Piedmont Gardens: A Comprehensive Review

Piedmont Gardens is a nonprofit continuing care retirement community (CCRC) operated by HumanGood at 110 41st Street in Oakland. The 3-acre gated campus includes landscaped gardens and offers independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing.

• Services offered
  • Independent living
  • Assisted living
  • Memory care
  • Skilled nursing care
• Amenities and features
  • Residence features
• Daily activities and lifestyle
  • Physical wellness
  • Mental stimulation
  • Social engagement
• Resident testimonials
  • Positive experiences
  • Areas for improvement
• Pricing information
• Comparison with similar facilities in Oakland
• Leadership and staff
• Summary

Services offered

Independent living

• Private apartments with no maintenance responsibilities
• Studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and penthouse floor plans
• Active lifestyle with access to higher levels of care if needed
• Community amenities designed for independent seniors
• Priority access to assisted living or skilled nursing when the time comes

Assisted living

• Help with daily activities as needed
• Medication management
• Private apartments with homelike features
• Staff available 24 hours
• Care plans tailored to individual needs

Memory care

• Specialized care for residents with Alzheimer's and other dementias
• Secure environment designed for memory support
• Staff trained in dementia care
• Structured daily routines and memory-focused activities
• Person-centered approach to care

Skilled nursing care

• 24-hour nursing care for complex medical needs
• Rehabilitation services after hospitalization
• Long-term care for chronic conditions
• Physical, occupational, and speech therapy
• Support for diabetes, respiratory, and cardiac conditions

Amenities and features

Category

Available amenities

Community spaces

Game room, dining room, library, art studio, landscaped gardens

Wellness facilities

Fitness center, wellness center, rehabilitation facilities

Convenience services

Wi-Fi, guest parking, beauty salon and barbershop

Dining options

Restaurant-style dining room, casual garden cafe, special diets accommodated

Outdoor areas

Rooftop garden, walking paths, landscaped grounds

Residence features

• Studios, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and penthouse options
• Full kitchens or kitchenettes depending on unit type
• Modern fixtures and finishes
• Large windows with views of the city and surrounding hills
• Emergency call systems in each unit
• Individual temperature control
• Kaiser Foundation Hospital is 0.4 miles away and Alta Bates Summit Medical Center is 0.7 miles away. In total, 33 hospitals are within 25 miles.

The community is strategically located near multiple healthcare facilities, with Kaiser Foundation Hospital (0.4 miles away) and Alta Bates Summit Medical Center (0.7 miles away) being the closest. In total, there are 33 hospitals within 25 miles of Piedmont Gardens.

Daily activities and lifestyle

Piedmont Gardens offers activities for physical, mental, and social engagement:

Physical wellness

• Tai chi classes
• Yoga
• Fitness programs
• Walking club
• Exercise classes for different ability levels

Mental stimulation

• Educational lectures
• Book clubs
• Discussion groups
• Writing groups
• Computer classes
• Brain fitness programs

Social engagement

• Cultural programs
• Social events and gatherings
• Birthday celebrations
• Musical performances
• Art classes
• Clubs and committees
• Community service opportunities

The neighborhood has many restaurants within walking distance, so residents can stay connected to the broader community.

Resident testimonials

Piedmont Gardens has mixed reviews. It has a 4.0 out of 5 stars rating based on 79 reviews on one platform and ranks as the #1 "Most Loved" community in Oakland with a 9.8/10 score on Family Assets. On Caring.com, it has a 3.6 out of 5 rating based on 20 reviews.

Positive experiences

"Piedmont Gardens is a very nice community with nice people. It's in a place where there are a lot of restaurants. I can push her in the wheelchair now, but we used to be able to walk to restaurants and shopping. It's a lovely community. The food is good." – Patricia, family member

"I cannot say enough good things about the support we have received from the Piedmont Gardens team members and other residents." – Resident testimonial

"The staff gave a good tour. The dining area looked nice. I went into the rooms and saw a library, beauty salon, and gym. Everything was organized and set up well for residents." – April, visitor

Areas for improvement

A family member of a resident who stayed for four years said: "The experience we had with Piedmont Gardens was incredibly challenging. I feel that Piedmont Gardens did not treat my mother as part of their community due to her behaviors caused by Alzheimer's." – Breslin, family member

Pricing information

Monthly fees and entrance fees vary by accommodation and care level:

Accommodation type

Monthly fee

Entrance fee

Alcove studio

$4,440

$131,527

One-bedroom

$4,896

$148,463

Two-bedroom

$7,160

$248,373

Two-bedroom penthouse

$10,288

$523,718

Memory care (studio)

$10,731

Varies

Assisted living (one-bedroom)

$9,887

Varies

Average monthly costs range from $5,272 to $8,695 depending on care level and unit size. For context, assisted living in Oakland averages $6,319 per month, compared to $5,250 statewide and $4,500 nationally. Piedmont Gardens is in the premium range for the area.

Additional care services may increase costs. Financial assistance options include:

• Veterans benefits
• Long-term care insurance
• Reverse mortgage options

Comparison with similar facilities in Oakland

How Piedmont Gardens compares to other senior living communities in the area:

Facility

Care types

Starting price

Review score

Notable features

Piedmont Gardens

Independent, assisted, memory care, skilled nursing

$4,440/month

9.8/10

Nonprofit, benevolent care support

Cardinal Point CCRC

Independent, assisted, memory care, nursing home

$3,300/month

9.9/10

Waterfront location, mental wellness programs

Merrill Gardens at Rockridge

Independent, assisted, memory care

$5,100/month

9.8/10

Anytime dining program, modern design

Coterie Cathedral Hill

Independent, assisted, memory care

$10,500/month

9.8/10

Luxury amenities, city views

The Heritage Downtown

Independent, assisted living

Not available

10/10

Downtown location, award-winning dining

Piedmont Gardens stands out for:

• Nonprofit status with potential for benevolent care
• Full continuum of care from independent living to skilled nursing
• Three-acre gated campus with landscaped gardens
• Established reputation in the community
• Close to Kaiser Foundation Hospital and Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
• Located in a neighborhood with restaurants and shops within walking distance

Pricing is competitive compared to premium options like Coterie Cathedral Hill but higher than some alternatives like Cardinal Point CCRC.

Leadership and staff

The community is managed by:

• Daniel Wittman, Executive Director
• Alice Bravo, Director of Sales
• Reena Gonzales, Director of Resident Services
• Zinnia Miravalles Koch, Director of Wellness and Assisted Living

Residents and families have praised the "great nursing staff and physical therapists" and noted appreciation for admitting staff member Georgia Upshaw, described as "kind and upbeat."

Summary

Piedmont Gardens is a nonprofit CCRC offering independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing on a 3-acre gated campus near Kaiser Foundation Hospital. The community has a strong overall rating and offers a full continuum of care.

Resident experiences vary. While many praise the amenities and staff, some families have reported challenges with memory care services.

Families considering Piedmont Gardens should schedule a tour to see if the community meets their needs. The facility offers a range of accommodation types and care levels at premium pricing for the Oakland area.