Lantern Crest in Santee, CA offers three levels of residency—Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care—so residents can choose or transition to the setting that matches their clinical needs. The community can manage complex medical profiles, including residents who wander during the day or night, exhibit behavioral issues, remain awake through the night, need wound care, require oxygen, follow special diets, are younger than 60, or manage diabetes with oral medication. Residents living with advanced dementia can stay on campus thanks to the Memory Care program designed for higher-level cognitive support.

Direct care is delivered by staff who have passed background checks, work an awake night shift, and are backed by 24-hour security with door alarms and PERS alerts to summon help. An on-site activity director coordinates daily programming, and visiting podiatrists, psychiatric-care acceptance, and a dedicated therapy room bring medical services into the building. Staff can provide full assistance with bathing, eating, dressing, and toileting, and can handle every level of transfer—from standby with a walker to two-person or full Hoyer lifts for bed-bound residents.

Apartments vary, but may include private bathrooms, kitchenettes, furnished layouts, independent temperature controls, in-unit laundry, or scheduled housekeeping and laundry services; not every unit contains every feature. Residents may repaint or decorate their rooms and have access to cable service. Independent Living tenants receive monitoring of medication management, regular housekeeping, laundry, and a monthly meal plan while maintaining more autonomy.

Meals are prepared to order, with snacks available throughout the day, in-room dining when needed, and a private dining room for family visits. The culinary team can accommodate gluten-free, vegetarian, mechanical-chop, puree, and thickened-liquid diets. Diet modifications are overseen in coordination with clinical staff to support wound healing, diabetes, or other medical conditions, and Independent Living residents can opt into the monthly meal plan noted above.

Residents have access to on-site parking, an outdoor smoking area, wheelchair-accessible common spaces, and pet-friendly policies; it’s a good idea to check with the community during your visit to see if your pet will be allowed. Amenities include a barber and beauty shop, exercise room, movie room, wellness center, internet access, communal gardens, on-site religious services, concierge, library, swimming pool, special-interest clubs, an on-site credit union and pharmacy, and resident transportation options that include scheduled outings, proximity to public transit, and a town-car service.