Merrill Gardens at Santa Maria

Dennie

I went to Merrill Gardens at Santa Maria. It was super clean. The staff was nice. I liked the whole layout. I liked the different tiers of service, which most places give from cottages to full assistance when needed, and even hospice. It would suit my father's needs if he wanted to move in this direction. The staff was super friendly and very helpful. He's been there for several years. He took me to several vacant rooms and just gave me the whole tour. He was very, very accommodating. The menu looked great. They have a chef there, and of course, it is walk-in dining like the newer facilities. The dining area had a lot of natural light, and it was very spacious, and very clean. They have a salon, a billiards room, a library, a pool, and a spa, and a nice, outdoor area with firepit.

Provider Response

Dyanne

I went to Merrill Gardens at Santa Maria. It was excellent all the way around. It's a wonderful community. I liked all of their offerings there, as far as the caregiving, the dining, the activities, and all of the things that they offer. They have memory card games, entertainment, libraries, board games, and lots of social activities for people to interact. They have excellent staff. It's very clean. Everything has been upgraded. I didn't eat any of their food, but their offerings and menu is quite extensive with lots of choices.

Provider Response

Peaceful

I relocated my folks to this facility in June, 2020 during the COVID-19 period and they were extremely helpful managing all of the restrictions and guidelines from the medical requirements to move in day. Special thanks to Gary G., Kim A., Audie S. and Chris R. for their assistance and guidance. Very dedicated and helpful staff from Kitchen, Care Givers and MedTech. The comfort level to the family of the resident is very special.

Provider Response

Shirlee

I was at Merrill Gardens at Santa Maria. I liked it. It was run by a bigger corporation, but the rent was twice as much as other places. My room had a kitchenette with a full sized refrigerator and a two-burner stove. I had a very big bathroom that was big enough to put my walker in. I enjoyed that room very much. They had so many activities, too. They were able to us on the bus. They also have doctors' days. Even though it costs double, you get that much square footage and activities. They also have more buses.

Provider Response

George

The restaurant at Merrill Gardens at Santa Maria is pretty much open from 7 in the morning to 7 at night, and I like that feature very much because I don't always feel like eating at a set time. It was very good but what I didn't like it is it's so huge. The staff was very nice. I was impressed with the place.

Provider Response

Gumby01

Pros: Great people. Excellent facility. Surprisingly good food. Cons: None The twilight of life is often not an easy time. In late April 2018, my wife and I moved from Silicon Valley which we called home for more than 35 years to Nipomo, about 210 miles to the south. My mother relocated from Pennsylvania to San Jose in February 2015 and took up residence in a nice retirement facility (part of the Brookdale group). When we moved, there was little choice for her but to go with us. The Central Coast of California between San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria is a remarkably happy place. The weather is tough to beat. Vineyards cover many of the hills. The Pacific Ocean is never far away. People seem to be content…whether fellow shoppers in the stores, neighbors or drivers(!). Still, finding the appropriate place for an aging parent is not a simple task. If moving is one of life’s toughest jobs for a person in good health and sound mind, it’s a treacherous task for a 90 year old with many ailments, both real and imagined. A few minutes after arriving at Merrill Gardens, my wife and I turned to each other and said “this is it”. My mother moved there 3 weeks after we settled into our new home. Any transition is hard, especially for an elderly person who established a life in one city and didn’t really want to try it again in another. She only lived 5 weeks in Merrill Gardens before succumbing to a variety of medical issues, but the staff and people in that residence made our lives as sweet as possible, both before and after her passing. - Location: Convenient. Merrill Gardens is in the northern part of Santa Maria, about 3 minutes east of Highway 101 off the Donovan Road exit. - Exterior: Very attractive. There are 2 large 3 story buildings…one built in the early 2000s and the other around 2010 (I believe)…plus a circle of cottages to the north and east. Attention has obviously been given to the landscaping which gives the complex a residential appeal. You might say it’s the nicest part of the neighborhood. - Interior (of the newer building where my mother lived): Bright and cheerful. The receptionist and concierge are just inside the entrance with a “great room” to the left. It’s warm, colorful and cozy. The initial feeling you get is “they take care of things at this place”. The dining room remains open from early morning to late evening since Merrill Gardens has a policy of “anytime dining”. It’s large and airy with tables spaced far enough apart to permit privacy yet allow conversation among friends. The hallways are more spacious and inviting than at similar facilities. There are several rooms for meetings and movies, the largest library I’ve seen in such places and a very active pool table nearby. - Apartments: Generous. My mother had a one bedroom unit on the 2nd floor with about 600 square feet plus a balcony of 100 square feet. When she arrived, there had only been one occupant since the facility opened. It was cleaned and painted with a bigger kitchen than she had in San Jose…including a large refrigerator, microwave and stove. Maybe not all the amenities of a real home (such as a lack of good storage), but not too shabby either. - Dining: Really good. My mother was a picky eater, but definitely enjoyed her meals at Merrill Gardens. While we were sometimes dragged to dinner in San Jose, we went willingly here. The food was tasty and the servers friendly and patient. - Senior Staff: The best. We can’t say enough good things about the Chief Executive, Audie. and Community Managers Kim. and Gary G., but I’ll try. Kind, accommodating, informative and willing to listen to a family’s tales of woe. It was like having friends on the inside. The receptionists were always helpful, especially Barbara during there week. - Caretakers and Other Staff: More of the best. Kind, supportive and patient. They’re not the most highly paid, but their jobs are tough. - Other Residents: Very friendly. It’s as if the happy atmosphere of the Central Coast extended to the residents. Older age did not deter these people from smiling. - Cost: Reasonable. We paid $3,250/month for the one bedroom apartment which was roughly the same as in San Jose, but for a nicer facility. However, it can get expensive if you need ancillary services, including management of medicines and specialized care. NOTE: The initial “community fee” of $4,000 covers the facility’s move-in costs. If your family member leaves within the first 4 months, you’ll get a pro-rated amount back. Mr. Sherberg was very helpful in getting us the best possible refund. - Value: Excellent. The best money spent in quite a while. I hesitated writing this review for a few months after my mother’s death because I wanted to make sure the long process ended as well as it began. It did. There are no “ifs, ands or buts” to the 5 stars awarded to Merrill Gardens in Santa Maria.

Provider Response

Kelly

My mom is doing pretty good at Merrill Gardens at Santa Maria. The staff is very good, professional, and pleasant. The food is very good and high quality, and they're all happy with it. The facilities are very nice and high grade. The amenities are very nice. They have a garden and pool. People should go check the place out. It's worth their time to look at.

Provider Response

Kathie

My mother is at Merrill Gardens at Santa Maria. They have excellent food, and she could go down anytime and they would fix her a meal. We've eaten there a couple of times, and the food is delicious. They have a lot of activities. It's super clean. I've used the public restrooms many times and they're very clean. They have lots of staff. They're very family oriented, so it's not about the money, it's more about the people, and we really appreciate that aspect of it. We're very impressed. It's not inexpensive but it's also not ultra expensive. The staff per senior ratio is pretty high. We like that, too. Her room is very large with a walk-in closet plus a regular closet. She has a very large bathroom with a curbless shower with multiple shower heads plus storage in her bathroom for linens. She has a little kitchenette in her studio apartment with a sink and a built-in microwave, a full-sized refrigerator, and built-in kitchen storage cabinets. It's a very nice room with a big window that opens up. I'm happy with them. While we were there moving her in, a lot of people stopped in her room, like the housekeeping staff and the care staff. She wears the little button around her neck in case she falls. The people were super nice. The service staff in the dining hall is very nice, too. They offer something every single day like wine and cheese and yesterday they had a giant Easter egg party. My sister and my husband participated in that. The facility is very big, and it also has memory care.

Provider Response

Elaine

We had a very positive visit at Merrill Gardens. The staff was very pleasant, friendly, and knowledgeable. Everything was completely clean, there were no smells of any kind, and the food looked good. I think it was one of the nicest facilities I saw in that area.

Drpet2017

I do not recommend the memory unit. While things are pretty on the outside the care is not sufficient. The staff cannot watch all residents and I have witnessed unsafe situations. Residents who cannot get up on there own are often ignored when they plea to get up or dress themselves. The activity director is awesome and there are a few caregivers who are caring and try hard. It's upsetting that things happen and the none of the employees can tell you why or how. Also, I know that a few caregivers have reported concerns to the supervisors and they were pushed aside. I think that if all parties would be honest and upfront then this place could be wonderful and worth the money. The most important thing is safety and respect for ones dignity.

catherine756678

I didn't like Merrill Gardens as much. It's a little more businesslike. I didn't think it was as homey. It just didn't feel as good. I think the staff was doing the best they could, but it seemed so large. It's not very pretty, and the structure seemed too industrial. I couldn't tell if the staff is happy or not. The room I was shown hadn't been clean. It didn't leave me with a good impression. The dining area was closed, so I just looked at it. The structure itself didn't feel like a place like you'd want to leave your loved one. When I think about leaving my loved one somewhere, I want them to feel they're at home. It didn't look good even from the outside.

Son of a happy Mom

My mother has been residing at Merrill Gardens for nearly a month. However, it was a three year process for her to grudgingly accept living in a senior community. At this point she is settling in very nicely, and my siblings, as well as all of our spouses are extremely pleased. The management and staff are excellent, and the facilities, meals and activities are perfectly suited to the specific needs of each individual resident. Prior to entering Merrill Gardens various family members toured the facility, met with the management and were provided with a great deal of information regarding their program, including the typical adjustment curve for new residents to feel comfortable. I am happy to say that our mother is following that curve, just as described. Our family is now secure in knowing that Mom is in a safe, well-appointed and stimulating environment.

Provider Response

Susan170023

Mom is in Merrill Gardens at Santa Maria for 1 month now, and it has been very good. Everything is very nice compared to other places that we visited. The staff has been very caring, and my mom has made friends with a lot of them. Mom likes their restaurant style dining area where she can eat whenever she likes. We checked a lot of places, but Mom was happiest with this one. They have lots of activities, but Mom is still adjusting, so she doesn’t participate much in their activities yet.

Provider Response

Robert488005

Merrill Gardens at Santa Maria was very clean and very neat. No buy-in dollar-wise. The individual cottages were very attractive and very roomy. The grounds were spacious and very well kept. It was a very nice place.

Provider Response

Deborah288882

My dad has been in Merrill Gardens since January. It is really nice, and people are very friendly. My dad seems to like it OK, and so far so good. The staff is good. They're not medical qualified -- they are more like aides -- but it’s OK. I wish they had more medical experience. Dad is doing all right. He's in a shared room, and he didn’t care for that much. They have a lot of activities, like bingo and music, and they go on field trips. He's in a wheelchair, so it's little hard for him to get in and out of the bus. He just likes to watch TV, and they have a nice big screen TV.

Provider Response

John P.555552

Merrill Gardens was fine but too expensive for us. My dad needs more care than they can give. It's good for someone who is aged 75 to 95. They had independent living as well.

Provider Response

Joan802622

Everything at Merrill Gardens at Santa Maria is beautiful, and it's great. The place is wonderful, the food's great, and the tour was very good. It was bright, cheery, and very well planned out. It just was a very nice place, and I was impressed.

Provider Response

Suzzane133545

We visited Merrill Gardens. The gentleman that was there did not know we were coming, but he took a break and showed us around. When we got there, they were having a special lunch. He showed us around, but he had to leave, so I sat and talked with some of the people, wait staff, and the employees. It was very similar to where my mother lives now, but it was $1,000 cheaper. They had all types of activities, two big dining rooms, a pool, a spa, the hairdresser, and activities in the gym. The only thing that they did not have was the size room that she needed. They were very nice.

Provider Response

Fely038220

Merrill Gardens at Santa Maria was very nice, well maintained, very clean, fresh, and new. It is just a very nice place. It looked like an upscale hotel. There wasn’t really too much going on at the time when we went through, though. The food was great, and the dining area looked nice.

Provider Response

DavidEMGHR

I looked into Merrill Gardens. It was a very nice place but too far away from the people we knew and the activities that we were involved in. I thought the place was relatively new and had been kept up in very good condition. The people seemed friendly and alert. They had a very good selection of activities. They sponsored a very active local bridge game with a number of occupants there and there were also people not living there who came in and participated. The people running the place were very friendly, accommodating, and understood that these kinds of transitions were difficult. I thought they were as supportive as possible. The place was very attractive, physically.

Provider Response

Anonymous Visitor22

Merrill Gardens at Santa Maria looked like a very nice place. We liked it a lot. The staff seemed friendly and knowledgeable, but we didn’t see very many of them and didn’t really talk to anybody besides Gary. The cleanliness was excellent. The dining area and rooms that we saw were very nice.

Provider Response

JMK2

Everything at Merrill Gardens at Santa Maria is wonderful. The staff is knowledgable, and answered all the questions we needed. The rooms were excellent; open, friendly, and in excellent shape. The food is excellent too. They have too many activites for my mom to participate in.

Provider Response

Sam34

The rooms at Merrill Gardens weren’t as big as the ones where I’m living now. The staff was very helpful; they explained everything and were very courteous.

Provider Response

Robin121430650

My parents will be moving in Merrill Gardens. This community has very high standards. They are very good, unlike the other facilities that I checked out. Everybody -- the staff and residents -- is friendly. I like them a lot. When we had lunch during our visit there, the residents turned around from their tables and told us that Merrill Gardens was a really happy and fun place to live. Their dining room reminds me of a crew ship on land. It opens from 7:00 to 7:00 and serves special meals every day. You can even tell them what you want in your salad bar and they put it on it. They have one-bedroom apartments, studios, and two-bedroom apartments. Everyone there has their own air conditioning and heating. They have a calendar of activities they do every day and do bus trips almost everyday. They have puzzle games to play, too. It's a very secure place, as well, because you have to sign in and out at the desk to get in. They have security guards, which very much impressed me!

Provider Response

Denise43

It is a gated community, which is nice. It says Merrill Gardens. It doesn’t say, like, assisted living or retirement community. It’s like you’re driving through a gated neighborhood. They have three-story buildings when you first drive in. One of them is independent; one is assisted living. To the left of that, they have three streets that have cottages that are independent living. There are 40 of those cottages on three streets. There are four of them connected. You have your own garage, but you take your trash out just like you do in your normal home. Your mailbox is right down the street from your home, just like in a normal place. There’s a central green area in the middle of the cottages, with community gardening if you wanted. They have patios in the front door, off of the master’s bedroom, and a huge patio off the dining-room area in the kitchen, which has very nice landscaping, so you can putter in the front yard or in the back yard if you wanted to. They do, however, take care of the landscaping they put in. The units are two bedrooms, two bathrooms, living room, huge kitchen with an island and an eating area. It’s very well-laid-out and with nice square footage. They’re almost 1,300 square feet, like 1,280. The garage is very nice-sized -- a car and a half garage. If you’re still into having a work bench, a car or a golf cart, you had space for all of that. But in addition, they also have apartments, which have full kitchens. They have a lot of activities going on. They have all kinds of clubs for whatever you happen to be into. If you don’t want to drive, they have shuttles that go to Costco, the grocery store, and the malls. They have outings to the casinos and concerts too. The assisted living has their own three-story building. They have very nice apartments. We only looked at the two bedrooms because that’s what we were interested in. They have lots of square footage, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and nice balconies. Their own buildings are three-story, nicely decorated with good colors. It was very nice. In assisted living, they have more kitchenettes versus the kitchen. The nice thing about Merrill Garden is when they built their apartments (the three-story buildings) one echnically is independent and the other one is assisted, but they are both licensed for assisted living, which is nice. If you are living in the so-called independent apartment and you need assistance, you can still get it in that apartment without moving, which is nice. Their assisted living is not a cookie-cutter program. Whatever you need assistance in is the assistance you will get. All the activities are for everybody. Even if you live in the assisted living, you’re not sequestered to the assisted-living dining room. It's the same thing in the independent living -- you’re not sequestered to that dining room. You can eat whatever venue you want; you can attend whatever activities you want. It doesn’t matter what assistance level you need. You can do everything you want to do. The caregivers looked like very caring people. We ate in the dining room that day; the dining room staff was fabulous. The food was really good. We also toured the memory-care facility, which is three buildings. They call them houses. It’s inside the gated area inside the gated area, so they’re double-gated. They house 14 people in each one of these houses. They each have their own dining room and everything. The rooms were very nice. They’re 150 square feet, nice-sized rooms and bathroom. It didn’t feel like you’re in any kind of a hospital or nursing home. It was very homey, nicely carpeted, walls are wall-papered, nice oak railing going down the hallway, and artwork from residents and artists alike on the walls. Each of the buildings is identical to each other. If they had to move somebody from building 1 to building 3, they wouldn’t get agitated because the buildings look identical to the one they just came from. They wouldn’t even know that they transferred from a different building. I think the biggest difference between Merrill Gardens and some of the other ones is that Merrill Gardens is built as a senior continuing-care community, where some of them that we looked at took over a hotel or a student housing. It was actually built for older people. The bathrooms are the correct size, rooms are nice-sized, and doorways are big enough for wheelchairs and walkers. They seemed to saw almost everything.

Provider Response

Sylvia19

Merrill Gardens was really nice with really nice activities, and you didn’t have to go outside to go to the dining hall; that was really nice. They have washers and dryers in the room, which was really nice. The one thing I didn’t like about it is that it had a kitchen; I wish they wouldn’t have kitchens in them because they don’t really use the kitchens, and they could use the place for something else. They all go down to the dining hall after all. The staff was very nice and good. The activities were really nice, and they take them to different places. We really like it.

Provider Response

Caring112854750

The first one I visited was Merrill Gardens at Santa Maria. It is well-known in the area. They have a lot of features, and the units have a lot of features as well; those seemed good. The units were like a big apartment house. They have different sizes. Also they have a big dining area where anybody can go in and eat at any time from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. They have exercise classes, and they have transportation to and from doctors and shopping.

Provider Response

Lori44

Our friend has been in Merrill Gardens at Santa Maria since the 25th of June. They have several buildings, and she is in 1350. I have nothing but good comments about the staff and the facility. The staff is excellent, the facility is very nice, the food is very good, and the people are very caring. The room that my friend has is very comfortable and larger than most that we checked in the area, and the price is a good value. She has a one-bedroom apartment, and it has a complete kitchen with a regular stove and a refrigerator; however, she doesn't plan to cook. All meals are included. and they can eat anytime they want from 7:00 to 7:00. It's the best of all worlds. She has a 700 square foot apartment. and it has one bedroom and one bath. The dining room is lovely. They have all sorts of activities. They have outings where they take them on little bus tours for the day with boxed lunches. They take them to plays, their medical appointments if they need to be taken, and to shopping places. They have a happy hour on Friday night and barbecues on the 4th of July or Memorial Day -- they seem to celebrate every holiday.

Provider Response

Trudy5

I visited Merrill Gardens at Santa Maria. We were very impressed because it is a beautiful place. It was expensive, but we kind of expected it to be. There was a living room, a bedroom, and a small kitchenette in some of them. We were looking more in the assisted living section. I was very impressed. It was very nice with a balcony on them. They offer a lot of amenities. They have crafts, meeting rooms, and exercise rooms. It looks like there was a lot of socialization going on. The people that we met were very pleasant and seemed happy. We didn't have a chance to taste the food at Merrill Gardens, but it seems very pleasant, and the residents were happy and contented. They were still very mobile in moving around. We were very impressed.

Provider Response

Caring106544150

I think Merrill Gardens at Santa Maria is institutional. It is too big with three stories, and I don’t like that. The place is very, very clean. The rooms are very nice.

Provider Response

Audrey19

What I like about Merrill Gardens is that the grounds are large. There are a lot of outdoor areas. They have a pool and a garden area. The staff was very friendly. The rooms were very nice and spacious. They were also clean and very well kept.

Provider Response

Caring94056650

I visited Merrill Gardens, and it was excellent; there was excellent care, good meals, good exercises, and entertainment. The staff is very nice, and my friend is living in a 2-bedroom apartment. It’s not large, but it’s adequate and he has a nice balcony.

Provider Response

Kym1

My mom is all settled at the Merrill Gardens at Santa Maria. We had nothing, but really good experience. All of the staff is really nice and the facility is nice. The room is fine and I thought it was a good place. My mom is really happy and she likes it there. I like how the food and the dining is all day. They don't have a set mealtime, they can just go in and get food any time that they want. So it is more like home in some ways instead of having to stick to a schedule.

Caring9933

Merrill Gardens was the facility where my mother-in-law stayed. The place was just fabulous. There were tons of amenities. The food was delicious and tasty. The staff were just amazing. She was super happy there.

Caring805

Merrill Gardens looks pretty nice. It's clean and modern-looking. The have enough common areas, exercise areas, dining, library and social areas. Of all the places I've seen it seems one of the nicest and I would recommend them.

Caring310

Nothing really impressed me about Merrill Gardens in Santa Maria. We had dinner there and the food wasn't that good. The environment seemed kind of sterile, not as warm as other facilities I've visited. There was a smell to it and the rooms were dark like dungeons. My mom didn't think much of it either. I didn't get the feeling that it was a homey atmosphere.

Provider Response

hinshar

My Mother and Father became residents in June of 2005 when it was Arbor View and was bought out by Merrill Gardens. My Mother was placed in the Garden House unit which specializes in dementia, alzheimers and other issues that could not be handled by assisted living. My father went to the assisted living facility. My Mother and Father were treated respectfully and I had no worries that they were not taken care of at all. My Mother passed at the facility in 2009 and my Father is now in the same unit that my Mother was in. He loves the caregiviers and the people there and they treat him like he is their own father. The staff caregivers are wonderful and I love visiting with them when I go there. I recommend Merrill Gardens in Santa Maria wholeheartedly.

TaryJer

Everyone there was very friendly there and welcoming,very warm,they were very helpful,i enjoyed the tour very much.they assisted me to my full expectations,i've also heard from other people that have obtained assisted living from that place and they all say good things so i decided to go on a tour there.