Desirable assisted living facilities are in short supply everywhere, including Tehachapi. One such local gem can be found on a corner in Golden Hills. Mountain Vista Senior Care has been operating at near capacity in Tehachapi since opening in March of 2011. Property owner, Dan Hunt has owned the property since 1989 and still lives upstairs.

When Dan purchased the house, it was a small 1,460-square-feet. The now-retired associate warden at CCI and father of five began to enlarge the house that would end up being 3,400-square-feet and the home for his family and then other family members including grandparents and even an aunt and uncle.

In 2008, faced with a big empty house, Dan realized he had a great place to share with other older folks. So he embarked on a quest to learn all he could about senior living. For a year he volunteered with a facility in Los Angeles and took the state exam in 2009. He did more volunteer work while making his Tehachapi home ADA compliant. In 2010, he began the application process for Mountain Vista and received his RCFE (Residential Care for the Elderly) license in early 2011.

The home has two spacious private rooms with full-sized beds and two large shared rooms. All have ample storage. Three full meals are served daily with between-meal snacks. Mountain Vista has a staff of seven full-time and part-time employees. Sometimes they will have as many as 10 to assist with bathing, dressing, laundry and other services. For those wanting water exercise or just sun, a lovely pool is situated behind the house.

Mountain Vista can take as many as three hospice patients at one time and is licensed for one developmentally disabled. Patty Gamble is the medical consultant for the facility.

Tehachapi resident Julie Bullock said that her mother was the facility's very first resident. Julie said they had looked everywhere for a suitable place for her mother. When she first arrived at Mountain Vista, she was amazed to see a beautiful home, not a facility. Her mom loved it.

"Dan is just so good with his residents," said Julie. "The food is to-die-for," she said, "all the food is fresh and homemade."

Julie's mother lived at Mountain Vista for five years, passing away at the age of 97.

"I met Dan Hunt from Mountain Vista Senior Care at a TVHD Health Fair in 2012," said Claudia White, owner/publisher of The Loop Newspaper. "I was impressed with his facility as was my mother. He is one of only a few care facilities in Tehachapi and when it came time to bring mom home from the hospital I called him. To my joy the facility was available. That was a year ago in April. It was really nice that she could stay in Tehachapi where she had so many friends. No one really wants to not live in their home, it is really tough to get adjusted and comfortable."

White, whose mother only recently passed away said, "I will be forever grateful for her care and being able to be close to her family and friends."

Sandy Short, a Golden Hill resident and volunteer at the Hospital Guild Thrift Shop, says she likes to stop by and visit the residents of Mountain Vista when she is in the neighborhood.

"I'm really impressed," said Sandy, "it is beautiful on the inside and the gals there are really nice, Dan makes sure everyone gets super care."

She said that he has even made sure that everyone there had an opportunity to go hear the Summit Singers.

Mountain Vista does not always have space available so be sure to contact Dan Hunt at (661) 300-1008 to ask about current availability.