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Brookdale Santa Monica Gardens in Santa Monica, CA

Brookdale Santa Monica Gardens is an assisted living community in Santa Monica, CA.

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Brookdale Santa Monica Gardens in Santa Monica, CA

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  • Interior

    A cozy library reading room with bookshelves, tables, and chairs.
  • Decor

    A cozy living room corner with two chairs, a side table with a lamp, and framed artwork on the wall.
  • Living Room

    A modern living room featuring a grand piano, comfortable seating, and elegant decor.
  • Building

    A residential building entrance with an archway and landscaped garden.
  • Bedroom

    A cozy bedroom with a neatly made bed, a small desk and chair beside a window, and tasteful decor.
  • Windows

    A well-lit meeting room with tables and chairs, featuring a television and various books and decor items on the tables.
  • Dining

    An elegantly set dining room with neatly arranged tables and chairs, featuring artwork on the walls.
  • Landscaping

    A cozy patio with seating surrounded by lush plants and flowers, adjacent to an apartment building.
  • Lighting

    A well-lit meeting room with a large table, chairs, and a television.
  • Garden

    A cozy apartment patio with green plants and comfortable seating.
  • Artwork

    A compact kitchenette with wooden cabinetry, featuring a microwave, refrigerator, and decorative elements.
  • Outdoor

    A cozy outdoor patio setup with wooden furniture and a large blue umbrella.
  • Patio

    A cozy outdoor patio with wooden furniture, blue cushions, and a large blue umbrella.
  • Bookshelves

    A cozy library with bookshelves and a comfortable reading area.

851 Second Street, Santa Monica, CA 90403

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

4.1 from 64 reviews
5 stars
33
4 stars
17
3 stars
6
2 stars
4
1 stars
4

Brookdale Santa Monica Gardens Costs & Pricing

Brookdale Santa Monica Gardens presents a premium living experience with monthly costs that are notably higher than both Los Angeles County and the broader state of California. For instance, the price for a studio apartment at this facility stands at $6,505, which significantly surpasses the county average of $4,172 and the state average of $4,145. The trend continues for larger accommodations as well; a one-bedroom unit is priced at $12,500, while the typical costs in Los Angeles County and California are much lower at $4,603 and $4,340 respectively. For those seeking more spacious options, two-bedroom apartments at Brookdale come in at $14,580 - a striking contrast to the county's average of $6,164 and the state's average of $5,270. These figures reflect not just the costs but also suggest a commitment to quality services and amenities that may justify their elevated pricing for prospective residents.

Floor plansBrookdale Santa Monica GardensLos Angeles CountyCalifornia
Studio$6,505$4,172$4,145
1 Bedroom$12,500$4,603$4,340
2 Bedrooms$14,580$6,164$5,270

Overall Review of Brookdale Santa Monica Gardens

common 26 reviews mention this

Staff support feels personal

Residents and families consistently describe staff as friendly, caring, and responsive.

Many reviewers say staff members remember residents, take time to help, and keep families informed. Several people specifically mention nurses and assistants being kind during recovery or difficult health periods. A few reviews raise concerns about staffing levels or day-to-day organization, but the majority still frame staff as the main strength.

common 15 reviews mention this

Food quality comes up often

Dining is frequently praised, though a smaller number of reviews find it disappointing.

Across reviews, many people call the food good, tasty, or fantastic, and several mention specific dining experiences like fresh salad bar meals. Others describe food as adequate, terrible, or not meeting expectations—sometimes alongside comments about overall value. Meal preparation and service are part of the care setup, and residents discuss both the positives and the misses.

  • An elegantly set dining room with neatly arranged tables and chairs, featuring artwork on the walls.
  • An elegant dining room with neatly arranged tables and chairs, featuring tasteful decor.
common 18 reviews mention this

Plenty of activities and social time

Reviews commonly mention social activities, outings, and group programming.

A recurring theme is that residents stay busy with scheduled day-to-day activities and a mix of classes, religious services, and entertainment. Multiple reviews highlight activities like chair yoga, book discussions, and live performances, along with resident engagement and friendships. Some reviewers wish there were more options for certain needs, and a few mention that activity variety didn’t stand out during a tour.

differentiator 12 reviews mention this

Beach-close location and walkability

The walkable Santa Monica location is a standout in reviews.

Several reviewers describe the convenience of being near the beach and downtown, including the ability to walk out regularly. Others mention the surrounding neighborhood feel, quiet streets, and enjoying outdoor space like gardens and courtyards. A few tours focus on the ocean view and proximity as a key selling point, even when they also discuss other tradeoffs.

caveat 4 reviews mention this

Elevators and maintenance are concerns

Elevator breakdowns and deferred maintenance are a recurring complaint.

Some reviews call out elevators that are frequently out of service for extended periods, including one where residents can’t use stairs safely. Related comments point to deferred maintenance and overall upkeep falling short. Even among otherwise positive reviews, a few mention ongoing elevator problems as the main reason they didn’t give the top rating.

caveat 8 reviews mention this

Pricing feels high for some

Multiple reviews describe the community as very expensive.

Several families and reviewers say it’s costly, and at least a few connect the price to expectations about services and staffing. One review mentions rent increases alongside complaints that care needs weren’t met as expected. The pricing is also positioned above county and state benchmarks across unit types, which aligns with why value comes up in the negative reviews.

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

  • 128 resident community capacity 128 resident community capacity
  • Studio apartments Studio apartments

Types of Care

  • Assisted Living Assisted Living
  • Independent Living Independent Living

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
  • Bath tubs Bath tubs
  • Beautician on-site Beautician on-site
  • Beauty salon Beauty salon
  • Cable or satellite TV Cable or satellite TV
  • Cafe Cafe
  • Computer center Computer center
  • Devotional services off-site Devotional services off-site
  • Devotional services on-site Devotional services on-site
  • Dining room Dining room
  • Financing advice Financing advice
  • Fitness room Fitness room
  • Full kitchen Full kitchen
  • Fully furnished Fully furnished
  • Gaming room Gaming room
  • Garden Garden
  • Guasts at mealtime Guasts at mealtime
  • Guest parking Guest parking
  • Hiking trails Hiking trails
  • Housekeeping services Housekeeping services
  • Indoor common areas Indoor common areas
  • Kitchenette Kitchenette
  • Laundry Laundry
  • Move-in coordination Move-in coordination
  • Outdoor common areas Outdoor common areas
  • Outdoor space Outdoor space
  • Pet friendly Pet friendly
  • Private bathrooms Private bathrooms
  • Private cleaning services Private cleaning services
  • Resident parking Resident parking
  • Respite or short term stays offered Respite or short term stays offered
  • Restaurant-style dining Restaurant-style dining
  • Security gate Security gate
  • Small library Small library
  • TV room TV room
  • Telephone Telephone
  • VA Benefits Consultation VA Benefits Consultation
  • Wellness center Wellness center
  • Wheelchair accessible showers Wheelchair accessible showers
  • Wi-Fi/high-speed internet available Wi-Fi/high-speed internet available

Transportation

  • Los Angeles International (8 miles away) Los Angeles International (8 miles away)
  • Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena (15 miles away) Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena (15 miles away)
  • Long Beach (Daugherty) (25 miles away) Long Beach (Daugherty) (25 miles away)
  • Community operated transportation Community operated transportation
  • Transportation & parking Transportation & parking
  • Transportation arrangement Transportation arrangement
  • Transportation arrangement (non-medical) Transportation arrangement (non-medical)

Care Services

  • 12-16 hour nursing 12-16 hour nursing
  • 24-hour call system 24-hour call system
  • 24-hour supervision 24-hour supervision
  • Activities of daily living assistance Activities of daily living assistance
  • Ambulatory care Ambulatory care
  • Assistance with bathing Assistance with bathing
  • Assistance with dressing Assistance with dressing
  • Assistance with transfers Assistance with transfers
  • Coordination with health care providers Coordination with health care providers
  • Diabetes diet Diabetes diet
  • Hospice care Hospice care
  • Incontinence care Incontinence care
  • Meal preparation and service Meal preparation and service
  • Medication management Medication management
  • Mental wellness program Mental wellness program
  • Physical therapy Physical therapy
  • Special dietary restrictions Special dietary restrictions
  • Transportation arrangement (medical) Transportation arrangement (medical)
  • Transportation to doctors appointments Transportation to doctors appointments

Dining

  • Anytime dining Anytime dining
  • Diabetes diet Diabetes diet
  • Gluten-free Gluten-free
  • Guest meals Guest meals
  • Low / no sodium Low / no sodium
  • Low fat Low fat
  • Meals provided Meals provided
  • No Sugar No Sugar
  • Professional chef Professional chef
  • Renal Renal
  • Restaurant style dining Restaurant style dining
  • Room service Room service
  • Special dietary restrictions Special dietary restrictions
  • Vegan Vegan
  • Vegetarian Vegetarian

Activities

  • Activities off-site Activities off-site
  • Art classes Art classes
  • Arts and crafts Arts and crafts
  • Book club Book club
  • Catholic services Catholic services
  • Community-sponsored activities Community-sponsored activities
  • Concierge services Concierge services
  • Cooking classes Cooking classes
  • Cooking club Cooking club
  • 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
  • Fitness programs Fitness programs
  • Games Games
  • Happy hour Happy hour
  • Jewish services Jewish services
  • Karaoke Karaoke
  • Live musical performances Live musical performances
  • Live well programs Live well programs
  • Planned day trips Planned day trips
  • Protestant services Protestant services
  • Religious services Religious services
  • Resident-run activities Resident-run activities
  • Scheduled daily activities Scheduled daily activities
  • Stories Stories
  • Tai Chi Tai Chi
  • Wine tasting Wine tasting
  • Yoga / chair yoga Yoga / chair yoga

Languages Spoken

  • English English

Nearby Places of Interest

Located in the beautiful city of Santa Monica, this particular neighborhood offers a variety of amenities that cater to a comfortable and convenient lifestyle for seniors. With multiple pharmacies nearby, accessing essential medications and healthcare services is easily accessible. Additionally, there are several top-rated restaurants within walking distance, providing diverse dining options for residents. The proximity to parks such as Palisades Park and Santa Monica State Beach allows for leisurely strolls and enjoying the outdoors. For medical needs, Santa Monica - UCLA Medical Center & Orthopaedic Hospital is conveniently located nearby. Overall, this neighborhood provides a vibrant and active atmosphere with opportunities for relaxation, socializing, and staying healthy.

Restaurants

  • The Penthouse (0.3 miles)
  • The Bungalow (0.4 miles)
  • 1212 Santa Monica (0.4 miles)
  • Elephante (0.6 miles)
  • Water Grill (0.7 miles)
  • Santa Monica Whaler (0.8 miles)
  • Meat On Ocean (0.8 miles)

Pharmacies

  • CVS Pharmacy (0.5 miles)
  • CVS Pharmacy (0.8 miles)
  • Rite Aid (1 miles)
  • Walgreens (1.4 miles)
  • Walgreens (1.5 miles)
  • CVS Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
  • CVS Pharmacy (2.4 miles)

Parks

  • Palisades Park (0.6 miles)
  • DOG PPL - Dog Park, Bar, Cafe & Lounge (0.7 miles)
  • Santa Monica State Beach (0.9 miles)
  • Ocean View Park (2 miles)
  • South Beach Park (2.2 miles)
  • Will Rogers State Historic Park (2.3 miles)
  • Penmar Recreation Center (3 miles)

Hospitals

  • Santa Monica - UCLA Medical Center & Orthopaedic Hospital (1.1 miles)

Cafes

  • The Rose Cafe & Market (2.4 miles)
  • Starbucks (2.5 miles)
  • Gjusta (2.6 miles)
  • Starbucks (2.9 miles)
  • Great White (3 miles)
  • Intelligentsia Coffee (3.1 miles)
  • Chocolate Bash (4.5 miles)

Physicians

  • UCLA Stein Eye Institute Westwood (4.5 miles)
  • Kaiser Permanente Culver Marina Medical Offices (5 miles)

Places of Worship

  • King Fahad Mosque (5.5 miles)

Theaters

  • AMC Century City 15 (5.5 miles)

Frequently Asked Questions

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    Medicare does not cover assisted living costs, as it focuses on acute medical needs and short-term care, with exceptions for certain medically necessary services like physical therapy. Individuals must explore other options such as Medicaid, veterans' benefits, or long-term care insurance to manage these expenses effectively.

  • assisted living vs nursing homeChoosing the Right Senior Care: A Detailed Exploration of Assisted Living and Nursing Homes

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