Meridian at Bella Mar – CLOSED

Shutters neatly frame the windows of this attractive stucco facility, which sits close to downtown Santa Monica and a bustling shopping area on Montana Avenue. The main walkway is fringed with rosebushes. Mature plantings rest beneath awnings jutting out from the first and second floors. Bella Mar Memory Care Center provides a safe, secure environment for people with dementia. Both the front and back doors are secured; upon entering the facility, we heard a brief buzzing sound that alerted the staff. Common rooms surround an indoor atrium with removable canvas coverings that block sunlight when necessary. Every room on the lower level opens up to the atrium, where activities take place in a verdant garden atmosphere. The dining room is small and has a TV for entertainment. The lunchtime selections of pot roast, potatoes and vegetables looked healthy and appetizing.

Resident rooms are small but serviceable with simple furnishings. Four rooms on the second floor have lovely ocean views. During the admission process, each resident undergoes a thorough evaluation to determine an individualized care plan of services and therapeutic activities. Live entertainment, reminiscing, exercise, movies and games help stimulate the mind. Twice-monthly pet therapy is fun for everyone, and gentle “kitty kisses” from Bella the house cat are always easy to come by! Long-term staff members seem very devoted to residents. Our initial impression of this facility was congruous with our final conclusion: the days run smoothly and the staff operates with the utmost professionalism.