Vi at La Jolla Village

San Diego's Golden Triangle neighborhood is home to Vi at La Jolla Village, at 8515 Costa Verde Blvd. LCS operates the community as a Life Plan Community, also called a continuing care retirement community, pairing independent living with assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing on one campus. Residents move in for independent living and keep access to higher levels of care later without changing addresses.

Apartments were recently updated with modern finishes, and residents choose from more than 40 floor plans, including one-bedroom, one-bedroom-plus-den, two-bedroom, two-bedroom-plus-den and penthouse or suite layouts. Vi at La Jolla Village is a Type A community, meaning the entrance fee and monthly fee are structured to cover the cost of care, so a later move into assisted living, memory care or skilled nursing does not raise the monthly rate. Families should ask how that structure compares with a rental community, where care is billed separately as it is used.

Programs run through what the community calls Vista 360 Well-Being, with cognitive health sessions offered in an on-site Brain Vitality Studio, guided classes and trips abroad. Scheduled transportation and the nearby Blue Line Trolley give residents a way to reach concerts at the San Diego Symphony Orchestra and San Diego Opera, classes through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, and outings to Torrey Pines State Reserve, Point Loma and the University Town Center Mall. Comparing senior living in San Diego helps a family judge how active a typical day looks.

Assisted living covers help with daily tasks such as bathing, dressing and medication management, and memory care is designed for residents living with Alzheimer's disease or another dementia who need a more structured routine. Skilled nursing is available on site for residents who need short-term recovery care or ongoing medical support. Families should ask how a transfer between levels of care is handled and what triggers a change in the monthly rate.