I was putting off trying to find a care home for my mom for the last six months. Prior to that,…read morealthough she had been declining, I could still communicate with her somewhat; push her around in a wheelchair, and watch her eat most of her food. However, from January 2025 on, it seemed like every two weeks, she would get worse dramatically. She wouldn't eat; she wouldn't take her pills - she was fading in front of me everyday, and I was powerless to stop the deterioration. She needed an around the clock care giver or be at a facility at all times for her well-being, but I didn't know where to start or what to look for. I didn't have grandparents that lived to an old age and my dad died when I was a teen, so this search was foreign. I called a few places, but I didn't know what to ask for and what I should be looking for in a place for my mom. A nurse gave me Nicole Fauss's number and immediately Nicole wanted to get a sense of who my mom is. From her thorough, yet sensitive and understanding, questioning, she deduced that my mom would do much better at a smaller residence. My mom had become almost completely aphasic and her recognition of English had vanished, leaving her with just a scant familiarity with rudimentary Mandarin - and even that was pretty infrequent. So Nicole started to comb the Bay Area for possible, suitable place. She sent me names, short descriptions of these homes and contact info. I revised other things I thought that would be important as this process was undertaking: distance, dietary needs, style of food, I even thought that my mom may feel a bit more comfortable with other people who were Asian and were also in need of memory care. With all these changes, Nicole adjusted her search and would promptly send me lists of places. She would call many of these places first so I didn't have to feel so awkward during my initial phone call. All that she did for my mom and me were far more than I had ever expected anyone to commit. I called, visited and they didn't feel right. Nicole did not push me to take any of these earlier places; she just continued to look for us. I called a place that was surprisingly close to my mom's apartment. It didn't check all the boxes, but it had other aspects that Nicole could sense would be valuable to my mom's health and my state of peace. Nicole's guidance and diligence have led us to this wonderful residence for my mom and has shown that this stage of my mom's life doesn't have to be so saturated with fear and sadness. The home is small. The caregiver to resident ratio is small. There is a pretty yard. The caregivers are not Mandarin speakers, but they listen and observe attentively. The caregivers make sure that the food meets my mom's picky needs as well as her nutritional requirements. They've also expanded my mom's palate as she now eats and drinks far more than she did a month ago. The place is also not a home  specifically for elderly, memory-care residents. Because of this diversity, the energy of the home is much higher than some of the other places I have seen. Being situated in this has helped my mom. She taps her feet to the Supremes coming out of the radio; smiles (she smiles often now) at the other residents on her floor; has meals with them and tries to talk to them. I have a better comprehension of what living with dignity is like. My mom is now in a place that feels like a home, because, quite frankly, it is a home.

Monica did an awesome job of finding a Memory Care/Assisted Living provider for my sister & brother…read morein law. She was available when needed & resposiv.

We are deeply grateful to San Leandro Senior Living for the exceptional care and support they…read moreprovided to our 95-year-old mother during her recovery from a serious femur fracture. From the executive director and management team to the caregivers, dining staff, housekeeping, and everyone we encountered, the compassion, professionalism, and attentiveness were consistently outstanding. The staff treated her with dignity, patience, and genuine warmth while encouraging her independence as she regained strength and confidence. The facility itself was clean, comfortable, and welcoming. Thanks in large part to their quality care and supportive environment, she was ultimately able to return home and resume independent living. Our entire family sincerely appreciates all they did for her. Don K.

Great team that works so well together! Many of the…read moreleadership team have been there for years. I appreciate all they do!

I believe John D's review of Mercy is poorly written and gives the wrong impression of Mercy…read more Mercy is a non-denominational, full service facility, with a secure campus that has 24/7 Reception, beautifully landscaped gardens, and every service a resident could want: three nutritious meals every day; a variety of daily activities and special events; housekeeping service; 24/7 floor staff for night or day emergencies. Mercy is run by the non-profit Eldercare Alliance. They're associated with the four AlmaVia facilities in the Bay Area. We needed a facility for my 85-yr old MIL who is physically healthy, but has a mild-to-moderate case of dementia. We wanted a full-service facility so that as she declined, we would not be forced to move her somewhere else (disruption is highly stressful for dementia patients). My MIL is in now in Asst. Living. Although reluctant (as many elderly are) to make "the move" out of our home, she quickly adjusted and in less than a month's time was telling her friends she absolutely loves it at Mercy. She loves how caring and friendly all the staff is, and how quick everyone was to learn her name. She loves the reassurance that she will be escorted to and from her bath, so that she need never worry about falling. She enjoys the food, which is quite good (we've eaten there with her a number of times). She appreciates the choice of activities and for the first time since being widowed, is making new friends, because Mercy provides a supportive sense of community for its residents. Unlike John D., we investigated seven different senior facilities nearby our home. There are many different types, but we needed a full service facility with a Memory Care unit. But what makes one facility different from another is the staff. And Mercy's staff is VERY, VERY GOOD - at all levels! There were some minor issues at first because moving in and getting her settled was complex; but Mercy was always responsive and showed themselves willing to go that "extra mile" for my MIL's comfort. We have visited elderly friends at other (even more expensive) facilities where the night staff was sullen and uninterested when a resident comes to ask a question. We have had many interactions with Mercy staff and all have been 100% positive. We are convinced that Mercy was the right choice. They are a caring, compassionate, and highly professional care facility. Oakland seniors are lucky to have Mercy in our city! (Note: edited June 2014 to reflect that Salem is being sold to finance an expansion of Mercy's campus to provide additional Memory Care units. Salem is being purchased by a for-profit corporation, similar to Sunrise Living and AgeSong.)

Mercy Retirement is a hidden gem in Oakland California for senior living. 150 years of caring and…read morecompassion, along with world class culinary experience and award winning executive chef Steven Catindig.

As a senior living adviser, I tour board and care homes throughout the Bay Area and truly get to…read moreknow each Administrator and their management style. I've placed families at D'Nalor who have had great a experience and received top-notch care. Ronald and his team will go above and beyond for your loved one! I have never met a more accommodating and caring community. He's hands-on and skilled at managing difficult transitions from the hospital setting. He's my first choice for families in Oakland.

The owner is very personable and patient. He has years of experience and it shows while talking to…read morehim. The facilities is very clean and comfortable. The residents are treated with care and respect. I would highly recommend this business. I hope it is able grow and accept mom's as well as right it is mainly dads. I give it 5/5.

Landmark Villa is a wonderful assisted living community that offers both quality care and great…read morevalue. Compared to many other places we visited, their service charges are more reasonable--and the best part is that they include more services without adding extra fees. The rent is also more affordable, making it a smart choice for families who want excellent care without the high price tag. We had the pleasure of touring the facility with RJ, the marketing director, who has been working at Landmark Villa for 15 years. Despite her long tenure, she remains genuinely passionate about her work. She took the time to walk us through the entire community, explain every detail clearly, and answer all of our questions with patience and care. Although we ultimately chose another community due to the longer distance from my home, I still feel Landmark Villa would have been a great fit for my mom. If you're looking for a warm, well-managed, and affordable place for your loved one, I highly recommend visiting Landmark Villa as part of your decision-making process.

My mom is flourishing at Landmark. I couldn't be happier. I know she's not just in good hands,…read moreshe's in the hands of people who care, people who are patient, compassionate, and fun. After the passing of her husband of 27 years, my stepdad, in 2020, things were hard. Mom couldn't live alone anymore. I tried two assisted living homes, but they didn't compare to Landmark. The staff here, from the receptionist to the caretakers to the med techs to the executives overseeing the place, are all wonderful. Every day there is a schedule of activities, from balloon badminton to trivia to bingo. They have tea parties, live music, happy hours. Today when I visited mom activity coordinator Mariah was doing her nails. That is above and beyond in my book. They decorate for every holiday. The lobby, dining room and individual rooms are inviting and bright. The energy is great. Bottom line: I haven't seen my mom this happy in years. And that gives me peace of mind you can't put a price on.

Ivy Park at Lake Merritt is an amazing community! You can tell the staff truly care about the…read moreresidents and take great pride in what they do. A special shoutout to Arsenio, the Maintenance Director. He is always working hard, incredibly welcoming, and has a great relationship with the residents. He's professional, responsive, and always gets the job done efficiently. His dedication and positive attitude make a real difference in the community. Keep up the great work!

Marisa Garfia is the primary med tech for the first floor and she is wonderful. She had…read moreconsiderable experience as a primary care giver before being promoted to the med tech position -- and that experience enables her to interact creatively, constructively, and appropriately with a wide range of residents. She is especially good at putting out emotional fires and helping residents with substantial physical challenges. The residents like and respond to her with great smiles and a ready cooperative spirit. In short, she is great at her job and adds so much to the quality of life of the residents. We are much in her debt and grateful that she works at Ivy Park on Lake Merritt. Wayne Brazil

I attended a special event here and had a wonderful experience. The space was beautifully set up…read morewith great attention to detail, and everyone was incredibly friendly. Guests were clearly enjoying themselves, and the atmosphere felt warm, welcoming, and thoughtfully organized. A really lovely event from start to finish.

We went on a tour there on Friday, June 27, 2025. We are looking for somewhere for a family member…read more The facility is very nice. It's clean and smells pleasant. There were a lot of people milling around in the TV lounge area when we were there. It was around 1:30 p.m. The rooms for the independent and assistant living are not shared. They are spacious and come with a bar area, meaning there is a sink in most of them and a mini fridge. One of them didn't have a sink, but had a mini fridge and freezer. It was pretty tall. All have step up showers meaning there is a lip you have to step into. I was surprised they didn't have roll in showers. The bathrooms are spacious. It looked like there was enough room to wheel in with a wheelchair or walker. The rooms have large closets with built in shelves. The rooms we looked at were not on the first floor and we took an elevator to them. I was told there is a lounge on every floor, at least that's what I think I was told, we did not tour the lounge. The independent and assisted living share a outdoor space. It was nice. It had a community garden, lots of sitting areas, a place to golf and a dog waste disposal system. The outdoors was verynice. The memory care unit also has an outdoor space. It's less then half the size of the other outdoor space, but it's still nice and spacious. It also has a garden in it and they had a bunch of green tomatoes growing that I could see. There was a sign on the door warning of the excess heat outside. It also had plenty of seating areas. The independent and assisted living share a dining area. It looks like a restaurant and they have a menu of what is being served. The same food is served to the Memory Care Unit. All units have activities directors and a whole calendar of activities. The Memory Care Unit has Zumba in the mornings. I think that is nice. It will get them moving. The independent and assisted living have 3 exits to the building and they are free to come and go at any time. They also have an acute care area for those that need additional care, but don't need to be in the memory care unit. We visited the locked down memory care unit. It was very pleasant. It was right after lunch when we arrived and everyone was waiting for ice cream to be served out. They looked like a lively group. One of the women even said hi to us and talked to us. It's the best Memory Care Center that we've visited.

House of Psalms has new owners since July 20, 2023. Do not choose this facility based on past…read morereviews. It is constantly under-staffed despite staff are doing their best. Do your own research and homework before placing your loved one in this facility.

I visit a friend hear every so often. I have always found the home clean and people well cared for…read more There are various programs for them to participate in and everyone looks contented. A lot of the workers are bilingual in English and Chinese. They are welcoming to any one. The advantage here is there is American type meals but people can also have Chinese food as a lot of their patients are Chinese. Having taking care of my sister for years and seeing her go from place to place I wished I had known about this place. She was at one horror house to another until I moved her in with me until her death. There are places with people in wheelchairs left in hallways for hours or people ringing for help and staff at these places are overworked the they ignore ignore people who don't need medical help right away. This home is so different. The the best of all it doesn't smell