Living at Villa Bonita is Like Living on a Tropical Island

Soak in the sun at Villa Bonita's vivacious courtyard!

All the leaves are starting to change; no better way to experience the changes of Autumn, than here at Villa Bonita!

Tell-Tale Signs a Change May be Needed

Dear Jenny,
I recently visited my Aunt and I have noticed something different about her.  I think it might be time for her to move into a Senior Living Community.  But how can I tell?


When deciding whether to seek the care of a senior living community, consider these questions:

• How are they emotionally? Are there changes in their activity level and mood? Are they seeing friends and partaking in activities they have loved for years?

• Has there been significant weight loss? Unexplained weight loss could indicate a major health problem.

• What shape is the home in? If the home is in need of repair and un-kept, these can be signs that more help is needed.

• Are they taking care of themselves physically? Look to see if they are keeping up with basic daily routines such as bathing, brushing teeth and wearing clean clothes.

• Are they having difficulty moving around their home? Having trouble walking or being unsteady on their feet puts them at risk for falling and injuring themselves.

• Are you noticing changes in their personality? Memory loss, difficulty in performing familiar tasks, poor judgment, misplacing items, disorientation, rapid mood swings, increased apathy or passiveness are all early warning signs of Alzheimer’s. A doctor’s evaluation can help determine the cause and treatment of these symptoms.

It is important to understand the many choices that make up the new face of senior living in the 21st century. Here is a breakdown defining the differences in the level of senior living options offered.

In independent living communities, active older adults continue to enjoy private dwellings, control over their own schedules, and freedom to come and go as they choose. Social networking, optional events, special interest clubs, and conveniently located services may be offered onsite as well as medical, dietary and other assistance when needed.

An assisted living residence is a special combination of housing, personalized supportive services and health care designed to meet the needs — both scheduled and unscheduled — of those who need help with activities of daily living.

Specialized communities provide specially trained staffs, licensed nurses, secure facilities, and cognitive and physical therapies to help soothe and relieve those with Alzheimer’s and dementia. 

If you have questions about senior care or helping an elderly loved one, contact Jenny Wallis, Community Marketing Director at Villa Bonita Senior Living at 619-739-4400 or by e-mail at villabonitamkg2@islllc.com. 

Help Us and Write a Review on Yelp!

Hi Everyone!

We now have our community up on yelp and we need your help to have our community known better on the internet. Please take 5 minutes out of your time to write us a review; whether it be short or long, any review helps!

Share a story about your experience with us. It will be a great way to show our staff what a fantastic job they are doing. And, any of your concerns will help us learn how to improve our services to make Villa Bonita the #1 choice in all of Chula Vista when it comes to finding a safe, loving home for those near and dear to us!

Thank you all so much! Have a great day. :)

Click here to write a review!

Learn More about our Community!

Villa Bonita Senior Living offers independent and assisted living as well as memory care. Villa Bonita is a lovely community with great residents, staff, activities, food and much more. At Villa Bonita Senior Living, life happens according to plan - a comfortable, dynamic, detail-oriented plan. Daily activity is the result of proven practices, systems, standards and an organization that has been refined by experience. You'll notice the calming structure that comes from master planning with your very first visit. Similar to the motivation of our residents, we strive for balance: activity is balanced with quiet spots, fine dining with casual flair, full-service programs with a la carte freedom. At Villa Bonita Senior Living in Chula Vista, our residents do what makes them happy and vital. Life at Villa Bonita is defined by what you do and living life to its fullest. Give us a call today for more information or to schedule a tour!

What is Villa Bonita All About?

Come tour our community today to get a better sense of what we have to offer!

Call us to set up a tour at (619) 467-9444 or just walk right in!

Clearing Away Confusion about Assisted Living

Dear Jenny,

Could you help me understand the difference between a nursing home and an assisted living community? I thought they were the same, but recently I began some research for my parents and I'm confused.

There are two key differences between nursing homes, or more specifically skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), and assisted living communities, also known as residential care facilities (RCFs). The first difference is the level of care provided and the second and most pronounced difference is the setting or environment at each facility.

SNFs are designed for medical necessity with 24-hour licensed nursing care for services that are designed to help transition between the hospital and home. Typically SNFs are for people requiring temporary rehabilitation therapy services after surgery or injuries and as a medical model of care. SNFs often care for the very frail and frequently, as medical facilities, SNFs feel very institutional.

Assisted living, or RCFs, provide custodial care in a residential setting. Because RCFs are not a medical model, not only is the environment much more inviting, but they are often far less costly.

Custodial care is assistance with the routine activities of daily living (ADLs) that one normally does to get up and get started for the day: bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, housekeeping, meals, and even transportation and medication management. RCFs are able to provide fairly advanced levels of assistance with things that are often commonly thought of as medical care; for example, some AL communities even offer diabetes management.

The other significant difference between the SNF and the RCF is the SNF is typically a semi-private room much like a hospital, whereas the RCF looks more like an apartment building and affords residents a private apartment as well as a full schedule of planned activities, gourmet meals and personal transportation. Instead of a hospital-like lounge area, assisted living has common areas with couches, fireplaces and gardens. Instead of a sterile cafeteria, dining areas resemble fine restaurants and often offer entertainment. RCFs are often equated to cruise ships for seniors that are permanently in port.

SNFs fulfill an important need in the continuum of care for seniors, and while they also offer long-term custodial care, few seniors need to remain in the SNF setting for that service with so many RCF options. Not all RCF residents need care or assistance, and some are there because they just want a simpler lifestyle without the worry of maintaining a home or garden, and they want the socialization of their peers.

This article was written by Villa Bonita's Marketing Director, Jennifer Wallis. If you have any questions and would like to know more, you can reach her at (619) 476-9444 or visit our website at Villa Bonita Senior Living. Also, like us on Facebook and view our YouTube video! Have a great day!

Welcome!

Hi all! Welcome to Villa Bonita's blog. Here we will be answering any questions and concerns that many of you may be wondering about assisted living. To help you feel welcome and to give you an idea of what goes on here at Villa Bonita, we will also be posting pictures and other random tidbits about our residents and staff. Enjoy and stop by our location anytime at 3434 Bonita Road, Chula Vista, CA 91910. Our residents always love to see new as well as old faces. Whether it is to visit someone, join in on our many activites, or to just tour the place, our staff is always here to accommodate you!