Meridian Assisted Living

Pros

• The staff at Sunnyside Manor is professional, friendly, and kind.
• The facility is clean, bright, and welcoming.
• Nursing care is exceptional, with attentive staff who know residents and families well.
• In-house rehab and therapy, including twice-daily PT, help residents improve balance, strength, and confidence.
• The grounds, amenities, and dining options are outstanding, with engaging activities for residents.
• Sunnyside Manor is small enough for the entire staff to know each resident, fostering prompt, personalized responses.
• Families report peace of mind knowing their loved ones are safe, thriving, and well cared for.
• Sunnyside Manor feels like a family-owned home away from home, with compassionate, dedicated care from all levels.
• Transitions between levels of care (assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing) are smooth and well-supported.
• Residents form friendships, enjoy walking paths, and participate in bus trips and other social opportunities.
• The leadership and staff are attentive, respectful, and quick to address concerns.
• Sunnyside Manor has a long-standing tradition of compassionate care across generations, making it a trusted choice for families.

Cons

• Two corporately run facilities were described as extremely disappointing and at times dangerous.
• They cited lack of staffing at those facilities.
• They noted mistakes with medication.
• They reported failure to call ambulances in a timely manner.
• They described the facilities as unkept and criticized excuses for poor management.

Review

Sunnyside Manor consistently emerges in these stories as a place that families come to trust deeply for a loved one at every stage of aging. Across experiences ranging from short-term rehabilitation to long-term assisted living and memory care, the common thread is a community that feels like home: professional, compassionate, and reliably attentive at all levels of the organization. The descriptions speak to a culture that isn't hurried or transactional but rather patient, personal, and focused on the whole well-being of residents and their families.

The rehab chapter is especially vivid. One family shares that after a 11-day hospital stay for the flu, their 92-year-old father entered Sunnyside Manor's rehabilitation program and immediately felt the difference. The physical therapy team met him twice daily, and balance, strength, and confidence improved quickly. The staff is described as professional, friendly, and kind, with a sense that many have spent years at Sunnyside across every level of care. The facility itself is portrayed as clean, cheerful, and well organized, reinforcing the feeling of a place where healing happens in an encouraging environment.

When it comes to assisted living and the journey of aging-in-place, the narratives become even more expansive. A 96-year-old mother entered assisted living and, over a remarkable three-year period, thrived. A 99-year-old mother who later required skilled nursing found the transition seamless, as if Sunnyside had anticipated every need and made it easy for the family to adapt. The grounds are described as lovely, the food and activities outstanding, and the nursing care exceptional. Because Sunnyside is smaller in scale, staff members - across nursing, administration, and support roles - know every resident and family. That familiarity translates into prompt responses to inquiries and a sense of security that family members carry forward with them.

Several testimonials highlight the sense of continuity that Sunnyside provides as residents move between levels of care. Families recount that moving from skilled nursing to assisted living or from assisted living to memory care is handled with thoughtful coordination, and that transitions are kept smooth even when distance or other pressures make them challenging. The care teams are praised for being attentive and respectful, with staff members who listen and address concerns quickly. For families who live out of town, the communication from Sunnyside's staff is especially valued, reinforcing the feeling that their loved ones are in good hands no matter where they are.

The environment is repeatedly lauded as a contributor to the overall experience. Beyond the essential care, Sunnyside is described as a facility with open space, a welcoming courtyard and patios, and a location close to the shore that gives residents easy access to outdoor enjoyment. The atmosphere is not only about safety and medical care; it's about daily life filled with engaging activities and a menu of social opportunities. The sense of community and the breadth of programming - ranging from entertainment to organized outings - help residents stay engaged, connected, and content, which families stress as a cornerstone of their peace of mind.

Personal stories bring an extra layer of warmth to the portrait. Families recount examples of exceptional staff who go above and beyond, including specialized attention during transitions to memory care and the compassionate support offered during hospice. The testimonials speak to a deeply personal investment by caregivers - from nursing to administration - who treat residents like family. One family even notes a specific driver who participated in bus trips, creating lasting positive memories for their loved one. Then there are the more practical assurances: a resident who loved their unit and daily outdoor walks; another who spoke repeatedly about the staff's kindness and the quality of the meals. Across the narratives, you hear about a community that is meticulously maintained and inviting to friends and family who visit.

A central theme throughout is the contrast Sunnyside Manor offers compared with larger, corporately run facilities. Families describe Sunnyside as a well-run, family-owned home away from home, where staffing concerns that are common elsewhere - such as medication errors or slow responses - do not match their experience here. For those who have faced disappointing experiences in other options, Sunnyside stands out as a place where attention to detail, genuine care, and a willingness to listen are not exceptions but everyday practices. The heartfelt gratitude comes through strongly: caregivers' dedication, the ability to reassure anxious family members, and the confidence that their loved ones are safe, happy, and thriving.

Taken together, the collection of testimonials paints a portrait of Sunnyside Manor as a standout choice for families seeking comprehensive, compassionate care across the aging spectrum. From short-term rehabilitation to long-term assisted living and memory care, the facility's emphasis on a clean, welcoming environment; a well-rounded program of activities and high-quality meals; and a staff who feel like family creates a trusted, comforting option for loved ones. For many families, Sunnyside Manor isn't just a place for care - it's a community where residents can continue to enjoy life with dignity, meaningful engagement, and the assurance that they are truly known and valued each day.

Restaurants

• McDonald's (2.1 miles)
• Sundaes The Ice Cream Place (2.8 miles)
• Mr Shrimp (3 miles)
• Bar Anticipation (3.2 miles)
• McDonald's (3.7 miles)
• The Essex & Sussex (3.7 miles)
• Pete & Elda's Bar / Carmen's Pizzeria (3.8 miles)

Cafes

• Rook Coffee (2.1 miles)
• Green Planet Coffee Co. (3.7 miles)
• Starbucks (4.7 miles)
• Booskerdoo Coffee & Baking Co. (5.7 miles)
• Rook Coffee (7 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (2.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.9 miles)
• Walgreens (3.5 miles)
• Walgreens (3.6 miles)
• Walgreens (3.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4 miles)
• Bradley Beach Pharmacy (4.2 miles)

Physicians

• Coastal Ear, Nose & Throat (2.8 miles)
• Atlantic Medical Imaging (3 miles)
• University Radiology Group (3.4 miles)
• Meridian Rehabilitation at Neptune (3.4 miles)
• Brighter Dental Care (3.4 miles)
• Sea Girt Medical Associates (3.6 miles)
• American Heart Center (3.8 miles)

Parks

• Orchard Park (3.3 miles)
• Memorial Park (3.6 miles)
• Pete's Playground (4.8 miles)
• Fletcher Lake Park (5.1 miles)
• Joe Palaia Park (6.8 miles)

Hospitals

• K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital (3.7 miles)
• Hackensack Meridian Health Jersey Shore University Medical Center (3.7 miles)
• Ocean Medical Center (6.8 miles)

Transportation

• Asbury Park Station (5 miles)
• Bay Head Station (6.9 miles)

Places of Worship

• Jersey Shore Rescue Mission (5.3 miles)