Lake Merrit Care Home

    576 Valle Vista Ave, Oakland, CA 94610
    • Independent Living
    • Assisted Living

    Friendly staff, clean facility, happy

    I toured the facility and was very pleased - friendly, caring staff; clean, bright rooms and spacious common areas with wide, safe staircases; good food and lots of activities. Staff were knowledgeable about medical care, flexible with residents, and my mom is comfortable and happy here at a reasonable price.

    Loved one of resident
    Jul 2026

    Pricing

    Prices shown are estimates and subject to change. Contact your senior living advisor for current pricing.

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    Amenities

    Healthcare services

    • Activities of daily living assistance
    • Assistance with bathing
    • Assistance with dressing
    • Assistance with transfers
    • Coordination with health care providers
    • Medication management

    Healthcare staffing

    • 24-hour supervision

    Meals and dining

    • Diabetes diet
    • Meal preparation and service
    • Special dietary restrictions

    Room

    • Cable
    • Fully furnished
    • Housekeeping and linen services
    • Telephone
    • Wifi

    Transportation

    • Transportation arrangement (medical)
    • Transportation to doctors appointments

    Community services

    • Move-in coordination

    Activities

    • Community-sponsored activities
    • Scheduled daily activities

    Reviews

    3.50·(6)

    Overall rating

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

      4.5
    • Staff

      3.5
    • Meals

      4.0
    • Amenities

      3.0
    • Value

      3.3

    Pros

    • good food
    • caring staff
    • friendly staff
    • knowledgeable about medical care
    • spacious house
    • wide safe staircase
    • bright upper rooms
    • clean accommodations
    • flexible with residents
    • comfortable for resident (mom)
    • residents happy
    • nice tour
    • lots of activities offered
    • reasonable price
    • overall terrific experience

    Cons

    • price too high / unaffordable
    • unable to meet manager about expenses
    • insufficient staff availability
    • unanswered questions
    • failed communication
    • lack of assistance
    • small room

    Summary of reviews

    Overall sentiment in the reviews is mixed but leans positive on several core quality-of-life aspects while flagging important operational and communication concerns. Multiple reviewers praise the basics that matter to residents and families: the food, cleanliness, the friendliness and caring attitude of many staff members, and a comfortable, home-like physical environment. Praise for medical knowledge and the perception that residents are happy suggests a satisfactory level of daily care for many occupants. At the same time, there are repeated and specific criticisms around communication, staffing availability, room size, and cost that create notable inconsistency in the overall impression.

    Care quality and staff: Reviews repeatedly describe staff as caring, friendly, and knowledgeable about medical care, implying that clinical needs and daily caregiving are handled competently at times. Several comments state that the facility was “comfortable for mom” and that residents were happy, which reinforces a generally positive view of direct caregiving. However, these positive statements are tempered by direct complaints that staff were not available when needed, that assistance was lacking, and that questions went unanswered. This contrast suggests variability — some interactions and shifts are perceived as excellent, while others experience staffing shortages or lapses in responsiveness. The presence of both strong praise (caring, knowledgeable staff) and serious service failures (no staff available, lack of assistance) is one of the clearest patterns in the reviews.

    Facilities and accommodations: The physical environment receives largely favorable comments. Reviewers mention a spacious house, wide and safe staircases, bright upper rooms, and generally clean accommodations. Tours are described positively (“nice tour”), and the facility is portrayed as bright and well-kept in several summaries. At the same time, at least one reviewer called out a “small room,” indicating that room size may vary and that some units may feel cramped. The overall pattern is that common areas and many rooms are pleasant and safe, but prospective residents should be aware that private room sizes and layouts could differ.

    Dining and activities: Dining and engagement opportunities are strengths noted across the summaries. “Good food” is explicitly highlighted, and multiple reviewers mention “lots of activities offered,” which supports a positive view of resident life beyond basic care. These factors likely contribute to comments that residents appear happy and that the environment feels comfortable for family members who visited.

    Management, pricing, and communication: Management and administrative communication are the most significant areas of concern. Reviews show a stark contrast on cost: some reviewers describe the price as “reasonable” or even “terrific,” while others say it is “too high / unaffordable.” Additionally, there is a concrete complaint about being unable to meet the manager to discuss expenses, which ties into broader themes of failed communication. Several summaries explicitly mention unanswered questions and failed communication — not limited to billing but extending to help and assistance expectations. These recurring issues point to inconsistency in how administrative matters and family concerns are handled and suggest that transparency and availability of management are uneven.

    Overall assessment and notable patterns: The facility shows many strengths in resident experience — good food, cleanliness, friendly and, in many cases, competent caregiving staff, and active programming. However, the reviews collectively reveal variability that matters: staffing availability and responsiveness are not uniformly dependable, room sizes are not consistent, and there are conflicting impressions about affordability. The most actionable pattern is the coexistence of high marks for hands-on care and environment with repeated operational red flags around communication and access to management. Prospective residents and families should weigh the positive reports about daily life and care against the risk of inconsistent administrative responsiveness and potential cost concerns when making decisions.

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    Location

    Map showing location of Lake Merrit Care Home

    Lake Merrit Care Home is located at 576 Valle Vista Ave, Oakland, CA, 94610.

    About Lake Merrit Care Home

    Lake Merritt Care Home offers a warm and inviting environment for seniors, nestled along the border of Oakland and Piedmont in a peaceful and highly desirable residential neighborhood. The home boasts a beautiful deck that provides a stunning view of the surrounding hills, offering residents and their visitors a tranquil spot to relax and savor the calming scenery. The proximity to vibrant local amenities ensures that residents can enjoy everything the area has to offer, with a variety of shops, theaters, and churches easily accessible nearby. Renowned Lake Merritt is just a few minutes away, providing wonderful opportunities for outings and leisure.

    Residents at Lake Merritt Care Home benefit from the convenient access to public transportation, as the facility is located just a block from Grand Avenue where buses and taxis are readily available. This ease of mobility enables residents to maintain their independence and enjoy life outside the home when desired, while also providing peace of mind for families and loved ones. The location strikes a perfect balance between urban accessibility and serene retreat, making daily life engaging, safe, and comfortable.

    The philosophy at Lake Merritt Care Home centers on maintaining a family-like atmosphere among residents, staff, and administrators. There is a strong focus on both attentive care and support for independence, recognizing the importance of preserving each resident's dignity. Every effort is made to help individuals feel at home, respected, and valued. The dedicated staff members build close-knit relationships with residents, providing daily assistance while encouraging residents to retain as much autonomy as possible.

    Lake Merritt Care Home is dedicated to fostering a compassionate and homely environment for seniors. The commitment to personalized support, meaningful community, and enjoyable surroundings sets a high standard for elder care. Visitors are welcomed to experience the calm and friendly atmosphere that makes Lake Merritt Care Home a special place for seniors to thrive.

    People often ask...

    Lake Merrit Care Home offers competitive pricing, with rates starting at a cost of $6,187 per month.

    Lake Merrit Care Home offers independent living, assisted living, and board and care.

    There are 6 photos of Lake Merrit Care Home on Mirador.

    The full address for this community is 576 Valle Vista Ave, Oakland, CA 94610.

    No, Lake Merrit Care Home does not offer respite care. Respite care in assisted living communities provides temporary, short-term relief for primary caregivers by offering professional care for their loved ones. It allows individuals to stay in an assisted living community for a limited time, giving caregivers a break while ensuring residents receive necessary support and assistance with daily activities.

    Safety & Compliance

    In California, the Department of Social Services' Community Care Licensing Division licenses residential care facilities for the elderly, conducting inspections and investigating complaints.

    License number015601219
    StatusOn Probation
    Facility typeResidential Care Elderly
    Capacity15 residents
    LicenseeLAKE MERRITT CARE HOME, INC.
    EffectiveDecember 20th, 2006
    View the official license record

    Inspection Reports

    14

    Reports

    7

    Type A Citations

    4

    Type B Citations

    2

    Complaints

    7

    Years

    23 Dec 2025Inspection
    Identified immediate safety concerns, including an expired fire extinguisher and five residents with outdated physician’s reports.
    • Type A87463(h)
    • Type A87203
    11 Dec 2025Complaint
    Investigated an allegation that staff did not prevent physical altercations between residents; findings indicated the allegation was unsubstantiated.
    11 Aug 2025Inspection
    Found compliance with all stipulation requirements and no citations were issued.
    11 Aug 2025Inspection
    Observed compliance with stipulation requirements, including records, scheduling, payroll, and safe storage of medications; no deficiencies were found.
    17 Dec 2024Inspection
    Observed a clean, well-lit environment with ample food supplies, locked toxins and sharp objects, functional bathrooms, and working safety detectors. Noted hot water at 109.8 degrees, comfortable room temperature, and complete resident and staff records; an administrator was on site for more than the minimum required hours.
    16 Sept 2024Inspection
    Identified that written notices about pending action were not provided to residents, their responsible parties, and the long-term care ombudsman within 10 days, and a civil penalty was assessed.
    • Type A1569.38(b)
    28 Jul 2023Inspection
    Identified concerns about licensee conduct after a plea agreement to three misdemeanors and a suspended FTB status; deficiencies were noted for failing to report these issues.
    • Type B1569.58(a)(2)
    • Type B87405(d)(5)
    21 Jul 2023Inspection
    Verified the individual was not present, employed, or residing at the location.
    19 Jan 2023Inspection
    Found that one staff member hired on 12/13/22 did not have an associated criminal record clearance, violating the criminal record clearance requirements.
    • Type A87355(e)(2)
    • Type A1569.17(b)
    20 Dec 2022Inspection
    Identified several health and safety deficiencies during an unannounced visit, including unsecured cleaning chemicals, damaged doors and toilets, and a staff health screening gap.
    • Type A87309(a)
    • Type A87355(e)(2)
    • Type B87411(f)
    • Type B87303(a)
    01 Dec 2021Inspection
    Observed infection control measures and screening for staff, residents, and visitors; no deficiencies were noted.
    23 Jun 2021Complaint
    Investigated a financial abuse complaint and found the allegation unfounded.
    17 Dec 2020Inspection
    Found that a resident left the premises around 4:55 pm on 12/10/2020 without informing staff or signing out, and was fatally struck by a vehicle near Safeway; video captured the departure and staff noted he often went to Safeway. LPA planned a follow-up and requested the physician’s report, police report, admission agreement, and records detailing the resident’s history at the site.
    31 Dec 2019Inspection
    Conducted unannounced visit for required annual review and completed tour of facility's interior and exterior. Needed to return for follow-up inspection.

    Disclaimer

    Mirador Living is not affiliated with the owner or operator(s) of Lake Merrit Care Home. The information above has not been verified or approved by the owner or operator. For exact information, please contact Lake Merrit Care Home directly. There is no cost for this service. We are compensated by the community you select.

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