Merrill Gardens at Willow Glen

We have not confirmed this with them yet. A memory care label on its own does not tell you whether the unit is secured, and it is the difference between safe and not for someone who exit-seeks. Ask them directly, and ask what happens at night.

We have not confirmed how they charge. Some homes quote one all-inclusive rate; others quote a base and add care levels or points on top, which is where families are most often surprised. Ask which it is before you compare their number to anyone else’s.

We have not asked them. No public record holds it, and it is the closest thing to a single predictor of care quality. Ask how long the direct-care staff have been there, and watch whether the answer is specific.

We have not confirmed this. Many homes take couples; far fewer can keep a couple together when one needs memory care and the other does not. Worth asking early if it applies to you.

We have not asked them. This is the question families most often discover too late, and "do you take Medi-Cal" does not answer it — the common reply is yes, but only after two or three years of paying privately. Ask what happens on the day the money runs out, and whether she would have to move.

We have not asked. This is a common reason a move falls through late, and it is almost never published. Worth asking before you tour.

We have not asked them. If the person moving in is more comfortable in a language other than English, ask which staff speak it and on which shifts — the answer often differs overnight.

It is a Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE), a non-medical care category licensed by the California Department of Social Services. RCFEs provide housing and personal care for older adults. This facility is listed in the Assisted Living category and is located in San Jose.

The facility has a licensed capacity of 150 beds, which is the maximum number of residents it is authorized to serve under its state license. Its license was first issued on November 3, 2021, which is approximately five years of licensure. A larger licensed capacity like this generally indicates a bigger community rather than a small board-and-care home.

California RCFE inspection and visit records are public and can be viewed on the Department of Social Services license record at https://www.ccld.dss.ca.gov/carefacilitysearch/FacDetail/435202807. The state's file for this facility shows 52 total visits on record, including 3 routine inspection visits and 36 complaint visits, with the most recent state visit dated April 9, 2026. A complaint visit records that the state visited in response to a complaint and does not by itself mean a violation was found, so families should review the public record for the actual findings. ---