Merrill Gardens

I had just hit the submit button after entering my name and phone number in the request for information to A Place for Mom when the phone rang. My advisor was instantly so helpful and understanding. I can't say enough good stuff about them. They led me to Fig Garden in Fresno for my brother-in-law. We needed a place within a few weeks that would be affordable, clean, close to friends and family and provide for his needs. They did all that. The Fig Garden representative sent me an email with all the information I needed that same day. They called and let me know they had space available right away. He checked in this month and is very pleased with his apartment, the neighborhood, the managers, the helpful, friendly staff and the services they offer. They helped get him set up. He's met lots of people already. Life is good for him. Thanks to both A Place for Mom and Fig Garden for putting our minds at ease. He is thrilled that his meals are taken care of. They also provide sheets and towels and launder them for him. He is close enough to be able to walk to a few stores. The managers have stopped by to see what help they can provide and how he's doing. Thanks to all!

I love it here. The food is good. The apartment is light and cheery. The people are nice, both the residents and the staff. They have a system where some people are lookouts for the newer residents, where someone takes you under their wing and shows you around. I really like that.

This is a wonderful community. My parents are enjoying their apartment and the events that they have attended. The staff is always friendly and helpful.

Faerland at Merrill has been a most pleasant surprise. Having cared for several family members for the past 15 years, I feel I have had lots of experience assessing various assisted living facilities. I have taken care of both a great aunt and my mother. During this time, I have had first hand experience with at least 6 homes. Faerland was a pleasant surprise; find a facility of this quality at a good price was great. All categories listed above are 5 star. Every caregiver and every employee is exceptional. They are dedicated, insightful, and hardworking as well as always friendly and courteous. They actually do make a care plan specific to the needs of the resident, and they keep to and follow up with the plan. Management is open and responsive. I visit very frequently so I know how residents are treated and cared for each day.

Beautiful facility. Professional staff. Residents looked happy, engaged.

We seemed very happy with them. We ate there and we were happy with the meals. Whenever we called they were right there to help. When we spoke with the residents, they were very friendly and happy as well. The transportation to get around I am not real sure about because she never got the chance to move in, due to an injury. The pool is open year round, but the aqua aerobics are only in the summer as the pool is outside.

They are really outstanding. I think that it is extremely well coordinated and it is very high level, so it is really a very impressive place. They have a calendar and they do things both at the facility and organize off site trips.

This one seems like a place they would enjoy. I think they could thrive in this environment. Their funds is my only worry. They would need the 1 bedroom unit. Studio was too small for their bed and equipment.

Absolutely the best environment you would want for your mom. Several living options to choose from and a warm, beautiful, home to call your own. It's truly a community vs a building.

Mom's been settled in her new 4th floor apartment for about one week, and everything has gone very smoothly. She is pleased with the room, the general ambiance, the positive attitudes, and her meals. What more can one hope for when the changes happened so quickly, even if it was of her own choosing?

We had a few issues at the beginning but it's been resolved and now ti's great! What I like most is the Bridges program. It's a transitional program for folks who have dementia or Alzheimer's but aren't quite ready for a lock down memory care facility. It's been really wonderful for my mother. I think the training of their staff for new arrivals could be improved. They didn't do a very good job the first week that my mother was there. They followed their protocols but those don't necessarily work with people with dementia. I brought it to their attention, we had a meeting and they fixed it. it's much better now. They're quite good - we just got off to a rocky start. The Bridges program is prefect for my mother. There is one woman who runs the program. 5 days a week she takes all the women in the program, about for around for the day. Sometimes they join the assisted living activities, sometimes they join the memory care activities. All day long they are together and so mom has care all day long. It's perfect. It's like she has a personal caregiver all day long and she's with other women who are kind of on her same level. They play cards and have tea and have stories read to them. I would hope that other assisted living places start programs like this. It's great.

The cost depends on the apartment so there is wide variation. The only care services they have are by a separate contractor who has an office in the same facility so you can arrange for care support if you need it. Not nursing care, they have no nursing care. The housekeeping I would give a 5 but the meals I would give a 4. I think they could improve their meals. They quality of the meals. The meals are not bad, they're good but they're not great. Otherwise I would give everything top marks.

Village Place is very clean. The people there are very kind and patient. My mother says the food is good and it looks like it is to me. It is well maintained. It has recently changed ownership so I hope it stays as it is.

I think the value is great. I know it costs less than a lot of other places around. My mom doesn't use the care services yet. The meals and housekeeping are good and so are the activities. She just told me yesterday that she's joining in everything. Everything has been great with Fig Garden. I couldn't be happier and I don't think my mother could either. We didn't really look at any others because this one was in the perfect location and it had the perfect apartment on the ground floor where she could have her dog.

I loved Willow Park. Mary was extraordinary as she engaged with Dad right from the start. The food was amazing and the place was very clean. Staff were very abundant and professional. Dad felt a little overwhelmed with the size of the facility. I would pick it for Dad because of all of the amenities, however Dad is simple and is easilly overwhelmed so still deciding if it would be a consideration.

My 95 years young mother was at a very fancy place in San Diego and not enjoying the experience at all based on fellow residents and lack of "warmness" of the facility. I am familiar with Merrill Gardens and thought this might be a more suitable community. Within two days of relocating, my momma had joined an exercise group and started walking all around the beautifully landscaped property. She noticed immediately the warmth and reception of fellow residents and friendliness and care of the staff from caregivers to dining room staff. Mom says "The Gardens feels like Home". I would say that pretty well sums it up! I am so very pleased with this community

I think overall, just based on my experience looking at other facilities, it's what you get for that amount of money. It's really high but it's around the same as the others we looked at. They do have activities. My mother is still trying to adjust so she's kind of complaining but they definitely have activities if you look for them. They have movement classes. They have Wii. they have bridge and outings - I think they do really well.

I am the Power of Attorney for my cousin who is a resident of California and I reside in the state of Virginia. Bay Park staff has assisted me in placing my cousin in their facility with a true sense of compassion and care. Their professionalism surpassed my expectation and I shall never forget their assistance.

I like the facility there. I liked everything about it. We were put on a waiting list but it never happened and it got to a point where we needed to expedite finding a place for my mother.

My mom is very happy there. You always would like it be less costly and apparently it does go up every year. I did look around pretty hard and there are more expensive places but there is a snob factor at those places. My mom is independent but it does appear that they're very good at providing whatevery the do provide. It's not a nursing home so apparently they don't accept anybody with lots of medical issues. There is covered parking which is a real plus for my mom who does have a car still. She's in a large studio and architecturally, it's just the cutest thing. We feel very fortunate and blessed.