Pros: Great people. Excellent facility. Surprisingly good food…read more Cons: None The twilight of life is often not an easy time. In late April 2018, my wife and I moved from Silicon Valley which we called home for more than 35 years to Nipomo, about 210 miles to the south. My mother relocated from Pennsylvania to San Jose in February 2015 and took up residence in a nice retirement facility (part of the Brookdale group). When we moved, there was little choice for her but to go with us. The Central Coast of California between San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria is a remarkably happy place. The weather is tough to beat. Vineyards cover many of the hills. The Pacific Ocean is never far away. People seem to be content...whether fellow shoppers in the stores, neighbors or drivers(!). Still, finding the appropriate place for an aging parent is not a simple job. If moving is one of life's toughest jobs for a person in good health and sound mind, it's a treacherous task for a 90 year old with many ailments, both real and imagined. A few minutes after arriving at Merrill Gardens, my wife and I turned to each other and said "this is it". My mother moved there 3 weeks after we settled into our new home. Any transition is hard, especially for an elderly person who established a life in one city and didn't really want to try it again in another. She only lived 5 weeks in Merrill Gardens before succumbing to a variety of medical issues, but the staff and people in that residence made our lives as sweet as possible, both before and after her passing. - Location: Convenient. Merrill Gardens is in the northern part of Santa Maria, about 3 minutes east of Highway 101 off the Donovan Road exit. - Exterior: Very attractive. There are 2 large 3 story buildings...one built in the early 2000s and the other around 2010 (I believe)...plus a circle of cottages to the north and east. Attention has obviously been given to the landscaping which gives the complex a residential appeal. You might say it's the nicest part of the neighborhood. - Interior (of the newer building where my mother lived): Bright and cheerful. The receptionist and concierge are just inside the entrance with a "great room" to the left. It's warm, colorful and cozy. The initial feeling you get is "they take care of things at this place". The dining room remains open from early morning to late evening since Merrill Gardens has a policy of "anytime dining". It's large and airy with tables spaced far enough apart to permit privacy yet allow conversation among friends. The hallways are more spacious and inviting than at similar facilities. There are several rooms for meetings and movies, the largest library I've seen in such places and a very active pool table nearby. - Apartments: Generous. My mother had a one bedroom unit on the 2nd floor with about 600 square feet plus a balcony of 100 square feet. When she arrived, there had only been one occupant since the facility opened. It was cleaned and painted with a bigger kitchen than she had in San Jose...including a large refrigerator, microwave and stove. Maybe not all the amenities of a real home (such as a lack of good storage), but not too shabby either. - Dining: Really good. My mother was a picky eater, but definitely enjoyed her meals at Merrill Gardens. While we were sometimes dragged to dinner in San Jose, we went willingly here. The food was tasty and the servers friendly and patient. - Senior Staff: The best. We can't say enough good things about the Chief Executive, Audie Sherberg and Community Managers Kim Adams and Gary Gross, but I'll try. Kind, accommodating, informative and willing to listen to a family's tales of woe. It was like having friends on the inside. The receptionists were always helpful, especially Barbara during the week. - Caretakers and Other Staff: More of the best. Kind, supportive and patient. They're not the most highly paid, but their jobs are tough. - Other Residents: Very friendly. It's as if the happy atmosphere of the Central Coast extended to the residents. Older age did not deter these people from smiling. - Cost: Reasonable. We paid $3,250/month for the one bedroom apartment which was roughly the same as in San Jose, but for a nicer facility. However, it can get expensive if you need ancillary services, including management of medicines and specialized care. NOTE: The initial "community fee" of $4,000 covers the facility's move-in costs. If your family member leaves within the first 4 months, you'll get a pro-rated amount back. Mr. Sherberg was very helpful in getting us the largest possible refund. - Value: Excellent. The best money spent in quite a while. I hesitated writing this review for a few months after my mother's death because I wanted to make sure the long process ended as well as it began. It did. There are no "ifs, ands or buts" to the 5 stars awarded to Merrill Gardens in Santa Maria.

Beautiful facility, kind and friendly people, and nice staff. Can't ask for more unless a…read moregood-looking young man comes with the deal.

I placed my mother in Cypress Garden in the spring of 2017and was very happy with the care she…read morereceived. This facility is well appointed and very comfortable. More importantly, Gabriella and her staff are kind and caring individuals, who were most considerate of her needs. My family and I felt that she could not have received better care and attention. I read the other reviews before placing my mom, and I honestly was completely happy with my decision. Our experience was very positive and I would recommend Cypress Garden without reservation.

CONSIDER CAREFULLY BEFORE TAKING YOUR LOVED ONE TO CYPRESS GARDEN ELDER CARE in the Cypress Ridge…read morecommunity. My mother lived in Cypress Garden for over a year and I will always regret bringing her to this place. Cons: In my opinion, the owner-operator, Gabriela Soo, is controlling, mentally abusive and difficult to work with. For instance, Mother asked to be taken to the bathroom and Gabriela refused as "she had gone to the bathroom an hour ago." Luckily I was there to intervene. I many times wondered what happened and what personal considerations were denied while I was not there. My mother suffered three pressure sores within six months under Gabriela's care. Gabriela did not inform me about two of these pressure sores. I only learned about the existence of those two pressure sores when my Mother's nurse visited. Gabriela also refused to let me view my Mother's daily log. While my Mother was a resident, the residents' doors were usually closed and mingling was not encouraged. There were very few activities offered. When out of town family visited and Gabriela asked them to leave at 4:30 pm which was against our contract, my Mother's and family wishes. Pros: The house is beautiful, clean and immaculate. Most caregivers are great, particularly Monica and Robert. My advice - seek other alternatives.

My mother is a resident at this facility. She "loves the…read morefamily atmosphere" They shower residents , do their laundry, and make beds daily. The staff is friendly and respectful. I do unannounced visits frequently and the facility is alway clean. They celebrate big holiday and birthday with meals/parties that includes family members. Residents love it when they Karaoke. They give them 3 well balanced meals and 2 snacks daily. My mom has been able to reduce her diabetes medication and several others while living there. We can go on vacation and not worry. They will take residents to medical appts if needed. So happy to have this facility close by.

My Dad is currently a resident. I was able to travel to visit him. The facility is gorgeous and the…read morestaff was great. My step Mom has said the staff has been wonderfully supportive during the tough transition to having my Dad live there. You will get your money's worth at Casa Rosa.

Our family could not be more pleased with the quality care and support provided to our loved one by…read moreRoxandra, Fabiola, and the entire Casa Rosa team. The facility and grounds are beautiful and well-maintained. We are truly grateful for their services.

Great staff - took care of my mom for 6 years. At age 95 she passed but was comfortable and cared…read morefor the entire time. Oak Park Manor is the best. These folks are like family.

You need to know the possibilities if you move to Oak Park Manor…read more My (adopted) great grandma went to OPM with very few cognitive issues. The reason she had to move from her old place was that she was peeing sometimes and wasn't able to control her bladder. That's a problem for an independent living place because when there's a common room and someone makes a mess it's not good for any party involved. When it happens on a regular basis, that isn't good and is typically an early sign of what could develop into some cognitive disorder. Anyways, we had to move her to a place that would provide care for her beyond what she was getting at her own apartment and OPM was the best option that we knew of at the time. When she moved to oak park manor she wasn't very happy with the change. There was now someone up in her business which made her feel like a burden. A few weeks in, she fell and broke her hip. We sent her to a recovery facility and she was great for about 6 weeks! They took good care of her and got her up and walking with a walker! She was sent back to OPM with recommendation of physical therapy which they did not allow due to COVID. Physical therapy was an essential part of her recovery but with COVID lurking, the person in charge at OPM took away her ability to walk confining her to a wheelchair. We are thankful for the superb care she received from the doctors and continues to receive from time to time. The doctors ability to provide adequate medication prevented much worse from happening. After being confined in a wheelchair and not receiving the physical therapy necessary/essential for this kind of injury, her cognitive abilities fell extraordinarily. She kept saying the staff was treating her poorly, and looked at them with anger, but they would laugh it off nervously (as I observed). I don't know what exactly they have been doing but she says she doesn't like them but gets along with the residents. Fast forward about a week, she thinks I'm from a different state but still knows my name. She has not received the therapy she needs because of COVID and they are now evicting her. They ended up disclosing information that would work against her to a place she would have gone, but given that situation, she had very little to no chance at getting a spot. So now she has no where to go in this stressful time of COVID and her cognitive abilities are diminishing while they keep her in a wheelchair until she can move out. We have gotten great reports from 3 different care providers that she is wonderful, gracious, and not difficult for the staff at all. I reason that either these 3 places (hospital, rehab, other rehab) are lying and sugarcoating her behavior or OPM has a bad environment for their residents. I'd strongly advise you to refrain from going to Oak Park Manor, but maybe your experience could be different. Anyone who knows me knows I'm a very composed person with strong values and I would never make this up to defame a place, but I need you to know what the possibilities are before you place your loved one in here. I hope you can understand that there are many lovely facilities here in Slo, and you should not use Oak Park Manor. Thanks

We moved my mom into The Oaks in March 2025. They advertise that they have Memory care. Whenever my…read moredad visited he saw nothing of the sort. They have no medical staff at all. They kick my mom out 2 days shy of a month. Three weeks after being kicked out she passed away. My dad and I blame this institution for the rapid decline of my mom. This is one place you need to stay away from.

We have recently moved our mother into the Oaks in Nipomo which is a beautiful facility and they…read moreseemed to meet every requirement that we needed for my mother. The staff is incredible friendly, welcoming and always have a smile on their face and willing to go above and beyond what is expected. They have care and compassion. The facility is gorgeous, clean and inviting and the people that live there are incredibly sweet, helpful and friendly. If you are looking for a wonderful facility for you parents than this is a fantastic option!

This facility is a little on the older side as far as the building. But as far as the staff they…read moreare top notch. The staff treats you with dignity and respect. They are attentive and concerned with the overall health. I could go on and on about them but if it is your destination you will be in good hands. I was fortunate to only have a short stay at 90 days. They have long term patients which seem to love it here too. The food has a little to desire. But I have been told they are working on it. You can tell when the food is prepared here it is very good. The good thing is your family can bring your food in as long as your diet permits. With today's door dash and grub hub. The food is an easy fix. I would recommend this place even though I do not have much experience with long term care. They have helped me return to my life and I will be grateful to them for the rest of my life thank you valley oaks.

A great group of young professionals providing care to all dependency level individuals whether…read moreit's short term or long term they all have something valuable to offer allowing everyone to be free to be themselves without judgement or harassment. Individually structured diet plans and personalized therapy regimens in place giving the resident the freedom to be as independent as possible and seek out the most optimal outcome for any situation whether it's just swallowing, talking/socializing, daily grooming tasks or walking, they have so areas

Wyndham Residence is a wonderful assisted living center. The director and staff are so attentive to…read moretheir residents' needs, truly angels. My mother feels safe and cared for, and everyone who interacts with her from the nurse to the cleaning crew to the chef to the director herself treats her with the utmost care, kindness, and respect. Could not recommend this place highly enough to families looking for quality senior care on the Central Coast.

Just happened to see an ad for Wyndham Residence, which is licensed to provide independent living…read moreand assisted living services. Wyndham is not licensed to provide skilled nursing care. I know from personal experience that Wyndham's Administration admitted a resident to assisted living whose needs bordered on needing skilled nursing services at the time of admission, and whose needs changed to needing skilled nursing within a week of being admitted. Administration promised the family that Wyndham's staff could take care of all their family member's needs no matter how sick she got. All Hell broke loose and she died soon after admission. Wyndham's front desk was not staffed all the time during the COVID pandemic, so people were free to come in and visit residents without being screened for COVID and signed in to the permanent record. Shame on you, Compass Health. You need to review what Wyndham is licensed to provide, and then check to see what is actually happening at Wyndham.