Merrill Gardens at Gilroy is a senior living community at 7600 Isabella Way in Gilroy, California, and sits on five acres near downtown so residents can get out to shop, eat, or see a doctor easily, and the building is set in a quiet neighborhood with a friendly, inviting look, using neutral colors inside and out, and feels very clean with a welcoming staff that takes care of yard work and housekeeping. The facility has apartment homes for seniors, offering private bathrooms, washer and dryer units, kitchenettes, walk-in closets, and some units have patios or balconies, and there are emergency call systems for extra peace of mind. The community supports seniors with independent living, assisted living, and memory care, including a secure unit for residents who need extra help due to Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia, and they can make individual plans based on each resident's needs. Residents can get help with bathing, grooming, dressing, or taking medication, and staff do regular safety checks too, so people stay comfortable but independent as much as possible.
Residents have a choice of things to do, because there's a community library, a billiards room, a card and game room, a residents' lounge, a movie theater, and a fitness center, plus outdoor walking paths and gardens, and there's a courtyard with plenty of green space to sit or stroll, and pets are welcome, so people enjoy pet therapy visits too. The dining area feels like a restaurant and meals are prepared with high-quality ingredients, aimed at proper vitamins and nutrition, with flexible "Anytime Dining" so nobody has to eat at the same time every day unless they want to, and there's a bistro-style setting for those who like variety in their meals. For comfort and convenience, residents get covered parking, elevators, Wi-Fi and high-speed internet, and the building is handicap accessible. There's also an on-site salon for haircuts and a place for meditation or worship services. They offer scheduled rides for shopping or appointments, and the Activities Director runs a busy calendar of social events, classes, outings, and games, so people can make friends or try something new.
Merrill Gardens at Gilroy offers adult day care and general counseling, and everyone has access to medication management and personal care, from assistance with daily living up to specialized memory care. There's a focus on kindness, with hospice care available too, and awards for activities that support social, physical, and emotional health. The goal is to help seniors be as independent as possible, but also supported in a balanced way, and they give residents choices about how they spend their days, aiming for a happier, fuller life, while keeping the community safe and easy to get around. The place is proud to have been named the best senior living community in Gilroy for three years in a row, and as part of Merrill Gardens, a family-owned company, the community sticks to a tradition of supporting freedom and flexibility during retirement.