Grand Lake Gardens

Cathy Lackey

2017-09-24

we had a lovely luau a few days ago here at grand lake gardens!! i loved the hawaiian music and dancing and awesome hawaiian food! it was a great chance to visit with other residents, family and friends. our luau was a great success!! i love everything about living here at grand lake gardens

Steve T.

2021-08-25

I moved here to in Grand Lake Gardens about 6 months ago and I just love it. I was able to bring my 2 most precious possessions, my cat (who also loves it here) and my piano. The emphasis here is on community and it works. I have made so many new friends. The facility is small, about 80 plus residents, and for me that means it feels homier. The neighborhood is great, with restaurants, a movie theater, a farmers' market and shopping near by, not to mention beautiful Lake Merritt. The grounds include a lovely Zen garden and a small rose garden. Residents who wish can have a raised bed to grow their own plants. There is a large outdoor patio for lounging and outdoor events. There are a variety of activities every day of the week, including discussion groups, singing, art, movies and much more. There is a lovely library, a small gym, a coffee lounge, an art-sewing room and an activities room.I can't say enough about the staff. They are friendly and know everyone by name. Management has an open door policy. Everyone is so caring and responsive.There is no longer a move in fee and when one considers all the amenities (food, room cleaning, maintenance services, a full time nurse on staff, transportation, van trips, etc, the month to month rent is very reasonable.Of course during Covid, not all services are available and I keep getting told by others how much I am missing. But even with curtailed activities, I am very pleased.

Emily S.

2021-01-07

My mother moved from the East Coast about three years ago and it was a huge transition.  Grand Lake Gardens was right in my neighborhood, so it was the perfect spot.  I was able to visit multiple times a week until COVID.  Everyone on the team was warm and welcoming to my mother, her two beloved cats, and me.  Over the past year during COVID my mom's memory significantly declined-- so much so that she was beyond independent living.  Scott and the entire staff, went above and beyond to help my mom with her many needs during this difficult time.  Scott is one of the most empathic, kind, and patient people I know.  When it was time to make the decision to move her to assisted living, Scott worked closely with me to make this decision and find a place that would meet my mom's and her cats needs.  I have nothing but high praise for Grand Lake Gardens and the entire team.  After visiting several other facilities, I can say with confidence that the apartments and the grounds are stellar comparatively speaking.  It's also in a sweet neighborhood for those who still like to go out in their neighborhood, frequent local shops, or go to the farmers market.  I recommend Grand Lake Gardens without hesitation.

Robbie R.

2019-04-30

My grandmother has lived here for the last 20 years or so and has seen management come and go, but the "gardens" still adheres to their original agreement with her for the rent, so yeah, she gets a deal. The staff are friendly all the time despite what they have to put up with from some cranky seniors. What you get for the money here compared to other "homes" is a good deal.Here they have full food service as well as independent living quarters, locking hall door and private bathroom and kitchen. 24 hr security as well. This isn't the greatest of neighborhoods, but it's Oakland so there you go. Parking is very tight in the area. Residents can opt for gated garage space if they still drive.I've had the food here, guests are welcome, and it's pretty good for institutional. Burger was tasty. It's a good place if you wanna live in Oakland.

C.J. M.

2016-03-05

I have read some of the previous reviews of Grand Lake Gardens, and I am writing this with the understanding that management has changed in the past 12-18 months. As a result of this change, my family had a very positive experience with GLG, with both the staff and residents. My partner's father lived in GLG for a very short period this past year. Sadly, he died of cancer. We moved him out here from Boston to be closer to us. We had researched many senior living places in the East Bay, and we were most impressed with GLG. While many other places have nice amenities such as location, restaurants, etc., the quality that was most important to us was the overall happiness level of the staff. After all, my father-in-law was going to depend on these people, ranging from the front desk staff to the maintenance crew. I wanted him to feel taken care of and loved by everyone there. When we toured the place, my instinct told me that the staff were happy - happier than other places we had visited - and that my father-in-law would feel safe and loved at GLG. My instinct was right. When we moved him in, he was immediately embraced by the staff and the residents. He was a renter, and there was no difference in how he was treated (and the monthly costs are very reasonable, especially considering the East Bay is so expensive to live in). In fact, he was welcomed at the first community meeting of the residents. Within two weeks, everyone knew him. (In fact, when I used to drop him off in the evenings, I wait in my car, and watch him get into the elevator to make sure he made it up to his apartment safely. He did not know I was doing this. But after just one week, he would stop at the front desk to chat with the staff and any other residents who happened to be around, so there was no need for me to wait for him to get into the elevator anymore). We were especially touched by John, the nurse, who is not only smart and sweet, but who treats the residents with the respect and integrity that they deserve.  In addition my father-in-law's happiness, we, his family, felt very welcomed and supported by the staff and residents. (The residents, by the way, are very active and an inspiration to be around). After my father-in-law died, the staff continued to support us, especially when we had to move out his belongings. The management did not rush us to move out of his apartment, and were actually very helpful with some of the more tedious details in the moving process. Overall, this was a very positive experience for us, and my family and I are grateful to the staff and residents at GLG, and we wish them well.

Jim J.

2016-01-14

I don't know why the Yelp ratings are so low for Grand Lake Gardens. My father has been living there for over a year and a half and he loves it. If you are considering a nice retirement home where you or your loved one(s) will be happy, you should visit GLG in person and not eliminate is based on negative Yelp reviews.My father was previously living on his own in an apartment and decided that he wanted to change his environment where he would be around more people and have more care if needed. It has worked out perfectly for him since now he is surrounded by other residents who have welcomed him warmly. I've visited several times, including overnight in a guest apartment with my young children, and have only experienced positive things. The residents are very friendly and have interesting and diverse backgrounds and the staff are attentive and also friendly. When he first moved in I was present at his first dinner where he was given an introduction and asked to stand up and then was then greeted individually by all the residents present. My father told me that recently when he returned from a brief hospitalization, he was given a standing ovation in the dining area.Located in the Grand Lake area of Oakland, it's within walking distance of beautiful Lake Merritt, Grand Lake Theater, and many shops and restaurants including Trader Joe's and Safeway. It's an urban setting and perhaps some people are turned off by that, but not my family or father.The only negative I can think of is the close proximity to the 580 freeway, but the positives definitely outweigh that, especially when I think of all the depressing homes I've visited over the years.

Charlotte M.

2015-06-05

My mother lived at Grand Lake Gardens for four years after my father died.  The experience turned out to be some of the happiest and most rewarding years of her life.  The warm, professional and personalized care she received was top notch.  She was able to select and pay for only the level of additional care that was necessary for her.  As a result, she was able to continue to live a full and independent life in her own apartment rather than being forced to move to an assisted living facility.  My mother made many wonderful friends while living there as well.  In fact, she met her future husband and fellow resident at Grand Lake Gardens.  They decided to invite all the residents to their wedding and then held the reception and dinner for the entire community. It is a very special place that allows individuals to continue to live a full and rewarding life in a safe, comfortable and protected environment.  Bravo to the staff who gave my mother this opportunity.

Ben R.

2013-01-30

My Mother and her pets moved in about a year ago and couldnt be happier!I am not sure why there are these 3 negative reviews.Sure there has been turnover with the Sales/Marketing but it hasnt taken away from the great expierence my mom is having. The food is good, Really its OK but the soup is very good from what i hear, the residents are very friendly but not overly. The apartments are good sized and as for upgrades my mom wanted hardwood and they let her use our own contractor and discounted what the carpet would have cost. They even installed an AC unit for her. There have been no empty promises at all. In fact services have been added in the last year. There is a new library, more days of available transportation, addition availability to meals. Also we havent expierenced any over the line attemps to participate in anything. There are plenty of activities but no one has ever chastised or bullied my mom into attending them and certainly not with a cold! infact one of the things I like is when you are sick there are rules about not attending public events such as meals and sheduled activities.We looked at over 8 other facilities and this is by far the most cost effective, well located and just warm feeling place. I encourage anyone to come and see it for yourself.

Iadora K.

2012-12-14

I have lived here for several years now and whenever I have become incapacitated by hospitalization, the staff feel free to enter my apartment and steal items. This just happened again!They "claim" to be doing it to "Help me"! AMAZING how I have managed to live this long without their "help"!!! And then they have the hypocrisy to post notes saying "Thou Shalt Not Steal"!

Julie O.

2012-08-30

Grand Lake Gardens has a excellent staff and the residents are warm and friendly.  I am very grateful my relatives are living there! I highly recommend Grand Lake Gardens as a new home and lifestyle for your loved ones.

Jake M.

2012-08-01

My mother lived at Grand Lake Gardens for nine years- from age 90 to age 99.   She would still be living there if she hadn't contracted a fatal bacterial infection (C. Diff) at Kaiser. I visited her at least once a week, so I am quite familiar with the facility, its staff, and its residents.My mother loved it there.  The food was good, the staff was helpful, and activities were plentiful.  Most importantly, the residents stick together and see to it that any "bad apples" on the staff are replaced.A word of caution about ANY senior community, hospital, or rest home--  the care you receive is likely to be directly proportional to how often you have a visitor;  try to keep friends, family, and co-residents dropping by, especially when you are ill.I'm not going to write a long review because, for some unknown reason, most Yelp reviews of GLG are placed in a "filtered" (hidden) section where they are very difficult to access.  Someone may be reporting to Yelp staff that the reviews are fake.  Not true- I personally know most of the reviewers--  who assure me that ALL of the reviews currently posted are legitimate.  If you are seriously researching GLG, please take the time to read both the regular reviews and the "filtered" reviews, which are found by following the tiny, grayed out, link at the bottom of the regular reviews, then solving the unnecessary "recaptcha" puzzle.   As of August 1, 2012 there are 7 "filtered" reviews with ratings as follows:   5 reviews with 5 stars each   1 review with 4 stars   1 review with 1 starwhich averages out to 4.3 stars per "filtered" review.I'll recommend Grand Lake Gardens without hesitation.****But please- read those 8 filtered reviews for the complete picture.

Susan F.

2012-06-27

Rising tides lift all boats is the best way I can describe GLG. Fifteen months ago I stepped in to help my aging aunt who was losing her vision and was no longer able to drive. To make matters worse, she lived in LA and I lived here in Piedmont. I hired and tried to manage companions from afar for awhile, but it wasn't working well at all. Towards the end of last year, I proposed to my aunt that she move up here to be close to me. With some reluctance, she agree to visit a few senior residences in the area. We chose GLG because it is an independent living community with a la carte assisted living services available as needed. And, the relationship with Piedmont Gardens ensures Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing and Memory Care if she ever gets to that point. We chose the buy-in that provided an 80% refund when she leaves and coupled with the reasonable monthly rent, it all fit comfortably within her budget.What I didn't mention is that my aunt moved from a two story house in LA to a studio at GLG. Sounds pretty dreadful, right? You couldn't be more wrong! I worked closely the GLG contractor who was renovating my aunt's unit to my specifications and he created a cozy, inviting and high quality living space for her. He turned a closet into an "office alcove" with furniture quality cabinets, under cabinet lighting and a granite counter top. He then build an enormous, double hung, two door wardrobe in an underutilized corner that provids her more than ample space for her clothes. She has another huge walk-in closet near the front door that actually holds an adorable pine cupboard from her home in LA plus tons of additional storage, both hanging and shelves. The bathroom is gorgeous with beautiful cabinets, granite and a walk-in shower. It also has a "linen" cabinet hanging on the wall. Cleverly, the contractor rehung the door so it swings out into the hallway thus creating additional space for two medicine cabinets along one of the walls. The kitchen is also fantastic. It has a real fridge, beautiful cabinets that the contractor hung "low and forward" so my aunt can reach them, an 18" dishwasher, disposal, pull-out faucet, a granite counter top, a two-burner glass cook-top plus a built in GE Microwave Convection oven that is large enough to cook a turkey! There are no windows in the kitchen so he installed under the cabinet lighting in addition to the overhead light. The contractor also designed and built a fold down kitchen table. My aunt uses it every morning for her breakfast and folds it down when it is not in use. She is so proud of her new apartment and is very happy when she is in her room.When she is not in her room, she is busy and engaged with the other residents. She claims to exercise every day and attends lectures, movies and performances. She also goes on some of the outings and has developed a good relationship with the staff who are very supportive of her and her needs ( some are quirky!). My aunt never married and always ate alone, which made me very sad. At GLG, she always has friends to eat with at every meal. She is a health nut, so she loves the food at GLG. The portions are the right size for her and the kitchen staff is careful about salt, fat and sugar. She is very well groomed, and is a hair and nails client of Katie at Point of View Salon around the corner from GLG. Couldn't be more convenient!! I saw Katie yesterday and she told me that my aunt raves about GLG and is very happy. How nice to hear that I found such a great place for her. The location of GLG can't be beat. You can walk to the movies, library, post office, Saturday Farmer's Market, Trader Joe's, drug stores, banks, The Gap, you name it, she can walk to it! I only see my aunt when I take her to her medical appointments at Kaiser or if she needs something. I am trying hard to stay away so she makes her new life there. So far, the transition has far exceeded my expectations. And I want you to know that  no one put me up to writing this review. GLG has basically saved my aunt's life! She is looking forward to many happy years there with all her new friends. If you have a relative who is looking for an independent living senior community, please do check out GLG. Its small size (about 100 residents) creates an intimate living experience for independent seniors who no longer want to live alone. Initially I thought my aunt would be living in an assisted living facility but once we saw the possibilities at GLG, we knew that, at least for several years, she will be just fine living the way she is right now because each day her "boat" is being lifted by the "rising tide" created by her wonderful new life at GLG.

Mim A.

2012-06-15

My mother suffered a terrible car accident that resulted in a brain injury and needed some extra support.  I was relocating her from the East Coast and wanted her to have a built in support and social system.  I was willing to spend almost twice as much for the tiny apartment they showed us as well as the $50,000 buy in just to get her those supports.  They also convinced my mother to put in a hardwood floor and do a number of other improvements that cost thousands and took weeks to install, she had to live in hotel during the construction. They were well aware that my mother smokes and promised she could smoke on her private patio in her apartment.  After almost 2 months we finally move her in.  One week later the entire community was up in arms over her smoking.  The health care director was incredibly rude to us; she made up lies about pre-existing smoking rules and tried to talk my mother into quitting. When she refused they asked her to leave.  After the way they treated her we didn't want her to stay.  They hadn't even been holding up their end of the bargain in regards to cleaning her room, doing her laundry and social activities.  It has now been several months and I still have yet to get the $50,000 buy in as well as the other monies they promised us.  Grand Lake Gardens is Reprehensible, if I could give them negative stars I would.

cathy lackey

2018-01-01

From the moment I walked through the front door I felt like I was home! After moving in I began to count my blessings. At Grand Lake Gardens, I found a wonderful group of people my own age who have become the greatest neighbors anyone could ask for. I cannot begin to express how impressed I am with the staff. They are professional, loving, and caring about each and every resident- and it shows. We have abundant menu choices and our transportation driver it the best. The grounds are so pretty and I love the gardens reflections and visiting. Now friendships bring chances for fulfilling lifetime interests. I am creating new memories. The community spirit here is awesome. I feel safe, secure and stimulated. I highly recommend taking a tour of Grand Lake Gardens.