Merrill Gardens at Santa Maria
Anonymous
"Good Cleanliness but Issues with Management and Meals"
The overall cleanliness is very good. However, the staff doesn't have time to change the water for mopping between apartments, so if you're not first on the route, they use dirty water. The staff seems very nice, but management is very corporate and only helps when it's convenient for them. They seem to think all residents have memory problems. There are only two main meals for lunch and dinner, and the other choices never change. It costs $17 for a guest breakfast and $20 for lunch or dinner. The food is average at best, and the service isn't great. She doesn't really participate in activities because they're the same as any other retirement place with no real creativity. When she moved in, they said the price would go up each year, but never more than 3%. Her first year, it increased by 10%.
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Anonymous
"Assisted Living Facility Needs Improvements"
The hallways should be cleaned more often. The transportation they provide mostly goes around the city. When I stayed there during the winter holidays, sometimes there was nobody at the front desk of the newer building. I know people need breaks, but leaving the front desk unattended and relying on trust is not good. Most residents would open their doors if someone knocked.
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Erin S
"Friendly Staff and Good Services at Merrill Gardens"
I would highlight the friendly staff and nice people living there. They offer weekly housekeeping and transportation to appointments and outings (for a fee). They don't have a lot of activities, but there's a good staff-to-resident ratio. My loved one likes the food, and overall I would recommend Merrill Gardens at Santa Monica to others.
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Anonymous
"Great Place, But Pricey Upgrades"
Clean and welcoming with happy residents. The staff is very accommodating. However, the price difference between a studio and a one-bedroom seems too high.
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Anonymous
"Top Choice within Budget"
This place is the best out of all the communities we've checked out, and it seems like it fits our budget.
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Anonymous
"Dad Needs a More Personal Environment"
The folks here were good, they showed me around nicely and had answers for everything I asked. I however, think my dad would fit in better in a smaller, more personal setting.
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Anonymous
"Great Care and Activities for Mom, Highly Recommended"
We really like the care here for my mom. The staff is attentive and friendly. The menu is great, and my mom gets to join in activities with the other residents. We also appreciate the location since it's close to family. We would definitely recommend this community for many good reasons. We're happy knowing that Mom is in such a great place.
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KELLY MERRITT
"Supportive, caring, and great value"
We looked at different assisted living places in Santa Barbara, but none matched the value and quality of Merrill Gardens. They are very supportive, caring, flexible, and truly care about our dad's comfort and safety. We are so thankful we found them. He loves his room with views of rolling hills, trees, and a sun porch he really enjoys!
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Anonymous
"Great Care for Dad"
We are really happy with the care my dad gets here. They always keep me updated about him. The place is super clean and well-maintained. We like the meals, and he enjoys the variety and portions. They offer him activities to join, and I hope he will get more involved with the other residents. I like the vibe of this community. I would recommend it for the good care and value.
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Anonymous
"Settling In Smoothly"
Me and my husband are happy since moving. Waiting for a bigger room. Meals and cleanliness are good.
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Anonymous
"Clean, Friendly, and Helpful Assisted Living Facility"
This facility was very clean and friendly. We were impressed with the staff and the administrator. They answered all our questions and even some we hadn't thought of. This is a strong possibility for our loved one.
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Anonymous
"Top Choice for Activities and Friendliness"
Starting my search, this place is pleasant. It's clean, and the staff knows everyone. Lots of activities. Top choice so far.
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Anonymous
"Wonderful Place for Loved Ones!"
The community was awesome for my loved one. They weren't there long, but during their stay, I had no complaints. The staff was kind and understood my loved one's needs. The place was always clean." Does this capture what you were looking for?
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Anonymous
"Absolutely loving it here!"
The facility is fantastic, the people are great, and they care for her so well! We are extremely happy with them. The community is clean. The meals are nutritious, fresh, and well-made with a good variety. I’d recommend this place, and A Place For Mom was very helpful.
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Annette
"Outstanding Care and Beautiful Facility at Merrill Gardens"
Merrill Gardens has gone above and beyond what we expected. The place is beautiful and always clean. The staff are nice, caring, and professional. The food is healthy, delicious, and just the right amount. After a month, my 94-year-old mom is very happy and settled in. They have done everything they promised.
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Anonymous
"Beautiful grounds and friendly staff"
They need more staff for the number of residents. The food wasn't cut into bite-sized pieces, so many residents couldn't eat it since they aren't allowed knives and have trouble with forks and spoons. The shower stall could be cleaner. The activities are wonderful; my mother was always busy. I loved being able to visit anytime. The grounds are beautiful. Everyone was very pleasant and friendly.
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kay.morita@sbcglobal.net
"Friendly and Caring Staff at Merrill Gardens in Santa Maria"
The staff at Merrill Gardens in Santa Maria are great. They are friendly and caring, and we couldn’t ask for more. They take really good care of us!
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Anonymous
"Caring Staff Provide Excellent Service"
The caregivers at Merrill Gardens at Santa Maria are truly concerned about the residents. It feels like they are there because they care, not just for a job. They have found the perfect people for this work. The activities they offer are really good. I highly recommend Merrill Gardens at Santa Maria. My mom is in the dementia/memory care house, and I can't say enough good things about the people there and how well they care for her.
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Anonymous
"Top Marks for Merrill Gardens!"
Merrill Gardens at Santa Maria is an awesome place! I'd give them top marks all around. The staff is amazing, the food is tasty, and everyone living here is super friendly. The facility is beautiful, clean, and well-maintained. They take great care of the residents. I highly recommend them!
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Anonymous
"Always There to Help"
They were super helpful and always there for me, even though I live far away, to make sure my mom is okay. Whenever I had questions, they answered quickly. My mom is much happier now at Merrill Gardens at Santa Maria. I'm really grateful for them and highly recommend them.
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Loved One
"Friendly, adequate care, but lacking in activities and value."
It's a pretty nice place, and the folks are friendly. They take good care of us, but the price goes up for extra care. They charge more for each added service. The memory care could use more stuff to do. The food is brought in, it's alright, nothing bad. If they're charging more, I want more. We picked it because it's nice, and not many places here have what we need.
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Loved one
"Warm and Caring Community"
I think Merrill Gardens does a great job. They have a really warm and family-like environment for their residents. My loved one lives in one of their Alzheimer’s care homes, and the caregivers really focus on personal care for each person. She’s made some friends already, and last time I visited, she told me she feels safe there, which made me feel good about our choice. My only complaint is that the meals could be healthier. The food looks good, but I’d like to see more fresh vegetables and healthier bread.
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STiffany
"Wonderful Assisted Living Community!"
Merrill Gardens at Santa Maria, CA is a great place. Everything is clean, and the staff are happy, friendly people! They answer questions with care and understand families when problems come up. The large apartments make moving from bigger homes easier! The manager has hospitality training and has made the food and the whole place better!
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Loved One
"Great value, good care: top choice for assisted living."
This place is awesome! You get what you pay for, which is great. The food is good, and they have lots of choices. The staff here does a really good job. It's perfect for us. We're so glad we found it. They take really good care of the people who live here, and it's a safe place. I would tell anyone in my situation to check it out.
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Family
"Great Experience with Friendly Staff and Good Meals"
We were really happy with them. We ate there and liked the meals. Whenever we called, they were quick to help. The residents we talked to were friendly and happy too. I’m not sure about the transportation because she didn’t get to move in due to an injury. The pool is open all year, but aqua aerobics are only in the summer since the pool is outside.
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Ella and Doug C.
"Merrill Gardens makes us happy!"
This place is awesome!
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Family Member
"Dad's Place: A Big, Great Community with a Small Issue"
This place is really awesome. It's like a big neighborhood with two big buildings. They have a special place for people with memory issues and also some small houses for people who want to live by themselves. I was worried my dad might get lost because the place is so spread out. Some of my friends have had their parents live there and they liked it. But if everyone likes it, it might get really crowded.
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Carla G
"Feels Like Home"
My 95-year-old mom was at a fancy place in San Diego, but she didn't like it because the other residents weren't friendly and the place didn't feel warm. I knew about Merrill Gardens and thought it might be better. Within two days of moving, my mom joined an exercise group and started walking around the beautiful property. She quickly noticed how warm and welcoming the other residents were and how friendly and caring the staff was, from the caregivers to the dining room staff. Mom says, "The Gardens feels like Home." That pretty much sums it up! I'm very happy with this community.
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Customer
"Super Nice Place!"
Super nice place! The staff is friendly, the food is great, and it feels like home. Highly recommend!
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Customer
"Visited Assisted Living Residences: Mostly Nice, But One Room Unacceptable"
Visited all three residences and overall, they were quite nice. However, there was one room that smelled bad and was very noisy due to laundry exhaust. That room wouldn’t be acceptable.
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Customer
""$2000 Monthly for Private Room""
$2000 each month for a personal room.
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