Merrill Gardens

Having a loved one at Merrill Gardens Bankers Hill when [name removed] was in charge was a very different place than it is without her now. Having [name removed] there was like having your own personal family member there overseeing your loved ones care. [name removed] oversaw every detail of this facility from the top all the way to the bottom. Having talked with the employees that were on the floor actually caring for the residents they could never say enough about how much [name removed] supported them and how vital she was. She was regularly there till after 10pm and later just because she cared that much. The peace of mind she gave families as the director was priceless. I just wanted people to know that it’s very different facility with [name removed] gone….

I think the staff did a real good job. [name removed](not sure of last name) was incredible, amazing. Can't thank him enough. I know [name removed]was pretty difficult most of the time and they did the best they could. I think the food was ok. I can't really speak on the activities. I do think they appeared to be short staffed, especially on the weekends. At times, her room didn't seem clean. I realize it is also an old facility. Overall, they were really pretty good just a few things that needed attention but I would say the biggest issue seemed to be staffing.

The dining experience was great. The staff was okay. We had an unpleasant experience with one of the staff members that we saw mishandling my mom. However, my mom had three caretakers that we were pleased with. The communication is horrible from the Director to the staff as well as from the Director to the residents and family members. All and all my mom enjoyed her stay there.

The staff is very friendly. The food could be improved on. The rooms are unique in variety and size and many activities.

Good intentions, helpful staff right now. Execution is inconsistent but they are also responsive to concerns. Entire management staff has turned over in the last year, some positions more than once.

I have lived in Sunshine Villa for years. There have been lots of problems. Costs a lot of money for a small, noisy room. Services are not great. Management often is unhelpful. This place looks good on the surface. Not so good if you spend time inside. I would not recommend Sunshine Villa to anyone.

Unfortunately, being new to the process of finding living arrangements for mom it was not clear what the limitations and services of assisted-living were. She really did not qualify for it. The nurse who assessed her for entrance into Truewood shouldn't have accepted her. The place was very clean and well kept. Unfortunately, only one elevator was on service which made getting downstairs to a dining room chaotic. Meds were distributed right there in front of the elevator area… don't know if it would've been smoother process if all had been working. Unfortunately, mom was only there for one week before she developed pneumonia and had to go to the hospital. When it was clear she could not return to that facility that same nurse told me some staff said she needed too much care and wasn't a good fit and he told me he agreed but " took a chance" on her and thought she would do well!

I would not recommend this place to any family members needing memory care. . It was not a good experience. We had to take my family member out.

The staff in general has been very helpful. I would say there medical clinician lacks in qualifications. My experience with him when my sister was with the movers in her new residence...totally inappropriate coming in during that time to do a memory assessment was wrong. The movers and myself were there and he plopped down and started asking my sister questions that should have been done at a different time and privately. I've learned that activities are not consistent and the bus driver is not driving because of not having the proper license to do so. I'm disappointed that this lovely place is not addressing residents needs. The picture presented has been short of what was promised.

There were many issues we ran into. I felt like I was doing most of the care and the issues were not addressed. There were many housekeeping issues.

Roach infested. Poor nursing staff. Poor management - manager left and staff continued. Food was poor at best and always served cold. It was ridiculously overpriced.

Location, residents comradely, Great friendly staff. I would recommend. I like it here cause it is in a good location. All staff is very nice and hard workers and helpful.

Improve the chef and menu. The menu was very limited and one dimensional. Such as for lunch, a sandwich on sandwich, bread and chips. No other choices, no alternate menu. At times, we understand there was no chef at all and just staff making sandwiches. The lack of menu variety was not good.

Touring and the staff were initially great and we were promised all kinds of things. After the lease was signed, suddenly communication dropped off with administrative staff, there have been staffing shortages, surprise bills, cleanliness declined severely, my dad's fees were increased $[removed]without notice, I've been trying for weeks to get a hold of admin without success, finally had to get the ombudsman involved. Positives: the staff in the memory care - Garden House, is amazing! They love my dad and treat him as family. They are just way understaffed. The activities director is the best! She sends me text pictures of my dad and communicates with me about my dad because I'm 3,000 miles away.

I can tell you the staff in the garden house are all caring and watchful over mom. Food is good. My biggest concern is cost vs actual care and services. They are up $[removed] since mom came on a year ago.

Everyone that works there is very polite and helpful. [name removed]the med director is fabulous. I wish they had one level of care in memory care. It has gotten quite expensive for the services provided. There are very few activities for those that can still engage!

Good facility as long as you're not a memory care resident. They don't know how to divert the patient out of memory situation. A worker actually called me at home telling me my aunt wanted to go out .They did not how to divert her .You pay for extra help for memory care level but they don't have the extra help to give the patient .She fell needed ice on her arm she kept taking it off instead of them figuring out how to keep it on The pines Director of nursing [name removed] said she wasn't compliant so they gave up . Memory care patients need that extra care

They recently lost a lot of staff to another facility so the activities have been scaled way down. The chef just left. There was a power outage and the elevators weren't working for a day. They have asked management about the possibility of a generator but they aren't planning on having one. The new facility manager seems a bit out of touch. Newly remodeled which is very nice. Food is only ok. Staff is friendly however they are short staffed

Stayed for only 6 months and moved to facility with much better activities. At Truewood the residents were set in front of the TV for most of the day. Not unusual for aides sitting with them busy on their phones. I think they do much better with the assisted living group. Not really equipped to take care of those with memory disabilities. Probably Not Great for Memory Care as the assisted living group seems much more active. I guess you get what you pay for. Truewood is $[removed] a day, current memory care facility $[removed] a day.

Directors motto was. I’m nice to them until I start getting their money and I could care less about them. She treated me like shit three times in in four months. The elevator was down and there was no way for me to get down from my floor to do anything or do any go outside anything because I couldn’t go down the stairs with the walker Food not always the best. You could’ve used some work. I know there was a combination of our old shift and a new chef and our old chef on certain days. It was ridiculous. Activities were very, very little.