7610 Isabella Way
Gilroy, CA 95020
214 beds • Est. 2021 (4 years) • Get directions
Merrill Gardens at Gilroy has 26 state citations (21 serious, 5 minor) and 13 verified complaints since 2021 across 52 inspections, with the most recent inspection on 2/24/2026. The most serious verified finding involves a 2022 incident in which a staff member aggressively grabbed a resident from behind and yanked them from their wheelchair, confirmed by a witness and a police report. Investigators also substantiated recurring night staffing shortages, with records showing only 1 caregiver scheduled on overnight shifts on some days and call button response times reaching 20 to 30 minutes. In a separate investigation, a resident's call button alerts went unanswered on 7 occasions in the weeks before the resident's death; an inspector who tested the same button received no response after 11 minutes. Additional verified complaints include a failure to follow a resident's medication care plan without notifying the resident or family, a scabies outbreak affecting multiple residents in late 2023, and a 2025 billing dispute in which a resident was charged for assisted living services during a rehabilitation stay contrary to the facility's own written policy.
Merrill Gardens at Gilroy is a 214-bed assisted living community in Gilroy, at the southern tip of Santa Clara County. One of the largest Merrill Gardens locations in California, it offers the chain's resources in a more affordable setting than nearby Silicon Valley.
Its safety record, however, is deeply concerning and requires serious investigation.
Merrill Gardens brand resources
Part of a national chain with corporate-level oversight, standardized training programs, and professional management infrastructure.
Large community scale
At 214 beds, one of the bigger communities in the South County area with the capacity for comprehensive programming and specialized care options.
More affordable than Silicon Valley
Gilroy's location south of San Jose offers more accessible pricing than communities in Campbell, Los Gatos, or Cupertino while still being within reach of South Bay families.
Alarming safety record
FYI Safety Score of 2.2 out of 9.9 — one of the lowest scores for any Merrill Gardens community in the state. This is a serious red flag. Families must review recent inspection reports in detail and ask hard questions about staffing, training, and corrective actions.
Chain reputation vs. local reality
Merrill Gardens is generally well-regarded, which makes this location's safety score especially striking. National brands can have significant quality variation between individual communities.
South County remoteness
Gilroy is 30+ miles south of San Jose. Families in the Bay Area core should factor in the commute for regular visits.
Pricing is estimated, please contact the facility to confirm.
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7610 Isabella Way, Gilroy, CA 95020
Get directionsLicense data from the California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division. View full state record
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$4,148/mo
starting