Uncertain Days at Ocean View

Lorraine Keeling, age 96, is the oldest resident at Ocean View, an assisted living facility in San Pedro, and she is not shy about letting people know it.

Keeling is spry, exercises daily, dresses fashionably, and is sharp and engaged. A devout Catholic, Keeling moved to the Little Sisters of the Poor after complications from shingles.

Ocean View was formerly operated by the Little Sisters of the Poor, a Catholic order of nuns who had run the facility since 1979. According to Keeling, who moved there 12 years ago because of the nuns and the daily Catholic Mass, the sisters ran a very structured, caring operation. The facility was immaculate, with gardeners maintaining the grounds five days a week. There were volunteers, bingo, activities, and a vibrant sense of community that flourished for years under the sisters’ leadership.

As members of the order aged, it became increasingly difficult for the nuns to maintain the facility and care for clients, particularly as some of them required care themselves. Eventually, they made the difficult decision to sell the property, carefully considering buyers they believed would continue to provide a home for seniors while maintaining the facility’s Catholic values and mission. In 2021, the Sisters sold the property, and residents and staff believed the Sisters’ vision would continue because that is what they had been told.

Following the sale, Keeling and other residents began noticing changes. Maintenance and upkeep declined, volunteers disappeared, and Mass was no longer offered. At one point, clients other than seniors were admitted to the facility, creating issues both within the residence and in the surrounding neighborhood. Neighbors raised concerns, and eventually, that population was removed.

Although the property remains beautifully set among trees and park-like grounds, it has become a shell of what the sisters built, both physically and spiritually. The chapel that once hosted daily Mass was dismantled, and parts of it were sent to other churches.

Many of the same staff members who worked there during the Sisters’ leadership are still employed today. Employees continue to show care and compassion toward residents through their upbeat attitudes and daily interactions. Despite the many changes, the spirit of the Sisters still seems present.

The property itself still feels peaceful. Residents sit outside in the park, some read near the windows, and family members visit. Keeling’s room is spacious and clean, filled with Catholic reminders throughout. A large window and balcony overlook trees and greenery, where she watches birds, squirrels, and other wildlife. A collage of photographs displayed in her room captures different stages of her life, including her years in the film industry and as a stewardess (“not a flight attendant,” she quickly points out).

There are fewer residents now, and some people who call to inquire about moving in reportedly do not receive a return call. Residents have heard that the current owner may sell the property again, this time to Fred Brown Recovery Services, a large-scale drug recovery facility, sparking controversy.

For the seniors who currently live there, it would represent a dramatic change and could result in displacement.

Keeling and other residents do not know what the future holds. This has been their home for years, and leaving was never part of the plan, especially for Keeling, who also serves as president of the Residents Council.

“This is a big surprise. We do not want this. For someone like me, I thought I would die here,” says Keeling.

Keeling says she has built friendships both within the facility and throughout the surrounding community. Her doctors are nearby, and she does not know where she would go if forced to move. The same concerns apply to residents living in the memory care unit. Relocating people with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia can be particularly difficult because major changes can be highly disruptive.

San Pedro has numerous rehabilitation facilities focused on addiction recovery, but relatively few options for seniors. Residents fear many would be forced to leave the community they have known and start over in a late stage of life.

“We like the community and all our neighbors, and the residents here would like to keep it that way,” added Keeling. spt