Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara Memory Care
Memory Care
325 West Islay Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Santa Barbara Memory Care is a memory care community in Santa Barbara, California, serving individuals living with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia, and also offering short-term respite care.
- Licensed capacity
- 36 residents
Maximum licensed size, not current occupancy.
- Licensed since
- February 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
- 10
- Complaints with substantiated allegations
- 14
AI summary
Santa Barbara Memory Care has accumulated 24 Type A findings (the most severe citation class, involving resident safety or care) over 7.5 years of licensure, with 10 of those findings occurring within just the past three years.
Read Full SummaryRead less
- Track record — The lifetime total of 24 Type A and 19 Type B (administrative) citations across 5 routine inspections and 23 complaint investigations points to a pattern of recurring findings rather than a single isolated event.
- Recent 3 years — Ten Type A citations and 10 Type B citations were issued within the past three years alone, meaning the concerning findings are concentrated in the recent period rather than fading into history.
- Complaints — Complaint investigations (23 lifetime, 17 in the past three years) far outnumber routine inspections, and roughly half of all investigated allegations were substantiated (26 of 52), indicating that many of the concerns raised by outside parties were confirmed rather than dismissed.
- Operating tenure — A 7.5-year operating history provides a reasonably substantial sample of inspection cycles, so this pattern reflects a sustained trend rather than a limited or early-stage record.
- 1.Which specific categories of allegations were substantiated in the past three years, and what corrective actions were taken and verified by the state?
- 2.Can the community walk through what changed operationally after the cluster of citations in 2024 and 2025?
- 3.What steps has the community taken to reduce the number of complaint investigations, and how does current staffing and care planning address the issues previously cited?
Source: California Department of Social Services (CDSS)
View inspection historyHide inspection history
- License number
- License #425802116
- 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
- 5
- Complaint investigation visits
- 23
- Type A citations · most severe class
- 24
- Type B citations · administrative
- 19
- Substantiated allegations
- 26
Available reports · 42
Facility evaluation
Apr 7, 2026
Complaint investigation
Apr 7, 2026
Facility evaluation
Feb 25, 2026
Complaint investigation
Jan 15, 2026
Complaint investigation
Aug 27, 2025
1–5 of 42 reports
Monthly pricing
Total monthly costs depend on room type, select services, and the level of care needed.
Starting at $4,500 / month
Contact our team for room options and a personalized quote.
Care & support
Daily Care Services
9 services
- Medication management
- 24-hour supervision
- Diabetes / insulin management
- Incontinence care
- Non-ambulatory care
- Activities of daily living (ADL) assistance
- Bathing & dressing assistance
- Wheelchair accessible
- Mobility assistance
Specialized Care
4 services
- Hospice agency partnership
- Respite / Short-term care
- Dementia care
- Cognitive learning center
Memory Care
2 services
- Dementia-certified staff
- Specialized memory care activities
Daily life & programs
Spaces & services
Amenities
15 features
- Furnished units
- Emergency call system
- Pet Friendly
- Air conditioning
- Wi-Fi / Internet
- Cable TV
- Piano / Music room
- Game room / Billiards
- Art studio / Craft room
- Beauty salon / Barber
- Housekeeping Included
- Laundry service / Dry cleaning
- Activity room
- Café / Bistro
- Private bathroom
Outdoor Spaces
6 features
- Garden / Courtyard
- Patio seating areas
- Outdoor common space
- Walking paths
- BBQ / Grill area
- Raised garden beds
Dining Options
8 features
- International cuisine
- Room service
- All-day / Flexible meal times
- Locally-inspired cuisine
- Accommodates special diets
- Restaurant-style dining
- Professional chef
- Vegetarian/Vegan Options
Transportation
2 features- Scheduled transportation
- Personal Vehicle Parking
Family & Visitors
1 feature- Guest meals available
Community Services
1 feature- Move-in coordination
Reviews
Online reputation
4.0Average RatingAveraged from 60 reviews published on other websites
AI review summary
Most families describe warm, attentive staff and a homelike memory care environment, though a handful of serious complaints about inattentiveness and lost items warrant direct questions on a tour.
Read Full SummaryRead less
- Staff & care — The overwhelming majority of reviewers describe staff as kind, patient, and genuinely attentive, often naming specific caregivers who went out of their way to help residents and families.
- Atmosphere & grounds — Families repeatedly say the community feels like home rather than a nursing home, with a small, calm setting where staff know residents personally.
- Communication — Several reviewers highlight video chats, regular updates, and newsletters that helped out-of-state family members stay connected and informed.
- Dining — Meals are frequently praised as tasty and social, with specific mention of favorites like grilled salmon being prepared for picky eaters.
- Value & pricing — Multiple reviewers describe the cost as competitive or fair for the level of care provided, though a couple mention unexpected hidden fees.
- Staff & care — A small number of reviews describe troubling lapses, including a missing heirloom ring, neglected oral hygiene, and staff seen on phones instead of attending to residents.
- Cleanliness & maintenance — Older reviews describe the building as dingy, dark, or outdated, and one tour noted a shared bathroom setup and an unfinished shower, so families should confirm current room and renovation status.
- Staffing levels — At least one reviewer noted the community seemed understaffed during evening and night hours, which is worth asking about directly.
- Financial transparency — A couple of families mentioned hidden costs they hadn't anticipated, so it's worth clarifying all fees and how they change with higher care needs before move-in.
The rating above is averaged from reviews published on other websites. Reviews below are written by families on Senior Places.
Be the first to share your experience and help other families.
Languages spoken
Languages spoken
Around the neighborhood
See what's nearby Santa Barbara Memory Care, including hospitals, pharmacies, and groceries.
Senior Places is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by Santa Barbara Memory Care. This profile was compiled from publicly available sources and has not been verified or approved by the community. Pricing, availability, and services may have changed.
Are you the owner or operator of Santa Barbara Memory Care?
Claim this profile to update your pricing, photos, and details. Complete profiles match more accurately — our Smart Match technology scores every community against what each family actually needs.