Varenita of Simi Valley - Simi Valley, California

Deena G.

My mother was here for a short time, and we absolutely loved it for her. The staff is very involved and concerned for your parent and will do all they can to make them comfortable. Becky showed us around and was always there for our needs. I could reach her by text even on her days off. The director, Pam, is also very helpful and clearly cares. The nurse is great, and even the person who handles the payments will go out of her way for you. They have so many activities daily, and my mom went to many of them. In addition, they have outings to restaurants and shops, and different things so they can get out for a change of scenery. She ended up moving with my sister but I would have been comfortable with her being at Varenita for the rest of her life. The caregivers were very kind and attentive; they cannot always get there immediately, but I saw that they were very good in this dept because she had been in another facility prior. We looked at facilities throughout Simi Valley and felt this was the best.

Haleigh L.

Varenita has been an answer to prayer. My grandmother is an incredibly independent woman, and was living alone at the age of 92 but after she fell in her home she needed more help in the day to day. Varenita was able to provide the care she needed while also preserving her dignity and the pride of having her own space. The levels of care my grandmother has received at Varenita have fluctuated through different seasons of health but every step of the way the staff have been an incredible gift and relief to my family. They have gone above and beyond, providing attentive and nurturing care to my grandmother’s emotional and physical needs. As a family transitioning a elderly grandparent into an assisted living home is daunting for so many reasons but Varenita made the transition for my grandmother seamless. She lived in her previous home for 65 years but she would now say Varenita is her home.

Lori M.

I moved my mom to Varenita of Simi Valley after being at another facility for several years. I toured many facilities in making this decision. When looking for a community there were several criteria that needed to be met. An executive director that has been their long-term and was accessible, a person specifically in charge of the long-term care insurance, staff that have been there long-term, set pricing so there would be no surprises, and a reasonable Community Fee. Varenita of Simi Valley met all these criteria. It is located near our house, it is a beautiful community with lots of natural light. It's like being in a resort rather than a dark old building. The executive director has been with the community since before they opened. They have a dedicated finance person that handles all the long-term care insurance. All the directors have offices right up front and are accessible and willing to help. They offer three meals a day plus snacks included. All their fees are very well laid out and there are no surprises. Some facilities that we went to would not disclose any of them.

Another factor is parking. Almost every place we toured had very limited parking, and this was also an issue at the facility my mom was at previously, sometimes making it difficult to visit. Varenita on the other hand has an abundance of parking.

My mom has been at this facility for 4 months now and they have been fantastic. They're very helpful and responsive anytime there's even a minor concern. Cassie the director of health has been extremely helpful getting us integrated. They give the residents a paper everday letting them know of all the activities available to them. They have fantastic events for the families also. The food is very good and fresh. I recommend this community to my friends and family.

Troy S.

The best way to describe this place is that it's like a cruise ship sitting in port. The food is excellent and the staff friendly. Every day feels like a vacation. We have felt so confident since our mother/mother-in-law moved in this year. One of the best facilities I've ever encountered.

Tim M.

My Dad is a resident. He is very well cared for. The staff are outstanding, caring and thoughtful. We looked at alot of facilities before choosing Varenita and it is by far the best staff and facilty in the Simi Valley area. We are so fortunate that he is being cared for there.

Judy B.

I attended a presentation about this future assisted living facility in Simi Valley where Julie, Dana, and Annie were there to answer all my questions.. From what I saw in the brochure and architectural plans on the walls, this will be a spectacular, much-needed assisted living facility. It sounds gorgeous! Although it’’s still under construction, you can see an example of the kitchen and bathroom in the leasing office. The bathroom is huge, can accommodate a wheelchair and several helpers, and there is no level change going into the shower. Perfect for someone with limited mobility, back issues, or a wheelchair. I can’t wait to see Varenita when it’s complete!

Tracey F. (.

My mother has been at Varenita in Memory Care for a month and I am so impressed with the staff and care she has received. Marshall is fantastic! He keeps all the residents busy throughout the day with activities. Marshall has made a hard transition very easy and enjoyable . Allisa at the front desk is extremely helpful with everything. Victor has helped my mom many times with her move in and set up. Julie helps mom with daily tasks always with a positive attitude. I would highly recommend Varenita Memory Care ! Thank you for your wonderful care and staff.

Macuqui R.

DO NOT MOVE IN HERE UNLESS YOU HAVE A CAR OR CHILDREN WHO LIVE NEARBY AND CAN DRIVE YOU TO APPOINTMENTS. Otherwise, look elsewhere. I have been living at Varenita Simi Valley for a year and a half. I initially wrote them a positive review which I have since deleted because their transportation system is completely broken and they do nothing to fix it. When I moved in I was told they offered shuttle services 7 days a week. Not so. They offer it 5 days a week and residents can only schedule doctors’ appointments on Monday mornings and Wednesdays am/pm. They have been promising to hire a part time driver since a I moved in on January of 2023. Nope. We were told by the managing director at a residents’ town hall meeting that once Varenita was 90% full they would get a second car. They are now 100% full and after I wrote and complained to the owner and the president of the management company they rented a second car. I’ve been told by the front desk concierge it will only be used in extenuating circumstances, no definition provided. They’ve had to rely on Lyft and Uber a few times because the one driver and shuttle simply cannot meet the transportation needs of the residents. What really frustrates me is that no matter how far in advance you make your appointment, put it on the books, and confirm it the day before you simply have NO GUARANTEE that they’ll get you there. And the managing director, who is not always available, has to approve all Uber and Lyft rides. You’d think with the 7% rent increase they hit me with this year instead of the 3% discussed when I moved in they would solve the issue but since the residents are being inconvenienced, not the owner or the management company, they simply don’t care

Update: I have upgraded my review to four stars because management has addressed the transportation issue. A part time driver has been hired for Friday/Saturday when the regular driver is not here adding an extra weekday for doctors’ appointments. Also department heads
can drive residents in the rental car when needed.

Overall, I enjoy living in this community for the following reasons:
-it is located in a small shopping plaza with ready access to CVS, Aldi, a nail salon, and restaurants
-the staff is incredibly friendly
-the one bedrooms are spacious and well appointed
-the food is good for the most part
-wide variety of entertainment, some of it quite high quality
-the building itself is fairly new and well designed, lots of windows and light

At the moment the one major drawback is they don’t have a full time seasoned activities director so daily and monthly calendars are often wrong. They’ve hired a weekend activities person to help until the problem is resolved and she is WONDERFUL! Very creative, upbeat, excellent at conducting exercise classes. My most fervent wish at the moment is that they are able to hire her full time.