Sunshine Villa, A Merrill Gardens Community, sits near the Santa Cruz beach in a historic Victorian-style building surrounded by gardens, hedges, and old trees, and it's three stories tall, so you get some nice views of the neighborhood and can see the courtyards and patios outside where folks like to sit and talk or just enjoy a little fresh air or do some gentle walking. They offer several kinds of senior living, including independent living, assisted living, memory care for Alzheimer's and dementia, continuing care retirement community options, and skilled nursing for people needing more help, and they've got registered nurses and licensed practical nurses on site. The apartments here come as studios and one-bedrooms and run from about 320 to 576 square feet, and yes, they're pet-friendly, so people can bring their cats or small dogs, and they've got spacious rooms that can be made pretty homey.
The staff tailor care to each person, so for folks needing help with daily things like bathing, dressing, and medication, the assisted living service handles that, and then there's a memory care area with a special bridge program to support those with cognitive conditions, where safety is a top concern and wandering is carefully managed. There's 24-hour staffing, on-site caregivers, regular weekly housekeeping, and a resident call system if something goes wrong or somebody needs help.
When it comes to food, the dining program gives you chef-prepared meals, bread baking, and restaurant-style dining, and there are private dining rooms for special gatherings, so residents eat well most days, plus they'll have occasional ice cream socials and wine and cheese tastings to mix things up. Residents can use the salon spa, theater room, and gym, and the common rooms are furnished nicely, with light and a Victorian sunporch where people like to chat, read, or maybe just listen to some music. There's a packed activities calendar, including bingo, movies, crosswords, lively jazz concerts, Bible studies, and special events, all tied into their Active Living Program that keeps everybody busy and socially connected.
Transportation's offered to help residents get to appointments and errands or go out to see the riverwalk or a local show, and the maintenance crew keeps things running smoothly. The water feature in the gardens and patio seating areas makes it peaceful outside, so folks can enjoy a bit of Santa Cruz air. Sunshine Villa's designed to allow people to keep their independence as much as possible, with tools and support in place, and with the skilled nursing option, residents who need it can get more intensive help without moving somewhere else. Services there focus on privacy, comfort, and providing a steady rhythm to daily life while recognizing that everybody has different needs and preferences, and the team tries to respect that, and in all, it's a place where seniors can find support, safety, social opportunities, and a pleasant spot to live by the coast.