Pricing ranges from
    $5,100 – 6,300/month

    Sunshine Villa, A Merrill Gardens Community

    80 Front St, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060
    4.2 · 66 reviews
    • Assisted living
    • Memory care

    Pricing

    $5,100+/moStudioAssisted Living
    $6,300+/mo1 BedroomAssisted Living

    Amenities

    Healthcare services

    • Activities of daily living assistance
    • Assistance with bathing
    • Assistance with dressing
    • Assistance with transfers
    • Coordination with health care providers
    • Hospice waiver
    • Medication management
    • Mental wellness program

    Healthcare staffing

    • 12-16 hour nursing
    • 24-hour call system
    • 24-hour supervision

    Meals and dining

    • Diabetes diet
    • Meal preparation and service
    • Restaurant-style dining
    • Special dietary restrictions

    Room

    • Air-conditioning
    • Cable
    • Fully furnished
    • Housekeeping and linen services
    • Kitchenettes
    • Private bathrooms
    • Telephone
    • Wifi

    Memory care community services

    • Dementia waiver
    • Mild cognitive impairment
    • Specialized memory care programming

    Transportation

    • Community operated transportation
    • Transportation arrangement
    • Transportation arrangement (medical)
    • Transportation arrangement (non-medical)
    • Transportation to doctors appointments

    Common areas

    • Beauty salon
    • Computer center
    • Dining room
    • Fitness room
    • Gaming room
    • Garden
    • Outdoor space
    • Small library
    • Wellness center

    Community services

    • Concierge services
    • Fitness programs
    • Move-in coordination

    Activities

    • Community-sponsored activities
    • Planned day trips
    • Resident-run activities
    • Scheduled daily activities

    4.24 · 66 reviews

    Overall rating

    1. 5
    2. 4
    3. 3
    4. 2
    5. 1
    • Care

      4.3
    • Staff

      4.2
    • Meals

      4.1
    • Building

      4.4
    • Value

      4.0

    Location

    Map showing location of Sunshine Villa, A Merrill Gardens Community

    About Sunshine Villa, A Merrill Gardens Community

    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.

    People often ask...

    State of California Inspection Reports

    21

    Inspections

    6

    Type A Citations

    5

    Type B Citations

    5

    Years of reports

    11 Sept 2024
    Confirmed staff did not administer medication correctly and failed to respond to resident requests in a timely manner. Staff also did not ensure resident representative involvement in decision-making.
    • § 87411(a)
    • § 87468.2(a)(4)
    11 Sept 2024
    Investigated allegations of neglect, medication errors, theft, and uncomfortable temperatures, but evidence was inconclusive.
    18 Jul 2024
    Identified deficiencies in medication management and safety protocols during the inspection visit.
    • § 87211(a)(1)
    • § 87465(h)(6)
    24 Oct 2023
    Confirmed deficiencies were found during the unannounced visit due to a resident leaving the facility without notice and being brought back later.
    • § 87411(a)
    12 May 2023
    Investigated an elopement incident involving a resident on 02/24/2023 when a responsible person reported the resident was found outside by a pedestrian. Confirmed the resident returned safely and given a wander guard; no further elopement attempts reported since.
    • §
    20 Jul 2022
    Inspection showed no deficiencies and facility was in compliance with all regulations.
    22 Jul 2021
    Confirmed deficiencies in water temperature levels during the inspection.
    • § 87303
    06 May 2021
    Investigated allegations about resident care and meal provision during a tele-visit; determined insufficient evidence to prove these concerns occurred or did not occur.
    19 Apr 2021
    Investigated a complaint about residents' phone access and found insufficient evidence to confirm issues with phone usage, noting most residents experienced no trouble making calls.
    19 Apr 2021
    Confirmed allegations of insufficient staffing and lack of timely resident care during a COVID-19 outbreak, with evidence from interviews, observations, and records showing delayed responses to resident alarms and missed showers.
    • § 87411(a)
    • § 87464(f)(4)
    19 Apr 2021
    Reviewed allegations of residents not receiving adequate care and found them to be unfounded after interviewing residents, staff, and reviewing records.
    19 Apr 2021
    Confirmed allegations of unsanitary conditions and neglect were unsubstantiated after interviews, observations, and record reviews were completed.
    16 Mar 2021
    Confirmed deficiencies in food preparation, diet compliance, and resident room barricading.
    • § 87555(b)(7)
    • § 87705(l)(5)
    27 Oct 2020
    Interviews, observations, and record reviews were conducted to investigate allegations related to meal service, temperature control, following physician's orders, and resident comfort. The Department concluded that the allegations were unsubstantiated.
    01 Oct 2020
    Reviewed a self-reported Death Report after a resident was found on the ground at another facility, transferred to the hospital, and later passed away at a skilled nursing facility.
    02 Sept 2020
    Confirmed that medication practices were in compliance with policies and regulations following interviews and observations.
    02 Sept 2020
    Confirmed no deficiencies during the health and safety check, residents are well taken care of and facility is adhering to health protocols.
    16 Jul 2020
    Identified missed medications incidents and late reporting during the inspection. Advisory note issued for the late reporting.
    10 Jul 2020
    Conducted a pre-licensing inspection of a facility with 106 residents, ensuring proper living conditions and safety measures were in place.
    25 Jun 2020
    Confirmed understanding of Title 22 regulations during the COMP II assessment.
    15 Jan 2020
    Found no evidence to support allegations of staff rudeness towards residents after conducting interviews with residents, family members, and facility staff.
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