Brookdale

I live at Brookdale and generally it is a good facility. The staff is wonderful. However we have been without hot water for 13 days in the East wing. It seems the old boiler leaked and needed replacement-- It was scheduled for next year. They seem to be putting the money and remodeling in flashy areas rather than the basic "underwear" of a facility. For instance they have spent many months on a back garden with a putting green and a new card room neither of which is able to be used yet but not the basic underwear of a building. We were told the boiler will be replaced by the end of the week. Well, it is here and I am still bathing from a pan I heat on the stove. Stay tuned.

Food tastes mostly like pablums pie slices are lunch at crust and down to 0 not enough servers in the restaurant. Food was excellent 4 years ago and a major reason to move in for many. Insect invasion constantly reappearing.

Do not do what they say.

Not great, not terrible, Direct care staff are good , Very communicative, attentive and kind Rooms are very pleasant, Food is tasty and well prepared but much too much sugar and fat. Management is uneven. Lots of emphasis on marketing which seems to bear little resemblance to reality. My mother fell in the shower while being attended by staff, They were apologetic, and I understand that accidents happen but we were billed for several months room rent while she was away at the hospital and at a full service nursing home for rehab and her Brookdale charges increased when she returned because she needed more services. Basically, Brookdale was not able to keep her safe and profited from their inability. I would not recommend this facility if you can find a better option.

I had high hopes when I moved my mother into Brookdale and was willing to pay a higher than average price in order to know she was well taken care of. She has been there for a few months now and at first, I was very satisfied. Last weekend, however, when I picked her up for breakfast, she (and her room) smelled very strongly of urine. The back of her jeans were wet above her depends, her sweater had major food droppings on it, and her hair was unwashed. I'm not confident that the care plan I have in place for her is being followed consistently. I have talked with management so assured me that this would be taken care. I am hopeful that is the case. For now, though, I have concerns.

The staff is very friendly. They really seem to care about the residents. However I feel that this facility is understaffed. I think that for the cost of living there some improvements could be made. The call bell system is outdated and has been “out of order” at least twice in the last few months. Mealtime also seems chaotic and at times food has taken as long as 45 minutes to be delivered. The activities that are provided are fun and full of variety. A great time is enjoyed by all.

Excellent food for “institutional care” ([name removed] is terrific) And nice folks, but...make promises to get you in, then panic when there is a problem. Inconsistent management who disagree on approach that drives decisions that become VERY COSTLY (eg will allow you to have your loved one in AL, then when they try and elope, insists you pay them additionally for 24/7 sitter care at $23/hr - so next thing you know, your paying them $8,000/mon for a room, and ANOTHER $14-16,000 for “mandated” 24/7 sitter care (or you have the “option” to leave - which we had to as $30,000/mon for “total care” is unsustainable. BUYER BEWARE

We chose Cedar Springs for the security and safety. We also like the location and dining room service and food. Mom has been living there over 2 months. Her screens on windows have not been replaced and she has many problems with ants. Also, there are problems with the activities being cancelled and staff shortages.

It is a clean place. Not much on the food choice or the activities. Pets are allowed but if you cannot care for them they charge around $500 extra to help you take care of them. This is too high, each month. They have a rent price and a cost of care price. This goes up every month. It takes a while to bring it back down and some care items are duplicated or not needed. High community fee. They give a good show to get you in then you have to fight with them every month about the care price and unnecessary items. Like a bait and switch . Only good thing is it is close and people are nice.

Over all a very nice facility. However, this week my mother-in-law, who is 91, cut her foot and needed the on duty nurse to stop the bleeding. After notifying the front desk we were told the nurse was not available because she was "in a meeting". After an inexcusably long delay the nurse was tracked down and finally showed up. She patched it up but did not clean it, leaving dried blood all over it. She said it might need a stitch so my wife spent several hours getting her mother to a critical care facility and back, only to be told no stitch was required. At least there they cleaned it up though. Apparently Brookdale considers "a meeting" more important for the nurse than her responding to a resident's injury.

There is a corporate tight-fisted approach to management that permeates the place in many ways. Some has to do with administrative slip ups too numerous to list. We found short staffing affecting quality in food delivery, maintenance calls and other areas. The place is kept tidy; many activities are lightly attended, and some were kept in place only after resident objections to cutting them. There is much to do, but much of that is outside the facility in the Hartford area.

Good enough for fairly able-bodied residents but they can not care for those requiring more care as they age, as they would imply. Wait times are long, accounting is backlogged and not accurate, and basic nursing staff can not enough change out mandatory oxygen tanks. Quality of service is not as they would make it seem.

I had the pleasure or displeasure might be a better word. I have mixed emotions about this rehab facility located at 11900 Lamar where I spent 3 weeks after back surgery. It was a bittersweet stay. Let me explain. I'll start with the night shift nursing staff. Because of my pain I was taking 15 mg of oxycodene every 4 hours and a 25 mg fentanyl patch every other day. They were amazing in that my medications were given to me withing 5 minutes of the correct time they were due. Most of the time there was no reason to ring for a nurse. Pretty much the oppossite on the day shift staff. Most of the time my medication arrived 15 minutes late, however, there wwere times when it was 30 to an hour late as I repeatedly rang for the nurse. On one ocassion after ringing every 5 minutes I got my walker after 30 minutes to seek out my nurse. I found her at the medication dispersement desk. I commented to her (I'll let her be anonymouse) "I guess I'll be seeing you in a few minutes", and her commeent to me, an exact quote, "don't count on it". I would like to know the justification for making certain you don't dare get your medication a few minuttes early but it's quite all right for them to be 30 minutes to an hour late! In clossing if you don't need medications it's okay, but if you need medication you need to figure out how to only have the night staff attend to you. I have already posted one review but as I read it I remembered something very important.

The place is clean and nice, small, only about 43 clients live there. The help is nice and go out of their way to help. They quote you a care price them make ad on afterwards based on level of care. Currently quoted at $3200 for room and $2000 for level of care. Once moved in care cost went up. Now $5400 moth which is high. Community fee is also high $2500.

I find the personnel very friendly and helpful. Their handling of drugs is disturbing. I would much rather buy my wife's prescriptions than have to go through their high priced pharmacy. There are almost continuous activities for her. One problem I find is there is no individual heat controls in the individual rooms. I think there should be more parking. There are only about 5 or 6 spaces near the front door. Other than that all the curbs are red painted -- no parking. I thing the food they service is a cut above what I expected. My wife complains about about other residents going around the halls screaming at night. Very disturbing and wakes her often.

Nice looking community, friendly staff, short staffed unfortunately, rude director, too expensive, money grabber! Unless you’re rich, find another home for your loved one

High staff turn-over in the past year (2017-2018). Loss of great staff members that really cared. Remaining staff is friendly and caring, but needs more diversity. Safety Concerns not addressed in a timely manner.

Place is clean and well maintained but constant shortage of aides is a problem if your loved one needs enhanced care. Necessary services aren’t always completed in a timely manner due to staffing issues. You pay separately for each service, which adds up fast. Apartments are nice, and this place is probably fine if the resident is relatively independent.

Place is clean and well maintained but constant shortage of aides is a problem if your loved one needs enhanced care. Necessary services aren’t always completed in a timely manner due to staffing issues. You pay separately for each service, which adds up fast. Apartments are nice, and this place is probably fine if the resident is relatively independent.

No matter how many times I've explained food preferences, there continues to be a problem meeting them. An infection was not noticed until a fall caused a trip to the hospital and then a stay at Heartland where better care could be given. Desk people were not prepared to accept monthly payments. Communication in general is a problem. Basic needs were met.