Monarch Cottages — Local services in San Diego

I’ve waited a while to write this review as I needed space and time to process our year and a half at Monarch. I moved my mother into the facility in May 2019 because I wanted her to have the absolute best care possible in what I thought was a 5-star establishment. What I experienced was much beneath my expectations. It started on day one when there was absolutely no guidance or support when moving her in despite being told that they will find out all of her likes and make a special welcome for her. Nothing was done, no one supported the move-in and I left her there that evening feeling uneasy. Maybe a month later she was taken to the hospital for a UTI due to them not properly changing her and/or proper hydration. Many times I came to visit and she was soaked through. Fast forward to the pandemic which was handled with no common sense or creativity. Late December they had a massive outbreak with over ten people infected and four deaths. My mom was one who got covid. Luckily she did ok but I can assure you I wasn’t at ease knowing she was receiving good care. The same caregivers were handling both covid and non-covid patients and it was a disaster. I was unable to push in 1v1 care for her as she sat in her room for 3-weeks all alone. Layer onto this almost no communication from the executives and it was a recipe for disaster. I had to form a Family Council and advocate for something as simple as a monthly newsletter. I was tired of constantly having to fight for my mother while paying top dollar and decided to move her elsewhere. When I brought her to her new home she looked so uncared for. Taking off her shows revealed that her toe nails hadn’t been clipped in what looked like a year- they were claw-like, her skin was so dry and cracked and her hair was a mess. I will say the caregivers are excellent at Monarch, and Autumn the activities director is warm and loving but they are overworked and understaffed. The best decision I ever made was to move her out of Monarch Cottage to another facility that has exceeded all of my...

My husband has been the Trustee for a current resident of Monarch Cottage for many years. She lived at home with round-the-clock care, but we became concerned that she was too isolated, and that a single caregiver would have difficulty getting her to safety in case of an emergency or natural disaster. We therefore decided to move her into a memory care facility, visited several, and knew as soon as we went there that Monarch Cottage was the place. We did use the moving service that Monarch Cottage recommended, and that made the move incredibly smooth. The staff had her up and in a wheelchair within a day, and although it was a difficult transition, they worked through it with her, and she now spends most of her days up and in the living room with the other residents. It has been wonderful to see pictures of her visiting the flower fields and going out around La Jolla with the aides. She considers the aides and the other residents to be her friends, and tells me every time I visit that she is so thankful that we made her move (she did not want to leave home) and that she is living at Monarch Cottage. We trust them to monitor her health, let us know if something is up, and make sure she gets care when...

We had to place our step mom into Monarch Cottages because of dementia and memory issues. It was a very difficult decision, but absolutely the best thing that we could have done for her. She is now safe, happy, well taken care of, AND she takes all of her needed medication (without the significant and tiring resistance that we used to experience). It is so nice to not worry every day & night if she is okay. From the application, to the move in process, and thru the really short acclimation, the staff were all so knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly. Visiting is super easy and convenient and you don't get that "corporate run hospital" lockdown feeling. It is a family owned business. We trust Monarch and its skilled staff implicitly. Monarch is highly recommended for your peace of mind, and most importantly your loved one's safety and quality of life. It's a place our step mom now...