Truewood by Merrill, First Hill
Families consistently rate this highly — reviewers highlight warm, compassionate, and long-tenured staff. Schedule a visit to confirm the fit.
based on 43 Google reviews
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What this means for your family
Truewood by Merrill is highly regarded for its compassionate memory care and welcoming staff, making it a strong contender for those prioritizing a supportive environment. However, because some families have reported concerns regarding staffing and management, we recommend asking specific questions about current caregiver-to-resident ratios and recent turnover rates during your tour.
Google Reviews
Google Reviews
43 reviews on Google“Truewood by Merrill, First Hill is widely praised for its warm, welcoming atmosphere and highly attentive staff, particularly in the memory care unit. While many families highlight the community's compassionate care and excellent location, a small number of reviewers have expressed significant concerns regarding management, staffing levels, and food quality under the current ownership.”
Quality Themes
Tap a score for detailsStrengths
- Warm, compassionate, and long-tenured staff
- Excellent, walkable downtown Seattle location
- Clean and well-maintained facility
- Strong, supportive memory care services
Concerns
- Understaffing and overworked caregivers (mentioned by 2 reviewers)
- Poor food quality and dining experience (mentioned by 2 reviewers)
- Management and operational issues (mentioned by 2 reviewers)
Rating Trends
Tap a year to see what changed
Distribution · 43 analyzed
How They Respond to Reviews
This facility actively engages with reviewer feedback.
Questions for Your Tour
- 1Given your location in the heart of First Hill, what opportunities do residents have to safely explore or walk in the surrounding neighborhood?
- 2I noticed you are very active in responding to feedback online; how does that commitment to communication translate into how you handle family concerns once a loved one is living here?
- 3With a capacity of 75 residents, how does your team ensure that each individual receives consistent, personalized attention throughout the day?
- 4We understand that dining is a major part of daily life; what steps are you currently taking to enhance the culinary experience and variety for your residents?
- 5How do you support your caregiving team to ensure they feel well-resourced and energized while providing daily support to residents?
- 6Could you walk us through your protocol for medical emergencies and how you coordinate care with the nearby medical facilities in the First Hill area?
Personalized based on this facility's data
Key Review Excerpts
“Garden House (Memory Care) knows how to handle loved ones in a very caring way, with endless patience and love. Every person who works in the Garden House (Memory Care), and in Truewood, is like family to us.”
“Many of the staff members have worked there 10+ years. Mom is treated warmly and with respect. Her Studio is Bright and full of light from large windows facing east.”
“What really impressed us was how a housekeeper who didn’t know us struck up conversation on an elevator. She was one of many who made us feel welcome.”
State Inspection History
State Inspections
Source: WA Dept. of Social & Health Services
May 1, 2026FireCleanReport
All violations noted during previous related inspection(s) have been corrected. Approval Status: Approved.
May 23, 2025InspectionCleanReport
The Department completed a full inspection and found no deficiencies.
May 1, 2025Fire
The inspection on 01/21/2025 resulted in a 'Disapproved' status. A subsequent visit on 05/01/2025 confirmed that all violations noted during the previous inspection had been corrected.
Combustible materials found in walk within 18 inches from sprinkler head.
Appliance found plugged into power strip in kitchen and dining room.
Need to check all stairwells for penetration.
Missing required paperwork: Annual report, 5-year internal pipe testing, annual trip test, annual forward flow test, and 5-year FDC hydro testing.
Missing required paperwork: Annual report and sensitivity testing.
Loose tanks found in kitchen storage area and in-use in kitchen.
Aug 22, 2024Investigation
The complaint investigation referenced case numbers 133915 and 137297. A follow-up inspection on 10/14/2024 later confirmed no deficiencies.
The facility failed to honor resident rights by refusing to re-admit a resident from the hospital, despite the resident's needs remaining within the facility's scope of services. The resident was subsequently discharged from the hospital to a hotel.
Feb 8, 2024Inspection
This letter confirms that the deficiencies identified in Compliance Determination 36596 (and referenced in 33703) were corrected as of the follow-up inspection on 02/08/2024.
Contact
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References & Resources
Google Maps
Photos, directions & neighborhood info
Google Reviews
43 reviews from families & visitors
Official Website
Visit merrillgardens.com
Medicare data downloads
Original nursing home datasets
WA DSHS — View Official Record
Public-record source of inspection history and licensure data shown on this page
EveryPlace is a research directory. Facility information is compiled from public sources — Medicare.gov, state licensing portals, Google Places, and publicly available street-level imagery. Listings do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or advertisement, and we do not accept payment for placement. Families should verify all details directly with the facility and the original sources linked above before making any care decisions. See our Research Policy for our editorial standards, correction process, and image-removal policy.
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