Truewood by Merrill, Oceanside

I have recommended this community so much in the past year because of the dynamic team of Veronica, Victoria and Mariano! They really care and you can feel the warmth! It is also quality and affordable!
Feb 6th, 2022

I wanted to thank all of the staff and folks that work at Merrill Garden's in Oceanside. My mom has been in the memory care housing for 2.5 years and is doing very well. I visit her a lot but it has been so hard with the various forms of COVID. These people really try their best to be all that the can for the residents. I have always been impressed that they are doing their best. Memory care is a very difficult occupation. Because I spend a lot of time with my mom, I see how she has changed with the progression of Alzheimer's. There are things she does now that she NEVER would have before, or things she may say that astound me. Sometimes they're funny and sometimes, not so much. The caregivers deal with all kinds of changing personalities and many times have to guess as to what the person might be asking, especially if they've progressed to a point where they don't or cannot verbalize. These employees do their best. I've seen it and have witnessed it for a couple years. I can sleep at night knowing they are there and they care. I highly recommend this facility. If anyone has ever taken care of someone with dementia, you know that it's very hard. You need patience, patience and more patience. When I was taking care of mom for almost two years on my own, I began to burn out and snap at her for no other reason than I was beginning to wear out. Placing her at Merrill Garden's allowed me to visit as much as I wanted, take her home and enjoy her without having me be on edge and just tired. So grateful for these folks.
Jan 27th, 2022

After an exhaustive search, we selected Merrill Gardens at Oceanside for my wife's mother. From our very first meeting, the staff was outstanding! They are very professional and compassionate, making our family feel very welcomed. Now, my mother-in-law is flourishing! She's more active than she's been in years and has made many new friends. We couldn't be happier!
Aug 24th, 2021

Our 97-year-old widower father fell three times at his home within a 24-hour period in mid-March and spent five days in the ICU at Tri-City Medical Center. We knew then that Dad - who'd lived in his home alone (with our part-time assistance) since Mom died in October 2018 - needed a safe new place to live. This was going to be difficult, we thought, because Dad had lived in his Vista home since 1963. Leaving it would be one of the hardest things he'd ever have to face. Jeff Chapman, of Chapman Senior Solutions, was recommended by Tri-City as the person who could help us find an assisted-living home. The third of three places he took us was Merrill Gardens. We were greeted by Veronica (Community Relations Director), who listened carefully to everything we had to say about our father and his immediate needs, his history, his likes and dislikes. She is smart and kind and family-oriented - not pushy and "into selling" as some places might be. This wasn't a car that we were buying - it was a safe haven for Dad. We toured the facility, which is clean and orderly. The chef and his assistant were introduced to us in the cafeteria. On tap that afternoon was a filet mignon burger. We passed, but it certainly looked good. The one-bedroom that we chose was the best for Dad because it allowed him two rooms. Veronica explained that we could bring his furniture from his Vista home to make the transition more comfortable for him. We did that and made the rooms look familiar, "homey" and warm. David, the handyman, can fix and do anything it seems - and with a smile. The nursing and med tech staff is very friendly (albeit young...a bit more seasoning and training will help them) and available at the push of a button on the pendant that Dad was given. They respond to requests quickly and are there when you need them. One thing we noticed was how friendly and happy the residents who live there are. They may be the biggest advertisement Merrill Gardens has going! The cost of the facility is on a par with the other two places that Jeff took us. We found the pricing to be very fair for the benefits and care provided. When Dad was taken into Hospice of the North Coast in his final weeks at Merrill Gardens, the hospice nurses and Merrill Gardens nurses worked seamlessly to make Dad comfortable. Sadly, Dad passed away on the 15th of May, surrounded by family. We are so grateful to Veronica, to Mariano (the delightful, kind and considerate General Manager), and the caring staff who help make the place special. Maybe Dad said it best. Two days before his death, he could barely stay awake. At one point he looked up at me as I sat next to his bed and said, "This is a nice little place." This from a man who NEVER wanted to leave his Vista home of 58 years. I'm with you, Dad, it truly is a nice little place.
May 27th, 2021

Apr 28th, 2021