In the heart of San Fernando Valley right off of Ventura Boulevard sits The Gardens of Tarzana, a sky-blue building accented by white trim. The veranda is lined with benches and a variety of plants and trees that creates a calm and welcoming atmosphere. This warmth continues through the interior, augmented by décor that is redolent of an upscale hotel. Soft music weaves around the high-class furnishings in the lobby and along the floral carpet. The reception area carries an Edenic quality: multiple plants and flowers are interspersed between an aquarium and birdcages complete with chirping “residents.” Guests are escorted into the adjacent reception room, which has a sofa and candles atop the coffee table. Throughout the facility, light streams in through numerous windows. Some residents’ rooms have windows that look onto the outdoor courtyard, while others afford views of a quiet street. The wood furnishings provided are exceptionally well made and handsome; however, most rooms are unfurnished, allowing residents to personalize them. Residents can request their room be painted in a color of their choosing before moving in. The focal point of the dining room is its large windows. A light green color winds its way through the room—and fully envelopes the tablecloths. Six meal choices, a salad bar and fourteen alternative items ensure residents are spoilt for options. The first-floor activity room is quite large and sports a fireplace, big-screen TV and a 24-hour bar with coffee, tea and snacks. Large gatherings such as meetings or live entertainment are held in this room. A smaller activity room on the second floor is mainly used for card games as it houses numerous poker tables and comfortable chairs. The room also doubles as a private dining space for residents and their families. An exercise room houses treadmills and stationary bikes. The enclosed outdoor courtyard sports white and blue lawn furniture that echoes the building’s exterior.A professional-looking newsletter helps residents keep track of the facility’s goings-on, including the activity schedule, family support groups and birthday announcements. Active residents enjoy the facility’s scheduled nature walks and exercise classes. Bingo, poker and blackjack keep the competitive set wheeling and dealing. Live music shows and movies are the main forms of entertainment. During our tour, we noted the general sense of friendliness. Residents were seen chatting with one another in almost every corner. We even saw a member of the management giving a resident and family a hug in greeting. The familial atmosphere was only reiterated when we learned that the marketing director was responsible for many of the tasteful décor choices—everyone seems to pitch in here to make this facility run so well. As we toured, we overheard two residents speaking to each other about how The Gardens at Tarzana was recently featured in a local newspaper article; both were excited and proud of this fact.
