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Merrill Gardens at Monterey

Merrill Gardens at Monterey is an assisted living and memory care community in Monterey, CA.

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Merrill Gardens at Monterey

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  • Interior

    A cozy and well-decorated bedroom with a large window allowing natural light to illuminate the space.
  • Decor

    A modern lobby area with comfortable seating and elegant decor.
  • Living Room

    A modern and spacious lobby area with comfortable seating and natural lighting.
  • Building

    The front entrance of a Merrill Gardens retirement community building.
  • Architecture

    A modern courtyard with outdoor seating and a central red vase.
  • Trees

    A cozy outdoor patio with a fireplace and seating, set against a sunset backdrop.
  • Windows

    A well-lit dining area with neatly arranged tables and chairs, featuring large windows and modern lighting.
  • Dining

    A modern open-plan living room with a stylish kitchen and dining area, featuring contemporary furniture and artwork.
  • Lighting

    A modern interior with a curved staircase and a striking art installation hanging from the ceiling.
  • Seating Area

    A modern hotel lobby featuring a grand piano and elegant chandeliers.
  • Floor Plan

    A floor plan of an apartment showing a living area, kitchen, and bathroom layout.
  • Lobby

    A spacious and modern lobby area with comfortable seating and elegant decor.
  • Exterior

    A modern apartment building with large windows and balconies, surrounded by trees.
  • Salon

    A modern hair salon interior with chairs and mirrors, featuring a stylish brick wall.

200 Iris Canyon Rd, Monterey, CA 93940

To contact a resident: (831) 204-0462

For more information about senior living options: (866) 208-4318

4.5 from 37 reviews
5 stars
27
4 stars
7
3 stars
1
2 stars
0
1 stars
2

Seniors.FYI Elite Community Awards

Top 5% Senior Living Community in 2019

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Merrill Gardens at Monterey Costs & Pricing

Merrill Gardens at Monterey offers a range of living options that reflect the unique ambiance and amenities of its location. When comparing monthly costs, residents will find that the prices for studio and one-bedroom apartments are notably higher than both Monterey County and the broader California state averages. Specifically, a studio at Merrill Gardens is priced at $4,395, which exceeds the county's average by over $600 and is slightly above the state's average. The semi-private option also stands out at $4,495, surpassing county rates significantly. For larger accommodations, such as two-bedroom units, Merrill Gardens ranks higher still at $7,350 compared to both local and state benchmarks. While these rates may appear on the higher end of the spectrum, they are indicative of the quality of services and lifestyle offered in this premium assisted living community.

Floor plansMerrill Gardens at MontereyMonterey CountyCalifornia
Studio$4,395$3,761$4,145
Semi-Private$4,495$3,561$3,333
1 Bedroom$5,495$4,189$4,340
2 Bedrooms$7,350$5,112$5,270

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Overall Review of Merrill Gardens at Monterey

differentiator 14 reviews mention this

Dining and food quality stand out

Restaurant-style dining and consistently good meals are recurring highlights in reviews.

Dining is one of the most talked-about parts of life here, with residents and families describing consistently good meals. Multiple reviews specifically mention restaurant-style service and regular access to meals throughout the day. Several people also comment on seasonal or event meals, while a few others flag food as just adequate, not excellent.

  • Two-bedroom apartment floor plan with living and dining areas.
  • A well-lit dining area with neatly arranged tables and chairs, featuring large windows and modern lighting.
  • A modern open-plan living room with a stylish kitchen and dining area, featuring contemporary furniture and artwork.
common 23 reviews mention this

Staff are helpful and responsive

Across reviews, families describe staff who are patient, kind, and responsive.

Many reviewers say the staff is patient and helpful, including front-desk team members and care staff who are available when questions come up. Several people also describe smooth transitions and ongoing support after move-in. A smaller set of reviews raises staffing and care-provision concerns, especially in memory care.

common 11 reviews mention this

Activities keep residents engaged

Residents and families frequently mention busy activity calendars and social opportunities.

Reviews commonly point to a lot going on day to day, including group activities, exercise options, and outings. Some families describe residents making friends and participating in meetings and events. One memory-care-related review, however, says the activities observed were more like watching than hands-on engagement.

common 10 reviews mention this

Clean, well kept, and newer feel

Reviewers repeatedly describe the community as clean, orderly, and well maintained.

A frequent theme is that the building and living areas feel clean and well kept. Several reviewers also mention the property as newer and maintained, and they describe a pleasant environment. In memory care, one reviewer still noted cleanliness while reporting broader problems with how care tasks were handled.

caveat 2 reviews mention this

Memory care staffing and engagement concerns

Two reviews raise concerns about memory care engagement and care follow-through.

While some residents describe helpful, patient care, two memory-care-focused reviews report problems with staffing behavior, engagement, and delivering hands-on care tasks. One review specifically says staff were frequently disengaged during activities. Another describes difficulties with bathing, laundry, and administering medication as needed.

caveat 2 reviews mention this

Pricing can run high for some families

A couple of reviews characterize the cost as high for their family budget.

Some reviewers describe the community as expensive or beyond their price range. One family also mentioned choosing based on a good rate, suggesting pricing can be an important factor in decision-making. The listed pricing runs above county and state benchmarks for most unit types, with some variation by layout.

How we summarize

Counts show how many written reviews mention each theme; a review can touch several themes, and only frequently mentioned themes are displayed.

Features

Housing

  • 1-bedroom apartments 1-bedroom apartments
  • 2-bedroom apartments 2-bedroom apartments
  • Studio apartments Studio apartments

Types of Care

  • Assisted Living Assisted Living
  • Independent Living Independent Living
  • Memory Care Memory Care

Pets

  • Cats allowed Cats allowed
  • Dogs allowed Dogs allowed

Amenities

  • Activities off-site Activities off-site
  • Activities on-site Activities on-site
  • Air-conditioning Air-conditioning
  • Beautician on-site Beautician on-site
  • Devotional services off-site Devotional services off-site
  • Devotional services on-site Devotional services on-site
  • Dining room Dining room
  • Full kitchen Full kitchen
  • Garden Garden
  • Ground floor units Ground floor units
  • Handicap accessible Handicap accessible
  • Housekeeping services Housekeeping services
  • Indoor common areas Indoor common areas
  • Kitchenette Kitchenette
  • Laundry Laundry
  • Outdoor common areas Outdoor common areas
  • Resident parking Resident parking
  • Swimming pool Swimming pool
  • Swimming pool / hot tub Swimming pool / hot tub
  • Wheelchair accessible showers Wheelchair accessible showers

Transportation

  • Monterey Peninsula (0 miles away) Monterey Peninsula (0 miles away)
  • Transportation & parking Transportation & parking

Care Services

  • Ambulatory care Ambulatory care
  • Diabetic care Diabetic care
  • Incontinence care Incontinence care
  • Medication management Medication management

Dining

  • Anytime dining Anytime dining
  • Guest meals Guest meals
  • Low / no sodium Low / no sodium
  • Meals provided Meals provided
  • No Sugar No Sugar
  • Professional chef Professional chef
  • Restaurant style dining Restaurant style dining
  • Room service Room service
  • Vegetarian Vegetarian

Activities

  • Art classes Art classes
  • Cooking classes Cooking classes
  • Day trips and outings Day trips and outings
  • Devotional activities offsite Devotional activities offsite
  • Devotional activities on-site Devotional activities on-site
  • Educational speakers / life long learning Educational speakers / life long learning
  • Forever fit Forever fit
  • Happy hour Happy hour
  • Live dance or theater performances Live dance or theater performances
  • Live musical performances Live musical performances
  • Wine tasting Wine tasting

Languages Spoken

  • English English

Nearby Places of Interest

This area of Monterey, California is conveniently located near Monterey Regional Airport, making travel in and out of the city easy for seniors who enjoy exploring new places. Within close proximity, there are various healthcare options including physicians, eye care centers, pediatric groups, dental and orthodontic services, as well as the Monterey County Health Department. For dining options, there are a variety of restaurants ranging from casual diners to fine dining establishments. Additionally, several pharmacies are nearby for convenience in filling prescriptions. For recreation and leisure, there are cafes perfect for enjoying a cup of coffee and socializing with friends or family. The area also offers access to parks like Dennis the Menace Park and Fort Ord Dunes State Park for outdoor activities. With a hospital just a short distance away, seniors can have peace of mind knowing medical care is easily accessible in case of emergencies. Overall, this part of Monterey provides a convenient and comfortable environment for senior living with amenities that cater to various needs.

Transportation

  • Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) (0.1 miles)

Physicians

  • Hulstedt Douglas V Md Douglas Hulstedt Md Monterey (0.2 miles)
  • Friedman Eye Center (0.4 miles)
  • Pediatric Group of Monterey (0.7 miles)
  • Monterey Bay Institute of Electrology (0.8 miles)
  • Monterey County Health Department, Seaside Family Health Center (0.9 miles)
  • Accu Dental And Orthodontics (1.4 miles)
  • Monterey Institute of Sports Medicine (1.7 miles)

Restaurants

  • Donut Shop (0.7 miles)
  • Black Bear Diner Monterey (0.7 miles)
  • Tarpy's Roadhouse (1.1 miles)
  • In-N-Out Burger (1.3 miles)
  • Monterey Fish House (1.4 miles)
  • McDonald's (1.5 miles)
  • Mals Market and Deli (1.6 miles)

Pharmacies

  • Safeway Pharmacy (0.7 miles)
  • CVS Pharmacy (0.8 miles)
  • Walgreens (0.8 miles)
  • Ordway Pharmacy (2.6 miles)
  • Ordway Drug Store (2.6 miles)
  • Rite Aid (2.6 miles)
  • Rite Aid (2.8 miles)

Cafes

  • Starbucks (0.7 miles)
  • Starbucks (1.2 miles)
  • Starbucks (1.4 miles)
  • Starbucks (1.4 miles)
  • Acme Coffee Roasting Co. (1.5 miles)
  • Counterpoint Coffee (1.5 miles)
  • Red's Donuts (1.6 miles)

Hospitals

  • Laboratory of Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula (1 miles)
  • Community Hospital Of The Monterey Peninsula (2.1 miles)
  • Dr Mary Garren, MD (2.4 miles)

Parks

  • Dennis the Menace Park (2.2 miles)
  • Fort Ord Dunes State Park (2.3 miles)
  • Via Pariso Park (3.1 miles)

Theaters

  • Cinemark Monterey 13 (2.5 miles)

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to live at Merrill Gardens at Monterey in Monterey, CA?
What floor plans and room types does Merrill Gardens at Monterey offer?
Where is Merrill Gardens at Monterey?
Does Merrill Gardens at Monterey provide care for residents with dementia or Alzheimer's disease?
Does Merrill Gardens at Monterey allow residents to have pets?
What photos are available for Merrill Gardens at Monterey in Monterey, California?

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Related Resources

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    The guide on holistic dementia care outlines the complexity of dementia and stresses the need for individualized caregiver strategies that include medical treatment, psychological support, and environmental adaptations, while emphasizing early detection, various therapeutic options, and caregiver support to enhance quality of life and maintain dignity.

  • dementia careMemory Care Pathways: A Holistic Guide to Dementia Support

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  • sundown syndromeComprehending Evening Confusion in Dementia: Causes, Manifestations, and Support

    Sundown syndrome, or sundowning, is a phenomenon in dementia patients characterized by increased confusion and agitation during late afternoon and evening, influenced by factors like disrupted circadian rhythms and fatigue. Effective caregiver strategies include establishing routines and managing environmental light while addressing caregiver stress through support services.

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