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Sunshine Villa, a Merrill Gardens Community, is a senior living community situated in the vibrant heart of Santa Cruz, within walking distance of the Santa Cruz Wharf, beach, and boardwalk. With individualized care services catered to each resident’s needs and preferences, this historic landmark provides high-quality assisted living and memory care. Since 1990, Sunshine Villa has been a dependable member of the Santa Cruz community, offering top-notch care in a lovely, idyllic environment.
Sunshine Villa’s goal is to provide its residents with a satisfying and rewarding lifestyle, and it is committed to meeting and beyond their expectations. The community offers a number of amenities, such as chef-prepared meals, elegantly furnished common rooms, a library, landscaped gardens with courtyards, private dining room, on-site RNs/LPNs, and a Victorian sunporch, ensuring a comfortable and engaging living experience.
Higher than the California average: 72.8%Sunshine Villa, A Merrill Gardens Community is legally operated by Mg Santa Cruz Subtenant Llc; Merrill Gardens Llc, and administrated by Candace Bolin.
In California, the Department of Social Services (for assisted living facilities) and the Department of Public Health (for nursing homes) conduct inspections to ensure resident safety and regulatory compliance.
A composite 0–100 score combining this facility's inspections, citations, complaints, and enforcement actions relative to the California state average. See the assisted living residences benchmark below for the typical California score; higher is better.
Well below the California average for assisted living residences.
California assisted living residences benchmark: C 76/100
Inspection score: 53 out of 100. Letter grade F. Well below the California average for assisted living residences.
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.
Citations
| This Facility | CA Average | vs. CA Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Total citations
Formal regulatory issues recorded by inspectors across all inspection types.
| 16 | 10 | This facility has 60% more total citations than a typical California assisted living residence (16 vs. CA avg 10).↑ 60% worse |
|
Serious citations (Type A)
Violations that pose an immediate risk to resident health or safety. Type A citations are the most serious and typically require prompt corrective action.
| 9 | 3 | This facility has 200% more serious citations (type a) than a typical California assisted living residence (9 vs. CA avg 3).↑ 200% worse |
|
Moderate citations (Type B)
Violations that do not pose an immediate risk but still represent a departure from required care or operational standards.
| 7 | 4 | This facility has 75% more moderate citations (type b) than a typical California assisted living residence (7 vs. CA avg 4).↑ 75% worse |
|
Citations per year
Average citations per year since 2021.
| 3.2 | 2 | This facility has 60% more citations per year than a typical California assisted living residence (3.2 vs. CA avg 2).↑ 60% worse |
|
Citations per inspection
Average citations per inspection.
| 0.4 | 3.3 | This facility has 88% fewer citations per inspection than a typical California assisted living residence (0.4 vs. CA avg 3.3).↓ 88% better |
Inspections & Visits
| This Facility | CA Average | vs. CA Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Total visits
Combined count of complaint visits, other regulatory visits, and official scheduled inspections.
| 45 | 16 | This facility has 181% more total visits than a typical California assisted living residence (45 vs. CA avg 16).↑ 181% worse |
|
Complaint visits
On-site visits triggered by formal complaints filed by residents, families, or staff.
| 26 | 13 | This facility has 100% more complaint visits than a typical California assisted living residence (26 vs. CA avg 13).↑ 100% worse |
|
Other visits
Regulatory visits that are neither routine inspections nor complaint investigations — administrative check-ins, follow-up reviews, licensing-related visits.
| 15 | 7 | This facility has 114% more other visits than a typical California assisted living residence (15 vs. CA avg 7).↑ 114% worse |
|
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.
| 18 | 10 | This facility has 80% more complaint investigations than a typical California assisted living residence (18 vs. CA avg 10).↑ 80% worse |
An editor-reviewed summary of the themes and findings across this facility's recent inspection reports.
This facility’s inspection record is mixed, with repeated deficiencies related to staffing, medication management, and resident supervision, including elopements and failure to meet care needs. The most recent inspection on October 7, 2025, cited no deficiencies, but prior visits in 2025 documented two elopement-related citations with a $500 fine and substantiated medication errors involving incorrect dosing and insufficient staff competency. While some complaints were unsubstantiated, the record shows ongoing challenges in ensuring adequate supervision and medication safety, though recent inspections suggest some improvement.
Read the full inspection reports for this facility, including detailed findings and corrective actions.
Show Inspection Reports
Pets Allowed
Room Sizes: 320 / 490 - 576 sq. ft
Housing Options: Studio / 1 Bed
Building Type: 3-story
Transportation Services
Fitness and Recreation
1.1 miles from city center
Estimated distance in miles from Santa Cruz's city center to Sunshine Villa, A Merrill Gardens Community's address, calculated via Google Maps.
— 13.05 miles to nearest hospital (Watsonville Community Hospital)
Add your location
Sunshine Villa, A Merrill Gardens Community is located in Santa Cruz, California.
Here are the financial assistance programs available to residents in California.
The information below is reported by the California Department of Social Services and Department of Public Health.
| Sunshine Villa, A Merrill Gardens Community |
AL Assisted Living A licensed, long-term care setting for seniors or individuals with disabilities who need help with daily activities — like bathing, dressing, and medication management — but not 24-hour skilled nursing. Offers housing, meals, and around-the-clock support while aiming to maximize resident independence.
MC Memory Care Secured, specialized care for people living with Alzheimer's or dementia. Staff trained in cognitive impairment, with higher staff-to-resident ratios and an environment designed to reduce confusion and wandering risk. | Santa Cruz (Beach & Boardwalk Commercial District) | 132 | Yes | 93 | 4 | 26
Facility
26
CA AVG
11.6
Rank
#1222 / 1397 | 9
Facility
9
CA AVG
3.2
Rank
#1033 / 1164 | 5
Facility
5
CA AVG
11
Rank
#844 / 1365 |
79.5%
Facility
79.5%
CA AVG
73.6%
Rank
#582 / 1289 | Mg Santa Cruz Subtenant LLC; Merrill Gardens LLC | Studio / 1 Bed |
| Valley Haven |
AL Assisted Living A licensed, long-term care setting for seniors or individuals with disabilities who need help with daily activities — like bathing, dressing, and medication management — but not 24-hour skilled nursing. Offers housing, meals, and around-the-clock support while aiming to maximize resident independence.
MC Memory Care Secured, specialized care for people living with Alzheimer's or dementia. Staff trained in cognitive impairment, with higher staff-to-resident ratios and an environment designed to reduce confusion and wandering risk. | Santa Cruz (Live Oak) | 48 | Yes | 56 | 4 | 2
Facility
2
CA AVG
11.6
Rank
#323 / 1397 | -
Facility
-
CA AVG
3.2
Rank
#1 / 1164 | 12
Facility
12
CA AVG
11
Rank
#441 / 1365 |
56.3%
Facility
56.3%
CA AVG
73.6%
Rank
#1077 / 1289 | Jesus & Josephine Arcilla | Studio / 1 Bed |
| Maple House II |
AL Assisted Living A licensed, long-term care setting for seniors or individuals with disabilities who need help with daily activities — like bathing, dressing, and medication management — but not 24-hour skilled nursing. Offers housing, meals, and around-the-clock support while aiming to maximize resident independence. | Santa Cruz (Yacht Harbor Manor) | 40 | No | 74 | 1 | - | 1
Facility
1
CA AVG
3.2
Rank
#413 / 1164 | 1
Facility
1
CA AVG
11
Rank
#1259 / 1365 |
57.5%
Facility
57.5%
CA AVG
73.6%
Rank
#1064 / 1289 | Divine Senior Care Inc. | Private / Semi-Private Rooms |
| Maple House |
AL Assisted Living A licensed, long-term care setting for seniors or individuals with disabilities who need help with daily activities — like bathing, dressing, and medication management — but not 24-hour skilled nursing. Offers housing, meals, and around-the-clock support while aiming to maximize resident independence.
MC Memory Care Secured, specialized care for people living with Alzheimer's or dementia. Staff trained in cognitive impairment, with higher staff-to-resident ratios and an environment designed to reduce confusion and wandering risk. | Santa Cruz (Seabright) | 22 | No | 92 | 1 | - | -
Facility
-
CA AVG
3.2
Rank
#1 / 1164 | 1
Facility
1
CA AVG
11
Rank
#1259 / 1365 |
50.0%
Facility
50.0%
CA AVG
73.6%
Rank
#1135 / 1289 | Divine Senior Care Inc. | Private / Semi-Private Rooms |
| Alexandria Victoria |
AL Assisted Living A licensed, long-term care setting for seniors or individuals with disabilities who need help with daily activities — like bathing, dressing, and medication management — but not 24-hour skilled nursing. Offers housing, meals, and around-the-clock support while aiming to maximize resident independence.
HC Home Care Professional care delivered in the person's own home — from companionship and errands to skilled nursing and therapy. Allows seniors to age in place. Medicare covers skilled home health when medically necessary.
MC Memory Care Secured, specialized care for people living with Alzheimer's or dementia. Staff trained in cognitive impairment, with higher staff-to-resident ratios and an environment designed to reduce confusion and wandering risk. | Santa Cruz (Banana Belt) | 13 | No | 85 | 4 | 3
Facility
3
CA AVG
11.6
Rank
#440 / 1397 | -
Facility
-
CA AVG
3.2
Rank
#1 / 1164 | 10
Facility
10
CA AVG
11
Rank
#541 / 1365 |
61.5%
Facility
61.5%
CA AVG
73.6%
Rank
#1013 / 1289 | Ofelia Jony, Inc. | Private Rooms / Semi-Private Rooms |
Sunshine Villa, A Merrill Gardens Community is in the Beach & Boardwalk Commercial District neighborhood of Santa Cruz.
The legal owner and operator of Sunshine Villa, A Merrill Gardens Community is Mg Santa Cruz Subtenant Llc; Merrill Gardens Llc.
Sunshine Villa, A Merrill Gardens Community has a walk score of 93. Walker's paradise. Daily errands do not require a car, with many shops and services nearby.
Sunshine Villa, A Merrill Gardens Community's occupancy is 80%.
Candace Bolin is the administrator of Sunshine Villa, A Merrill Gardens Community.
Sunshine Villa, A Merrill Gardens Community has 132 beds.
Sunshine Villa, A Merrill Gardens Community has had 20 recently reported deficiencies.
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