My dad has lived at Merril Gardens for 2 years and loves it. He enjoys the staff and the residents. His apartment is bright and cheery. He has made friends, joined a book club, and has a new lease on life. We are so happy to have him at Merrill Gardens Anthem. It is a safe and caring environment. read more

My father moved into Merrill Gardens almost 3 years ago, from another assisted living facility in Anthem, everything about Merrill Garden is far superior, the food, the amenities, the staff, it's like a family, and it's very inviting when you walk in, the residents are welcoming when new people move in, and they have great entertainment at happy hour, I highly recommend, and my dad couldn't be happier which is most important to him and our family read more

Last summer Merrill Gardens Anthem interviewed my dad for 5 minutes or so and declined him to their memory care unit (saying he "didn't meet their criteria") to live there and then interviewed my step mom for 30 minutes and accepted her into assisted living. Since then, they have been separated and in a state of decline in separate states. My stepmom calls me regularly in the evenings lonely and crying that she misses my dad horribly and my dad wanders around asking if anyone has seen his beloved wife. It's the worst possible ending scenario for a couple who have been been married for 33+ years...I called last week to try to start piecing together what the criteria was and was told at first that "they didn't keep those records." After I pressed further the lady who interviewed him said she could try to pull them from corporate. No word yet...it makes one wonder... read more

my mother is 96 years old. She has dementia and sometimes is very difficult to take care of her. She is in memory care at Merrill Gardens. She is getting top notch is simply wonderful and caring. The supervisor of memory Rica is just fabulous taking care of staff and residence Merrill Gardens by leaps and bounds much better safer cleaner and caring than the last memory care she last resided. Thank you, Rica for caring of my mother and other residence. read more

My mother was a resident at Merrill for a few years and recently passed away. She was moved in her final month to hospice in the memory care wing of Merrill. The process was handled very efficiently and the staff I engaged with was always accommodating and upbeat. Harold helped make this happen without a lot of red tape and unexpected charges. My mother was not an easy person to deal with being somewhat bull headed at 97 years old yet they handled the situation with ease. Both sections of Merrill, the memory care unit and the regular retirement section for independent minded people is top notch. The facility is spotless and general environment is upscale. I wish I could recall the names of some staff members because they deserve a lot of credit in regard to my mother's wellbeing in both sections of Merrill. read more

I loved Merrill Gardens. My mom had so much fun living there and making new friends. The staff was great, especially Jeanne. Jeanne was so helpful, kind, and always went WAY above and beyond. All of the residents LOVE LOVE LOVE her helpfulness and positivity. She is a great asset to any company. read more

I am 81 years old and my husband is 83. We only wish we had come to live here in this "Resort" sooner. I am writing this following the holiday season here at Merrill Gardens located in Anthem, Arizona. We have been here since 2020 and living here just gets better and better. First, I must talk about food, and our Executive Chef Frank, who is incredible, as well as his Sous Chef, Seth. The Christmas Eve feast menu was marvelous . . . followed by an outstanding New Year's Buffet. The food continues to surprise me, it's so good! Normally if you eat in the same restaurant over and over you get tired of the food, but somehow Frank is able to keep each and every meal interesting and absolutely delicious. His serving staff that work with him also do an excellent job and even remember our preferences and favorites. Our excellent General Manager, Harold, has put together such a wonderful staff. I am amazed with how this whole operation runs so smoothly, and I'm not that easily pleased. Carol, Rose, Cathy, and the front desk team are always ready to help and Lori spreads her joy, and keeps us all accountable. Todd and Erika take such good care of our Apartments with maintenance, and housekeeping, while Michele always has great activities planned. I think I have used every service here and been satisfied every time. I know I'm just raving on and on, but this is our home now and God has Blessed us greatly by guiding us to come to this place. They were wise to build so many of these types of "resorts" for our generation. It's great being around others of the same age group. It kind of resembles high school in a fun way. Being with my peers is something I've really enjoyed while living in this independent/assisted living community. I like it too that Merrill Gardens also has a memory care community available . . . because it is good to know that if it ever becomes a need, we could always advance into that area. I just felt I had to write and let people know what a wonderful home and community Merrill Gardens has made for us and I hope this helps those who are considering making a move toward the independent living lifestyle, either for yourselves or your loved ones. Hopefully this review platform will allow you to write comments and I'll answer any questions you might have. We are very much at home here, and I want us to stay right here until our time(s) eventually come, or until Jesus comes, and snatches us up in the Rapture. In the meantime . . . we're going to enjoy every minute of it! read more

Having visited a number of Senior Care/Assisted Living facilities over the years, both in my professional career and while helping my parents find a home, I can say without a doubt Merrill Gardens Anthem rates as one of the best facilities I have ever seen. The building itself is warm and inviting, from its lounge and library to the pool and patio area. The restaurant prides itself on serving resort quality meals with a constantly changing menu. The entire building is very well maintained. As good as all that is, the staff is even better. I have personally witnessed the care and compassion that each and every member has offered to my parents. They are, without a doubt, truly concerned with providing the best and most loving care to my parents (and everyone else's!). I couldn't imagine a better home for them! read more

After a long hard decision of searching for memory care facilities to move my mom to, from California to Arizona, near family. I was excited to find Merril gardens, everyone seemed helpful and this was gonna be her final home. Within 6 weeks she went from walking with a walker and participating with others there to basically stuck in bed or in a wheelchair and not recognizping me on FaceTime. We were told they could not take care of her there and find a new place. To say I was devastated is an understatement. They keep blaming her disease. However the new place that came and got her were absolutely shocked at the list of medications she has been given. I think if you are looking for assisted living this place could be nice, but please do not take your family members there for memory care. One positive note, Shay was always awesome and helpful. read more

We decided to move my mom into Merrill Gardens because it was close to my brothers house and seemed like a good fit for her. So at the beginning we packed her up from So Cal and made the move. At first everything was going well, I live in Reno and I was visiting her every couple weeks. By the middle of Dec I noticed every time I would show up she was sitting in a wheelchair which she has been using a walker when we brought her there, so that was odd, but she was always sleeping, let me add that I asked one of the caregiver why the wheel chair and she said because she went to get her hair done. I also noticed that her conversations with me were deteriorating, which again that was odd, even tho she was 92 I could have a conversation with her. I contacted my sister to ask her thoughts and we received her mediation list which was not what she went in there with. I realize that they were giving her 3 times a day a pill that I would give her at night to go to sleep. My sister has POA and she NEVER authorized this medication. By Christmas time my mom drastically went down hill, and in January we were told that she had to move because they could not take care of her. Which was odd as my mom was 92 and I'm not sure what they thought was going to happen when we first brought her in. So we had to move her to a new place which was traumatic to her and on 1/30 she passed away. I would not recommend this place to anyone if you except it to be your parents last home. It's funny how the response is automated and when we email them there is no response. Also if you noticed on the good reviews here it's a different person with more of a personal response. read more

My family and I have been extremely impressed with the care and patience shown by Merrill Garden staff to our father who has recently moved into memory care. He's a great man with a stubborn streak to say the least, yet the staff seems to have quickly learned how to manage his personality. Also very noteworthy is the compassion and patience being shown by Harold and his staff to my mother who now lives alone, down the hallway from the memory care area. I am confident saying Harold and staff have allowed my family to achieve the best outcome for the situation- great care and safety for both my parents with easy access for visits and other social events. Merrill Gardens has exceeded my expectation, and I would encourage anyone with aging parents or older couples looking for that next step in life to make a visit. read more

My parents have been at Merrill gardens since they opened and I could not be happier with the care they are receiving. My Dad is very independent and loved the exercise classes and the different events but he physically can't do it anymore. What we love about MG is he can increase his level of care and stay in the same apartment. His main Dr also does house calls. Anthem could not be a better community plus he is close to family. read more