Vivante Newport Mesa — Local services in Costa Mesa

My parents were among the first to transition to Vivante on The Coast assisted living when it first opened several years ago. They lived on the assisted side for a few years before a necessary transition to memory care within The Shores.

My parents were both extremely pleased with their experiences on the assisted side and - especially - the level of personal attention paid them by all members of staff.

TLDR: The experiences my parents had in the years they lived at Vivante were very good.

I am their only child and I did not/do not live in close proximity. I appreciated knowing that my parents were safe in the event anything was needed. I also appreciated that management kept tabs on their residents and alerted me when one of my parents started showing outward signs that the time had come to transition into memory care.

At that point, my biggest concern was that both my parents be allowed to make the move together as I believed separation would negatively affect their longevity. Vivante worked to make this happen.

The management and staff at The Shores is as excellent as those on the assisted side despite myriad challenges dealing with residents who range from relatively responsive/communicative to unresponsive, bed-ridden and sometimes combative.

If you (or a loved one) are thinking about making the move into assisted care or need memory care, may I be so bold as to offer a short list of suggestions of "things to consider" well before the move is undertaken? Do your homework! Research different facilities and learn what is - and is NOT - offered (my work took me into dozens of assisted care/memory care facilities ranging from converted residences up to lux facilities which required million-dollar buy-ins) ... there is a qualitative and quantitative difference in the type of care provided; Even though memory care may not be on your list of considerations, it's best to plan like it may be needed one day and act accordingly; Get your legal, financial and familial houses in order before making the move (have a Will, update your financial plan and make sure any Trust(s) accurately reflect your wishes; Get any government IDs (drivers' license, state ID, passport) updated even if you won't drive or travel again as having valid IDs will help family in the event they need to do things for you; Consider adding a trusted family member to your financial accounts/credit-debit accounts including so this person gets electronic alerts whenever their is activity (like it or not, seniors are ripe targets for scammers); You'll be moving into a facility that is not your home. Even though Vivante staff have (in my experience) proven to be caring and wonderful in every way, they have a lot on their plates every day. If you have family heirlooms, keepsakes or fragile personal items, consider gifting/donating those before you move as no one will care for them in the way you (or your family) do/will; Downsize! You can't move everything into Vivante with you. And, even if you can, clutter is the enemy of living safely in a place like Vivante. Move with what you absolutely need and have a plan to get rid of everything else; In the case of memory care, recognize that your personal modesty may need to take a backseat to accepting the care you require because you are no longer able to properly/fully care for yourself; To the best of your ability, be kind and polite to the people in charge of your care whether it be simply preparing meals for you or helping with daily cleaning all the way up to and including invasive personal care such as bathing and toileting. These people (sadly) are not necessarily highly compensated. Yet, they do these tasks for you (and dozens of others) which you no longer can. Kindness goes a very (very!) long way; Don't forget #1! Do your homework. Visit as many places as you can. Explore the facility. Test the food. Ask if you can speak with current residents. Online reviews, such as mine, can help. But, only you know what you...

Vivante claims that it is 'enhanced living on the coast' I would say great living for seniors anywhere! and definitely a luxury retirement community! Vivante is a place like no other for seniors to enjoy life! In researching a senior living facility with services, I visited 5 such entities within my geographic preferred area. Fortunately for me and my uncle, I had Vivante fall within my search area. Vivante was the fourth stop in my search and straight away, it rose to the top spot. The friendliness and attentiveness of the staff, caused a first impression that was well substantiated by our experience thus far. Upon completing my selection process, I had no doubt, that I had made the right choice. Cost being a factor, Vivante was slightly higher than the second and third choices, but the environment, amenities, services, menus, made it like comparing a five star resort to a cabin lodge! Upon checking him in, it became apparent that the staff's concern for the residents is genuine. That the accommodations are top notch, His apartment is excellently appointed and equipped. The 2 door fridge, the stove, oven & microwave, the he'll never use, all top brand. The washer dryer in the apartment, a major convenience, that none of the other facilities provides. Once we finished the move, we were treated to brunch/lunch, and that reaffirmed our assertion that the cuisine was gourmet and that they prepared the meals with fresh top quality ingredients. After a mere week in the facility, my uncle is a well adjusted happy resident. He participates in a variety of daily activities, each and every day, gets to socialize with as many people as he encounters each day. The staff is impressed with how quickly he adapted and how active he is., after all he is only 94. Every day he leaves his apartment for breakfast around 8 AM and does not return to it, until after dinner, somewhere around 7:30 to 8 PM, partaking in as many activities as peak his interest. Thus far he has not missed a single 'total body exercise class' to which he says, "I didn't think I could do that, and yet I can" Just this past Saturday, they held a dance, with a 14 piece band, playing swing and an assortment of music, to which he danced for two and a half hours. He amazes us, the place amazes us, as it makes his life worth living for as long as he has left! Having friends with their parents in other facilities and comparing what they pay and what they get I am convinced that I did right by him! I would recommend Vivante to anybody who is looking for an independent or assisted living faclity for themselves or for their loved ones! By the way, I visit my uncle nearly every single day and I can attest to his...

My mother was moved out by medical transport. These people don’t have a plan for people leaving. My mother is in a wheel chair and has dementia. They wheeled her out of her room to transport and put her on. They did not ask for keys or emergency beeper. They just left them on the back of wheel chair. They have been harassing her for these items since she left and wanted to charge her. I don’t think that someone with dementia should know where these items are. The other big fault is that they let my mother live in a regular unit with out any nursing care. She fell down first day in and broke a hip. Was in Hoag for 4 weeks. My brother and zi who live out of state were. Not notified . Why? They did not check paperwork she filled out. She put garbage on the paper that was wrong. She was also moved in there by an aggressive realtor who did not tell us she was moving from her home. He hid it very well. So many bad things going on. These people were able to play along and say she did not have dementia so they could take...