My parents moved to Merrill Gardens shortly after it opened. My mom was independent, my dad needed…read morea lot of assistance, and they wanted to share an apartment, which they were able to do easily with the flexible levels of care. When my dad passed, my mom moved to another beautiful apartment and continued to thrive. She loves to play daily games (bingo and rummikub) and share meals and social gatherings with her close friends. In the rare cases that she needed extra assistance medically, the staff was attentive, kind and caring and they communicated well with me. The activity directors have been wonderful and creative, making everyday life fun and active for the residents. We've also enjoyed and developed relationships with many of the staff members.

Our family decided to put my mother into residency at Merrill Gardens when she was 85 years of age…read more She was a resident there until her death last November at the age of 96. Throughout her time at Merrill Gardens, she experienced nothing but amazing care and attention, wonderful relationships with other residents and staff, and a comfortable apartment and vibrant lifestyle. I cannot recommend this facility more highly. Merrill Gardens is a nurturing, safe and incredible living community!

I spent two weeks in the Piedmont Gardens Skilled Nursing facility in Oakland in July-August 2026…read more The care I received was excellent. The lay-out provided both privacy and mingling with others, as one wished, The staff was very competent and caring, the food was surprisingly delicious. Choices at every meal! Ice cream on request! Most important was the warmth and encouragement of the nurses aides and assistants. I highly recommend it.

I been to the Hyatt Regency San Diego a few times and the Piedmont Gardens are on par with the…read moreHyatt. They are most definitely the best rehab center in the East Bay. The staff like the other care centers are the best, with their system of care and comfort they cannot be beat. Now I know why it's almost impossible to get in for care. Their kitchen menu is like gourmet food, and you can order ala-carte. There is a rooftop garden, with a fantastic view. An atrium with a lush garden I want in my backyard. A real gem in Piedmont in Oakland. I don't want to go home. Two weeks isn't enough to spend there.

My mom was at Ariane's care home for just over a year. The staff are the most loving, caring,…read moresupportive, people I have ever met. The home was immaculate any time of the day. The food always smelled delicious and my mom was alway excited to eat. In the last days of her life, the staff was just like extended family and was with us and helped us with out hesitation and it made her transition so peaceful. I will forever be thankful to the staff. Highly recommend.. oh and their Christmas party is just AMAZING!!

I can't thank everyone enough at Ariane's Residential Care Home for everything they did for my…read morefather. We recently lost my father and the support and care my father was given along with the family was priceless. My father lived there for two years and from day one he was treated like family. Thank you, Annalisa

My mom moved in to Merrill Gardens in early December and still thanks me for getting her in there…read moreabout weekly. I'm in Alameda and am *loving* having her so close by! This is a very active community and very friendly. The dining is open 7AM to 7PM, no restrictions, and the chef is from Skates on the Bay and is a friendly, kind man. The food is spectacular, really, and the menu is quite varied. I've seen 2 kinds of fish offered more often than not! My mom's room is spacious and lovely, with a balcony and bay windows (not all 1-bedrooms have that). There is just the right amount of room, and a full kitchen (which we've used for family get-togethers; nice to have an oven available!). There are windows at the end of each corridor which really opens up the place and allows in some nice natural light. There is a terrace on half of the top floor (the other half is rooms + ventilation units) that has a stunning view of the Bay Area, plus raised beds for the residents to garden with. There's an extensive activity calendar, including outings and special events, and 2 movies show per day in their comfy movie theater. Mom has been going to the daily exercise classes, which is terrific! All of the staff is helpful and friendly and I'm rather fond of many of them already. We're very pleased with our choice.

On 10/4/26, Christian, the Community Relations Director, gave me a realistic price for assisted…read moreliving with LOW level of care ( $5750 for a studio, $820 for care, per month. See photo, Exhibit II, "Established Fees and Services." Christian, the Community Relations Director at Merrill Gardens, highlighted in yellow "$820 per month". That is HIS highlighting). I had told Christian on 10/1/26 that the skilled nursing facility (SNF), where my 89-year-old mom is recovering from 4 compression fractures in her spine, is requiring her to leave on 10/7/26. Therefore, I am looking to admit her to Merrill Gardens on 10/7/26. Christian told me yes, it is doable for me to complete their intake process in time to admit her on 10/7/26. I spent hours gathering my mother's medical documents, I paid the $8500 security deposit, I spent time filling out Merrill Garden's forms, and meeting (along with my mom) for 45 minutes with Merrill Garden's nurse, Parinda (who had forgotten our meeting and arrived 45 minutes late. Also, she had no idea that my mom needs admission on 10/7/26, she was completely clueless about that. In retrospect, that was a warning sign that Christian and Parinda were not working together to meet an admission date of 10/7/26). Then, later, literally JUST HOURS before the skilled nursing facility (SNF) was going to discharge my mom on 10/7/26, suddenly Christian at Merrill Garden informs me that no, actually, the cost is much higher that what he told me, because now their nurse, Parinda, feels that my mom needs a HIGH level of care. So now the cost is $5750 for studio, and a whopping $4950 for care. My mother needs care, but not to the tune of $5000 per month!! In a discussion on 10/4/26, Christian and I agreed that she probably needs eyes-on help during bathroom activities. She doens't need a lot outside of that, the eyes-on is the main part. I know what my mom needs, but I don't know enough to negotiate costs, which is a completely different topic. Another reason I cannot negotiate is the urgency of current circumstances. The more urgent one's circumstances, the bigger one's disadvantage in negotiating. Clearly, I am unable negotiate in a knowledgeableway, and Christian knows this, or ought to. I will trust an organization that 1) provides accurate rates up front and doesn't change those rates on the day that we all agreed was the day I need to admit the family member to assisted living; 2) provides a needs assessment that factually reflects what the person needs, not inflated needs to get more money; and 3) tells me up front when they cannot meet my timeframe, instead of telling me, for days, that yes they can admit my family member on the date that I am seeking, but then, on the day of admission, suddenly they cannot admit unless I engage in a negotiation about costs. Merrill Gardens failed on all the foregoing. They are not trustworthy. Christian told me he has been Community Relations Director at Merrill Garden for 3 years. Presumably, he has experience dealing with people trying to admit their family member to under tight timeframes. He knows what it takes, and how long, to complete the admission process. In my very first email and voicemail to him on Friday 10/1/26, I said and I wrote, I am seeking to admit my mom on 10/7/26. Christian should have told me immediately when he replied on 10/2/26: "Sorry, it is really unlikely we can meet that timeframe. We can aim for a later admission date, but 10/7/26 is too soon." I would have appreciated it. Instead, because he said yes we can absolutely complete the admission process in time to admit on 10/7/26, I wasted hour and hours of my time and energy to this goal. I could have spent that time arranging home health care, prior to my mom returning to her home on 10/7/26. Christian's and Parinda's actions resulted not only in my mother being at home, unsafe, and me upending my life, again, to take care of her. Their actions have taught me not to trust people in their position. Christian asked me to confer with him and his general manager to clarify things. Are you kidding? You two will just back each other up, don't'cha think? The silver lining to all this is that I drove my mom home on 10/7/26. Luckily, she made it up the 6 steps to her front door without injuring herself, by holding heavily onto a rail. She has 4 compression fractures in her spine. After she ascended the 6 steps, she collapsed immediately in a chair that I shoved in front of her. For God's sake. These front steps are one reason, out of MANY, for my wish to take her directly to assisted living after rehab. Because I focused my efforts and time on completing the admission process for Merrill Gardens, I didn't instruct Kaiser to deliver durable medical equipment (hospital bed and wheelchair) to my mother's home. I didn't arrange for home care assistance. Thanks, Christian, Parinda, and the general manager at Merrill Gardens.

After much research we chose Walnut Villa as a home for my mother-in-law when she could no longer…read morecare for herself. What a blessing we found there! The place is very clean and organized. The rooms are large and spotless (and cheery). The location is quiet and safe. The caregivers (especially Ray, Sylvia & Marvin) could not be nicer. We were not sure about how my mother-in-law would adjust as she had cared for herself at home for many, many years. The very next day after we moved her in she told us that angels were taking care of her. They are so respectful and helpful, catering to her every need. Ray is a wonderful cook and makes whatever she requests. They anticipate her needs and are constantly checking on her. If you are looking for a safe, secure, well-managed facility for your loved one, you need not look any further. Walnut Villa is a place that will treat you like family.

I was very dissatisfied with the board and care facility my 90 year old parents were at and Walnut…read moreVilla was recommended as an alternative. I was very wary given the problems I was having with the first facility and I absolutely did not want to have my parents going through a second move in just a few months. Walnut Villa's owner, Mann Salvador, recommended we come on a trial basis. That seemed like a great option so we set a date. Then a couple of days before we were to move in on a trial basis my Dad was hospitalized with pneumonia. We went ahead and moved Mom in and boy am I glad! For the first time she allowed someone to help her with toileting, bathing and dressing. One of the caregivers at the former Board and Care facility said to me - "Why didn't she let us help her?" when I told her Mom was letting Rey and Silvia provide assistance. I didn't say it but I thought "probably because of the "expert" approach they used and how cared for they made Mom feel." We had my Dad discharged from hospital directly into hospice care at Walnut Villa and they took great care of him. When he arrived Dad couldn't get out of bed. He had to be hand fed pureed food. Four months later, even though he was declining, he was feeding himself and they were helping him get out of bed and go outdoors in a wheelchair. The caregivers were always there and always patient. Rey kept me informed of all issues and contacted Hospice regularly to get advice and nursing assistance when appropriate. I will be forever grateful.

In early 2023 both my Mom & Dad were hospitalized after falls, Mom's being the more serious but…read moreboth parents needed rehabilitation and care. My brother and I very nervously approached Beth Quintong and Classic Care Home of Walnut Creek. Beth and her staff were extremely welcoming and kind hearted from the moment we met them. Sadly my Mom had a stroke soon after entering the home and passed away. But Dad, albeit exhausted after years of taking care of Mom, was brought into Classic Care and treated with exceptional kindness. He lasted three more years and just passed away this week. From the moment of entering Classic Care Home Dad was treated like "the Admiral"(yes he was ex-Navy) and was showered with kindness. We were lucky to find this home for Dad and couldn't recommend it with any more appreciation. Beth, JoJo, Gwen and the entire staff are angels.

A review most overdue…read more.. Classic Care Home of Walnut Creek Having visited dozens of assisted living and residential care facilities in the Diablo Valley area, the prospect of finding a residence home which provided an optimal environment for our Mom's progressing 24/7 care needs and particularity of preferences, seemed unlikely at best. Our family was very fortunate to receive a referral which led us to the doorstep of Classic Care Home of Walnut Creek. Beth and Ed Quintong, their family members and their family of exceptional caregivers; Maria, Lynn, JoJo, Peter and Chris, were able to provide our Mom with extraordinary care and companionship when she most required it. Affording her a true sense of home, safety and belonging in her final years. Beth and her care-giving staff make a point of personally connecting with their residents. This allows them the insight to identify and provide for the individual's needs beyond rote care scenarios. It translates to more opportunities for residents to experience joy and contentment, despite the daily challenges with which they contend. Encouragement and personal social engagement are the cornerstones of Classic Care's approach to providing positive and caring support for their residents. Most importantly, they listen and address any concerns as they arise. That applies to both the residents and the family members. Beth is actively involved in all aspects of the home's daily management and oversees the care plan for each resident. This includes dietary, Rx, hygiene and other necessary assistance. Beth collaborates directly with the resident and primary family representative to best optimize the resident's sense of dignity and quality of life during their stay. Her personal involvement, focus, openness and rapport with medical providers and family members provide an informed and clear communication exchange. Her extensive experience is pivotal in finding solutions and recognizing behavioral progressions. Her partnership, honest feedback, compassion and humor are invaluable. Our Mom was a resident of Classic Care Home for just over 4 years. Beth always extended her sense of home and family into the lives of her residents and their families. That was an unexpected benefit which brought our Mom much peace during those years and at the end of her life in 2022. Beth, Ed, their family and the extraordinary individuals who provide this "classic" care to the residents, demonstrate an uncommon benevolence and personal concern for those in their charge. For all of these reasons and many others, we are deeply grateful that our Mom had the opportunity to be the recipient of such thoughtful and compassionate care. They are performing great works with grace. Our profound appreciation for their dedication and sublime efforts cannot be adequately conveyed. S. Jones and Family

Choosing a memory care home is never easy, and after visiting several places, I felt that Concord…read moreRoyale was the right choice. I was looking for something smaller, more personal, and as close to a home-like environment as possible. What stood out to me right away was the ratio of caregivers to residents; 3 caregivers for about 12 residents, which creates a level of attention and care that is hard to find. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere felt warm and welcoming. Connie, the executive director, is attentive, kind, and truly cares. We immediately felt comfortable there. I visited frequently, about five times a week, at different times of day, and consistently experienced the same level of care. The staff was attentive, supportive, and genuinely present. I always felt at ease knowing he was in good hands. The food was also very good, which mattered a lot, as he really enjoyed his meals. I would especially like to recognize Miguel from the memory care unit. His care and presence are truly exceptional. He has a natural gift for what he does: compassionate, professional, and deeply attentive. He truly stands out because he genuinely cares, and you can feel that in the way he shows up every day. I always felt I could rely on him completely, and his support made a meaningful difference. I'm truly grateful for the care and environment provided here.

Not sure why Connie emailed Grace to tell her to look at my review and Grace text me telling me…read morewhile you were on the phone with her. I actually left a good review for your place and was just saying what we have been dealing with. You told her i shouldn't have put what she has etc but this is not some hippa violation this is saying what we went through as a family with her. So I'm not sure what you were trying to do with emailing So far this place seems nice and the staff there seem nice too! My ex partners mother moved into the memory care unit here and was told they got her to shower! Which is amazing because she would get physical and argue with her daughter and I to not shower. She has a room by herself right now and they have her get up in the AM to sit in the living room with is great so she's around everyone and not isolated in the room. She never wanted to do anything we would try to get her to come out but she just wanted to sleep all day. So far she's played bingo, they got her to shower and change her clothes. She would get mad at us for having her change but I'm glad they got her to. She would pretend with us when she didn't want to do anything that she can't walk or she's weak but she's really strong she's climbed over a metal baby gate, pounded on windows and has left the house, police involved so it became harder for everyone to take care of her because she was always trying to leave the house and she has dementia. Here they said she was full of energy and danckg to music which is great because we could not get her to do anything! Right now she does not have a roommate, kinda afraid when she does get one how she will treat them but the staff there I'm sure is well trained to handle that. She speaks English but pretends to only speak Tagalog and they have Filipino caregivers there which is good because they speak Tagalog! She's made comments that she will run away but it's locked with a code so she's safe and can not leave. So far this place seems great. When she went to visit the brother in Texas he said the first week she did great and showered, ate etc with no issues and then it went downhill after that. Hopefully she continues to thrive here and I think the routine and activities are helping keep her busy. Her son Glen brought up some alarming stuff to Grace he said he found out from a while back but I'm sure they have fixed whatever issues and the staff seem caring and attentive. When we moved her in the staff were friendly and caring. Much better than the place in Castro valley that Eden hospital sent my mom to for rehabilitation. ( they almost killed my mom) To the staff here just becareful because she has been violent and is smarter than what she makes herself seem and we've seen here watching when they put the code in the door! She's mentioned she's going to run away too. It's a good thing Gloria is there because Grace looses patience fast with her mother and the people there are better trained to handle her Just be careful too because she will say she's being abused and scream for help. She did that and thankfully neighbors saw but staff should be aware I couldn't say anything when Connie came because her daughter told me they will deal with it if it happens there but that's something you guys should know too!

My mom has been at Carnelian for over a year. We have been very happy with her care. Don't let the…read moreAL name fool you. Most of the 30 residents have severe dementia. Technically a board and care, but more on the level of a memory care with great staff, excellent food, almost daily live music and tons of activities. Priced accordingly on the high end of MC...and worth it if you can swing it. Carnelian is 3 houses with a big combined yard. It's been family run since the 70s. We're so grateful for Carnelian staff. My stress level has come down a lot knowing my mom is so well taken care of. My aunts have all been amazed at the care and atmosphere. No MC I toured even came close.

My family has been performing music at the Carnelian for over 10 years. We play in a lot of senior…read morehomes and see the difference. Staff at the Carnelian really provide personal attention to the residents. They are warm and caring and we've never seen anyone who needed attention left alone. They handle moody residents with patience and compassion. It feels like a big family atmosphere instead of a corporate run warehouse like a lot of the bigger places do. I would place my own family members there. Nothing we've seen compares to it.