Testimonials

Two and three-quarters years ago, after a search around Monterey and Salinas, I found Carmelo Park for my mom. It was just the right size facility, on a quiet street off a green belt. It was clean and well cared for, and the price was right compared to other places. Even better was the community feeling that the management and staff created.

Matt and Karie, and their trash of 25 employees are just the best. Jennifer and her staff of resident care employees are truly warm and wonderful. Jennifer runs the team with true care, lightheartedness, and efficiency. She has worked there for over 25 years. Much of the staff has also been there for years and they take a caring, loving stance toward their residents. During the time Mom has been there, I have been interested to observe that employees who have left have returned to work at Carmelo Park.

It is difficult for people to live in assisted living. My mom still thinks she's capable of traveling and living on her own. She longs for days that are passed. Despite that, she has never had anything unhappy to say about any of the staff or management. They truly care about their residents and about each other.
One of Mom's early room-mates was a very dear person. In our comings and goings, I learned that her daughter-in-law found Songbird Care Homes because she had taken a temporary job at Carmelo Park. She was so impressed that when her mother- in-law needed placement, Carmelo Park was their choice.

There are a few special things about life at Carmelo Park. Our family is not of the conventional spiritual bent. I was concerned that there was a regular "church service" listed on the calendar so I decided I needed to check it out. My experience of it was that it was a gathering based on uplifting songs and messages lead by Matt on his guitar - a gathering that could be enjoyed no matter one's orientation to spirituality. My experience of Matt at that gathering was that he was coming from a very honest, effortless, authentic place.

Before Covid, I attended the Christmas Party. It was the sweetest surprise - not what I expected at all from an assisted living holiday party. There was a beautiful spread of food created by AnnaLyn and her kitchen crew, singing and games lead by Matt and Karie and their family, and lots of good visiting. It was an afternoon of high spirits attended by residents, their families and friends, staff who were off for the day, staff family members, Matt and Karie's entire family, and even former staff who came back to celebrate, I was amazed. Similarly, before Covid, I attended a Halloween party where staff members' sweet, costumed children came to trick-or-treat from residents around the dining room.

Covid has changed a lot. I had loved having lunch from time to time with Mom and her table-mates, catching up with them, and hearing their stories. Not being able to visit face to face has been a real blow. Matt and Karie made visiting easier by refinishing the bottom floor deck, buying chairs and an umbrella, and making a lovely space for residents and their loved ones.
During Covid, Matt and Karie used the isolation time to paint, replace flooring, and update the home. Things are returning to normal bit by bit. There was a patio bar-b-que this Fourth of July, 2021. It was a Sunday and I was surprised that Matt and Katie showed up with their girls to attend and lead the sing along.

I miss regular lunch visits and the ability to visit with other residents and the staff. My hope is that soon Covid will be under enough control that it will be easy again to visit again freely.
The Mazerik family and the Carmelo Park staff have found a way to make a living by creating as much of a home as possible for their residents. I truly can't imagine a better place for my mom. – Stephanie Flaniken  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐