Merrill Gardens

A Fifth-Generation Family Company Rooted in the 1890s

Merrill Gardens is a private, fifth-generation family-owned senior living operator headquartered in Seattle, Washington, developing and managing communities across 16 states. The company operates under two brands: Merrill Gardens, its original and more amenity-rich communities, and Truewood by Merrill, positioned as a more attainable, practical option for residents and families. Merrill Gardens offers active adult living, independent living, assisted living, and memory care, with services varying by community. The company's senior living business began in 1993 with a single Seattle community, though its family ownership traces back to founder Richard Dwight (R.D.) Merrill, who came to the Pacific Northwest in the 1890s to establish sustainable timber holdings.

Visit the official Merrill Gardens website to learn more about the company and its communities.

Company at a Glance

●       Headquarters: Seattle, Washington

●       Founded: 1993 (senior living division, first community in Seattle); the Merrill family's broader business heritage traces to the 1890s, when founder R.D. Merrill established timber holdings in the Pacific Northwest

●       Current leadership: Tana Gall, President, Merrill Gardens; Cole Wright, Chairman, R.D. Merrill Company (the family holding company)

●       Portfolio size: 56 communities across 16 states per Senior Care Finder's directory. Two additional communities, in Rancho Mission Viejo and Studio City, California, are under development and not yet open. 

●       States served: Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, and Washington

●       Care and lifestyle options: Active adult living, independent living, assisted living, and memory care

●       Official website: merrillgardens.com

Senior Living and Care Options

Merrill Gardens' portfolio spans two brands, each generally associated with a different amenity level and price point, though not every community offers every service:

●       Active adult living (55+ rental communities)

●       Independent living

●       Assisted living

●       Memory care

Merrill Gardens communities, the company's original and namesake brand, tend to offer a more upscale, amenity-rich experience. Truewood by Merrill communities are positioned as a more attainable, practical option for families weighing cost alongside quality and comfort. Some communities offer a single level of care, such as active adult living, while others combine independent living, assisted living, and memory care on one campus. Families should confirm current care levels and availability directly on the Senior Care Finder listing for the specific community they are considering.

What Makes Merrill Gardens Different?

Fifth-Generation Family Ownership with 19th-Century Roots

Merrill Gardens traces its family ownership to founder R.D. Merrill, who came to the Pacific Northwest in the 1890s to establish sustainable timber holdings and was among the first to practice sustainable forestry. The company describes this multi-generational family stewardship, now in its fifth generation, as carrying over into its approach to caring for residents, distinguishing it from investor-owned or private-equity-backed competitors.

Two Distinct Brands for Different Lifestyles and Budgets

Rather than a single uniform brand, Merrill Gardens operates two complementary brands: Merrill Gardens, its original, more amenity-rich communities, and Truewood by Merrill, positioned as a more attainable, practical alternative. The company positions this structure as a way to serve a wider range of budgets and lifestyle preferences than a single brand could.

Growth Through Both Acquisition and Ground-Up Development, Often via Joint Ventures

Merrill Gardens has grown its portfolio through a mix of acquisitions and new development, frequently structured as joint ventures with institutional capital partners. In 2025, for example, the company added three communities in the Portland, Oregon, metro area, two through a joint venture acquisition and one through joint venture development, while also continuing to develop entirely new communities such as Novelle in San Jose, California.

A Deliberate Focus on Hospitality-Driven Innovation

Company leadership has publicly described a strategy of applying hospitality-industry thinking and new technology to assisted living, aiming to deliver what Chief Operating Officer Jason Childers has called "the greatest hospitality ever shown" to residents, reflecting the industry-wide shift of assisted living toward higher-acuity care without adopting an overly clinical feel.

Sophisticated, Data-Driven Pricing and Occupancy Management

As occupancy across the industry has strengthened, Merrill Gardens has taken a targeted approach to rate increases, differentiating rate strategy between new move-ins and existing residents and between independent living and higher-acuity care types, according to company leadership. This kind of granular pricing management is a differentiator from operators using a more uniform, one-size-fits-all rate strategy.

Recognized Family-Owned Business Heritage

In 2024, the Puget Sound Business Journal recognized Merrill Gardens with its Family-Owned Companies Award, a regional business recognition distinct from senior-living-specific industry awards. This kind of broader regional business recognition is a differentiator from operators recognized only within senior living trade circles.

Signature Programs and Services

The company's Family Guarantee reflects Merrill Gardens' stated commitment to treating residents and their families as an extension of the Merrill family itself, emphasizing a highly competent, compassionate, and professional caregiving team.

Merrill Gardens' HERO Awards and internal industry award recognitions highlight individual team members across the company's communities, which the company presents as part of its broader culture of recognizing frontline caregiving staff.

Life at a Merrill Gardens Community

Life at a Merrill Gardens or Truewood by Merrill community may include chef-prepared dining, housekeeping, scheduled transportation, fitness and wellness programming, and a calendar of social and recreational activities, with the specific amenity mix varying by brand and community. Merrill Gardens communities generally emphasize a more upscale amenity package, while Truewood by Merrill communities focus on practical, value-oriented living.

Families evaluating any Merrill Gardens or Truewood by Merrill community, or any senior living community, should ask specifically about current rate structures (since the company has described differentiated pricing by resident type and care level), staffing ratios, and how care transitions are handled on campuses offering multiple levels of care.

What Residents and Families Say

Merrill Gardens does not publish a single portfolio-wide review rating, and Senior Care Finder's own listings show ratings that vary by individual community, generally in the mid-to-high 4-star range among its Premium listings reviewed during this research. Recurring themes in publicly available feedback include attentive staff, strong dining programs, and a hospitality-oriented resident experience, though experience can vary by community, brand, and time period. Families are encouraged to review recent feedback for the specific Merrill Gardens or Truewood by Merrill community they are considering rather than relying on portfolio-wide impressions.

Leadership

Tana Gall serves as President of Merrill Gardens, overseeing day-to-day operations across the company's communities.

Cole Wright serves as Chairman of the R.D. Merrill Company, the family holding company that has owned the business across five generations. Jason Childers serves as Chief Operating Officer.

Visit the official Merrill Gardens leadership page for the complete and most current executive team.

Recent News, Growth, and Recognition

Merrill Gardens Adds Three Communities in Metro Portland, Oregon

In May 2025, Merrill Gardens expanded its Oregon footprint with three communities, Merrill Gardens at Cedar Mill and Merrill Gardens at Sherwood, acquired through a joint venture with PGIM, and Merrill Gardens at Hillsboro, developed through a joint venture with Pilar Properties. The company manages and operates all three communities.

Read independent coverage from Senior Housing News.

Merrill Gardens Emphasizes Hospitality-Driven Technology Strategy

In June 2025, Chief Operating Officer Jason Childers described Merrill Gardens' strategy of adopting new technology to make assisted living more hospitality-focused, as the industry shifts toward serving residents with higher care needs without adopting an overly clinical environment.

Read independent coverage from Senior Housing News.

Merrill Gardens Announces Novelle in San Jose, California

In August 2025, Merrill Gardens announced the planned opening of Novelle, a new four-story senior living community in San Jose, California, featuring in-unit washers and dryers, climate-controlled units, a theater, bistro, and outdoor courtyards.

Read independent coverage from Senior Housing News.

Merrill Gardens Details 2026 Pricing and Occupancy Strategy

In December 2025, company leadership described a targeted approach to 2026 rental rate increases, differentiating rate strategy between current and prospective residents and noting increased price elasticity as occupancy and resident satisfaction scores have improved industry-wide.

Read independent coverage from Senior Housing News.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Merrill Gardens? Merrill Gardens is a private, fifth-generation family-owned senior living operator headquartered in Seattle, Washington, operating communities under two brands, Merrill Gardens and Truewood by Merrill, across 16 states.

Where is Merrill Gardens headquartered? Merrill Gardens is headquartered in Seattle, Washington.

Who owns Merrill Gardens? Merrill Gardens is privately owned by the Merrill family, now in its fifth generation, through the R.D. Merrill Company. Tana Gall serves as President of Merrill Gardens.

How many communities does Merrill Gardens operate? Senior Care Finder's directory lists 56 communities across 16 states, with two additional communities under development in California. 

What is the difference between Merrill Gardens and Truewood by Merrill? Merrill Gardens is the company's original, more amenity-rich brand. Truewood by Merrill is positioned as a more attainable, practical option for families focused on value alongside quality and comfort.

What care options does Merrill Gardens offer? Depending on the community and brand, Merrill Gardens offers active adult living, independent living, assisted living, and memory care.

Does Merrill Gardens offer skilled nursing? No. Merrill Gardens' care options are limited to active adult living, independent living, assisted living, and memory care; the company does not offer skilled nursing or long-term care.

What do reviews say about Merrill Gardens? Feedback varies by community. Recurring themes include attentive staff, strong dining programs, and a hospitality-oriented resident experience, though families should review recent feedback for the specific community they are considering.

How much do Merrill Gardens communities cost? Pricing varies by community, brand, unit type, and level of care, and the company has described using differentiated rate strategies for new versus existing residents. Families should contact the specific community directly for current pricing.

How can families find a Merrill Gardens community? Families can browse Merrill Gardens and Truewood by Merrill communities through Senior Care Finder's listings or through the company's own community locator.

Explore Merrill Gardens Communities

Comparing individual Merrill Gardens and Truewood by Merrill communities is the best way to understand what a specific location actually offers, since services, amenities, pricing, and resident experience vary across the company's two brands and 16 states. Explore Merrill Gardens communities on Senior Care Finder for current listings, ratings, and details for locations near you.

Services, pricing, availability, and resident experience can vary meaningfully from one Merrill Gardens or Truewood by Merrill community to the next.

Merrill Gardens is a paid Senior Care Finder partner. Partner status does not replace the need for families to independently evaluate individual communities, services, pricing, licensing information, and recent reviews.

Company information, leadership details, programs, recognition, and news were reviewed using publicly available sources. Information last reviewed July 2026.