Merrill Gardens

Not a good place, going downhill fast. Will be leaving within 2-3 months.

I scheduled a time to tour this facility and when I got there I saw about 5 employees talking amongst themselves. I waited for them to stop and help me. They didn’t even notice I was there. So, I sat down and waited for a while. Finally, I just decided to just walk around the facility. I went into people’s rooms, to the cafeteria, the dining hall, and I even went into the kitchen! After 1 and a half hours of just roaming around not one person asked me for help. I left and decided to call the facility. When I spoke with the recruiter, she said she had been waiting for me. I told her what happened and that I changed my mind, she offered to cut the very large $4,200 entrance fee in half that isn’t refundable. I was planning to take my Mother to this facility but after my experience, I decided not to. If I’m just a stranger walking in and giving myself my own tour, I think that they would have been very inattentive when it comes to my Mother. Don’t get me wrong, it is a great facility and I heard great things but my experience made me not want to bring her there.

The moment I walk into the lobby, I was smacked in the face with the strongest... How do I say...nothing else comes to mind but...geriatric smell. Total turn off. Nice people but too down home for us. Bedrooms are narrow.

Our visit here was nice but we were not impressed. In the room we saw, the cupboards were too high. We could not reach it. The community was more smaller and we were looking for a big place. .

They forget to give my mother-in-law her meds/not on time & this costs extra. Things we buy her disappear, Several incompetent caregivers (although Maria is really sweet & helpful). Several employees are very difficult to understand. One disappeared while my mother-in-law was passed out, waiting for paramedics. Thank God for the home care nurse that was visiting and discovered her. The prices are ridiculous. Many concerns...

I was not confident with the care of my father while at Merrill Gardens at First Hill. I have since moved him back home. Their food was okay but the food for family members to join them at meals was expensive. I only saw people watching TV, no activities. I would tell others to really consider if they want to put a loved one in a nursing home before doing so.

I was not thrilled with Village place. They really courted us in the beginning, calling us, twice a day, and trying to be friendly, and very helpful. We decided on Village Place. Sarah couldn't have been nicer, she said that she would be there and stay and help get my loved one oriented. But that's not what happened, she was transported, and sat in reception and no one wanted to help us, and Sarah wasn't there, and didn't follow through with what she told us she would do. This seems to be the theme of our experience. I strongly feel that the senior staff could have handled us and our situation with a little more compassion, and class. The aides and the maintenance people were just as nice and helpful as they could be. I would not recommend them for anyone. I think the staff needs some sensitivity training. I also think they have some in there that shouldn't be, and cause chaos and commotion on a regular basis.

These people are corporate through and through. Our mom is there now and she complains about Sunshine Villa always being short-handed with caregivers. They don't train the new caregivers enough because they have a high turnover and the new people don't know what the old caregivers used to do. This leaves my mom having to tell new people over and over how she has to have things done. Sunshine Villa will nickel and dime you to death. They raise their rates yearly and then they have this point system that they are constantly adding to the points so that they get even more money out of you monthly. The food is not good. For the amount of money my mom is paying you should be eating like you are out at a fancy restaurant and not at a school cafeteria. I never see any fresh fruit or vegetables -everything is canned. When you have a problem the staff just sugar coats their answers. They never give you any real reasons just excuses. We are looking for alternatives now for my mom and will move her as soon as we find a more suitable care facility.

Shared spaces and pool area well-kept. Staff friendly. Rooms shown were small and cramped. Long, narrow, dark halls were uninviting and dreary. Noted numerous small maintenance issues that made us question the upkeep of the facility.

Only one elevator. Dining room was to structured. Set meal times so don't arrive late. Appears everyone wears a name tag. Expensive.

My Dad has lived at Merrill Gardens at Gilroy for 3 + years. Initially, when it was Village Green, we were very pleased with the management and care taken with residents. However, after Merrill Gardens took over, the facility, management, and care given the residents has declined, while the cost continues to rise. My review below is generally not good. However, it does not apply to all work staff and all caregivers. Some do quite well. My overall impression is that this facility is not a warm, caring facility. Rather, it appears to care mostly about profit. The management is currently poor. The manager does not know or show any personal interest in any of the residents. The employees hired (care givers and waiters, housekeepers, etc.) generally have very little of the training that should be required for working with elders who need assistance. If someone falls, they can plan to spend some time on the ground before someone comes to their aid. If someone is sick, it may be hours before the resident nurse (if there is one) checks on them. If they are restricted to their room (in case they are ill), food doesn't show up in a timely manner. The resident may need to call and request food repeatedly before finally getting some. Also, they are then told that they need to pay for the food that is delivered to their room. Initially, laundry once a week was covered in the room price. Now, residents must pay for each load of laundry. The launderers are careless with the laundry. They will wash rugs with delicates. The washing machines are not maintained and are dirty. Weekly room cleaning is included in the price. However, there are some housecleaners that don't even know how to clean a toilet. The food is generally good. However, there are days when the people order food and it never gets to their table. On occasion, residents leave the dining room without their dinners. At night time the staff disappears and if a resident buzzes for help, the call is not always answered. It appears that no one monitors the phones or the doors. Initially, residents were taken to their doctor appointments up to three days a week. That service is now limited to one day a week. Sometimes it is difficult for the residents to get to a doctor. This review is very negative, but the management is negative. Overall, I feel that the staff is under trained, under paid, and just doesn't care about the residents. The corporation seems mainly interested in padding their bottom line at the expense of the residents. Initially, I would have given this facility at least four stars. However, there are many problems that need to be addressed, and competent, friendly management is a must. This is the residents' home and they should be made to feel like it is their home. Merrill Gardens at Gilroy has some work to do! If I was making the decision now in choosing a residence for my parent, I would not choose this facility.

It has been very difficult but it's not all their fault either. My mother had to be put in the hospital . We had a rough start. She's not liking it but she hasn't been there that long. It's just been hard because she's been in and out of the hospital.

should give better "assistance" to the ones in greater need. people should not be slouched over in chairs ALL day. how many staff members just walk by. People who have a hard time eating should be helped. If food is all over them and the floor, they obviously need help. instead of sitting in a chair yourself staring, give them a hand.

We did not have a good experience with The Legacy at Georgetown. It started out as a very nice place, but over the course of a year really went downhill. They had a lot of staff turnover, and ended up very understaffed. We stuck it out with them for quite a while, but they never came through on the promises they made to improve things. Eventually we moved our loved one to a different place, it just didn't feel safe here.

I did not feel comfortable and welcome. They told me that I didn't qualify, without even checking to see my financial situation. I just didn't feel comfortable there, the community was not very diverse, culturally.

The community fee that they charge up front and it’s none refundable – it’s about $4600 – you should be aware of it. They raised our rates were raised after being there for about two months – because of a level of care fee. We were very disappointed.

I'm happy with the place except for one thing. I moved into a room right on the freeway and had a written agreement that they would move me to another apartment once one became available. They have this thing where you can pay fee to lock in your price for life then they moved me and the said that I would have to pay the fee again. It did say in the contract that it was only applicable to on apartment but I was in no condition to read the agreement at the time and they were aware that I was moving so they should have made that clear. On that basis I am extremely unhappy with Bridgecreek. I sent a letter to the corporate headquarters so I'm waiting to hear what's going on. I think it was kind of deceptive of them. The meals are decent. They're not gourmet but they're decent. The management is very friendly and helpful. We have a few old crabs but most of the residents are very nice. If I could just get that one adjustment made I'd be very happy here. They were fully aware that I was moving and no body made that clear that I would have to pay again if I moved. It was also in writing that they were going to do the move with no charge and my family ended up doing most of the move.

Positives: * House Mgr. very personable and nice; good rapport demonstrated with all residents * Community clean * Staff friendly * Flexible meal plan and eating schedule Negatives: * Many residents just 'hanging out' in lobby area; no interaction or stimuli offered * Neighborhood VERY shady (i.e., Rehab house next door; 3-4 street people sitting on brick wall across the street * Outside grounds and parking area needed general clean up and trash pick up [removed] Not a good fit due to resident profile and neighborhood; no addtl. visit.

Our family had an in person tour and we were disappointed - the tour got off to a wrong start and just had a bad impression

You people must be delusional. The food you serve is generally not eatable. Your maintenance is going down hill. The value of your product is sorely lacking. What you purport to be and what you deliver is polar opposite.