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Merrill Gardens at Willow Glen
1420 Curci Drive, San Jose, CA 95126
Featured Review
5
|
October 2, 2021
We went with Merrill Gardens at Willow Glen for my mom. So far, they have been great. They've been very accommodating. It was more my mom and what she liked, and she was quite happy with it, like the aesthetics, the cleanliness, the friendly demeanor of the people that live there, as well as the nursing staff. They've been able to accommodate all of her needs. The room is lovely. Food is OK. I wouldn't say it's something to write home about, but it's fine. My mom's happy, which is the reason why we're there now. The dining area is very clean. There's an appropriate amount of wait staff. They're very friendly. There's a quick turnaround concerning ordering versus actually having a plate in front of you. The food was fine. It's not a five-star gourmet restaurant, but it's certainly not a sidewalk vendor kind of thing. It's good food and it's healthy. Right now, I see the value for money as being appropriate and good.
Community Comparison
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Bedroom Type
one bedroom apartment, two bedroom apartment, studio
Starting Price
Pricing not available
Care Types
Continuing Care Communities, Assisted Living, Independent Living, Memory Care
Bedroom Type
studio
Starting Price
$9,990/mo
Care Types
Continuing Care Communities, Independent Living, Memory Care, Nursing Homes, Assisted Living
Bedroom Type
one bedroom apartment, three bedroom apartment, two bedroom apartment
Starting Price
$6,090/mo
Care Types
Nursing Homes, Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, Continuing Care Communities
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About Merrill Gardens at Willow Glen in San Jose, California
Merrill Gardens at Willow Glen is located in San Jose, California. Willow Glen is like a small town neighborhood, with a tree-lined main street populated by outdoor cafes, coffee shops, boutiques and bookstores. Our community includes independent and assisted living apartments and Alzheimer's care. There are 98 apartments with a combination of studios, one bedroom and two bedroom apartments. Our apartment-style community offers all the amenities of a home without the hard work. Imagine a life without household chores, yard work or home maintenance. Invite guests to a meal, special event or social outing. With our on-site Active Living Director, scheduled transportation and Anytime Dining Program - there are opportunities to make friends or entertain old ones right outside your front door. Welcome to Merrill Gardens, a one of a kind retirement community.
Merrill Gardens at Willow Glen offers independent living, assisted living, respite care, and Alzheimer's and dementia care.
To learn more about this provider’s license and review other available state reports, please visit:
California Department of Social Services Licensed Facility Search
Services and Amenities of Merrill Gardens at Willow Glen in San Jose, California
Dining
- Communal Dining
Housekeeping & Maintenance
- Housekeeping Services
Parking Options
- Parking Lot
Transportation & Shopping
- General Transportation Services
Fitness & Wellness Programs
- Fitness & wellness facilities/equipment
- Salon Services
Languages
- English spoken
Personal Care
- Meal Preparation
Kitchen Types
- Kitchenette
Health Services
- Medication Reminders
Outside Amenities
- Garden
Pets
- Pets
- No Cats
- No Small Dogs
Room Amenities
- Kitchen Appliances In Unit
Additional Amenity Information
- Dining: Restaurant style dining
- Special Comment: New residence --- Walking distance to outdoor cafes, coffee shops, boutiques & bookstores --- High-ceilinged, airy building --- Library, Living & meeting areas with wi-fi. --- Piano, Pool table, Centrally located gym, dining room, and laundry room --- Underground lot for resident --- Easy access to Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph & San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles. Close access to Meridian Avenue --- Landscaped grounds and courtyard. Complimentary internet access. Nearby Vasona Creek Trail.
- State Licenses: 435202159
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Reviews of Merrill Gardens at Willow Glen in San Jose, California
Chris
5
|
October 2, 2021
We went with Merrill Gardens at Willow Glen for my mom. So far, they have been great. They've been very accommodating. It was more my mom and what she liked, and she was quite happy with it, like the aesthetics, the cleanliness, the friendly demeanor of the people that live there, as well as the nursing staff. They've been able to accommodate all of her needs. The room is lovely. Food is OK. I wouldn't say it's something to write home about, but it's fine. My mom's happy, which is the reason why we're there now. The dining area is very clean. There's an appropriate amount of wait staff. They're very friendly. There's a quick turnaround concerning ordering versus actually having a plate in front of you. The food was fine. It's not a five-star gourmet restaurant, but it's certainly not a sidewalk vendor kind of thing. It's good food and it's healthy. Right now, I see the value for money as being appropriate and good.
Provider Response
Bill
5
|
October 2, 2020
We have chosen Merrill Gardens at Willow Glen. I've visited several times, and I'm familiar with it. It looks comfortable. It was a very good visit, the place was clean, it seemed to be well run, and it looked like a pleasant place to be. The staff was fine, pleasant, and gracious. The apartments were standard, clean, and had sufficient room for a single person. I was pleased with the effort they put into planning and maintenance.
Provider Response
leslieau
3
|
May 29, 2018
My mother was a resident at merrill gardens in san jose for years. She has made a lot of precious friends through the years that she holds dear to her heart. The facility it self is very nice and home like. The food could always be better. The staff could use some training but there are a few that show they are there because they truly care. The activities are great, the activity director is amazing. My mother really loved her so much. She was always there for my mother. When my mother needed something she was there for a hug, a talk, a joke whatever it may be she made my mother feel loved and not only her but with all other residents. I couldn't thank her enough. Now, the only downfall was with one staff member. She was the business office manager. Oh my what could I say. Rude, insensitive, no manners, unfriendly if you look her up in the dictionary it would say no customer service whatsoever and that is just putting it lightly. I don't understand how someone with this type of attitude and behavior could possibly work with seniors. Other than that it's a really nice place to live.
Celia
4
|
July 17, 2017
Merrill Gardens at Willow Glen is too expensive. It's a little bit of a hotel feeling for me. The premises and activities are wonderful. It's very nice, but it didn't call my attention in the sense of a home-like feeling. All the rooms have access to a balcony which is wonderful. It's a new facility. The menu is very sophisticated, and their chocies are very interesting.
Provider Response
gav01
2
|
May 4, 2017
My friend's parents used to live at Merrill gardens. I would go visit them and I loved the staff. The staff made the environment feel very much like a home should feel. However since the change of management, it's not the same. Residents don't seem quiet as happy. It also seem as the new marketer just accepts any resident into the building that may need more help. Its sad how Merrill gardens is now. In need of some new management.
clots56
3
|
April 19, 2017
I visited this facility a few weeks ago. My first impression wasn't at that great, when I walked in the receptionist was on a personal cell phone. Someone else walked around the corner and was very pleasant and greeted me. But, I just couldn't get past the first impression of that woman on a cell phone. She did greet me afterwards a very tall pretty woman also I could see the tattoos on her arm. That was not very inviting. I was givin a tour. The building is very nice and other employees were very nice. They have a lot of Activities for everyone and the residents seem to be happy. I spoke with the person who is in charge of the activities and she was very pleasant and knowledgeable about all the residents likes and dislikes which is very important to me. The dining room was big with a nice menu. Overall it was a nice place.
Provider Response
Jenny631507
3
|
March 29, 2017
Merrill Gardens at Willow Glen was OK. The apartments themselves were nice and big, they were spacious, and I liked it a lot. I did not like at all the common area. It wasn’t roomy, and it was old and very depressing looking; it wasn’t fresh. The staff was very welcoming.
Provider Response
Janet524176
4
|
February 11, 2017
My mom has decided to stay in Merrill Gardens at Willow Glen. It is very nice, clean, modern, and well maintained. The staff is very professional, very caring, and very responsive. They need to improve their meals and offer more options for people who have a low-fat diet restriction.
Provider Response
Cherie731807
5
|
January 19, 2017
Merrill Gardens at Willow Glen was nice, and the rooms were a good size and pretty. The staff was really nice. It looked like the people were really happy. The location was the downside.
Provider Response
Gracie502471
5
|
January 6, 2017
I visited Merrill Gardens. The manager assisted me in the tour and was very helpful. The residents were all doing their own thing, but they gave me a list of activities for the week. The dining area was very nice. I'd love to go there and eat. They didn't have a pool, but they had a library, and a room with a TV. The people who lived there were very friendly.
Provider Response
Tami737087
5
|
December 16, 2016
My relative was so impressed with Merrill Gardens at Willow Glen that he ended up choosing it. I actually stayed there Thanksgiving weekend, and it was wonderful. The staff is fantastic. The place is clean and well maintained. The residents seem very happy. I had a very good visit, and I was very impressed. They have a two-bedroom unit that's spacious, modern, well maintained, nice, clean, bright, and sunny. The amenities are great. They have a very nice social room, dining room, workout room, and library room. The corridors are bright, and the reception area was very accessible. I was very happy with the place.
Provider Response
Tom207278
4
|
November 29, 2016
We saw Merrill Gardens at Willow Glen. It was pretty good. We were there for lunch, and it was very good. However, I thought the place was a little sterile. It could have been a lot more friendlier or warmer. The people were very nice, but the room was just an empty room, and it was pretty stale. It’s like going to the doctor’s office. It was wheelchair adaptable, and there were safety handgrips. The thing that was most off-putting for me was the neighborhood, but they don’t have control over there.
Provider Response
David577512
4
|
November 9, 2016
We had a reservation at Merrill Gardens; the representative was very firm in that they would have something for us, but they didn’t have anything, and we’re really up against it. It’s nice, it’s not as large, and it was a little more confined. It did have a nice, comfortable aura about it; it was homey. We only ate once there, and the food was good. They had a very extensive set of activities.
Provider Response
Dave524078
5
|
October 4, 2016
My aunt liked Merrill Gardens. They showed us the rooms -- which were very nice and really neat -- and everything was well-maintained. They showed us a little library and a seating area, or a common area, and the dining area. I saw some people playing cards, some people reading, and some people working puzzles. The dining area was large and nice. I asked the people how the food was, and they said it was very good. They had a little salad bar, and the people seemed to be happy.
Provider Response
Gracie502471
5
|
September 29, 2016
If I can afford Merrill Gardens at Willow Glen, it would have been fine. Even their one-bedroom would have been fine, but I’d really prefer a two-bedroom, which is out of my reach. Everything they showed me was really inviting; I wanted to move right in. They gave me a whole calendar full of activities. Every day they had something going on; there was constantly something going on to keep you occupied if you are interested in doing that kind of stuff. It was very accommodating.
Provider Response
Michael204742
4
|
August 23, 2016
Merrill Gardens' prices depended on what type of care was involved. It was a nice, huge facility. We looked at a couple of apartments and concentrated on the memory care.
Provider Response
Dianne035055
4
|
July 1, 2016
We liked Willow Glen (Merrill Gardens at Willow Glen) a lot. We were kind of rushed because we had another appointment after that, but it looked nice and new. We liked the feel of it, and the apartments were really nice, roomy, and had high ceilings. It had a nice dining area. One thing I didn’t like about it was that it didn’t have a defined exercise room.
Provider Response
Caring Daughter122163750
5
|
March 23, 2016
Everything about Merrill Gardens at Willow Glen was wonderful. They had a nice-sized one-bedroom. We had a nice dinner there. The people were very friendly. It seemed a very nice place with a beauty salon, games, weekly trips to events, a piano, and a library. The kitchen was open, so if you wanted a snack, you could get one. I would live in this place.
Provider Response
Thank you so much for providing us with this great feedback for Merrill Gardens at Willow Glen. We are happy to hear that you had a positive experience while visiting our community. Please let us know if there are any additional questions we can answer.
Elysse
5
|
February 29, 2016
Merrill Gardens at Willow Glen was good, but it was a little bit older, and then it was farther away from my house. The staff was friendly. They’re good. The apartment was big but it was a little older.
Provider Response
We appreciate you taking the time to write us this review. We will share the feedback with our community team. Please don't hesitate to reach back out with any questions or additional comments.
Joyce119984450
3
|
February 10, 2016
At Merrill Gardens at Willow Glen, the people were very nice. I did eat lunch there, but I didn’t like this community as much. It doesn’t have any particularly interesting neighborhood. It is located on a busy street. As you walk out the door, you wouldn’t have any interesting places to go. It also does not have valet parking. Other than that, the rooms, and the people were nice.
Provider Response
We are happy to hear that the people you met at Merrill Gardens at Willow Glen were nice and provided a positive experience. We also appreciate the feedback regarding the location. If you have any additional comments to share, please don't hesitate to reach back out to us.
Visitor32
3
|
December 26, 2015
We visited Merrill Gardens at Willow Glen. It sounds like they had a lot of good care, but they are not flexible either for people with mild dementia. They said they have to go straight to the memory clinic, and my mother is not yet ready for that. The place looks pretty clean. I feel that they are too pushy, too pricey, and not flexible, but the staff is friendly. The rooms looked nice.
Provider Response
We appreciate you taking the time to provide us with this feedback. We are sorry to hear that Merrill Gardens at Willow Glen isn't a fit for your mother at this time. If you have questions or additional feedback, please don't hesitate to contact us directly.
cdavis1
4
|
December 21, 2015
Merill Gardens was very nice. I liked the people and the atmosphere. The rooms were nicely laid out. We saw the dining room also, and the food is excellent. There could have been a little bit more activity in the memory care area.
Provider Response
Thank you for taking the time to write us this review. We are happy to hear the you enjoyed Merrill Gardens at Willow Glen. Please don't hesitate to contact us with additional questions or feedback.
Anonymous117655550
1
|
December 17, 2015
When we drove up to Merrill Gardens at Willow Glen, there was a very bad stench in the street. It almost gagged us. Apparently, they were cleaning out some kitchen vents that had to be cleaned out once a month. We went inside, and we were assisted by a woman who was very pleasant, very helpful, but she admitted that they had a serious problem with this stench. She didn’t take us around, because we didn’t qualify because my husband has dementia, but the people inside were pleasant.
Provider Response
We appreciate you sharing this feedback with us and we apologize for your experience. We are glad to hear that the person you spoke with was pleasant and helpful and we hope that you and your husband have found an option that meets your needs. Please don't hesitate to reach back out with any questions or additional feedback.
Caring112430250
5
|
September 7, 2015
Everything seemed nice at Merrill Gardens at Willow Glen. The staff was very helpful and friendly. The rooms were fine, but one room makes me feel too claustrophobic. I don’t want my commode in my living room, although they also have apartments. I thought of going there; however, they can't take me due to my medical problem.
Provider Response
Thank you for writing us this review. Your feedback is very helpful and we appreciate you taking your time to give us this information. Please don't hesitate to reach back out to us with any additional comments.
Caring106337350
3
|
May 3, 2015
Merril Gardens at Willow Glen was the first one that we went to, and it was probably the smallest of the ones that we went to. I think the biggest drawback with it was that they had this underground garage on a fairly busy street, and to get out of it, you had to come up to that busy street too, so getting in and out was that bad. We did eat there, and the food was good. In general, the accommodations seemed pretty good. It was a long way for us to go over there, so it really didn't look like it was very doable. I would rate it about a three mostly because of the parking difficulty. That was a little bit of a problem. I guess the other thing was that it was right downtown, and I didn't like that either.
Provider Response
Thank you for taking the time to write us this review. We appreciate your feedback about the parking and we are sorry to hear about that experience. Please don't hesitate to contact us directly if you have additional feedback or questions.
Barbara105968650
4
|
April 30, 2015
Merrill Gardens is very nice. It was clean and well appointed. The folks there were very friendly. I thought the staff is very friendly and accommodating. The accommodations were nice and had a nice size. If we end up picking a place, that is probably where we would have landed.
Provider Response
We are so glad to hear about your positive experience at our community! Thank you for taking the time to provide us with this feedback. We will be sure to share it with our team. Please don't hesitate to reach back out to us directly.
Debbie104777350
5
|
April 27, 2015
Merrill Gardens at Willow Glen is very nice. I got to see two bedrooms there, and it was very nice. There is a bedroom on the right side which looks more like a den, but it had a bed in it. On the other side of the living room is another bedroom which is a little bit larger, and it had a small bath. The staff was very friendly and even invited us to lunch. I called ahead of time and made arrangements so they knew we were coming. They had a luncheon ready for us, and it was great because we got to order what we wanted. I ordered a hamburger very rare, and it came that way. The cook came out to see if it was OK so I thought that was nice. The staff was fantastic, it was really good, and I got very comfortable there. I was very pleased.
Provider Response
We appreciate you taking the time to tell us about your experience at our community. We are happy to hear the great feedback! If we can ever be of assistance, please contact us directly.
Caring98593950
5
|
September 8, 2014
I live very close to Merrill Gardens. My visit was nice. They gave us a tour. They let us have lunch there. The food was excellent. It was very, very good. The rooms were very beautiful. They were brand new and very large. It was a very clean facility. The bathroom was very wheelchair-accessible; it was very large and very nice for people in wheelchairs. However, the rooms were very expensive. The facility itself was gorgeous. The dining room was beautiful. Overall, it was a beautiful fancy place. They had activities and they had a pool table and a big library. I would recommend this community to those who could afford it and if they're looking for a higher end place.
Provider Response
Caring9980
4
|
May 14, 2013
I live in Merrill Gardens now which is a very nice care home. I used to live in another care home just around the corner and we watched this being built. When this one opened, I moved over here. They have wonderful staff and have a lot of really lovely and wonderful caregivers at various levels and abilities for care giving. They have a wonderful activity director, he is magnificent. I've never seen anybody as good and better than him ever, he's the best. They don't give you very serious care, they do have a separate Alzheimer's unit for people who are pre-Alzheimer's, people on their way to serious Alzheimer's. But they do have room for people like that. The rest of us are just old and experiencing the various maladies that come with old age. It's a spotless place and four years old. It's new and well built. They take care of it and their facilities manager is a wonderful man. He's very conscientious and does a great job. They have people who come and clean your apartment once a week. They have people, if you'll want them to do your laundry they'll do it. They'll drive you places and they have all kinds of activities both in house and in the area. My complaint is that this is the third food service manager that we've had. I've been here two years and this is the third chef. The first one we had was magnificent. The next two are just terrible. The food is not great, it's not horrible but it's not great. Some people living here don't need any assistance and just live in an apartment; some people do need assistance at various levels. If you're in need of very serious assistance, then this is not the place.
Provider Response
Caring9980
5
|
April 18, 2013
I lived at Merrill Gardens and it was a great place. It was new and well-built. They had every service you wanted to have. And they had the best activity director I ever met. They served food three times a day for the whole week. It was an excellent facility and I would recommend it to anyone who wanted to live in San Jose.
Provider Response
jlutze
4
|
June 27, 2012
I really liked the atmosphere of this facility and it was more open and upbeat than I thought it would be. The resident seemed happy, and the staff seemed courteous and friendly. While resident had varying abilities the facility seemed to accommodate all of them in an individualized manor and they all seemed happy. I spoke to several residents who were charming and spoke well of the facility. They said the rooms and nursing staff were knowledgeable and kind. I asked the staff what kind of services they offered and they seemed diverse and able to accommodate all. I was struck that the place felt homey and that there was a real sense of community among the staff and residents. The meals didn't get such positive reviews however as some residents complained that they were repetitive or poor quality on occasion. Overall I had a god time, something which I did not expect and would recommend this facility to anyone who needed it.
Provider Response
LoriannaB
5
|
April 7, 2012
I was very impressed with the facility and the activities that were offered to the residents. I sat in on one chair yoga session and thought that the residents really enjoyed the time spent with the instructor. The facility had a lovely neighbor hood to walk in, with a park just down the street and had a wonderful main room with dining center and lobby. All the people that I met were very nice and welcoming and I would recommend it to anyone.
Provider Response
Caring466732
4
|
January 18, 2012
Merrill Gardens at Willow Glen is nestled in a quaint community in San Jose, CA - It has close access to the 280 freeway and is easy to find. The staff is warm, friendly, and helpful; they treat the residents like family members. It is a perfect size, not too big and not to small; which is good because it provides diversity in character and allows residents to mingle with ease. The amount of outside activities they provide for the seniors is just right, the seniors are not overwhelmed with choices, and they find interesting things do like a field trip to the culinary institute for dinner or a mystery drive. The on-site activities are well balanced some being arts & crafts and gentle exercise programs. They have an activities room with 2 computers for residents to use (each resident recieves an e-mail account and has the opportunity to communicate with loved ones via e-mail, but will need to know some basics as there are no lessons provided on the computer) with a large screen television for movies and the Wii (which the residents love to go wii bowling). The rooms are nice sized and they have kitchen amenities so the residents can still cook for themselves or entertain their guests. The facility food is very good, healthy, and the wait staff is very accomodating. Residents are provided portions that allow them to feel fed but not overfed. I have been in this facility when there is an emergency and the staff is completely on alert and on the ball. Emergency services are close by. Parking for visitors is not bad and I have never walked more than a block to my car. I have docked a star off of this facility for one thing and that is the location is not close enough to places where residents can get out with their walker or scooter to walk to a grocery store or a drug store. For seniors to be able to take little jaunts for their own needs is good exercise as well as this helps them retain a little bit of independence instead of relying on the van or shuttle to take them.
Provider Response
Jack Alexander
5
|
July 22, 2011
This facility is located right in the middle of shopping. There are lots of cafes and coffee shops around. The grounds are nice, but it's a city feel, so the grounds aren't very big. It's a high rise that looks nice from the outside. The common areas are very attractive and well-furnished. They have a library, a computer room, and a fitness room. I assume they have exercise classes for the residents there. This facility offers independent living and assisted living. The residents have very nice studio, one-bedroom, or two-bedroom apartments. The apartments have kitchen areas, though I don't know what features those kitchens have. The food is delicious. They have a great chef. The food is nutritious, and they work with residents on any dietary restrictions they have. The staff is very helpful, and they are caring and kind to the residents. I'm sure there are some RNs and LVNs. I don't know much about the activities, but it looks like there are a lot of them.
Provider Response
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