Overview of Villa Alamar

Villa Alamar, located in Santa Barbara, CA, is a memory care community offering quality care services for their senior residents living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Their highly skilled staff ensures each residents wellness by providing personalized care through a variety of services including cognitive stimulation and social activities, assistance with daily living activities as well as medication management. This unique community is the last independently owned memory care provider on Santa Barbara’s Upper East Side
Additionally, this senior living community also provides residents with eating and dietary support monitoring by ensuring that they receive balanced and nutritious meals, daily. Furthermore, incontinence support and monitoring, beauty services, and laundry and linen services are also provided, to support the residents’ need of a hygienic living environment, where they can all thrive with dignity.

Capacity and availability

Residents per day
26
Bed community size
43-bed community Rank #1181 / 1645Bed count — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 1181st out of 1,645 homes we track in California for bed count. Shows this facility's certified or reported bed count compared to other California facilities. Larger communities may offer more amenities, programs, and on-site services for residents and families.Communities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings cover every community we track in California that reports data for that category. Communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
A moderately sized community that may balance personal attention with shared amenities and social activities.
Years in operation
30 years in operation Rank #128 / 1505Years in operation — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 128th out of 1,505 homes we track in California for years in operation. Shows how long this facility has been in operation compared to other California facilities. Longer operating histories may benefit residents, families, and staff.Communities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings cover every community we track in California that reports data for that category. Communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
A longer operating history, which may indicate experience navigating regulations and delivering ongoing care.
Walk Score
Walk Score: 86 / 100 Rank #267 / 2057Walk Score — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 267th out of 2,057 homes we track in California for walk score. Shows how walkable this facility's neighborhood is compared to the average walk score across California facilities. Higher scores benefit residents, families, and staff.Communities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings cover every community we track in California that reports data for that category. Communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
Very walkable. Most errands can be accomplished on foot, and many essentials are within a short walk.

About this community

Occupancy

Occupancy rate
61%
Rank #1182 / 1452Occupancy rate — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 1182nd out of 1,452 homes we track in California for occupancy. Shows this facility's occupancy rate versus the California average, with its Statewide rank out of 1452. Higher occupancy signals strong local demand and financial stability.Communities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings cover every community we track in California that reports data for that category. Communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
Lower than the California average: 72.8%
Occupied beds
26 / 43
Average occupied beds in California homes 87 beds

License Details

Facility TypeResidential Care Elderly
IssuanceFebruary 20, 2019
CountySanta Barbara

Ownership & Operating Entity

Villa Alamar is legally operated by Gl And Vl 2, LLC, Gp Of G And V 2 LP, and administered by Mitch Leichter.

Additional Policies & Features

Pets not allowed

Contact Villa Alamar

Inspection History

In California, the Department of Social Services (for assisted living facilities) and the Department of Public Health (for nursing homes) conduct inspections to ensure resident safety and regulatory compliance.

Since 2021 · 5 years of data These figures come from state-published and/or federal inspection records. The period covered can vary depending on document availability. 5 citations 9 total visits 2 complaint visits 5 official inspections 2 complaint investigations
Inspection Score Info A composite 0–100 score combining this facility's inspections, citations, complaints, and enforcement actions relative to the California state average. The score below shows how many points this facility sits above or below the typical California assisted living residence score (the benchmark); higher is better.This is a proprietary Assisted Living Magazine score.

1 point above the California average for assisted living residences (81/100)

Rank #784 / 1474 in California Inspection Score — State benchmarked This home is ranked 784th out of 1,474 homes we track in California for inspection score. Shows this facility's inspection score compared to the California average among 1474 comparable communities in the ranking pool. Communities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings cover every community we track in California that reports data for that category. Communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric. This is a proprietary Assisted Living Magazine score. Inspection score: 82 out of 100. Letter grade B-. 1 point above the California average for assisted living residences (81/100)

Inspection Scorecard Info This scorecard compares key inspection, citation, and complaint metrics at this facility against the California state average. Metrics rated ≥15% worse than average are highlighted in red; those ≥15% better are highlighted in green.

Since 2021 vs. California state average
Overall vs. CA average 1 Worse Metrics worse than California average:
• Serious citations (Type A) (33% above)
3 Better Metrics better than California average:
• Total citations (50% below)
• Moderate citations (Type B) (75% below)
• Citations per inspection (82% below)

Citations Info Citations are formal regulatory issues recorded during state inspections.

This FacilityCA Averagevs. CA Avg
Total citations Info Formal regulatory issues recorded by inspectors across all inspection types. 510 This facility has 50% fewer total citations than a typical California assisted living residence (5 vs. CA avg 10).↓ 50% better
Serious citations (Type A) Info Citations that pose an immediate risk to resident health or safety. Type A citations are the most serious and typically require prompt corrective action. 43 This facility has 33% more serious citations (type a) than a typical California assisted living residence (4 vs. CA avg 3).↑ 33% worse Rank #1010 / 1433 Serious citations (Type A) — State benchmarked This home is ranked 1010th out of 1,433 homes we track in California for # of serious citations. Shows this facility's # of serious citations compared to the California average among 1433 comparable communities in the ranking pool. Communities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings cover every community we track in California that reports data for that category. Communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.
Moderate citations (Type B) Info Citations that do not pose an immediate risk but still represent a departure from required care or operational standards. 14 This facility has 75% fewer moderate citations (type b) than a typical California assisted living residence (1 vs. CA avg 4).↓ 75% better
Citations per inspection Info Average citations per inspection. 0.63.3 This facility has 82% fewer citations per inspection than a typical California assisted living residence (0.6 vs. CA avg 3.3).↓ 82% better

Inspections & Visits Info State inspections evaluate whether the facility meets health and safety standards.

This FacilityCA Averagevs. CA Avg
Total inspections Info Combined count of official scheduled inspections, complaint visits and other regulatory visits. California counts each evaluation report, so one trip can count twice when it serves two purposes. 916 This facility has had 44% fewer total inspections than the California average (9 vs. CA avg 16). More inspections can mean more regulatory scrutiny rather than worse care.↓ 44% fewer
Complaint visits Info On-site visits triggered by formal complaints filed by residents, families, or staff. 213 This facility has had 85% fewer complaint visits than the California average (2 vs. CA avg 13). More inspections can mean more regulatory scrutiny rather than worse care.↓ 85% fewer Rank #325 / 1387 Complaint visits — State benchmarked This home is ranked 325th out of 1,387 homes we track in California for # of complaint visits. Shows this facility's # of complaint visits compared to the California average among 1387 comparable communities in the ranking pool. Communities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings cover every community we track in California that reports data for that category. Communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.
Other visits Info Regulatory visits that are neither routine inspections nor complaint investigations — administrative check-ins, follow-up reviews, licensing-related visits. 27 This facility has had 71% fewer other visits than the California average (2 vs. CA avg 7). More inspections can mean more regulatory scrutiny rather than worse care.↓ 71% fewer
Official inspections Info Routine, scheduled inspections conducted by state regulators to evaluate whether the facility meets federal and state standards. 54 This facility has had 25% more official inspections than the California average (5 vs. CA avg 4). More inspections can mean more regulatory scrutiny rather than worse care.↑ 25% more
Complaint investigations Info On-site investigations triggered by complaints filed with California regulators. 210 This facility has had 80% fewer complaint investigations than the California average (2 vs. CA avg 10). More inspections can mean more regulatory scrutiny rather than worse care.↓ 80% fewer

Places of interest near Villa Alamar

Address 2.0 miles from city center Info Estimated distance in miles from Santa Barbara's city center to Villa Alamar's address, calculated via Google Maps.

Calculate Travel Distance to Villa Alamar

Add your location

Address

Compare Memory Care around Santa Barbara

Info below is compiled from the CA Dept. of Social Services (CDSS), senior community websites & trusted data sources such as Walk Score & BBB.

Communities are listed from highest to lowest based on our ranking methodology.

Care Types in This Table AL (Assisted Living): Housing with help for daily activities like bathing, dressing, and medication, without 24-hour skilled nursing. NH (Nursing Home): 24/7 skilled nursing care for residents with complex, ongoing medical needs. SNF (Skilled Nursing Facility): Round-the-clock nursing care, often for recovery after surgery, injury, or illness. MC (Memory Care): Secured, specialized care for people living with Alzheimer's or dementia. IL (Independent Living): Community living with dining, activities, and transportation for active seniors who need little personal care.
City and state of the facility. Used for mapping and state-average comparisons.
Licensed bed capacity (maximum allowed). Not the same as how many beds are currently filled.
Indicates whether residents are allowed to have pets in the facility.
Third-party neighborhood walkability score (0–100). Convenience/context metric, not a healthcare quality measure.
A composite 0–100 score combining this facility's inspections, citations, complaints, and enforcement actions relative to the California state average. See the benchmark below for the typical California score; higher is better. This is a proprietary Assisted Living Magazine score.
Count of regulatory inspections in the reporting window. Higher volume can reflect more oversight visits, complaint-driven surveys, or routine licensure cycles.
Visits or investigations linked to complaints, as counted in the state record (may differ from routine annual surveys).
Count of California state "Type A" citations — the state's most serious citation category (immediate or serious harm to residents), from California state inspection data.
Number of years the company has been in operation.
Reported or derived occupancy for the facility—typically how fully licensed capacity is utilized. Compare across peers in the same market.
Better Business Bureau grade for the operating company. Reflects complaint handling and business practices, not clinical care quality.
Name of the licensed owner, operator, or managing entity as filed with the state. Useful for grouping facilities under the same organization.
Housing or bed configuration options (e.g. studio, shared), often from facility-reported amenities and licensing details.
Covenant Living at the Samarkand
MC
AL
NH
SNF
Santa Barbara (Samarkand)
379
Facility 379
CA AVG 103
Rank #31 / 1,645
No 50
90
Facility 90
CA AVG 81
Rank #462 / 1,474
8
1
Facility 1
CA AVG 13
Rank #210 / 1,387
2
Facility 2
CA AVG 3
Rank #724 / 1,433
33
Facility 33
CA AVG 13
Rank #88 / 1,505
85.2% -Covenant Living West-
Casa Dorinda
MC
AL
NH
SNF
Santa Barbara
360
Facility 360
CA AVG 103
Rank #34 / 1,645
No
2
Facility 2
CA AVG 59
Rank #2,042 / 2,057
89
Facility 89
CA AVG 81
Rank #521 / 1,474
12
4
Facility 4
CA AVG 13
Rank #525 / 1,387
2
Facility 2
CA AVG 3
Rank #724 / 1,433
32
Facility 32
CA AVG 13
Rank #105 / 1,505
85.3% -Montecito Retirement Association-
Vista Del Monte Retirement Community
MC
AL
IL
Santa Barbara (Hidden Valley)
266
Facility 266
CA AVG 103
Rank #73 / 1,645
Yes
18
Facility 18
CA AVG 59
Rank #1,873 / 2,057
91
Facility 91
CA AVG 81
Rank #409 / 1,474
9
2
Facility 2
CA AVG 13
Rank #325 / 1,387
1
Facility 1
CA AVG 3
Rank #478 / 1,433
28
Facility 28
CA AVG 13
Rank #156 / 1,505
75.6% A+Walgenbach, Brian & Gill, DougStudio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
Villa Alamar
MC
Santa Barbara (North State)
43
Facility 43
CA AVG 103
Rank #1,181 / 1,645
No
86
Facility 86
CA AVG 59
Rank #267 / 2,057
82
Facility 82
CA AVG 81
Rank #784 / 1,474
9
2
Facility 2
CA AVG 13
Rank #325 / 1,387
4
Facility 4
CA AVG 3
Rank #1,010 / 1,433
30
Facility 30
CA AVG 13
Rank #128 / 1,505
60.5% -Gl And Vl 2, LLC, Gp Of G And V 2 LP-
Divine Care For The Elderly
MC
AL
Santa Barbara (Goleta)
6
Facility 6
CA AVG 103
Rank #1,318 / 1,645
No 68
96
Facility 96
CA AVG 81
Rank #1 / 1,474
5
0
Facility 0
CA AVG 13
Rank #1 / 1,387
0
Facility 0
CA AVG 3
Rank #1 / 1,433
4
Facility 4
CA AVG 13
Rank #1,127 / 1,505
83.3% A+Divine Care For The Elderly, LLCPrivate Rooms

Financial Assistance for
Memory Care in California

Villa Alamar is located in Santa Barbara, California.
Here are the financial assistance programs available to residents in California.

Get Financial aid guidance

Multipurpose Senior Services Program

MSSP (Medi-Cal Waiver)

Age 65+
General California resident, Medi-Cal eligible, nursing home risk.
Income Limits (2025) ~$2,829/month 300% FBR, individual
Asset Limits $2,000 (individual), $3,000 (couple).
CA

County-managed; waitlists possible.

Benefits
In-home support (4-6 hours/day) Respite care (14 days/year) Meals (~$6/meal) Transportation (8 trips/month) Care management

In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS)

California IHSS

Age 65+
General California resident, Medicaid-eligible or low-income.
Income Limits ~$1,732/month individual, Medi-Cal threshold
Asset Limits $2,000 individual
CA

Can hire family as caregivers.

Benefits
Personal care (up to 283 hours/month) Homemaker services Respite (varies)

Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP)

CA MSSP

Age 65+
General California resident, Medi-Cal-eligible, nursing home-eligible but community-capable.
Income Limits ~$2,829/month 300% FBR, individual
Asset Limits $2,000 individual
CA

Available in 38 counties; waitlists common.

Benefits
Case management Respite care (up to 10 days/year) Minor home mods (avg. $500) Adult day care (~$50/day)

Property Tax Postponement Program (PTP)

CA PTP

Age 62+
General California resident, own and live in home, 40% equity.
Income Limits (2025) ~$51,500/year household, adjusted annually
Asset Limits Equity-based; no strict asset cap.
CA

Deferred taxes accrue interest (5% as of 2024); repaid upon sale/death.

Benefits
Property tax deferral (avg. $1,000-$3,000/year, varies by county)

Assisted Living Waiver (ALW)

CA ALW

Age 65+ or disabled
General California resident, Medi-Cal-eligible, nursing home-eligible.
Income Limits ~$2,829/month 300% FBR, individual
Asset Limits $2,000 individual
CA

Available in 15 counties (e.g., LA, Sacramento); waitlists common.

Benefits
Personal care in ALFs (5-7 hours/day) Medication management Social services

California CARES Program

CA CARES

Age
General Caregivers of California residents 60+ needing help with 3+ daily activities; no caregiver age limit.
Income Limits No strict limit; cost-sharing above ~$2,500/month threshold.
Asset Limits Not applicable; need-based.
CA

High demand in urban areas; complements IHSS respite.

Benefits
Respite care (up to 10 days/year) Counseling (4-6 sessions/year) Training (2-3 workshops/year) Supplies (~$200/year)

Frequently Asked Questions about Villa Alamar

What neighborhood is Villa Alamar in?

Villa Alamar is in the North State neighborhood of Santa Barbara.

Who is the owner of Villa Alamar?

Villa Alamar is legally operated by Gl And Vl 2, LLC, Gp Of G And V 2 LP, and administered by Mitch Leichter.

Is Villa Alamar in a walkable area?

Villa Alamar has a walk score of 86. Very walkable. Most errands can be accomplished on foot, and many essentials are within a short walk.

What is the occupancy rate at Villa Alamar?

Villa Alamar's occupancy is 61%.

How long has Villa Alamar been in business?

Villa Alamar has been operating for approximately 30 years, based on available licensing and registration records.

Are pets allowed at Villa Alamar?

No, Villa Alamar has a no-pet policy.

Who is the administrator of Villa Alamar?

Mitch Leichter is the administrator of Villa Alamar.

Guides for Better Senior Living

Care Cost Calculator: See Prices in Your Area

Don’t Wait Too Long: 7 Red Flag Signs Your Parent Needs Assisted Living Now

The True Cost of Assisted Living in 2025 – And How Families Are Paying For It

Understanding Senior Living Costs: Pricing Models, Discounts & Financial Assistance