I went to see Brookdale Santa Monica Gardens assisted living and it was a very nice place. My mother also stayed there many years ago, but it's a little overwhelming for someone in my mother-in-law's position. It's mostly more active people than she is. I have to call them and tell them that we're not going to sign up.
It's a very nice place. It seems to be very well run and most of the people I saw there seemed to be content and satisfied with what it was.
The manager whose name is Mike, I think, was very nice to me. He showed me around. There are some hurdles there though. You have to supply your own furniture and a lot of things like that.
I'd recommend it to anyone that's looking for something where you can participate more than my mother-in-law can do now.
The only staff I talked to was the guy that took me around and he was very helpful. He said he would do his best to accommodate us.
They had menus there and they had an open dining room so it looked okay. That was a similar situation even from when my mother was there. It still looked like it was well maintained and clean. Everything that I saw during the tour looked very good.
851 Second Street, Santa Monica, CA 90403
Call
(800) 385-2527
Reviews of Brookdale Santa Monica Gardens
Assisted Living Reviews for Brookdale Santa Monica Gardens
March 19, 2022
I visited this facility
October 06, 2021
I visited this facility
I visited Brookdale Santa Monica Gardens. They were very caring, very warm, and loving. It was a beautiful location, a little on the expensive side. In addition to meals and medical care, if she needed it, they had a lot of activities for the residents. The rooms were small, but the upkeep is very good. The staff was very warm and friendly. The dining area looked clean, and the residents seemed happy.
There was a class that was doing chair yoga. It's Santa Monica, it's very beautiful year-round. Outside, they have very beautiful flowers, greenery, lots of comfortable seating. There are quiet areas, not a lot of traffic causing a lot of noise; it's very serene.
April 18, 2021
I visited this facility
I was super impressed with Brookdale Santa Monica Gardens. It is very light and airy, and it has a lot of sunlight, which is good. It has a lot of different activities, which my father needs, and it has computer-room access without them having to have their own computer. They have many amenities, and the one that interests me is giving him rides to and from the doctor if he has doctor appointments. They have different activities, and they have various levels of health care that can go up or down depending on how he is doing. You don't have to sign and then commit to it, it can just adjust, and the staff seems very nice, too.
July 17, 2017
I visited this facility
Brookdale Santa Monica Gardens was very rundown, and the traffic around the place was really bad. It looked like they were not doing very well because they were very anxious to get people in. It was not a very good place.
Provider Response
We appreciate you taking the time to visit Brookdale Santa Monica Gardens and share your feedback. We are committed to quality service and care and will review your feedback with our management team.
November 24, 2016
I visited this facility
Brookdale Santa Monica Gardens was very good and nice. The accommodations looked nice, and the whole atmosphere of the place seemed to be very good. The setting was nice, and it had a lot of garden area and outdoor sitting areas. It was also in a quiet neighborhood. They had a small exercise area and a card room. It was clean and looked very well-kept.
September 07, 2016
I visited this facility
Facility is run down and has a lot of deferred maintenance. The elevators break constantly and one of the two is inoperative for weeks at a time. They don't take care of the facility and the food is terrible.
Provider Response
We appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback. Our staff is committed to providing the highest-quality service and care and we will share your feedback with our management team.
January 23, 2016
I visited this facility
My visit at Brookdale was excellent. However, it was too far from my family. The dining area was fine, although I didn’t eat a meal there.
September 29, 2015
I visited this facility
We were disappointed with Brookdale; it was dark, it wasn’t clean, and it smelled. They were having sing along, which was great. Everything was all extra cost. It was not appealing, and the staff said it wasn’t a good fit.
Provider Response
Thank you for taking the time to provide us with your feedback.
July 28, 2015
I visited this facility
We visited Brookdale Santa Monica Gardens for my dad. It was much more expensive than the other one we visited. However, the person that gave us the tour was fine. They did have lots of activities, and the rooms were nice too.
June 29, 2015
I visited this facility
I went to Brookdale. It was nice, clean, and inviting. The set-up was nice. The only question I had was that the rooms were not fully furnished. I guessed that might be standard, but I don't know. They required that you moved in your own furniture and your own bed. I didn't really have time to inquire about that. Then, there was the wait list, which was a little bit confusing as well, because where would they put these people? The cost was also a little high.
June 07, 2015
I visited this facility
The lady who took me around at Brookdale Santa Monica Gardens was very nice and delightful. Because it was an older facility, it was a lot darker, and the rooms were small. They also did not have a garden to come out to.
Provider Response
Thank you for taking the time to visit and share your feedback. We are committed to continuous quality service and care and will share your feedback with our management team.
May 08, 2015
I visited this facility
Brookdale Santa Monica is independent and assisted living. We chose to visit it because of its location, and I liked it. It has a little older décor, but it was well done. I walked into the lobby, and everybody was very pleasant. There were some residents sitting and walking in the lobby, and they all seem friendly and very happy. The staff was friendly, and when I walked in, they had me sit down, and I didn't have to wait for the representative to come out. I saw some of the staff interacting with the other residents, and they seemed patient, caring, and friendly. I didn't see anybody who was rushing, hurried, or rude. I saw the one bedroom, and it is probably like an average size hotel apartment. It wasn't huge, but it wasn't tiny. The Ocean Boulevard goes right along the beach, and some of units have a view of the ocean. You can go out on the balcony and sit there to look at the ocean. The food is good. I took my daughter with me, and she ordered three things because she had her toddler with her. She just kind of picky sometimes, but she enjoyed it. I did like whatever I ordered. One thing that I like is that the dining room is open continuously. You can walk in and eat anytime that you like which is nice. The dining area had a lot of windows, and it was bright. There were plenty of tables, and it wasn't crowded. The servers were very helpful, and you can also see the beach from the dining room. They have the regular activities like crafts and exercises at the retirement community. You can walk across Ocean Boulevard and go to the beach. The only negative for me because I like to swim is they don't have a pool.
May 06, 2015
I visited this facility
The lady that met me at Brookdale Santa Monica Gardens was very friendly and very helpful. She took me around the place. I found that it was depressing because all I saw were people who truly needed a great deal of care. The rooms were very tiny. I feel that they do not fit my needs because it was not independent living.
Provider Response
Thank you for taking the time to visit and share your feedback. We have several Independent Living communities in the area that may better fit your needs, and hope you will call us at 855-444-7658 to learn more about our Independent Living options.
February 23, 2015
I visited this facility
I visited The Gardens in Santa Monica (Brookdale Santa Monica Gardens). The lady in charge showed me a couple of the rooms, and we took a tour of the facility. The rooms were nice. The place is very pretty. However, I couldn't afford to spend the money they want for one room. Their dining area was pretty, comfortable, and nice. I didn't have any negativesto say about them. I would recommend it. I thought that looking around, everyone was 20 years older than I was, and I was in my 70s.
October 21, 2014
I visited this facility
I am a consultant to seniors who are receiving long-term care in assisted living facilities. My work takes me to many communities in the Los Angeles area and when I visit the Gardens of Santa Monica, I get a welcoming feeling from the caring staff. When I speak with the residents and families they tell me about the outings, activities, and the unique quality of care that they receive. My impression is that the Gardens is doing something special for their residents and families.
August 29, 2014
I visited this facility
My friend and I visited The Gardens and it is a great place. It was beautiful and I thought it was definitely the place he was looking for. The rooms were very nice. The dining room looked pretty. I knew they had some activities, but I didn't notice any activities when we were there.
January 29, 2014
I visited this facility
The Gardens of Santa Monica would have been the best facility for my mother if we could just afford it, but we couldn’t. The rooms were light and airy. It has natural light and good air ventilation which would have been very important to my mother. They have very beautiful grounds with a very beautiful patio for sitting outdoors. The director there was extremely helpful and all of the tenants there seemed extremely active and involved in a lot of different things. It’s a really wonderful place. I had a very good feeling about it.
December 16, 2013
I visited this facility
The Gardens of Santa Monica was clean and within our price range. The facility was clean and the staff were hospitable. When I went there, they told me about the activities like crafts, exercises and day trips. They were nice and they followed-up with me. The rooms were incredibly tiny, so it would be great if they were larger. They had larger rooms but it was more expensive. There was also a restaurant with a menu.
November 21, 2013
I visited this facility
I have come across The Gardens of Santa Monica through an internet search. I visited this place and it really looked good. The staff there was cheerful, pleasant and helpful. The rooms were just what I expected. They have something we could do either individually if we were unable to function or we could do as a couple, so it would meet both of those needs. We looked at two different rooms. The small room was just like a hotel room with nice bathroom, carpeted floors, and safety bars in the bathroom. The larger unit, which would be better for two people, can accommodate a king-size bed. Again, it was also carpeted and it had a nice bathroom. We had lunch there and the food seemed good.
September 30, 2013
I visited this facility
The Garden of Santa Monica's parking is not easy. I think because of the location and its right near the beach. They are very tight with their parking spaces. There was not really something on their grounds that impressed me other than its close to the beach. The person we met was really nice. What I do remember from this facility is that they have apartments connected to the building and they also have two or three rooms outside on the ground floor not easily accessible. The rooms on the outside were very, very nice and spacious.
October 13, 2012
I visited this facility
Before my grandmother could no longer take care of herself, she would always spend so much time in the garden. She would spend hours there, it was like those plants were a second family to her. That's one of the reasons why she would refuse to go to a nursing home because leaving her house would be leaving the "family" that she nurtured and loved for so long. And when it came to nursing homes, usually what comes to mind is just the elderly having to sit in front of a television screen and waste away there would be no flowers she so fondly grew to. We could no longer let her live by herself though, there were specific personal problems which she couldn't do on her own. So you can guess how happily surprised we were when we came to this nice little spot. With all of the necessities, there is that ONE thing that was most important to her LIFE. Not only the lives of the plants, but also the lives of those who love plants just as much as she does. She seems so much happier now_ something that I haven't seen her be like for a long time. This place has all the necessities and more, it is a community filled with LIFE it is everything that I could have hoped for. Heck, I'd want to live here.
September 12, 2012
I visited this facility
The facility seems very quaint and nice, quite appropriate for my grandfather. He seems to be doing fine; he is not showing drastic signs of aging or anything similar to that extent. The staff is amiable, affable, friendly, and are willing to do anything to make their patrons satisfied. I am very grateful for this facility since they seem to take their patron's and their patrons' family member's feelings into consideration and try to make everybody content. If I were to recommend a retiring facility, this would be the place that I would tell my friends and family to send their loved ones when they become of age. I think that if I were to retire from working for so many years, I would feel very comfortable and at ease if I were sent to this retirement facility. In conclusion, I feel that my grandfather is very much appreciated and cared for in this facility.
November 07, 2011
I visited this facility
The Gardens of Santa Monica, I have to say, was one of (if not the best) facility that I have ever visited. They had an awesome reading room with tons of books to choose from, a great balcony with a view of Santa Monica - and you could even see the beach from it (although it is about a mile or two away).
From what I understand, it is a bit pricey. They don't take private insurance, but my client's retirement paid for their stay, and I couldn't think of a better thing to spend it on then retiring in this facility.
Santa Monica is the best beach in all of LA - and The Gardens is most definitely the best facility in Santa Monica. My client said that it was a bit noisy sometimes from the tourists - but very peaceful and relaxing after about midnight.
I would highly recommend this facility to anyone retiring in the LA / Santa Monica area who is able to afford private-pay care.
Independent Living Reviews for Brookdale Santa Monica Gardens
October 28, 2015
I visited this facility
Brookdale Sta. Monica was beautiful and just one block away from the beach. They even had free parking, which was very good for the guests. I was not able to see the rooms, but they showed me around the main place. I had not seen the activities, because I went there without an appointment, but it looked very nice. I thought it was a little pricey for me.
Services and Amenities of Brookdale Santa Monica Gardens
Room and housing options
- Companion Suites: We Offer Companion Suites
- Studio Apartments
Dining options
- In Room Kitchenette
- In Room Kitchens
- Dining Room Shared Meals
- Room Service For Meals
Features
- Beauty Barber Shop
- Computer Room
- Resident Transportation
- Coffee Shop
- Hiking Trails
- Tv Room
- Garden And Patio
- Resident Parking
- Security Gate
- Features Extra: Library, Fitness Room/Gym
Cleaning services
- Laundry For Linens
- Private Cleaning Services
- Housekeeping
- Laundry For Clothing
Technology and entertainment
- Cable In Rooms
- Internet Enabled Rooms
- Wifi
- Technology Extra: Emergency Call System
Health services
- Hospice Care
- Medication Management
- Physical Therapy
- Nurse On Staff: Yes
Activities
- Offsite Activities
- Music
- Games
- Stories
- Religious Services
- Lectures Discussions
- Book Clubs
- Tai Chi
- Fitness Room
- Yoga
- Cooking
- Arts And Crafts
- Activities Extra: Computer Class
Financial guidance
- Va Benefits Consultation
- Financing Advice
Guest services
- Guest Parking
- Guests At Mealtime
Diet
- Diabetic
- Low Fat
- Low Salt
- Renal
Languages
- English
General
- Resident Capacity: 94
- Minimum Age: 65
- Pets: Yes
Range of services
- Physical Therapy
Licenses
- Licenses: RCFE
- State Licenses: 197606682
About Brookdale Santa Monica Gardens
Brookdale Santa Monica Gardens provides assisted living residents with lifestyles, housing, and services in comfortable surroundings combined with exceptional amenities, programs, and care. Through Brookdale's signature Personalized Assisted Living, we customize our care offerings for the individual. This allows each resident at our community the freedom and opportunity to make choices that will ease their lifestyle transitions. Residents enjoy life with the support they need, coupled with the appropriate accommodations as their needs change.
We promise Respect for Individual Preferences by offering personalized care needs and providing an atmosphere that encourages each assisted living resident to live in health and longevity. We also offer special housing and care options for those who require assistance with the activities of daily living such as dressing, bathing and assistance with medication. We offer graduated levels of care based upon the individual need of residents, as determined by our continual assessment process. We are dedicated to enriching the lives of residents every day with signature services for those who value their freedom and independence, but desire or need services providing them with the highest level of quality, care, and value.
What Makes Us Special
We are a lovely community offering independent and personalized assisted living here in Santa Monica. The Gardens is located one block from Pacific Palisades Park and the Pacific Ocean. We are near the Montana neighborhood shopping area, as well as the 3rd Street Promenade, Farmers Market, and Emeritus College.
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