This community has permanently closed

    Meridian at Ocean Villa & Bella Mar

    413 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90402
    • Assisted Living
    • Memory Care

    Compassionate staff, beautiful ocean-view rooms

    I'm very pleased with the caring, professional staff and attentive management - they're compassionate, go above and beyond, and keep me regularly updated about my health. My bedroom is beautiful with an ocean view, the facility is clean, and meals are acceptable. Overall a comforting, well-run place near the ocean where I feel truly cared for.

    Current/former resident
    Jul 2026

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    Reviews

    3.00·(9)

    Overall rating

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

      3.0
    • Staff

      2.8
    • Meals

      4.0
    • Amenities

      3.0
    • Value

      1.0

    Pros

    • Caring and compassionate staff
    • Staff who go above and beyond
    • Management praised by some reviewers
    • Regular health updates provided
    • Cleanliness of facility
    • Well-prepared / acceptable food
    • Beautiful bedrooms
    • Ocean view and proximity to the ocean
    • Staff described as very nice by some reviewers

    Cons

    • Perceived decline in care and staff performance
    • Disorganization in operations
    • Frequent staff turnover
    • Lack of clear communication
    • Overpriced for perceived value
    • Facility feels old
    • Reports of rude or horrible staff

    Summary of reviews

    The reviews present a mixed but distinct pattern: many reviewers highlight strong, compassionate caregiving and moments where staff and management went above and beyond, while others describe a noticeable decline in care standards and significant operational issues. Positive comments consistently mention caring, compassionate employees who provide regular health updates and demonstrate personal attention. These strengths are reinforced by praise for cleanliness, well-appointed bedrooms with ocean views, and a desirable oceanfront location. Several reviewers specifically call out management or staff for being caring and for providing reliable communication about health matters.

    Conversely, a number of reviews raise serious concerns about consistency and reliability. The most frequent negatives are disorganization, constant staff turnover, and a lack of communication—issues that can erode trust even where individual caregivers are strong. Multiple reviewers state that care or staff quality has declined, and some explicitly report interactions with staff that were rude or unprofessional. These operational weaknesses are tied to perceptions that the community may be overpriced relative to the quality received, and a few reviewers describe the facility as feeling old despite attractive bedrooms and ocean views.

    Facilities and amenities emerge as a contrast: bedrooms and the ocean location receive positive attention, and reviewers note the rooms are beautiful with good views. At the same time, the descriptor "old place" appears, suggesting that while some living spaces are appealing, other parts of the property or infrastructure may be dated and contribute to mixed impressions. Dining is characterized as acceptable or adequately prepared; it is not a standout strength but generally serviceable according to the summaries.

    Staffing and management are the most polarized themes. Where staff are described as "very nice," compassionate, and willing to go the extra mile, families and residents report satisfaction, especially when they receive regular health updates and clear communication. However, where turnover, disorganization, and poor communication exist, reviewers report a tangible decline in the resident experience and even instances of rudeness. This suggests variability across times, shifts, or possibly between different locations or units within the community.

    Overall sentiment is mixed: there are clear strengths around individual caregivers, compassion, room quality, and location, but these are undermined for some reviewers by systemic problems—staffing instability, management and communication lapses, and concerns about value for cost. Prospective residents and families should weigh the positive reports of caring staff and oceanfront accommodations against recurring complaints about turnover, disorganization, and occasional poor staff behavior. If considering this community, ask specific questions about current staffing stability, communication protocols, recent management changes, and which parts of the facility have been renovated versus older sections.

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    Location

    Map showing location of Meridian at Ocean Villa & Bella Mar

    Meridian at Ocean Villa & Bella Mar is located at 413 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA, 90402.

    About Meridian at Ocean Villa & Bella Mar

    Meridian at Ocean Villa & Bella Mar sits in Santa Monica, California, and belongs to the Meridian Senior Living network, and it's a medium-sized community with room for about 36 residents. The place offers assisted living, memory care, and respite care, with options for studio, suite, or semi-private rooms that have private bathrooms, kitchenettes, and are fully furnished, and there's air-conditioning, telephones, internet, and cable in each unit. Seniors who want to keep active but need help with everyday things like dressing, bathing, eating, or taking medicine get daily support here, and they have round-the-clock staff, a 24-hour call system, and access to physicians at any time, plus multilingual caregivers who speak English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, and Tagalog, which helps many families. Ocean Villa is for general assisted living, while Bella Mar focuses on memory care for people with Alzheimer's or other dementias, and both sections work to match care to each resident's needs, providing personal programs and mental health support for those with mild cognitive impairment. Residents can take part in daily social, wellness, and recreational activities like movie nights, arts and crafts, walking paths through a garden, scheduled outings, and resident-run clubs, and there's always a chance to stay busy or join in community events. Meals use organic food and ingredients, and the staff can make special diets for diabetes, allergies, or other needs, plus there's housekeeping, laundry, full maintenance, and linen services, so people don't have to worry about chores. There's a barber and salon on site, indoor and outdoor common areas, and the community allows pets but doesn't allow smoking inside. Transportation is available for doctor's appointments, errands, and group trips, which helps residents keep their independence and get to important places. The facility gets an average rating between 7.8 and 8.1 out of 10, so most families seem satisfied. Meridian at Ocean Villa & Bella Mar focuses on a social model of care, so people can stay independent as long as possible, surrounded by support and the chance to keep up their social life and hobbies, with staff offering help with whatever is needed, whether it's medical, personal, or just daily routines.

    People often ask...

    Meridian at Ocean Villa & Bella Mar offers assisted living and memory care.

    There are 20 photos of Meridian at Ocean Villa & Bella Mar on Mirador.

    The full address for this community is 413 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90402.

    No, Meridian at Ocean Villa & Bella Mar 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 number197608787
    StatusClosed
    Facility typeResidential Care Elderly
    Capacity36 residents
    Licensee413 SM MERIDIAN HOLDINGS; MERIDIAN SR. LVG. LLC.
    EffectiveJune 19th, 2017
    View the official license record

    Inspection Reports

    15

    Reports

    1

    Type A Citations

    4

    Type B Citations

    5

    Complaints

    7

    Years

    12 Sept 2023Complaint
    Investigated allegations that staff caused a fracture during care, mishandled a transfer, did not manage incontinence or provide adequate fluids, and failed to properly report an incident.
    06 Mar 2023Inspection
    Observed that the site was closed with no residents or staff present; safety measures were in place and no deficiencies were cited.
    06 Mar 2023Inspection
    Observed closure measures in place with zero residents and no active COVID-19 cases; no deficiencies were cited.
    17 Feb 2023Complaint
    Found no evidence to support the five allegations, including inadequate food service, cleanliness, leaving residents in bed, incontinence care issues, or lack of financial resources, with two residents remaining in placement during a planned closure.
    08 Feb 2023Inspection
    Observed the site was clean, sanitary, in good repair, with adequate food supply and staffing, and no deficiencies were cited.
    08 Feb 2023Inspection
    Found no deficiencies during a case management visit on 02/08/2023. Water temperature in room 4 was measured at 105.2F.
    25 Jan 2023Inspection
    Observed the site was clean, sanitary and in good repair, with sufficient food and staff; no deficiencies were cited.
    25 Jan 2023Inspection
    Observed it to be clean, sanitary and in good repair, with sufficient food supply and adequate staff for care and supervision.
    06 Jan 2023Inspection
    Identified deficiencies included transferring residents without the department's approval, incomplete eviction notices with required complaint rights, and restrooms and wastewater system out of service.
    • Type A87303(a)
    • Type B1569.682(b)(1-7)
    • Type B87224(d)(1)(B-D)
    • Type B1569.683(a)(4)
    18 Nov 2022Complaint
    Investigated two allegations: staff training and timely response to residents' call pendants.
    07 Sept 2022Complaint
    Investigated the allegation that residents were not kept at a comfortable temperature; two air-conditioning monitors were off and readings reached 85 degrees.
    • Type B87303(b)
    15 Jun 2021Inspection
    Observed comprehensive infection control measures, including screening for visitors, staff, and residents, sanitizing stations, staff wearing face coverings, and a 30-day PPE supply; no deficiencies were cited.
    01 Jun 2021Inspection
    Observed infection control practices in place; no deficiencies cited.
    26 Dec 2019Inspection
    Cited deficiencies included lack of operational emergency signal system and failure to provide requested records in a timely manner.
    20 Dec 2019Complaint
    Investigated an allegation of illegal eviction and determined that there was not enough evidence to support the claim, as the resident's move was voluntary and due to personal reasons, with a request for additional relocation time granted.

    Disclaimer

    Mirador Living is not affiliated with the owner or operator(s) of Meridian at Ocean Villa & Bella Mar. The information above has not been verified or approved by the owner or operator. For exact information, please contact Meridian at Ocean Villa & Bella Mar directly. There is no cost for this service. We are compensated by the community you select.

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