Lake Balboa Care Center

I would really love to give this place a better review because the staff is really nice, but… when I toured it before taking my mother there I was told that they only did rehabilitation and no end of life care — which I do not think was true — my mother was placed in a room with a woman clearly suffering from dementia and would scream in Russian… all day. and all night until we would complain, and they would then have to sedate the woman to get her to go to sleep. At one point when I complained I was told that my mother was also noisy, and that she kept talking to the Russian lady — 1^st, my mother is an avid reader and never once even turned on her T.V. (I do mean, literally, she never once turned on her T.V.) and my mother does not speak one word of Russian, so the only time she spoke to her room mate was to ask her to be quite! My mother finally could not take another moment and left to come home. Then they sent a home health care worker that applied a dressing change that was so awful, I knew it could not be applied correctly, so we had the home health agency that the surgeon recommended come out — they were so shocked at the site of the dressing they asked to take a photo of it because they had never seen anything like it before! Even the orders given for the dressing was not appropriate. The home health agency that the facility sent, wanted to do Physical Therapy as well as Occupational Therapy… in fact they wanted to send someone out for several reasons, bathing, walking, dressing changes, 2 different therapies… When the new agency came out they quickly put a halt to all of it since they said it would use up all of my mothers Medicare benefits on services she did not need. All in all I could never go back to this facility. I do want to say that some of the staff was really lovely, but the system there just seems to be broken and therefore the patients are not getting great care…

This Place has the ambiance of a skid row slum, and a mental hospital — –I was sequestered to a very small room with a woman who had an entourage of 12 loud party people, speaking in their native tongue and loud TV – Then I was to find out that the small bath room was to be shared with three other patients! How can this be legal? or ethical? I know they get $ 750.00 a day on the 21^th day — medicare covers the costs – shame on them – the nurse indicated to me that she had most of my meds, however, the rest would not be available — with no date – The staff was ambling around giving each other «high fives» and acting like they were stoned — screaming children, no help from the nurses aides — -the food looked OK however, I did not feel hungry — I called my friend up to pick me up, and went home — I hired a great agency to assist me at home — -I was there just hours, and it was so repulsive, repugnant, and disgusting I left within hours — I suspect most of the reviews here are from the establishment or their friends — I suggest a full inquiry, investigation, with the city to remedy these violations to human decency — my suggestions — take a tour — -and get your care at home

My mom stayed here for almost two months after her knee replacement. Staff was friendly, place was clean. Rooms are a bit small and bathroom is shared on both sides, so 4 people… parking can sometimes be a mess, but otherwise it was a great experience for us!

My mom is in her third week at this care facility. All I can say is the staff and the facility has met and gone way above my families expectations. The staff are amazing warm, loving and educated people. Each day when I arrive I am greeted with a smile and a how are you? Is there anything you need? How is your mama doing?
all my questions are answered and my mother needs are always met.
We expect that my mother will be in the care of this facility, due to rehab from a major surgery. She is also receiving occupational and physical therapies and the therapists are all certified and know exactly what my mom needs.
Also I have never been to a care facility that does not have that «smell» as you walk in and Lake Balboa has only a clean smell.
One last thing is if you do not care for what is on the menu, there are always choices. Even a fruit plate can be ordered.
I am so pleased that my mother’s team of doctor’s chose this place as one of their top two facilities to send my mom for rehab!
Thanks so much to the caring staff!
Karen B

Very caring and loving staff. Family oriented like. Patients are really nice. The food is better than before. They’ve improved a lot over the years. They still have a lot of remodeling to do, but just the looks of the work they’ve put into the place. I know the patients will certainly want to stay here. Come check it out for yourself. You won’t be disappointed.

We researched and found Lake Balboa Care Center to have the best reviews and now I know why. My father after having major surgery will have the strength he needs to go home and live a full life thanks to the caring staff who attend to his needs. Thank-​you Lake Balboa

The staff is lovely; the place is very clean. However… the food is dreadful; for example the juice (is that what it is?) is water with a splash of juice, the food is full of sugar and not at all nutritious. I’m not talking taste here, just a cook who skimps on the very basics of food by watering it down. How about a fresh apple? Nope… no sch animal.

I’m basing my review on my father’s physician (he’s my physician too). He said this is the best place around. Amazing how some can criticize without being specific. I know how difficult it is to care for the elderly.. I’ve done it and I don’t do it well. If you expect undivided attention, you need to hire a ²⁴⁄₇ private nurse. I’ll update my review once my father has spent some time at the care center.

Don’t go there.
If they gave good care, everything else would be secondary: the dreadful food, the lack of access to personal hygiene (wait 4 days for a shower), the clueless staff. It is old and depressing. Peeling wallpaper. Bathrooms without a working lock. Food was highly salted and sugared– and this is a nursing home? The care was non-​existent– failed to provide the ordered therapy, did not administer medication.

«Lake Balboa Post-​Acute is a 5 Star Rated Facility by Medicare» You will find this quote on their website as well as at this great facility.
When a dear friend of mine was recovering after some major surgery, she was brought here for post-​surgery rehab and physical therapy. The dedicated staff do amazing work.