Merrill Gardens at Gilroy

Mom really likes the social relationships she's making through activities. She loves the staff, but repeatedly comments how short staffed they are. She eats in the dining room, likes the flexibility, and looks forward to some items, but tends to be critical about the temperature of the hot food. Most of the time it's cold and she needs to ask for it to be put in the microwave. She's happy with housekeeping, but feels more boundaries need to be set with the maintenance staff. She would prefer a set date and time as opposed to the present, "knock knock" and walk in. We can see that for first and second floor, but not the third floor, Independent Living.

This is a good community to live. My loved one was able to make friends quickly here, and they feel safe. The staff communication with the family has been good and they have been responsive to our questions about our loved one. There are three meals a day served and there are choices for the residents to choose from. Also, the dining is open 7 am to 7 pm daily for the residents.

The staff is really great. The food was excellent. The community is a little pricey. Overall, the staff is helpful, and they take good care of the client. I appreciate the facility.

The staff have been extremely friendly and helpful. The food has really gone downhill in the last few months I think due to staffing shortages, but in the beginning it was great. I really have had no issues and would recommend Merrill Gardens to others.

This community takes really good care of the residents. The atmosphere is not like I expected assisted living to be. It is a very active community and all of the other residents are very welcoming. The residents have relationships and have lunch together and it was a really positive experience.

I was very impressed with the staff. They are good at what they do. The administrator had great stories about their own family, and you can tell she cares about the community and the population she is working with.

We've been very happy with them. I'm very happy with the care that my loved one is receiving. They've been very accommodating every step of the way. I feel like they've gone over and above to accommodate my loved one, which has been really nice. So far, I would recommend them.

Dine anytime, Studio $3400 month 1 bedroom $3800 month

Was very pleased with the tour of Merrill Gardens. It’s very nicely decorated with plenty of activities for the residents. Love the anytime dining

I looked at several wonderful communities before choosing Merrill Gardens I felt right at home when I walked in and they let me visit 2 full days to see if it was a good fit for me. They have a weekly town hall meetings to listen to our needs and wants. There are tons of activities daily I have been asked to be on the Library committee, there's dominoes, nightly movies and lots more just so nice to have an independent active lifestyle. They come in weekly to clean and the staff is just so friendly and helpful. The food is great with weekly menus you receive on Sundays. They have a garden that they use for our food and a beautiful rose garden to sit and enjoy. I've made so many friends and would recommend this to anybody.

Great facility, friendly staff , lots of amenities and well equipped. Food is awesome

The people we met when we visited this community were nice. The community was clean and it seemed like a good value. I would recommend taking a look at this community

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...

[Removed] the women that gave my loved one and I a tour of the community was absolutely great and was very generous and made sure to follow up with us after we had left to make sure we had found somewhere for my mother to live. The staff in the kitchen was also very helpful and friendly especially [Removed]. She went out of her way to come up to our table during our meal and spend a few moments with us explaining different things about the facility.

Grandma would love this place. It's clean, they have anytime eating from 7-7. Early bird breakfast on the 3rd level. Has a little bit of a 'cleaning product odor'. Many Giants fans which Grandma would love. It's inviting. Includes laundry and if you want to do your own detergent is provided. Puzzle room is beautiful. Priced well.

They have some very friendly people, however, they have too few staff members to offer the services that they charge for and they are not very responsive whenever those services are requested by someone.

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.