Overall sentiment: Reviews for Merrill Gardens at Campbell are predominantly positive, with a strong emphasis on the facility's newness, cleanliness, high-quality design, and extensive amenities. Many reviewers remarked that the building feels new, bright, and well-maintained; public spaces such as the lobby, dining room, and library are frequently described as elegant and hotel-like. Apartments are generally praised for being spacious and well-equipped, with multiple reviewers noting full kitchens, in-unit washer/dryers, walk-in closets, and a variety of floor plans from studios to two-bedroom units. The facility's location—close to downtown Campbell, walkable to local dining and the community center—was repeatedly cited as a convenience and a plus for residents and families.
Staff and care quality: One of the strongest recurring themes is praise for the staff. Numerous reviews use words like caring, attentive, patient, and professional. Several staff members are mentioned by name (Resident Care Director Sarum Talivaa, med tech Brian, activities staff such as Susan and Nita) and are singled out for leadership, communication, and personalized nursing or activities support. Many reviewers credit management and clinical leadership with smooth handling of operations, transparent communication, and compassionate care. Memory care receives mixed but generally favorable comments: some families praised the attention and dementia programming in the memory unit and specific staff leaders, while others cautioned that the community may be limited in capacity or not ideal for very advanced memory-care needs.
Dining and activities: Dining and the activity program are frequently highlighted as strengths. The community offers restaurant-style dining, private dining rooms, and flexible meal options; many reviewers described the food as delicious, with a gorgeous dining room and an open, transparent dining process. The activity calendar is robust—multiple activities daily including bingo, live music, arts and crafts, exercise classes, social outings (shopping trips on the community bus), happy hour, and field trips. Reviewers credited these programs with keeping residents engaged and socially active; some called out the abundance of activity options (four to five activities daily) as an important quality-of-life factor.
Facilities, amenities, and safety: The facility's amenities are broad and well-regarded: theater, salon, crafts room, exercise room, gardens, private dining and social spaces, accessible elevators, and clear signage. Safety features such as emergency help buttons and accessible layouts are repeatedly praised. Underground parking and valet service are available and convenient for many reviewers, and the facility is described as secure. However, parking service consistency and wait times for valet are recurring operational gripes.
Operational and management concerns: While leadership and many staff are praised, some operational issues appear across a subset of reviews. Maintenance responsiveness is inconsistent in these accounts: reviewers reported slow or ignored repair requests (thermostat issues, awaited replacements), and specific incidents—like a power outage with delayed staff assistance, an unattended electric recliner, and repeated false fire alarms—were called out as failures that undermined confidence. A few tours or admissions experiences were also marred by poor scheduling, an unprepared receptionist, or an unavailable sales representative, indicating occasional administrative lapses.
Cost, fees, and transparency: Cost is a recurring concern. Many reviewers felt the community is on the higher end of pricing for the area; several mentioned additional, sometimes unexpected, charges—valet or parking fees, on-site storage fees, and fees to join waiting lists. There are multiple notes about a need for greater upfront pricing transparency. While some reviewers found value relative to the experience and quality-of-life offered, others were put off by rising costs and extra charges.
Mixed impressions on memory care and suitability: Memory care impressions are mixed. Several reviewers praised memory-unit staff and dementia-focused activities and expressed relief at the level of care. Conversely, other reviewers felt the community lacked depth in nurse hours, had minimal rehab or memory-care resources, or was not well-suited for residents with complex behavioral needs. These divergent views suggest the community can provide good memory-care services for many residents but may not be optimal for very advanced or highly specialized memory-care cases.
Demand, availability, and community size: Multiple reviews mention a long waiting list—reports vary from several months to over a year—indicating high demand. The size of the facility is another recurrent theme: some appreciate the wide range of services and amenities that a larger building provides, while others feel it is impersonal or too big and miss a small-community, close-knit atmosphere. A few reviewers noted that at times the community felt understaffed in activity leadership or lacked visibility of residents in public spaces, reinforcing that experiences can vary by unit and timing.
Bottom-line assessment: Merrill Gardens at Campbell is consistently described as an attractive, modern, well-appointed community with a strong emphasis on cleanliness, dining, and engagement. Staff and leadership receive high marks from many families for empathy, competence, and communication—several named leaders and caregivers are singled out as standout assets. The primary downsides reported repeatedly are cost (and extra fees), occasional operational and maintenance lapses, parking/valet inconsistency, and mixed suitability for severe memory-care needs. Prospective residents and families should weigh the strong amenities and staff reputation against the community's price point and ask targeted questions during tours about maintenance responsiveness, parking logistics, nurse staffing levels, memory-care capability for higher acuity needs, and a clear written breakdown of all fees. Overall, the reviews lean strongly positive, with high satisfaction among many residents and families, while also highlighting specific areas the community should address or clarify for potential residents.
