Senior Places

Brentwood, California

Merrill Gardens at Brentwood

Assisted Living · Memory Care · Independent Living

2600 Balfour Road, Brentwood, CA 94513

Merrill Gardens at Brentwood offers independent living, assisted living, and memory care in studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments.

Licensed capacity
150 residents

Maximum licensed size, not current occupancy.

Licensed since
May 2022

License history may include previous operators.

State inspections

Review licensing, findings, and available inspection reports. A record is one part of understanding a community.

License #079201165Last checked August 2026

Findings to review

Complaint investigations · 3 years before our last check

Type A citations
1
Complaints with substantiated allegations
5

AI summary

Merrill Gardens at Brentwood has 1 Type A finding and 3 Type B findings across its 4.3 years of operation, with 8 substantiated allegations out of 40 investigated, and this activity is concentrated in the recent record rather than spread evenly over time.

Read Full Summary
  • Track record — Since licensing in 2022, the community has accumulated one Type A finding (the most severe citation class, tied to resident safety or care) and three Type B findings (administrative, such as paperwork or posting issues), alongside a notable volume of complaint activity.
  • Recent 3 years — All of the lifetime Type A and Type B findings, plus 5 of the 8 substantiated allegations, fall within the past three years, meaning the record reflects a live pattern rather than an isolated older incident.
  • Complaints — Ten complaint investigations were logged against only three routine inspections in the same window, and roughly 20% of the 40 investigated allegations were substantiated with none marked unfounded, so the remainder were closed as unsubstantiated rather than disproven.
  • Operating tenure — With just over four years of licensed operation and three inspection cycles, there is a reasonable but still limited base of visits from which to judge the overall trajectory.
Ask the community
  1. 1.Which categories of allegations were substantiated, and what corrective actions were taken and verified afterward?
  2. 2.Can you walk through what the Type A finding involved and what specific changes were made to prevent recurrence?
  3. 3.Given the higher volume of complaint investigations relative to inspections, what is driving the complaint volume and how does the community track and respond to them?

Source: California Department of Social Services (CDSS)

View inspection history
License number
License #079201165
License status
Licensed

Full history on file

These totals cover the available license history, including older findings. Citation totals include inspections, complaint visits, and other visits.

Inspection visits
3
Complaint investigation visits
0
Type A citations · most severe class
1
Type B citations · administrative
3
Substantiated allegations
0

Available reports · 27

  • Complaint investigation

    Jul 16, 2026

    PDF

  • Facility evaluation

    Apr 22, 2026

    PDF

  • Complaint investigation

    Oct 28, 2025

    PDF

  • Complaint investigation

    Aug 28, 2025

    PDF

  • Facility evaluation

    Apr 16, 2025

    PDF

1–5 of 27 reports

View the original CDSS record

Monthly pricing

Total monthly costs depend on room type, select services, and the level of care needed.

Assisted LivingStarting at$3,500 / mo
1-Bedroom
$3,500 / mo

Care & support

Daily Care Services

7 services
  • Medication management
  • 24-hour supervision
  • Bathing & dressing assistance
  • Mobility assistance
  • Non-ambulatory care
  • Activities of daily living (ADL) assistance
  • Wheelchair accessible

Specialized Care

2 services
  • Dementia care
  • Hospice agency partnership

Memory Care

2 services
  • Dementia-certified staff
  • Specialized memory care activities

Daily life & programs

Spaces & services

Amenities

21 features
  • Furnished units
  • Emergency call system
  • Kitchenette
  • Air conditioning
  • Cable TV
  • Art studio / Craft room
  • Beauty salon / Barber
  • Swimming pool / Hot tub
  • Housekeeping Included
  • Laundry service / Dry cleaning
  • Café / Bistro
  • Pet Friendly
  • Activity room
  • Library / Reading room
  • Fireplace / Common fireplace
  • Piano / Music room
  • Movie theater / Media room
  • Fitness center / Gym
  • Game room / Billiards
  • In-Unit Washer/Dryer
  • On-site market / Store

Outdoor Spaces

6 features
  • Walking paths
  • Garden / Courtyard
  • BBQ / Grill area
  • Outdoor common space
  • Patio seating areas
  • Raised garden beds

Dining Options

6 features
  • Accommodates special diets
  • Professional chef
  • Restaurant-style dining
  • All-day / Flexible meal times
  • Room service
  • Private Dining Room

Transportation

2 features
  • Scheduled transportation
  • Personal Vehicle Parking

Family & Visitors

1 feature
  • Guest meals available

Community Services

2 features
  • Move-in coordination
  • Grocery shopping & errands

Reviews

Online reputation

4.5

Averaged from 32 reviews published on other websites

AI review summary

Merrill Gardens at Brentwood is widely praised for its welcoming, upscale atmosphere and attentive sales and front-desk staff, but families should ask about food quality and care-level limits before enrolling.

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What reviewers praise
  • Staff & care — Reviewers repeatedly single out specific staff members like Jennifer Birkland and Crystal Hovar for going above and beyond during tours, move-in, and daily interactions.
  • Atmosphere & grounds — The community is frequently compared to a high-end hotel or resort, with beautiful, functional apartments and well-kept grounds.
  • Activities — Families describe a full calendar of engaging events, from Halloween celebrations to social gatherings that residents genuinely enjoy.
  • Communication — Tour guides and sales staff are described as responsive, knowledgeable, and thorough in answering questions during the decision-making process.
  • Daily life & dignity — Residents and their families describe feeling immediately at home, with staff and fellow residents treating newcomers with warmth and respect.
Worth asking about
  • Dining — Several reviewers, including one paying close attention to value, describe food quality as a recurring weak point that hasn't improved despite raising it with the chef.
  • Staff & care — A minority of feedback points to understaffing and high turnover, so it's worth asking about current staffing levels and consistency.
  • Care level limits — At least one family found the community not equipped for residents needing full assisted-living-level care, so confirm what care needs can be accommodated long-term.
  • Financial transparency — Some mentions of unresolved financial or management issues suggest families should clarify billing practices and how costs shift as care needs increase.

The rating above is averaged from reviews published on other websites. Reviews below are written by families on Senior Places.

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Languages spoken

Languages spoken

English

Around the neighborhood

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