What began as a tuberculosis sanatorium for young women and girls in the 1930's has transitioned into Santa Teresita's Neighborhood of Care specializing in healthcare for seniors, including assisted living, skilled nursing services, and comprehensive rehabilitation. Santa Teresita is "At the Service of the Family for Life, " providing a continuum of short and long-term care for the elderly in a compassionate manner. Our mission is rooted in our shared values and steadfast adherence to the ethical principles of the Catholic Church.
Services
A look at the history of our Neighborhood of Care, reveals how its life-giving presence has come about. Santa Teresita began in 1930 when Father Leroy S. Callahan, as the representative of Bishop John Cantwell, asked the Carmelite Sisters to open a tuberculosis sanatorium for the care of young women.
The Carmelite Sisters and staff at the Santa Teresita provide a home-like setting which respects and fosters personal dignity and happiness. Our services provide a continuum of care for our elders, one filled with vibrancy and purpose. This includes professional nursing services supported by the richness of the Catholic faith and based on our commitment to uphold the dignity of each human person.
Mission Statement: Our mission is to be "At the Service of the Family for Life". It is the guiding principle of our organization and includes our values of unwavering commitment and steadfast adherence to the moral and ethical teachings of the Catholic Church. Providing a continuum of short and long-term care for the elderly in a compassionate manner.
The way of life of the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles is rooted in the Gospel, the Church, and the spirituality of Carmel as lived out through the charism of our foundress, Venerable Mother Maria Luisa Josefa of the Most Blessed Sacrament. In His merciful goodness, God has graced our Institute with the Carmelite charism which has its foundation in a long history and living tradition. The spirituality of St. Teresa and St. John of the Cross is rooted in this tradition. Carmel means enclosed garden in which God Himself dwells.
Reviews (25)
Mr. B.
Oct 06, 2021
Angela D.
Jul 06, 2021
Wonderful facility with wonderful staff, nurses, and sisters. My great grandmother resided in Santa Teresita for 9 years and received the best care that our family could have asked for. Everyone was so attentive and treated my great grandmother with such care and compassion. My family and I are eternally grateful to the staff, nurses, and sisters for showing my great grandmother so much love.
Christine F.
Jun 21, 2021
Steven Lengyel
Jun 06, 2021
I attended the daycare that was run by the nuns. It was the best of best childhood memories. I will always remember you sister Olga, sister Cabrini, sister Michael and many many others. I was known as Denis the menace aka Tommy. I loved this place as a child. The respitory department is phenomenal. I couldn't have asked for more. If any of you are still around any of you. I love you all and thank you
Lorena Huerta
Jun 03, 2021
This facility is running by a wonderful nuns who are very compassionate and very professional. A family member was there due to Alzheimer's Disease for almost a year and she received a one to one care in a very professional way, full of love and sweetness, but the most important for us, she was treated with respect and dignity. I love the staff from this facility. I really recommend this place and appreciated all you did for my family member. Thank You to all Santa Teresita staff, and God blessed you all.
Pj C.
May 03, 2021
My father spent his last two wonderful years there. The sisters and staff became part of his family. Even when given a chance to come home to visit he wanted to stay with his family there. He passed away peacefully last year and while I had limited chances to see him during the height of the COVID pandemic, at the end I knew his adopted family was there for him. He is gone now but I still consider them now part of my family.
Maureen I.
Oct 30, 2020
We recently chose Santa Teresita's Assisted Living facility for our sweet, elderly mom. She couldn't be happier or receive better care. Every single person who works there has been so loving, kind and professional. We couldn't be happier with the care our mom is receiving; we know for sure we made the right choice. Santa Teresita's Assisted Living is the BEST!
Mary C.
Jul 03, 2020
My family has been a part of this community since the 1950's. My mother in law spent 3 years at Santa Teresita with TB. She has felt a connection with the Carmelite nuns since that time. As she continues to age, the only place she wants to spend her days is at Santa Teresita. It is the place she feels most safe and at home. I've spoken several times with Patty Martin who has been an exceptional resource navigating through the admission process and paperwork. Patty has made our family feel comfortable and secure so when the time comes for mom to move to Santa Teresita we will all know this is the right place for her. Thank you Patty! If you are looking for a place for your loved one please check out Santa Teresita.
Celeste W.
May 15, 2020
I wish I could put a zero if it was available. Please see pics below My mother stayed at that horrible nursing home. She was there at Santa Teresita nursing home for 9 months. She was diagnosed pancreatic cancer. In the beginning of her stay there everything was fine she was able to walk eat do all her toiletries. She needed no real care yet. What the facility states is not the truth.
Most people have dementia. Their was only one CNA ( certified nursing assistant) and one LVN for most of days and nights. It look liked they were warehousing the demented patients. Their idea of socializing and keeping them occupied, was to take them out of their rooms, put them in wheel chairs and let them loose in the hallway. This is horrible to see them like this!
The food was given in small quantities. Because my mom had pancreatic cancer, she developed Diabetes. Her glucose was going up and going down. She was already thin as it was and they couldn't keep it in check and the so called "nurses, " were not even a real RN's they were only LVN's Early on this male LVN who worked the night shift gave my mom an over dose of insulin by accident that almost killed her.
They were trying to bring her blood sugar up. It took a long time before they got it up. She chest pain ( an insulin overdose can give you a heart attack and kill you on the spot) She finally recover after a couple of hours. I was bringing in food for her. I stayed with my mom almost everyday. The nursing home doctor would come only once a month. When my mother's legs started to have edema (swell up) he didn't even come to examine my mom.
He ordered a medication called Lasix to bring down her edema. He gave a regular dose which is usually 20mg. But because he didn't examine her or check her blood pressure, he didn't even know that her blood pressure was low, so he should have not given her that dose. It lowered her blood pressure even more of course and she began to have chest pain and was almost at the point of having a heart attack. Had it not been for this LVN, Nick who was more knowledgeable than the others, gave her nitroglycerin or she would have died.
At that point I knew I had to hire 24 hrs nursing care service. So hopefully they wouldn't do anymore harm to her. Also as my mom became more ill, the nursing home staff were supposed to feed he. But they did not have the staff. So she may have starve to death if I did not provide with the home health care I hired a private doctor. My mom needed a real doctor.
Let me tell you I payed $35,000.00 a month. Including stanza Teresita which was a whopping $7,500.00 per month! Because she could no longer sit up or move around she developed a huge bed sore! The nursing staff are not suppose to let that happened! The nursing facility is supposed to provide prevention for this. They are supposed turn her from side to side, but it was to late she had already developed it.
Then with more of their neglect, her arms and legs started to contract in other words they became stiff and started to deform. This is because no physical therapy was available to stretch her arms an legs to keep them nimble. I found out after, that this is 101 bed care. I'm am so angry at them for neglecting her of care that should have been provided to her!
Later the order was given to change my mother's position every two hours. I and the caregiver had to call the staff or go out into the unit to try and get someone to help reposition her. This was a two person task. So if no one was around, we had to it. This happens a lot.
Most people have dementia. Their was only one CNA ( certified nursing assistant) and one LVN for most of days and nights. It look liked they were warehousing the demented patients. Their idea of socializing and keeping them occupied, was to take them out of their rooms, put them in wheel chairs and let them loose in the hallway. This is horrible to see them like this!
The food was given in small quantities. Because my mom had pancreatic cancer, she developed Diabetes. Her glucose was going up and going down. She was already thin as it was and they couldn't keep it in check and the so called "nurses, " were not even a real RN's they were only LVN's Early on this male LVN who worked the night shift gave my mom an over dose of insulin by accident that almost killed her.
They were trying to bring her blood sugar up. It took a long time before they got it up. She chest pain ( an insulin overdose can give you a heart attack and kill you on the spot) She finally recover after a couple of hours. I was bringing in food for her. I stayed with my mom almost everyday. The nursing home doctor would come only once a month. When my mother's legs started to have edema (swell up) he didn't even come to examine my mom.
He ordered a medication called Lasix to bring down her edema. He gave a regular dose which is usually 20mg. But because he didn't examine her or check her blood pressure, he didn't even know that her blood pressure was low, so he should have not given her that dose. It lowered her blood pressure even more of course and she began to have chest pain and was almost at the point of having a heart attack. Had it not been for this LVN, Nick who was more knowledgeable than the others, gave her nitroglycerin or she would have died.
At that point I knew I had to hire 24 hrs nursing care service. So hopefully they wouldn't do anymore harm to her. Also as my mom became more ill, the nursing home staff were supposed to feed he. But they did not have the staff. So she may have starve to death if I did not provide with the home health care I hired a private doctor. My mom needed a real doctor.
Let me tell you I payed $35,000.00 a month. Including stanza Teresita which was a whopping $7,500.00 per month! Because she could no longer sit up or move around she developed a huge bed sore! The nursing staff are not suppose to let that happened! The nursing facility is supposed to provide prevention for this. They are supposed turn her from side to side, but it was to late she had already developed it.
Then with more of their neglect, her arms and legs started to contract in other words they became stiff and started to deform. This is because no physical therapy was available to stretch her arms an legs to keep them nimble. I found out after, that this is 101 bed care. I'm am so angry at them for neglecting her of care that should have been provided to her!
Later the order was given to change my mother's position every two hours. I and the caregiver had to call the staff or go out into the unit to try and get someone to help reposition her. This was a two person task. So if no one was around, we had to it. This happens a lot.
Ron V.
Mar 24, 2020
Juan G.
Mar 15, 2020
My aunt spent a short time at Good Shepard Cottage. She lost weight, was ignored and became quite depressed. We are a Catholic family and thought this place would be a gentle place for her, we were very disappointed! The facility is owned by the Carmelite Order. We thought she would be spending time with the nuns, that did not happen. The only nun she was exposed to was the head of the place who didn't have time to even say hello. Long story short, look elsewhere. The price is going up and for such little attention to the residents i wonder where it is going.
Jamoe
Nov 20, 2019
Jon Ventress
Jun 21, 2018
Dut Kasilag
Mar 17, 2018
Tami V.
Jan 18, 2018
What an experience! My 89yr old Mother was released from Huntington Memorial Hospital, after a bad fall that broke the top of her femur, and the closest Rehab/Convalescent facility was GEM, of which both her Osteo doc and Primary Care physician visit. For those reasons we chose GEM. It was a nightmare! Not welcoming, nor clean, and the caregivers that first attended her were not thorough, and were rough and desensitized!
I am a former CNA/Home Health Aide and I could go on and on about the list of things that is seriously wrong with that place, which I observed in the less than 24 hours that my Mom was there. But, I will now tell you that we gladly paid to have her transferred via private ambulance company ($240) to Santa Teresita in Duarte, CA and it was a God send!
From the moment she arrived to the day she was released, 1 full month. The best care I've ever witnessed at a Rehab/Convalescent facility! The Carmelite Sisters run it and the atmosphere is pleasant in a very special way! They have chosen the best caregiving staff from RN's, CNA's, P.T.'s to the cleaning Custodians! And it's clean!
The patients are cared for with dignity, respect and compassion. They treat the family members and visitors of the patients with the same respect and always make you feel welcome. You can rest easy knowing your loved one is getting the best of care! Though there's no place like home, there's also no place like Santa Teresita for the quality care and atmosphere that it takes to heal quickly and happily. Thank you Santa Teresita, you're a blessing! God love you.
I am a former CNA/Home Health Aide and I could go on and on about the list of things that is seriously wrong with that place, which I observed in the less than 24 hours that my Mom was there. But, I will now tell you that we gladly paid to have her transferred via private ambulance company ($240) to Santa Teresita in Duarte, CA and it was a God send!
From the moment she arrived to the day she was released, 1 full month. The best care I've ever witnessed at a Rehab/Convalescent facility! The Carmelite Sisters run it and the atmosphere is pleasant in a very special way! They have chosen the best caregiving staff from RN's, CNA's, P.T.'s to the cleaning Custodians! And it's clean!
The patients are cared for with dignity, respect and compassion. They treat the family members and visitors of the patients with the same respect and always make you feel welcome. You can rest easy knowing your loved one is getting the best of care! Though there's no place like home, there's also no place like Santa Teresita for the quality care and atmosphere that it takes to heal quickly and happily. Thank you Santa Teresita, you're a blessing! God love you.
Ashley C.
Jul 07, 2017
My grandfather has been a patient for four years and we couldn't be more pleased with the care. We are treated like family and he feels truly loved and cared for. He enjoys the food and the attention the nurses give him. We had been to other facilities and board and cares and nothing compares. Being Catholic having the sisters on sight gives him and is piece of mind.
We love the nurses especially Xotchil, Paulina, Reny, Letty and Maggie. The director of nursing is also great and very active. No facility will ever be a great as home but this is as close as you can get!
We love the nurses especially Xotchil, Paulina, Reny, Letty and Maggie. The director of nursing is also great and very active. No facility will ever be a great as home but this is as close as you can get!
J. N.
Apr 03, 2017
Our family experience is not positive. We very much wanted our parent to age in place at this Catholic facility. From our first initial contact we experienced failed customer service; phones that just ring, messages left without return calls, inconsistent pricing information, even calls asking for help from superiors were left unanswered. After several weeks of this, it became apparent, Santa Teresita did not care nor need a new resident. In hind sight tho., probably for the best, can't imagine the response had we moved our parent there, and we had a REAL emergency! Very disappointed.
P. P.
Oct 29, 2016
Donna K.
Oct 17, 2016
Worst SNF ever. Went against pt and family wishes to not prolong impending death. Sneakily forced meds, food, and denied pain meds regarding comfort care. DON was condescending, accusatory, and went against MD's orders hiding behind the "Catholic" way which basically promotes prolonged suffering, helplessness, and being forced to live out a miserably painful existence while they collect your money. Horrible facility!
Heather H.
Jan 21, 2016
HORRIBLE! My grandmother was dying of cancer and some nurses would refuse to give her medication for pain or anxiety. family would have to check and insist she get her medication. My grandmother passed away at 7pm. I packed her things placing them in the corner of her room. I spoke to the head nurse stating I would be back at 4:30 pm the next day to pick up her things, they say no problem.
I go the next day. ALL HER THINGS ARE GONE! Disrespectful! She was not gone 12 hours and they were cleaning her room things out the next morning. Not 24 hours and it was as if she did not matter at all. she was there for 3 years and they could not give us 24 hrs. When I tried to leave with the items they could find, I was told they would have to take an accounting of the items that belonged to MY GRANDMOTHER!
I go the next day. ALL HER THINGS ARE GONE! Disrespectful! She was not gone 12 hours and they were cleaning her room things out the next morning. Not 24 hours and it was as if she did not matter at all. she was there for 3 years and they could not give us 24 hrs. When I tried to leave with the items they could find, I was told they would have to take an accounting of the items that belonged to MY GRANDMOTHER!
C. C.
Nov 29, 2015
My grandmother was in the hospital and then was transferred to the Santa Teresita Rehab manor. She needed a lot of assistance, they couldn't meet her needs. They are very understaffed. They only have one RN. The caretakers were very kind to her. My grandmother fell at the facility, was hospitalized and due to the fall and other complications she passed away.
The administration never called my family to see how she was or what the outcome was. When I went to go pick up her stuff, i told them she had passed away. They said they didn't want to bother us. As a catholic, I expected more from A catholic facility. We were very very disappointment and so sadden by our loss.
The administration never called my family to see how she was or what the outcome was. When I went to go pick up her stuff, i told them she had passed away. They said they didn't want to bother us. As a catholic, I expected more from A catholic facility. We were very very disappointment and so sadden by our loss.
Sharon Willmering
Mar 23, 2015
Shawn Baray
Jun 24, 2014
John M.
Jul 27, 2013
Joyce A.
Jul 22, 2013
There is a Chapel on the premises called St. Joseph's Chapel. I was here with a very large group of parishioners from St. Peter Chanel Church (Hawaiian Gardens, California) to participate and witness the final profession of vows to the Congregation of Carmelite Sisters of the Sacred Heart in Los Angeles. This was the first ever profession to the religious life that I have witnessed.
It was a solemn and joyous occasion. Beautiful grounds and updated. There is now a new Assisted living facility called the Shepherd Cottages. Also a Child care center adjacent to it. Sadly, there is a nearly empty building that was once the Santa Teresita Hospital. It is no longer in service, fallen victim to difficult economic times.
It was a solemn and joyous occasion. Beautiful grounds and updated. There is now a new Assisted living facility called the Shepherd Cottages. Also a Child care center adjacent to it. Sadly, there is a nearly empty building that was once the Santa Teresita Hospital. It is no longer in service, fallen victim to difficult economic times.
