Merrill Gardens at Oceanside
Anonymous
"Welcoming Assisted Living with Excellent Staff and Pleasant Amenities"
The people who run this place and the workers are really nice and listen to what you have to say. The food is better now, most of the time it's really good. The new boss and the cook are making things better here, and it's a good choice if you're looking for a place. They also have a social director who has been adding more stuff to do lately. I'm really glad I picked this place, and I plan to stay here until I'm at least 100, which is in 10 years. I really like my apartment because it has big windows that let in lots of sunlight. I can look down and see the busy traffic without having to deal with it. There's also a hillside with the skyline above, which is nice to see.
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Courtney
"Great staff, helpful and kind, food was okay"
The team was super helpful the entire time. Everything was great. The only thing she didn't like was the food, but I ate there and thought it was good. The staff were wonderful!!!!
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Concerned Caregiver
"Post December 2022: Drop in Quality and Care at Facility"
Any opinions before December 2022 don't fully tell the truth. This place has changed. We used to be happy with their help for everyday living and even memory care. But the quality dropped hugely after they sold it. They promised things with their care contract that they didn't deliver. We didn't even know my family member was being bathed maybe only two times in one month instead of twice per week. The medications the doctor ordered weren't given out right. We saw lots of residents with unexplained bruises. They've reduced how many activities they offer too. The loyal staff are doing the best they can, but they told us they don't have enough people even in 2023. Management is really slow to respond when we reach out.
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Lisa Szabo
"Downgraded Care at Everest: Broken Promises and Worries"
Sadly, things were great when it was called Merrill Gardens. But when it got sold and turned into Everest, the care my family member gets has gotten worse. They promised us only minor changes, but they didn't keep their word. I've seen few recent reviews which confirm this. I'm really worried that my loved one is not getting the same care as before. It's disappointing and concerning.
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Barbee
"Needs more staff, but excellent caregivers at Everest at Oceanside"
Everest at Oceanside should employ extra workers and actually follow through with what their sales team pledges. They really need to keep their word. Nevertheless, the actual caretakers who provided care to our family member were amazing.
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anonymous
"Not Ideal for Our Needs"
We visited the facility in person and found the tour very professional and positive. However, the building itself wasn't quite what we had hoped for.
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anonymous
"Great facility with amazing staff; hard choice between options."
We really liked Truewood by Merrill Oceanside. It was hard to choose between them and another place. The staff were fantastic and gave us an excellent tour. This facility was just as good as the one we picked. I can't even say why we chose the other one over Truewood. Both would have been great options.
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Anonymous
"Wonderful place with kind staff and big rooms"
This place is wonderful! The staff is so kind, and the rooms are really big.
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Anonymous
"Community Doesn't Accept Non-Weight Bearing Individuals"
I planned to check out this place for my mom. At that time, my mom couldn't put weight on her legs because of an accident. I called to arrange a visit and was told that they don't accept people who can't bear weight. I didn't end up going for the tour, but I think it's important for others to know if they are considering this place.
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Anonymous
"Excellent care and value for dad"
This place is great for my dad’s care. I like that it’s clean and well-kept. The food is amazing, and we’ve enjoyed meals with my dad. They have activities for him to join, and we hope he will participate with the other residents. We recommend this place for its good care and value for other families and their loved ones.
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Anonymous
"Positive experience despite care limitations."
Mom enjoyed her time there. Staff was friendly, food good. Clean environment, no odors. Positive experience but had to move due to increased care needs.
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Anonymous
"Could Do Better, But Mom Likes It!"
My mom just moved into this place and she's getting used to it. The people taking care of her could be doing a more consistent job. So far, I'm not super pleased with the care she's getting and I hope they get better soon. Mom seems to like the food and hopefully, she'll start joining in on the fun activities soon. We've hit some bumps in the road, but it's not all bad and I'd tell others to consider it.
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Anonymous
"Attractive, Large Campus With Patios But A Bit Confusing"
The campus is lovely with a lot of space. The patios are a nice touch. My friend Vic was worried he'd get turned around. The price is $5100.
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Anonymous
"Vibrant and Cozy Assisted Living with Lots of Activities"
This place is really nice! It's kept up well, with lots of bright colors that make it feel more like a regular apartment building. It smells good too. There are plenty of things to do, and the restaurant is really nice. You can eat whenever you want.
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Anonymous
"Great amenities and dining at a good price!"
My mother recently moved here and is still adjusting. She’s not joining many activities yet, but she’s meeting new people. I had lunch with her recently, and it was very good. I picked this place because of the restaurant-style dining and its location near shopping. They also have a spa and hair salon. I like the amenities they offer for the price.
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Anonymous
"Need Better Communication!!"
Staff changes lack communication. Meals good, open dining hours. Recommend, improve communication.
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Anonymous
"No complaints from my wife."
The community is nice and well-kept. My wife is happy, receiving personal attention from the staff. The community is outstanding. Staff gave her a craft box. Food is good, no complaints.
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Anonymous
"Great Care and Friendly Staff at Merrill Gardens"
My father is doing well at Merrill Gardens. They take excellent care of him. The previous place we tried didn’t offer the level of care he needed. The facility looks great, smells nice, and is well-kept. Though he’s still adjusting, the staff has been very supportive. Everyone here is friendly and kind. They provide enjoyable activities for the residents, and the food is well-liked. We’re glad he’s safe and getting the care he needs.
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Anonymous
"Great manager made our experience very positive at Merrill Gardens"
The process went smoothly. The manager was great with our family and had excellent people skills. Overall, our experience with Merrill Gardens was very positive.
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Anonymous
"Decent Facility, Rocky Start, Needs Food Improvement"
The place is really clean and the rooms are good-sized. Most of the staff is pretty nice, but there's one who doesn't even say hi or smile. Mom's not happy with the food. They serve hot meals cold and it seems like the eggs have been sitting in water. The toast isn't properly toasted and the waffles are rubbery. Everything comes in disposable dishes and the utensils are cheap plastic. Sometimes, the service is really slow. On move-in day, no one greeted her. If we hadn't stayed on, she'd have just stayed in her room. We had to take her to the dining room and show her where the salon was. After a week, we showed her the library, laundry room, and game room. We explored the second and third floor. It was on the second week that she finally made some friends, played bingo, got her hair done, and started seeming okay. By the third week, she's become friendlier and more outgoing. Mom’s first days here were tough, but she's doing better now although she's still not a fan of the food.
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Anonymous
"Unbearable Living Conditions Merit Half Star Rating"
This facility is just awful. It's so bad, it makes me want to tear up. I'm only rating it half a star because I can't give it zero. I want my voice to be heard.
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Anonymous
"Very nice place!"
I am not ready to move yet, but when I do, I plan to move here! It is a beautiful, clean place that provides excellent care. The only annoying part was waiting a while for someone to tour my daughter and me. When they arrived, they were very nice and friendly, but it was frustrating to wait so long. Still, it is a great community, and I'm happy to know it is there when I need it!
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Family Member
"Attentive staff, minor concerns addressed, no food complaints."
Nice Attention, Minor Issues Fixed, No Food Problems!
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Daughter
"Distressing Sight of Unattended Elderly at Merrill's Lobby"
The lady who showed me around was really nice, and the rooms seemed decent enough. But I was bothered by all the old folks just snoozing in the lobby without any attention from staff. That sight didn't sit well with me, especially because that's not something I see where my parents currently stay. This was a common sight at Merrill. Aren't there people assigned to keep an eye on them? Are they staying hydrated? Their heads were bowed so low, touching their chests - older folks need more care and attention, and it's not right to leave them like that.
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Kim and Dave Rau, Children of
"A Wonderful and Caring Community"
We've been very happy with this place. We checked out a lot of places last year, and this one stood out. We can't say enough good things about it. It's a comforting and caring community. Everyone, from the director to the dining staff, is just great. What impressed us the most is how well they work with our hospice team. Even the dining room assistants visit her when she's not feeling well. It's a very supportive community.
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Daughter
"**"Nice, but Not Right for Dad"**"
We visited this place, and I thought it was really nice. But my dad didn't like it, and since he's the one who has to live there, that's what matters. It was a Merrill Gardens facility.
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Pam R.
"Verify Services Promised: Hidden Laundry Cost at Care Center"
My dad gets food and cleanup service at the care center. They're pretty different. The cleaning folks, I'd rate top-notch, five stars. The meals? Those I'm less thrilled about, maybe a two-star rating. My dad doesn't join in, but there's loads of stuff to do for those who want to. One piece of advice to the facility or folks thinking about it is to verify what you're being told. Don't just trust a single person's word, cause it might not be true. I was choosing between two places, and one of them said they'd also clean my dad's clothes, not just his bedding. That swayed me in their favor. Seems that wasn't true. They only clean the bedding, and they charge an extra $40 a month for clothes laundry.
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Customer
"Assisted Living Spot: Echoes of Sunrise MV, Elderly Residents"
The two-bedroom units at this place offer memory care and even accommodate for Catholic communion. They do, however, charge $40 each month for personal laundry services. Additionally, the place doesn't seem to have any balconies. The whole setup actually reminds me of Sunrise in MV. It's important to note that the people living here are pretty aged.
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Tim Boyer
"Friendly, Happy, and Great Follow Through"
The best thing about this place is how friendly and spirited everyone is. It's a lot cheaper than anything in the Bay Area, which is great. The people seem really happy, always on time, and very responsive. My folks do some activities, but it depends on what they feel like. We're all very happy with the place. When I talked to the residents, they were pleased and said that if Pacific Place promises something, they do it. Their follow-through, happiness, and spirit are awesome.
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Scott
"Rooms Lacked Bathrooms, Ruling Out Memory Care Option"
I checked out the assisted living part at first. Then, they said my dad needed memory care, so I checked that out too. The rooms didn't have bathrooms, and they were small and square-shaped. Because of this, I decided against choosing them.
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Customer
"Warm and personable Director; varied care options; room concerns."
We talked with the Director who was really nice and friendly. She focused on how we're taking care of mom and what help she might need. They offered to visit our home or have mom for lunch. The Director gave us her full attention without interruptions. They offer two types of care: big rooms in the main building and smaller ones with shared bathrooms in the memory care area. If mom has dementia, she has to stay in the memory care area, but it's full now. We didn't like the small rooms and shared bathrooms there. We'd prefer if mom could stay in the main building, but we worry she might eat too much with food available all day. The memory care area limits access to food, though. Maybe with activities and other people around, mom wouldn't just eat all the time. We're not sure if mom really needs memory care or if it's more of a gray area, so we'll talk to her doctor. Overall, this place is nicer than others we've seen. They have three LVNs and said many people stay until the end of life.
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Customer
"Monthly rent for 2-bedroom with mini kitchen"
Rentable every month. Two bedroom with small kitchen.
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