Brookdale

This has not been an easy time for Brookdale Overlook. Earlier this year, the director at the facility was arrested on drug conspiracy charges -- not at all related to Brookdale, but it meant her removal, and the organization has been struggling with that change. In addition, nursing staff turnover has been high. The options with regard to medical care and getting physical therapy at Brookdale have been difficult for my loved one to navigate. Outreach to me as a family member has been spotty. On the plus side, the facility is clean, seems to be well maintained, and the people are kind and they are trying to do well by the residents.

Some very good people there. Like all elderly care facilities I have seen they are short staffed so the timeliness of responses is not always what you'd like it to be. Definitely some good folks there though. That said we complimented moms care there with 24/7 caregivers of our own choosing. Expensive but necessary.

The staff in Clare Bridge memory care is excellent , especially [name removed]! No feedback or communication from staff regarding follow up reports from doctors or front office is absolutely terrible ! Food is mediocre.

The good, the caregivers in the memory care unit are very good. The bad is with 18 residents they need 3 caregivers and 1 med tech. Occasionally they will have 1 caregiver and 1 med tech.

Scheduled service has been spotty. Some times they don’t show up. The food service could be better. At times we don’t get what we ordered or it’s cold. The staff is very friendly and helpful. They will take good back and nuke it if cold. But it’s not the same.

The people were very nice. It was a safe place for my father. I liked that it is all one floor. He was bored. Activities were not well planned. Bright paint and carpet would go a long way to making it sunnier. For me, it was also a trek because of traffic and because it's not an area I frequent. I think with some changes, it has potential.

There is a lack of communication.

My mom unfortunately had COVID when she moved. They accepted her but she had to be confined to her room. That was fine, but they forgot to deliver some meals the ones they did were not great. Once she got out of quarantine she was able to go to the dining room and that was much better. There have also been a few times where there were delays in med refills, but I was able to call the nurse director and get it taken care of. The facility is clean and safe, the people are caring and helpful, just short staffed. The activities are good and the transportation to medical appointments is great.

Communication is not great, constant turnover, and I get the run around a lot when trying to talk to upper management. The care team that actually work with the residents are most really nice and good people. They do their best to make the residents comfortable and engaged.

The employee turnover is very high. The layout of the assisted living side is welcoming. The phones are not answered regularly at night or on weekends. The memory care has no current memory care activities to keep the brain engaged. The memory care unit has nothing stimulating to the eye. The rooms are only cleaned once a week, and honestly, I don't think it is even being done that often. Communication amongst the staff is very poor. They are not staffed well enough to meet all the needs of the residents. Memory Care residents do not have emergency buttons in their rooms or on their persons, unlike the assisted living side. Ensure meal replacements are available to all residents at all times, but it doesn't appear that the residents or their families are aware. I feel the cost is very high for what we are receiving.

The room Mom was put in was to have the carpet cleaned, that was not done. Got charged for days in May when she was not even there. She moved in on [date removed]. The place smells like urine. The laundry system is a joke. Those gals there are very friendly but way to many patients to staff ratio. I go up 5 days a week and try to help with Moms care to help them out. They are a great team but are being stretched too far. Some of the activities they are trying to have them do is way advanced for them. 300 piece puzzles? playing Monopoly? Sorry for the rant but I believe in being open , honest and fair. Mom seems to be doing good, but there is room for improvement.

Weekend service and food needs improvement. She pays to be escorted because of the wheelchair and elevator. Sometimes she has to wait 20 or more minutes. I can see 10 but not 20 or more. If that is the case I don't think she should necessarily pay for escort but that's my opinion. That's a long time to sit alone at the table being 91. Her shower is even with the rest of the bathroom. It leaks onto the floor. She moved in [date removed] and supposedly a lip for it is still on order? I have checked but that is the response I'm getting. It is nice there but they have received a lot of new residents so they just need to adjust some things

The place is clean, quiet and serene. They are smaller, all on one level which is good. The staff is friendly. However, The nursing staff are in unpredictable on timing, they show up "whenever" and are slow to responding to falls. the Dr there mis-prescribed meds to my mother. They started giving her a med that she didn't need and also had an adverse effect. We had to order the meds to stop be dispensed. Ask for a call from the doc several times, never called. We think the nurse dispensed another resident's med to my mom.

Yes, I would recommend this community to other families based on the experience so far.

Better initially but went down after that. Get everything in writing and keep tabs on financial matters. Don't just put your love one in there and always make unannounced visits. Sit and observe at different times of the day.

I'm very disappointed in the cleaning of this facility. The carpets are always dirty and have bits of trash on them. The carpets also have many nasty stains and what looks like white paint on them in lots of places and a lot of it. The staff is usually friendly but not always. The activities are so-so, sometimes good and often not that great. The food is often pretty good but sometimes awful with no good choices.

he adm staff was very helpful and friendly. I do not know about quality of care. Most of patients had memory issues and were able to walk around and go to food by themselves

I'm very pleased with Brookdale. The only complaint I could have is they sometimes mixed her clothes up with other residents but if that's the worst thing happening I can't complain. Pricey and increases in January are a bit much originally $[removed] and then increased to $[removed]. Hence funds are being used up quick

The facility is undergoing changes and short on staff. Some changes impact continuity of care. The cost of care is more expensive than most facilities. The facility is in need of updating. The only reason we have stayed is they are the only one that accepts Lewy body dementia and one of the few that is actually age in place. Many say they are but this is not true as we have found.

They are friendly. The courtyard is nice. [name removed] has found nice friends. Better food would be good. A thousand dollars a month to hand her pills twice a day is excessive.