I live in a beautiful, well-maintained Victorian on a hillside by the ocean with a lovely central garden, clean common areas and cozy nooks. The activity calendar is full-movies, live music, crafts, outings and exercise classes-and dining is generally good with attentive, friendly servers. The staff are the standout: caring, professional, and often going above and beyond with meds and medical updates. Downsides: rooms and fees are costly, memory-care quality and nursing/administrative communication can be inconsistent, and parking/ logistics are sometimes a problem. Overall, I feel safe and well cared for, but it's pricey and not without occasional hiccups.
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.
About Merrill Gardens
Founded in 1993 with a single community in Seattle, Merrill Gardens has grown into one of the nation's most respected senior living providers, operating 65 communities across 17 states. As a fifth-generation family-owned company with roots extending back to the 1890s, Merrill Gardens is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, and maintains the values of integrity, compassion, and excellence that have defined the Merrill family for generations. The company has expanded strategically through both organic growth and selective acquisitions, recently adding five new communities in 2024 including locations in South Carolina, Missouri, and Oregon, while maintaining its commitment to quality over quantity in expansion decisions.
Merrill Gardens offers a comprehensive continuum of senior living services including independent living, assisted living, and specialized memory care programs. Their innovative Anytime Dining program provides restaurant-style meals seven days a week, while their assisted living services include personalized care plans covering bathing, dressing, medication management, and safety checks. The company's memory care communities utilize a Montessori approach designed specifically for residents with Alzheimer's and dementia, creating environments that promote independence and well-being. Through their Inspire Connection program, Merrill Gardens focuses on connection and community, ensuring residents can engage in meaningful activities that bring a sense of belonging and purpose to their daily lives.
The company's philosophy centers on their "Yes You Can" mentality, believing that life should be defined by possibilities rather than limitations. Merrill Gardens emphasizes person-centered care that celebrates each resident as a whole person, honoring their individuality and supporting their ability to make their own decisions. As innovators in the industry, they invest in technology and data-driven operations to enhance resident care while maintaining the personal touch that comes from their family-owned heritage. Their approach focuses on treating residents like family, with staff who are passionate about senior care rather than simply collecting a paycheck, creating environments where residents can live their fullest lives.
Merrill Gardens has earned significant recognition for their excellence, including being ranked #6 in the nation by Fortune Magazine as a Best Workplace in Aging Services and receiving Great Place to Work certification for three consecutive years. The company has been honored as Family Business of the Year by both the Puget Sound Business Journal and Seattle Business Magazine, recognizing their longevity, community commitment, and long-term vision. With over 2,500 reviews averaging 4.4 out of 5 stars, multiple communities have received Best of Senior Living Awards, demonstrating their consistent delivery of high-quality care and services. Their commitment to innovation and excellence has established Merrill Gardens as a leader in the senior living industry, with a satisfaction guarantee that reflects their confidence in providing exceptional lifestyle experiences for seniors and their families.
People often ask...
Sunshine Villa, A Merrill Gardens Community offers competitive pricing, with rates starting at a cost of $5,100 per month.
Sunshine Villa, A Merrill Gardens Community offers assisted living and memory care.
There are 27 photos of Sunshine Villa, A Merrill Gardens Community on Mirador.
The full address for this community is 80 Front St, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060.
Yes, Sunshine Villa, A Merrill Gardens Community offers 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.
State of California Inspection Reports
48
Inspections
14
Type A Citations
6
Type B Citations
5
Years of reports
01 Aug 2025
01 Aug 2025
Identified a July 31, 2025 incident involving two residents; staff intervened, no injuries observed, residents were assessed, and monitoring continued. Reported by the administrator, staff escort the residents to their rooms after activities to prevent another altercation, and no deficiencies were identified.
§ 9058
28 Jul 2025
28 Jul 2025
Found overall safety and care measures were in order at the site, with locked storage for medications and cleaners, adequate food supplies and temperatures, functioning alarms, and a complete first aid kit. Identified one medication for a resident not written in the central storage log.
§ 9058
29 May 2025
29 May 2025
Investigated a case management-incident related to an incident on 5/27/2025, interviewed staff, and requested documentation including a physician's report, a service plan, and emergency contact information. Determined that additional information was needed; no deficiencies were cited today; an exit interview was held with the Health Services Director.
§ 9058
23 Apr 2025
23 Apr 2025
Investigated two December 2024 elopement incidents, cleared the previously cited deficiencies, and reviewed staff training on elopement and related topics; no deficiencies were cited today.
§ 9058
04 Apr 2025
04 Apr 2025
Identified two residents who eloped from facility on 12/8/2024 and 12/5/2024, with police involvement and a civil penalty for absence of supervision; evidence showed wandering and exit-seeking behavior.
§ 87468.1(a)(2)
§ 9058
§ 87468.2(a)(4)
20 Mar 2025
20 Mar 2025
Identified a medication error in which a resident received double the prescribed dose on February 27, 2025, with two syringes given at 4:00 PM and two at 8:00 PM, totaling 20 mg each time instead of 10 mg. Staff admitted not performing the required medication checks before administration, and a deficiency was issued.
§ 87411(a)
20 Mar 2025
20 Mar 2025
Found the allegation that staff did not ensure residents' rooms were clean, safe, and sanitary at all times; tours showed rooms clean and sanitary, and 9 of 10 residents reported no cleanliness issues.
06 Mar 2025
06 Mar 2025
Identified that the neck discoloration was green dye transferred from beaded Mardi Gras necklaces worn on 3/4/2025, while bruising under the left eye had an unknown cause.
20 Feb 2025
20 Feb 2025
Investigated two elopements that occurred on 12/8/2024 and 12/15/2024, tested exit doors, and interviewed staff and an administrator. One resident declined to be interviewed, and additional documentation and security video footage were requested; more information is needed for further review.
19 Dec 2024
19 Dec 2024
Investigated two elopement incidents where both residents were unharmed after being returned by local police, with all 13 exit doors alarmed. Three staff were interviewed and attempts were made to speak with two residents, while several documents and records were requested; due to insufficient information, additional review is needed.
06 Dec 2024
06 Dec 2024
Determined that the administrator did reply to family emails regarding complaints, with no evidence of a failure to respond. Found that the two director vacancies did not affect care or supervision, due to interim leadership and corporate support.
09 Nov 2024
09 Nov 2024
Found COVID-19 protocols were largely followed, with residents confirming that positives are quarantined in their rooms and no concerns reported by residents or staff. Found evidence that one resident did not receive the required four showers per month due to missing staff initials in logs, indicating a lapse in hygiene care; call-button responses and medication timing were generally timely with no concerns reported.
§ 87464(f)(1)
09 Nov 2024
09 Nov 2024
Investigated four specific allegations and found no evidence to support that medical professionals or family visits were blocked without a 24-hour COVID test. Found no evidence to support that staff failed to provide timely incontinence care, did not deliver meals, or did not respond promptly to call lights.
09 Nov 2024
09 Nov 2024
Found no evidence that staff neglected to assist residents during falls; residents and staff described proper responses to falls and noted a fall prevention plan in place.
Found no evidence that residents who tested positive for COVID-19 were not quarantined; residents reported quarantining in their rooms and staff followed CDC guidelines.
09 Nov 2024
09 Nov 2024
Investigated the allegation that staff do not provide proper assistance to residents; reviewed records and interviewed seven residents and three staff, noting a resident who cannot leave unassisted but receives regular family outings. Found the allegation UNSUBSTANTIATED.
09 Nov 2024
09 Nov 2024
Found no evidence to support the allegation that staff did not safeguard residents' personal property or prevent financial abuse by an unknown perpetrator. Record review showed two residents waived documentation of belongings, while seven residents and three staff reported no concerns and said residents have keys and lock their own doors.
11 Sept 2024
11 Sept 2024
Identified that on 11/9/2023 staff delivered the wrong insulin for bedtime to a resident and took more than an hour to provide the correct dose, and found that requests for a meeting and the resident’s representative to participate in care planning were not handled promptly.
11 Sept 2024
11 Sept 2024
Found insufficient evidence to prove or disprove the allegations that staff neglected a resident resulting in death; that medication orders were not followed by staff; that resident personal belongings were not safeguarded; and that room temperatures were not kept comfortable.
11 Sept 2024
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.
18 Jul 2024
18 Jul 2024
Identified deficiencies during an unannounced annual visit, including missing start dates for medications in the centrally stored medication log and a bed rail used for a resident without a doctor's order. Also found that an incident report for a fall had not been sent to the state by the end of the visit, and staff could not immediately produce the doctor's order for the bed rail.
18 Jul 2024
18 Jul 2024
Identified deficiencies in medication management and safety protocols during the inspection visit.
24 Oct 2023
24 Oct 2023
Found that a resident left without notice on 10/01/2023 and was returned the same day by the resident's spouse; interviews with staff and review of documents occurred, and deficiencies were noted.
24 Oct 2023
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)
§ 87468.2(a)(4)
12 May 2023
12 May 2023
Investigated an elopement of a resident on 02/24/2023, when a passerby found them outside and the responsible party returned them to the home around 4:00 pm after being contacted; the time of elopement was not recorded but is believed to have occurred during midday peak hours, and there have been no subsequent elopements.
12 May 2023
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.
§ 87465(h)(6)
§ 87211(a)(1)
20 Jul 2022
20 Jul 2022
Found no deficiencies during the visit. Observed safety and sanitation measures, including staff wearing masks, vaccination status for staff and all but two residents, clean bedrooms, locked cleaning supplies, adequate food stocks and PPE, and entry screening with temperature checks.
20 Jul 2022
20 Jul 2022
Inspection showed no deficiencies and facility was in compliance with all regulations.
§ 87411(a)
22 Jul 2021
22 Jul 2021
Found masks worn and vaccination coverage high among residents and staff, with 2 residents and 5 staff not vaccinated; a policy to employ only vaccinated staff by August 1 was noted. PPE was stocked and entry screened, but social distancing signs were not posted in public areas, and hot water in two bathrooms reached about 136–140 degrees Fahrenheit after heating, resulting in an advisory and a deficiency.
22 Jul 2021
22 Jul 2021
Confirmed deficiencies in water temperature levels during the inspection.
§
06 May 2021
06 May 2021
Found no evidence to support the allegation that the resident did not receive meals or proper care, including weight monitoring.
16 Mar 2021
16 Mar 2021
Identified barricading residents' rooms during COVID-19 as substantiated; identified the meal-diet claim as unsubstantiated.
§ 87555(b)(7)
§ 87705(l)(5)
19 Apr 2021
19 Apr 2021
Found that during a COVID-19 outbreak, staffing shortages and a staff walkout left limited caregiver coverage. Determined that COVID-19 positive residents were not bathed timely, showers were not consistently signed off, and alarms went unanswered for more than 30 minutes.
19 Apr 2021
19 Apr 2021
Found that the allegation that residents were denied access to phones was not supported by the evidence.
19 Apr 2021
19 Apr 2021
Investigated the complaint about residents' medical care and found the allegation unfounded.
19 Apr 2021
19 Apr 2021
Found the allegation of unsanitary conditions, including a dirty room, unclean bedding, and wet clothing, unsubstantiated after interviews, observations, and records review.
06 May 2021
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.
§ 87303
19 Apr 2021
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.
16 Mar 2021
16 Mar 2021
Confirmed deficiencies in food preparation, diet compliance, and resident room barricading.
27 Oct 2020
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
01 Oct 2020
Investigated a resident death following a fall; interviewed the health services director about the incident, which occurred at another location the resident had been evacuated to, and the resident died after being transferred to skilled nursing. Additional staff were to be interviewed.
01 Oct 2020
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.
§ 87411(a)
§ 87464(f)(4)
02 Sept 2020
02 Sept 2020
Found health and safety protocols followed; bedrooms and living areas in good repair, bathrooms clean and stocked, lighting adequate, and residents clean and well-groomed. Noted were a 30-day medication supply, stocked first aid kits, two days of perishables and seven days of nonperishables, hot water, and a 73-degree indoor temperature, with no fire damage and no deficiencies cited.
02 Sept 2020
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.
02 Sept 2020
02 Sept 2020
Confirmed that medication practices were in compliance with policies and regulations following interviews and observations.
16 Jul 2020
16 Jul 2020
Identified missed medications incidents and late reporting during the inspection. Advisory note issued for the late reporting.
10 Jul 2020
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
25 Jun 2020
Confirmed understanding of Title 22 regulations during the COMP II assessment.
15 Jan 2020
15 Jan 2020
Found no evidence to support allegations of staff rudeness towards residents after conducting interviews with residents, family members, and facility staff.
