
5 services
- Parkinson's program
- Behavioral support
- Hospice agency partnership
- Respite / Short-term care
- Dementia care
Memory Care
1 service
- Dementia-certified staff
Daily life & programs
Spaces & services
Amenities
17 features
- Furnished units
- Emergency call system
- Pet Friendly
- Private bathroom
- Cable TV
- Kitchenette
- Air conditioning
- Wi-Fi / Internet
- Fitness center / Gym
- Spa services
- Game room / Billiards
- Movie theater / Media room
- Activity room
- Art studio / Craft room
- Library / Reading room
- Housekeeping Included
- Laundry service / Dry cleaning
Outdoor Spaces
3 features- Walking paths
- Garden / Courtyard
- Outdoor common space
Dining Options
6 features
- Kosher meals available
- All-day / Flexible meal times
- Accommodates special diets
- Restaurant-style dining
- Professional chef
- Vegetarian/Vegan Options
Transportation
2 features- Scheduled transportation
- Personal Vehicle Parking
Family & Visitors
1 feature- Family support services
Community Services
3 features- Move-in coordination
- Concierge services
- Base Medicaid Accepted
Reviews
Online reputation
3.8Average RatingAveraged from 13 reviews published on other websites
AI review summary
Families consistently praise attentive, compassionate staff and clean, welcoming grounds, but should ask about shared rooms, staffing consistency across shifts, and communication continuity.
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- Staff & care — Reviewers repeatedly describe staff as compassionate, attentive, and going above and beyond for residents, including specialized attention to individual needs.
- Cleanliness & maintenance — Multiple reviews highlight close attention to hygiene, cleanliness, and attentive housekeeping throughout the community.
- Atmosphere & grounds — Families note pleasant common areas, a sunroom with natural light, and a backyard with benches and greenery that residents enjoy.
- Dining — Reviewers mention homemade, healthy food and menus that accommodate different dietary needs.
- Financial transparency — One reviewer specifically praised the straightforward, a la carte pricing structure without hidden fees compared to other facilities.
- Daily life & dignity — An older review noted shared rooms and bathrooms with limited space, so families should confirm current room configurations and privacy options.
- Communication — A more recent reviewer described needing to repeat their loved one's care needs multiple times across shifts, so ask how the facility ensures continuity of care information among staff.
- Staff & care — Given mixed experiences over time, families should ask about current staffing ratios and consistency, especially during evenings and weekends.
The rating above is averaged from reviews published on other websites. Reviews below are written by families on Senior Places.
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Languages spoken
Languages spoken
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