Merrill Gardens at Monterey

Overview of Merrill Gardens at Monterey

A distinct senior living community situated in the quiet lands of Iris Canyon Road, Monterey, CA, Merrill Gardens at Monterey provides assisted living, independent living, and memory care. Featuring a selection of 110 cozy and spacious studios, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom residences, the community aims to provide a welcoming abode for seniors to live in comfort and elegance. A competent and highly skilled team delivers top-tier care and assistance around the clock for seniors to enjoy their best years without worries.

With a jam-packed calendar of fun activities and exciting programs, seniors discover new interests and reignite old hobbies for leisure and wellness. Merrill Gardens at Monterey fosters a bright and welcoming environment, ensuring seniors maintain an active and well-engaged lifestyle. Committed to enhancing seniors’ well-being, the community serves well-balanced meals for dietary satisfaction. Surrounded by a serene courtyard, Merrill Gardens at Monterey is a good place to live a wondrous retirement.

Facility Direct Line (831) 718-9209

150-bed community

A larger shared setting that may offer more common spaces and organized community services.

9 years in operation

An established community with some operational experience and growing routines.

Walk Score: 53 / 100

Moderately walkable. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, with a mix of nearby amenities.

About this community

Occupancy

Occupancy rate

87%

Higher than the California average: 72.8%

Occupied beds

130 / 150

Average occupied beds in California homes 87 beds

Great Place to Work 2024-2025

Facility TypeResidential Care Elderly

IssuanceMay 25, 2017

CountyMonterey

Merrill Gardens at Monterey is legally operated by Merrill Gardens At Monterey and Merrill Gardens LLC, and administered by Jule May Estrellado.

Licensed Nurses/CNAs

24-Hour Staffing

HousekeepingYes

Emergency Call System

Transportation

Dining

Housekeeping

Swimming Pool

Pet Friendly

Wellness Center

Starting Price$5,500 per month

Since 2020 · 6 years of data 6 citations 18 total visits 10 complaint visits 4 official inspections 9 complaint investigations

Inspection Score

1 point above the California average for assisted living residences (81/100)

Inspection Scorecard This scorecard compares key inspection, citation, and complaint metrics at this facility against the California state average. Metrics rated ≥15% worse than average are highlighted in red; those ≥15% better are highlighted in green.

Since 2020 vs. California state average

Overall vs. CA average

Citations Citations are formal regulatory issues recorded during state inspections.	This Facility	CA Average	vs. CA Avg
Total citations Formal regulatory issues recorded by inspectors across all inspection types.	6	10	This facility has 40% fewer total citations than a typical California assisted living residence (6 vs. CA avg 10).↓ 40% better
Serious citations (Type A) Citations that pose an immediate risk to resident health or safety. Type A citations are the most serious and typically require prompt corrective action.	2	3	This facility has 33% fewer serious citations (type a) than a typical California assisted living residence (2 vs. CA avg 3).↓ 33% better Rank #724 / 1434 Serious citations (Type A) — State benchmarked This home is ranked 724th out of 1434 homes in California for # of serious citations. Shows this facility's # of serious citations compared to the California average among 1434 comparable communities in the ranking pool. Facilities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings are based only on facilities in California that report data for that category. Facilities without available data are excluded from the ranking.
Moderate citations (Type B) Citations that do not pose an immediate risk but still represent a departure from required care or operational standards.	4	4	This facility has moderate citations (type b) in line with the California average (4 vs. CA avg 4).— At avg
Citations per inspection Average citations per inspection.	0.3	3.3	This facility has 91% fewer citations per inspection than a typical California assisted living residence (0.3 vs. CA avg 3.3).↓ 91% better

Inspections & Visits State inspections evaluate whether the facility meets health and safety standards.	This Facility	CA Average	vs. CA Avg
Total inspections Combined count of official scheduled inspections, complaint visits and other regulatory visits. California counts each evaluation report, so one trip can count twice when it serves two purposes.	18	16	This facility has had 13% more total inspections than the California average (18 vs. CA avg 16). More inspections can mean more regulatory scrutiny rather than worse care.↑ 13% more
Complaint visits On-site visits triggered by formal complaints filed by residents, families, or staff.	10	13	This facility has had 23% fewer complaint visits than the California average (10 vs. CA avg 13). More inspections can mean more regulatory scrutiny rather than worse care.↓ 23% fewer Rank #846 / 1388 Complaint visits — State benchmarked This home is ranked 846th out of 1388 homes in California for # of complaint visits. Shows this facility's # of complaint visits compared to the California average among 1388 comparable communities in the ranking pool. Facilities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings are based only on facilities in California that report data for that category. Facilities without available data are excluded from the ranking.
Other visits Regulatory visits that are neither routine inspections nor complaint investigations — administrative check-ins, follow-up reviews, licensing-related visits.	4	7	This facility has had 43% fewer other visits than the California average (4 vs. CA avg 7). More inspections can mean more regulatory scrutiny rather than worse care.↓ 43% fewer
Official inspections Routine, scheduled inspections conducted by state regulators to evaluate whether the facility meets federal and state standards.	4	4	This facility has official inspections in line with the California average (4 vs. CA avg 4).— At avg
Complaint investigations On-site investigations triggered by complaints filed with California regulators.	9	10	This facility has had 10% fewer complaint investigations than the California average (9 vs. CA avg 10). More inspections can mean more regulatory scrutiny rather than worse care.↓ 10% fewer

Show Inspection Reports

What does this home offer?

Pets Allowed

Room Sizes: 313 / 489 / 683 / 1043 / 1350 sq. ft

Housing Options: Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed

Building Type: 3-story

Transportation Services

Fitness and Recreation

1.8 miles from city center Estimated distance in miles from Monterey's city center to Merrill Gardens at Monterey's address, calculated via Google Maps.

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Compare Assisted Living around Monterey

Info below is compiled from the CA Dept. of Social Services (CDSS), senior community websites & trusted data sources such as Walk Score & BBB.

Communities are listed from highest to lowest based on our ranking methodology.


The Park Lane	AL IL MC RC	Monterey (Glenwood Circle)	160 Facility 160 CA AVG 104 Rank #288 / 1646	Yes	47	59 Facility 59 CA AVG 81 Rank #1344 / 1475	37	24 Facility 24 CA AVG 13 Rank #1182 / 1388	5 Facility 5 CA AVG 3 Rank #1095 / 1434	28 Facility 28 CA AVG 13 Rank #155 / 1504	55.0%	Pac Monterey Inc, Gp Of P Mont LP And Park Lane Mgr LLC	Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
Merrill Gardens at Monterey	AL IL MC	Monterey (Iris Canyon Road)	150 Facility 150 CA AVG 104 Rank #342 / 1646	Yes	53	82 Facility 82 CA AVG 81 Rank #785 / 1475	18	10 Facility 10 CA AVG 13 Rank #846 / 1388	2 Facility 2 CA AVG 3 Rank #724 / 1434	9 Facility 9 CA AVG 13 Rank #739 / 1504	86.7%	Merrill Gardens At Monterey And Merrill Gardens LLC	Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed
Ivy Park at Monterey	AL MC	Monterey	112 Facility 112 CA AVG 104 Rank #630 / 1646	Yes	73 Facility 73 CA AVG 59 Rank #641 / 2058	84 Facility 84 CA AVG 81 Rank #732 / 1475	21	14 Facility 14 CA AVG 13 Rank #993 / 1388	0 Facility 0 CA AVG 3 Rank #1 / 1434	2 Facility 2 CA AVG 13 Rank #1323 / 1504	94.6%	Transformer Opco LLC And Oakmont Management Group LLC	Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed

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Multipurpose Senior Services Program

MSSP (Medi-Cal Waiver)

Age 65+

General California resident, Medi-Cal eligible, nursing home risk.

Income Limits (2025) ~$2,829/month 300% FBR, individual

Asset Limits $2,000 (individual), $3,000 (couple).

County-managed; waitlists possible.

Benefits

In-home support (4-6 hours/day) Respite care (14 days/year) Meals (~$6/meal) Transportation (8 trips/month) Care management

In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS)

California IHSS

Age 65+

General California resident, Medicaid-eligible or low-income.

Income Limits ~$1,732/month individual, Medi-Cal threshold

Asset Limits $2,000 individual

Can hire family as caregivers.

Benefits

Personal care (up to 283 hours/month) Homemaker services Respite (varies)

Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP)

CA MSSP

Age 65+

General California resident, Medi-Cal-eligible, nursing home-eligible but community-capable.

Income Limits ~$2,829/month 300% FBR, individual

Asset Limits $2,000 individual

Available in 38 counties; waitlists common.

Benefits

Case management Respite care (up to 10 days/year) Minor home mods (avg. $500) Adult day care (~$50/day)

Property Tax Postponement Program (PTP)

CA PTP

Age 62+

General California resident, own and live in home, 40% equity.

Income Limits (2025) ~$51,500/year household, adjusted annually

Asset Limits Equity-based; no strict asset cap.

Deferred taxes accrue interest (5% as of 2024); repaid upon sale/death.

Benefits

Property tax deferral (avg. $1,000-$3,000/year, varies by county)

Assisted Living Waiver (ALW)

CA ALW

Age 65+ or disabled

General California resident, Medi-Cal-eligible, nursing home-eligible.

Income Limits ~$2,829/month 300% FBR, individual

Asset Limits $2,000 individual

Available in 15 counties (e.g., LA, Sacramento); waitlists common.

Benefits

Personal care in ALFs (5-7 hours/day) Medication management Social services

California CARES Program

CA CARES

Age —

General Caregivers of California residents 60+ needing help with 3+ daily activities; no caregiver age limit.

Income Limits No strict limit; cost-sharing above ~$2,500/month threshold.

Asset Limits Not applicable; need-based.

High demand in urban areas; complements IHSS respite.

Benefits

Respite care (up to 10 days/year) Counseling (4-6 sessions/year) Training (2-3 workshops/year) Supplies (~$200/year)

What neighborhood is Merrill Gardens at Monterey in?

Merrill Gardens at Monterey is in the Iris Canyon Road neighborhood of Monterey.

Who is the owner of Merrill Gardens at Monterey?

Merrill Gardens at Monterey is legally operated by Merrill Gardens At Monterey and Merrill Gardens LLC, and administered by Jule May Estrellado.

Is Merrill Gardens at Monterey in a walkable area?

Merrill Gardens at Monterey has a walk score of 53. Moderately walkable. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, with a mix of nearby amenities.

What is the occupancy rate at Merrill Gardens at Monterey?

Merrill Gardens at Monterey's occupancy is 87%.

How long has Merrill Gardens at Monterey been in business?

Merrill Gardens at Monterey has been operating for approximately 9 years, based on available licensing and registration records.

Are pets allowed at Merrill Gardens at Monterey?

Yes, Merrill Gardens at Monterey allows residents to bring their pets.

Who is the administrator of Merrill Gardens at Monterey?

Jule May Estrellado is the administrator of Merrill Gardens at Monterey.

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