Cardinal Point

I urge you to talk to a family member of this care facility before moving your loved one here. Things have been unstable since opening their new sister facility next door, Mariner Point. Management is in flux and a lot of shake up with staffing and general instability with services and care plans.
Their website and marketing reflects little of what they actually follow through on.

Outstanding living and work environment.
Great hospitality provided by employees and residents.
Employee Appreciation and Resident Recognition.

My mother lived her for a year until her death. She qualified for a «moderate» income unit (a studio) where the buy in fee was quite affordable but she paid the same monthly fee as everyone. They have a few of these units but there’s a waiting list. It’s great for someone who is only on SS but may have an asset they can sell to supplement their monthly income.
Monthly fee is all inclusive and is done on an «a la carte» basis for any add ons. For example if you need help with daily activities, there are health care aides there to assist and they will provide full care including feeding etc. There are residents who are not mobile. They do not presently provide «memory care» services but they are building a new facility across the street that should be online soon.
I would rate the quality of care and the facility itself as «outstanding.» The folks that work there are wonderful and caring. My mom was in hospice and they provided great service, in her home, along with outside hospice workers. My mom loved the Cardinal Point employees and the care they provided allowed the rest of the family to be able to spend quality time with mom rather than worrying about her care. I can’t say enough good things about the staff…
The location is nice as it is near the water. Target opened nearby and a Safeway is being built. A few restaurants and other services nearby within walking distance. They have lots of activities, both on and off the premises. They do a social hour almost every night and often have musicians or singers in for entertainment. Movies in the movie room, exercise classes, a pool… I was ready to move in myself!
Meals are provided in the plan with a breakfast and then you can use your meal card for either lunch or dinner. I believe you can go get soup or salad for lunch without using up a meal card. Because resident often eat out, they all say they have more than enough cards for meals. The restaurant is quite nice, overlooking the water, and the food is very good. Lots of options on the menu plus daily specials. There is a private dining room you can reserve for special family functions and special meals are served on holidays. We had both Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner there and Thanksgiving was one of the best Thanksgiving meals I’ve ever had (sorry Mom!).
The residents are also wonderful people who have lived and continue to live very interesting lives. As is typical in any community, you’ll find a few crabby people around but by and large they are all wonderful people.
Would not hesitate to recommend Cardinal Point. I feel my family was very lucky to have found it and that my Mom could be in the low income unit. If there was one criticism, I think the availability of transportation was somewhat over sold and was not as frequent or extensive as we hoped it would be for medical appointments. You kind of have to schedule your appointment around the transport schedule. We started using paratransit for our mom so that problem was resolved.
If you have a parent that is living alone and starting to become socially isolated, my advice would be to start the conversation and be persistent in getting them to look at places such as Cardinal Point. Often there is resistance but my mom was glad she moved in (as are all the residents there) and we wished she had done it sooner so that she could have enjoyed all the wonderful activities there longer.

Cardinal Point is the nicest independent living retirement home in the Oakland area. It’s also probably the most expensive, but if you’ve got it, … you can’t take it with you.
The facility seems almost brand new. Lots of activities and activity spaces for the residents. Meeting rooms, card rooms, billard rooms, movie theater, hobby room, computer room, beauty shop, massage, small gym, swimming pool, sauna, and hot tub. Cardinal Point also features a beautiful dining room where upscale restaurant excellent quality food is featured with a great wait staff and is a part of the package, along with continental breakfasts.
They put out a daily activity sheet every morning which reminds me of a cruise ship. Another reason the residents call Cardinal Point «a cruise ship that never leaves port».
Cardinal Point seems to be a moderately sized facility located across the narrow parking lot and grass parklet from the Pasta Pelican restaurant facing north on the estuary in Alameda across from Jack London Square in Oakland. Next to the Pasta Pelican are a bunch of boats tied up, most of them appear to be Hornblower dining boats. To the east is a parking lot and planned future assisted care facility. To the south will be new homes and a Target shopping center being built. The only lousy view is to the west where a huge three story boat warehouse facility blocks all views.
Units are studios. one and two bedrooms. Many with balconies or patios. Studios have kitchenettes and the rest have full kitchens. Some two bedrooms have their own washer and dryer. There are residents that are assisted living types too.
Because of the restaurant and the dining yachts, parking can sometimes be problematic. Covered reserved parking available for a fee. Transport provided by Cardinal Point goes to Alameda and to Oakland twice a week.

This is a beautiful looking property for seniors who are still in pretty good shape. It looks like a Marriott or something, and they seem to pride themselves on their food. The menu looked nice, and they have a wood burning pizza oven. Woo-​hoo!
I am not sure it really for people who have many age-​related problems such as mobility issues or forgetfulness. I don’t think there is too much in the way of licensed medical car on site. And, my wife and I were able to walk right in on a recent Friday evening to take a look around, without any one stopping us. We went all over the facility without anyone asking «Do you need some help finding something?» We could have been casing the joint! I would call the security lax.
Additionally, Cardinal Point it is somewhat remote, so you have to use the provided transportation or a car to do your shopping and other errands. On the plus side, you have a lovely view of the estuary/​marina separating Alameda and Jack London Square.