Merrill Gardens at Willow Glen

1420 Curci Drive, San Jose, CA 95126

Assisted LivingMemory CareIndependent Living

Accepting Residents

About Merrill Gardens at Willow Glen

Accepting

Merrill Gardens at Willow Glen is a assisted living community located in San Jose, CA. Contact us to learn more about our services and availability.

License #

435202807

Status

Licensed

Licensed Capacity

150 beds

Licensed Since

Nov 2021

AI Summary

Merrill Gardens at Willow Glen has drawn 3 Type A findings (the most severe citation class, involving resident safety or care) and 8 Type B (administrative) findings from complaint-related visits within the past three years, alongside a high volume of complaint investigations relative to routine inspections during that same window.

Track record — The lifetime total shows 0 Type A citations and just 1 Type B citation from routine inspections, but a separate accounting of complaint-related visits in the past three years shows 3 Type A and 8 Type B findings, so the concerning activity is concentrated recently rather than spread across the full licensed period.
Recent 3 years — Since roughly late 2022, the community has seen 23 complaint investigations against only 2 routine inspections, with 12 substantiated allegations in that same window — this is an active pattern worth understanding, not a historical footnote.
Complaints — Across the full licensed period, 13 of the investigated allegations were substantiated (about 18%), with 43 unsubstantiated and 17 unfounded, but nearly all of the substantiated allegations (12 of 13) fall within the most recent three years.
Operating tenure — The community has been licensed for about 4.8 years, so this concentration of complaint activity and Type A findings has emerged well within its operating history rather than being an isolated early or late event.

Ask the community

1.Can staff walk through what the 3 recent Type A findings involved and what corrective actions were verified afterward?
2.Which categories of allegations were substantiated in the past three years, and what changes were made in response?
3.Why have complaint investigations (23) so significantly outpaced routine inspections (2) in the recent period, and has that volume decreased more recently?

Inspections

Total inspections3

Most recentMar 2026

Type A citations (most severe class)0

Type B citations (administrative)1

Complaints

Investigations completed0

Allegations substantiated0

Type A citations (most severe class)0

Type B citations (administrative)1

Date	Type	Report
Apr 9, 2026	Complaint Investigation	PDF
Mar 24, 2026	Facility Evaluation	PDF
Mar 10, 2026	Complaint Investigation	PDF
Feb 25, 2026	Complaint Investigation	PDF
Jan 6, 2026	Complaint Investigation	PDF
Dec 4, 2025	Facility Evaluation	PDF
Dec 1, 2025	Complaint Investigation	PDF
Dec 1, 2025	Complaint Investigation	PDF
Nov 26, 2025	Facility Evaluation	PDF
Oct 8, 2025	Facility Evaluation	PDF
Sep 19, 2025	Facility Evaluation	PDF
Aug 6, 2025	Complaint Investigation	PDF
Aug 4, 2025	Complaint Investigation	PDF
Aug 4, 2025	Facility Evaluation	PDF
Jul 29, 2025	Facility Evaluation	PDF
Jul 24, 2025	Facility Evaluation	PDF
Jul 14, 2025	Complaint Investigation	PDF
Jul 14, 2025	Complaint Investigation	PDF
Jul 14, 2025	Complaint Investigation	PDF
Jul 11, 2025	Complaint Investigation	PDF
Jul 11, 2025	Complaint Investigation	PDF
Jul 2, 2025	Facility Evaluation	PDF
Jun 27, 2025	Complaint Investigation	PDF
Jun 20, 2025	Complaint Investigation	PDF
Jun 6, 2025	Complaint Investigation	PDF
Jun 6, 2025	Complaint Investigation	PDF
May 7, 2025	Complaint Investigation	PDF
Mar 13, 2025	Complaint Investigation	PDF
Mar 13, 2025	Complaint Investigation	PDF
Dec 4, 2024	Facility Evaluation	PDF
Dec 4, 2024	Facility Evaluation	PDF
Nov 27, 2024	Facility Evaluation	PDF
Nov 15, 2024	Complaint Investigation	PDF
Nov 15, 2024	Complaint Investigation	PDF
Nov 7, 2024	Complaint Investigation	PDF
Nov 7, 2024	Complaint Investigation	PDF
Sep 17, 2024	Complaint Investigation	PDF
Sep 17, 2024	Facility Evaluation	PDF
Jul 16, 2024	Complaint Investigation	PDF
Jul 9, 2024	Complaint Investigation	PDF
Jun 9, 2023	Complaint Investigation	PDF
May 12, 2023	Facility Evaluation	PDF
Nov 10, 2022	Facility Evaluation	PDF
Oct 20, 2021	Facility Evaluation	PDF

View full record on CDSS website

Pricing

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

1-Bedroom$4,500/mo

Studios$4,600/mo

Private Rooms$6,300/mo

2-Bedroom$8,650/mo

Activities & Programs

Reviews

Online Reputation

3.4Average Rating

Averaged from 106 reviews published on other websites

Families consistently praise the warm, attentive frontline staff and clean, attractive setting, but should closely question ongoing staff turnover, rate increases, and inconsistent activities before committing.

What reviewers praise

Staff & care — Reviewers repeatedly describe caregivers, managers, and directors as warm, kind, attentive, and quick to help even during staffing shortages.
Atmosphere & grounds — The community is frequently called clean, well-maintained, nicely renovated, and homelike, with spacious apartments and pleasant common areas.
Dining — Many residents and families say the food is good to excellent, though a smaller number describe it as inconsistent or mediocre.
Daily life & dignity — Families note that residents settle in well, make friends, and gain independence, with staff learning residents by name and treating them respectfully.
Activities — Several reviewers highlight enjoyable activities like exercise classes, bingo, art, and music that support residents' well-being.

Worth asking about

Staff & care — Multiple reviews describe significant, repeated staff and management turnover, including chefs, activities directors, and executive directors, which some say has reduced consistency of care.
Communication — Several families report unclear or delayed communication, especially around rent increases, care-level changes, and unmet expectations set during move-in.
Financial transparency — A number of reviewers mention costs rising annually or additional care fees appearing after move-in that were not fully explained upfront, so families should clarify how pricing changes over time.
Activities — Some reviews mention activities being scaled back or inconsistent during periods of short staffing, so families should ask about current staffing levels and activity calendars.

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

Be the first to share your experience and help other families.

Care Services

Medication management

24-hour supervision

Diabetes / insulin management

Incontinence care

Non-ambulatory care

Activities of daily living (ADL) assistance

Bathing & dressing assistance

Mobility assistance

Wheelchair accessible

Dementia care

Hospice agency partnership

Respite / Short-term care

Cognitive learning center

Dementia-certified staff

Specialized memory care activities

What This Community Offers

Furnished units

Emergency call system

Pet Friendly

Private bathroom

Cable TV

Kitchenette

Air conditioning

Wi-Fi / Internet

Spa services

Beauty salon / Barber

Fireplace / Common fireplace

Game room / Billiards

Piano / Music room

Movie theater / Media room

Activity room

Art studio / Craft room

Library / Reading room

Fitness center / Gym

Housekeeping Included

Laundry service / Dry cleaning

Café / Bistro

Walking paths

Garden / Courtyard

Patio seating areas

Outdoor common space

BBQ / Grill area

Choice menu

Vegetarian/Vegan Options

Restaurant-style dining

International cuisine

Professional chef

All-day / Flexible meal times

Accommodates special diets

Room service

Altered-texture food options

Private Dining Room

Scheduled transportation

Personal Vehicle Parking

Family support services

Guest meals available

Move-in coordination

Concierge services

Grocery shopping & errands

Meet the Team

Languages Spoken

EnglishSpanishMandarinVietnameseTagalog (Filipino)

Explore the Area

See what's nearby Merrill Gardens at Willow Glen, including hospitals, pharmacies, and groceries.

Merrill Gardens at Willow Glen

About Merrill Gardens at Willow Glen

State Licensing & Compliance

Pricing

Activities & Programs

Reviews

Online Reputation

Care Services

Daily Care Services

Specialized Care

Memory Care

What This Community Offers

Amenities

Outdoor Spaces

Dining Options

Transportation

Family & Visitors

Community Services

Meet the Team

Languages Spoken

Explore the Area