We toured The Lake Merritt - Independent Senior Living. I went with my son. They were very welcoming. There was someone who was waiting in the lobby for us. We wore masks and they were masked. It was a very attractive woman, who was very well dressed. She showed us around. Everything we saw we liked. The only thing that stopped me from actually wanting to go further was that it's too expensive. They have a wonderful restaurant and there's a beautiful view of the lake. It's an old building in excellent preservation. The rooms are light, airy, large and interesting. They all have kitchens. There are a lot of very interesting architectural features that have been left in place. So, it makes it very cozy and very welcoming. The only thing that I worried about, if I were going to live there, was that they have very light carpeting, beautiful new carpeting. I'm a painter, and I try to paint at every place I go, so I thought I have to do something about that. I like The Lake Merritt, and I might have considered it if I had enough money. The staff members were excellent.
The Lake Merritt - Independent Senior Living
Offers Independent Living and Continuing Care Communities
11 Reviews
1800 Madison Street, Oakland, CA 94612
Call
(800) 385-2527
Reviews of The Lake Merritt - Independent Senior Living
Independent Living Reviews for The Lake Merritt - Independent Senior Living
January 09, 2022
I visited this facility
May 25, 2021
I visited this facility
I visited The Lake Merritt - Independent Senior Living, and the staff members who I met there were lovely, delightful, and very welcoming. Their relations person, Diane, who took me on a tour was lovely, and the gentleman who manages the site was also quite wonderful and friendly.
They had a restaurant that's rated very high, and they let me pick something from the menu to take home, and it was a salad. The layout seems smaller, but it was fine. For every room I was shown, there was a view of the lake, which was beautiful. Also, I was very impressed with the activities that I saw. They had a lot of music, and I would rate their art space very high. The concierge was wonderful too.
Provider Response
Thanks for the kind words. We are so fortunate to have a great cheerful staff, all who have been here a long time. It is true the restaurant is great. It has been voted the best view restaurant in Oakland! Every apartment has lovely tall ceilings, a full kitchen, and light-filled spaces. People love living here! There are about 30 interesting programs every week; a gym; library; hair salon; spa; and about 8 movies a week. And just outside the door is Lake Merritt with its 140 acres of lake and park!
April 12, 2019
I visited this facility
We went to The Lake Merritt Independent Senior Living. The lady was great, knew what she was talking about, and was very attentive. The property was very nice. The apartments were nice and cozy and got its old charm. They had a barber shop and a spa.
August 23, 2017
I visited this facility
The apartment that we were looking at The Lake Merritt was a one-bedroom with a kitchen, a small dining room area, living room area, and a small bedroom. The residents looked happy, well dressed, and active.
Provider Response
Dear Ron - Thank you for your kind words. Our residents are happy and active!
June 27, 2016
I visited this facility
We loved The Lake Merritt, but it's old. It is very interesting because it has its own restaurant that's open to the public. It's an old hotel that has been converted, and there's only one small elevator. The parking situation is abysmal. You can rent a space for $200 a month, but that's difficult. There isn't a medical component, and they're in the profit-making business, so it didn't work for us. The meal was delicious. Their dining area was great, like a real restaurant. The apartments were very old and kind of musty. Everybody was nice. It was a very pleasant place. If they had a medical component, we'd be interested in Lake Meritt. The food was a 5.
Provider Response
Dear Anonymous - Thank you for your comments. You are correct. The Lake Merritt is a historic landmark in the City of Oakland. We were built in 1927, and recently renovated the common areas and each apartment in 2007-2008. We are located in downtown Oakland. We have parking available for residents, and it has been plentiful for our community since we opened. The Terrace Room Restaurant & Bar is a real restaurant, and open to the public. Our residents do dine in the restaurant along with our other customers. We are strictly independent living. Our residents do hire additional care independently of our community to help them as they age in place. Thanks again for your comments.
May 10, 2016
I visited this facility
We visited The Lake Merritt and it's a beautiful place. It's very large and the food is good. It had interesting people and it seemed like a place that I would enjoy. It's independent living.
The rooms are larger than most of the units we saw in other places. The dining area overlooks the lake and it's an actual restaurant. They don't really have grounds. You have to walk across the street but there is the whole park that surrounds Lake Merritt. That for me is something of a problem because I love to sit outside, but I need to know that trails that go around the lake.
Provider Response
Dear Anne - Thank you for your kind words. It is true that we do not have extensive grounds, as we are in downtown Oakland, a very exciting and vibrant scene. But we do have a small area in the front of the property that faces Lake Merritt. In this area, we have two (2) benches, and many of our residents sit on these benches to enjoy the sun, air and the people watching. There are trails that surround Lake Merritt. It has a wonderful park with bocce courts, public gardens that permit citizens to garden a plot of land, and much more. Thanks again.
November 04, 2015
I visited this facility
The Lake Merritt is a very nice place, but it was for independent seniors only. Their accommodations are very nice for the rooms that they have. It's in a nice area and you have a very nice view, but they have limited parking around there. They don’t have a garage where you can park. You have to use street parking, which would be difficult for family to visit. The manager showed us around, and we have a very nice lunch there. The food was very good.
February 09, 2015
I visited this facility
I chose The Lake Merritt because I like it better. The rooms are better. The location is better. The amenities are better. There are three different sizes of studio apartments -- which I do not want -- but the big ones are fine. They have a lot of activities. It is a very small place. Their dining area is a regular restaurant. The people who showed me around was very pleasant. Based on my tour, I would definitely recommend this place.
January 27, 2014
I am/was a resident of this facility
I told my children "Well, ok. I'll look but don't be thinking I'll move into one of those places." Then we came to the Lake Merritt and I thought "I could be happy living here: and I am. It is truly independent living. No institutional flavor to it. The staff seems to operate on the principle of trying to give residents a happy, comfortable and interesting daily life, instead of decreeing rules and schedules designed for their own convenience.
This is as beautiful an urban setting as you could find anywhere. I never tire of seeing Lake Merritt from the blue in the morning to the sparkling at night. It is a great walking neighborhood. Besides walking the Lake, I can walk to the Oakland museum, the main library, BART the post office and shops.
Lastly, the place is not too large. There are enough other people to provide variety, but it's the right sized group to farm a close community. I've found good company here, and people are friendly and accepting.
January 27, 2014
I am/was a resident of this facility
I have been living at The Lake Merritt- Independent Senior Living since July 14, 2013. Prior to that I visited several other places in the East Bay. There were several reasons why I chose The Lake Merritt. The "hotel was originally built in 1927 and is a lovely, restored Art Deco building. It is much smaller than the other places I saw- only 46 residents. The move-in fee is a fraction of that required at other places. The food is excellent, served in a beautiful restaurant, The Terrace Room, which is open to the public and has panoramic views of Lake Merritt. They offer intellectual and cultural stimulation plus transportation.
Another resident told me that the reason he likes The Lake Merritt is that residents are intellectual, progressive, and caring. The staff is friendly and efficient. The thing I like best about being here is the location. It is right across the street from Lake Merritt with walking paths and beautiful birds. It is far less than a mile from the main library, post office, downtown senior center, Oakland Museum, several BART stations and shopping. My children urged me to move in when I sold my house in Mendocino County. I am glad I did!
January 23, 2014
I am/was a resident of this facility
I really appreciate my fellow residents at the Lake Merritt. They are intelligent, progressive and caring. We enjoy spending time with each other and have developed meaningful friendships here. This is a big reason I feel so comfortable with the community here.
Questions about The Lake Merritt - Independent Senior Living
Describe the overall population of independent living residents at The Lake Merritt - Independent Senior Living. What is their average age? What are their favorite things to do?
Our resident are so unique. The ages of our residents range from 70 - 96 years of age. Our programming/activities are resident-driven so they give an excellent picture of what our residents like to do. We have monthly trips to museums/art galleries, parks, live theater, as well as movie trips. We have up to 23 activities per week which include art classes, book club, album club, political discussion group, English tutoring of local Oakland residents, philosophy discussion group, 6 different exercise classes which include yoga, tai chi, aerobics, etc. We have resident facilitated activities such as meditation sessions and craft classes.
What places are nearby for independent living residents to enjoy?
The Lake Merritt is in the middle of it all in uptown Oakland. We sit on Lake Merritt - the Jewel of Oakland - and its 155 acres including a bird sanctuary. We are 4-5 blocks from 2 different BART (Bay Area Rapid Station) stations and many AC Transit bus lines. We are walking distance from the Oakland Museum, the Main Oakland Library, Cathedral of Light, and a plethora of restaurants in Uptown Oakland district. We are an easy distance from major shopping areas of Oakland - Grand Avenue, Piedmont Avenue, Rockridge, and Lakeshore Avenue.
What are some recent off-site events that the community activity director at The Lake Merritt - Independent Senior Living has organized?
Our programming is quite unique, as it is entirely resident driven. We center our programming on what our residents are interested in. Our programming director provides: 1) Destination day trips to places like Napa, Benecia, Angel Island and more. 2) Monthly dining trips to local watering holes and fine dining establishments 3) Live cinema screenings of the Metropolitan Opera, National Theater, and more 4) Monthly nature walks such as Baker Beach, Redwood Park, and more 5) Berkeley lectures and storytelling events, such as Ethics & Justice undergraduate studies at UC, Berkeley Book Festival and The Moth in Berkeley 6) Mystery Tour - These tours are entirely a surprise and include many stops and remarkable activities throughout Oakland, all created by our own Programming Director. These tours are always sold-out, and rather famous within our community.
What transportation services does The Lake Merritt - Independent Senior Living offer to independent living residents?
We offer transportation within an 8 mile radius of The Lake Merritt. Transportation is offered 7 days per week from 8:30am - 5:00pm. We have 2-3 regularly shopping trips each week. The transportation is first come-first serve.
What makes the chef or dining program at The Lake Merritt - Independent Senior Living exceptional? What kind of menu can independent living residents expect?
The dining experience at The Lake Merritt is different than what you will find in any senior community. Our Terrace Room Restaurant & Bar is a restaurant that is open to the public. Our residents dine in this restaurant as well and enjoy restaurant quality dining. We are closed to the public on Mondays and Tuesdays. On these days, our Chef provides themed meals, such as Japanese, Chinese, Mexican, and other ethnic foods for variety.
What common areas are available for independent living residents?
The Lake Merritt has many additional areas for residents to use. Our community room is our multi-purpose room which we use for many of our 23 weekly activities. We have a resident managed library. We offer a conference room for our residents to use for meetings. Our Family Room is for movies and television watching. This room also has our computer lab and is used for other discussion groups. We have an exercise room. There is also a spa room that has a special bathtub with a seat that can be elevated for ease of use. It has a fireplace and heated floors. There is another section of the spa room that is used for haircuts, manicures, pedicures, and more.
What safety features or security measures does The Lake Merritt - Independent Senior Living offer to independent living residents?
The Lake Merritt provides a pendant system free of charge for each resident. This pendant is worn by the resident to be used in case of emergency. We have 24/7 concierge service. Our concierge contacts each resident to ensure that each resident is up and about in the community on a daily basis. We provide each resident a FOB for the elevator so that only residents (and staff) may have access to the resident floors above the main floor.
If The Lake Merritt - Independent Senior Living accepts dogs or cats, what indoor/outdoor areas can they enjoy?
We accept both dogs and cats. We do interview the dogs to make certain that they can reside in a community. Within a 2 block radius, the City of Oakland is building a dog park which is very exciting to our current dogs and their owners. The Lake Merritt sits right on Lake Merritt which is 155 acres. There is a walking path that surrounds the lake.
Does The Lake Merritt - Independent Senior Living work with an agency or registry to provide nursing and medical assistance as needed?
The Lake Merritt can provide a list of preferred partners for our residents if they require any medical or non-medical assistance. The Lake Merritt is an independent living community, but we encourage our residents to age in place. Several of our residents use care givers to help them with specific task.
Costs for The Lake Merritt - Independent Senior Living
Services and Amenities of The Lake Merritt - Independent Senior Living
Room and housing options
- 1-bedroom apartments
- Studio Apartments
Dining options
- Dining Extra: Full Kitchens
Features
- Beauty Barber Shop
- Computer Room
- Resident Transportation
- Resident Parking
- Features Extra: Lake Front Viewing And Walking Path; Gym; Library; Media Room ; And Spa
Technology and entertainment
- Cable In Rooms
Activities
- Fitness Room
Guest services
- Guests At Mealtime
- Overnight Guests
General
- Resident Capacity: 46
Costs
About The Lake Merritt - Independent Senior Living
YOUR NEW HOME ON THE LAKE - Small and Intimate Yet Grand
Our special one-of-a-kind independent lifestyle community is designed for older adults who want to remain active and engaged in life, yet are ready for an easier lifestyle. Now, residents can have more time and energy for the things they really enjoy: family members and grandchildren, outings with friends and outside interests and activities. At The Lake Merritt, residents will discover a new community of people to enjoy life with.
- Large beautiful apartment homes, many with views of the lake, designed for vibrant gracious living with Art Deco touches
- Delicious food featuring fresh, healthy, restaurant-quality dining at our Terrace Room Restaurant, which is open to the public.
- Unique programming, and services including 24-hour on-site concierge.
- Scheduled transportation within 8 miles
- Home Care partners available to help as you "age in place."
Dining that is different than all the rest!
- Every day our residents dine in our stunning restaurant with an unparalleled view: The Terrace Room.
- Residents enjoy delicious meals prepared by our dedicated culinary team.
- Our restaurant is open to the public bringing extra enjoyment to daily living.
- The atmosphere is welcoming, intergenerational and reflective of the greater community.
- Meals are prepared with seasonally-fresh, locally-sourced meats and produce.
- The bar and lounge area offers a great place to entertain family and friends.
- Residents receive quality restaurant dining services and special menu options.
- The Terrace Room can provide meals with reduced sodium, reduced fat, low sugar and will assist with other special dietary needs.
