Brookdale Dickinson Avenue
Anonymous
"Great care and friendly staff at Brookdale Dickinson Avenue"
My loved one lives at Brookdale Dickinson Avenue, and things are going really well. I visit every day, and most of the staff know me and are very friendly. They do a great job taking care of my loved one. The food looks good and there are lots of choices.
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Joyce
"Questionable hygiene and care, hidden fees at this terrible facility."
After the paperwork gets signed, it seems like their kindness suddenly disappears. My poor dad only stayed there for a few days, during which he lost a lot of weight, about 12 lbs. It took us so long, a whole hour, to get him nice and clean because his behind was painfully caked with feces. He was thirsty from dehydration and his clothes were dirty and foul-smelling. His teeth weren't even brushed. They had promised fun activities, yet they just leave their residents sitting in wheelchairs in the hallway or let them aimlessly wander. Adding insult to injury, they even charged us extra fees after saying everything we needed was already covered. No way would I ever put even a dog in that nightmarish place. It's a terrible facility!
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Anonymous
"Disappointing Experience: Brookdale Assisted Living Facility Review"
They answer questions well but don't follow through. My husband stayed for a month, only showered twice. The drain had feces, even after I showed the RN a picture. Little interaction, price increased unexpectedly. They sat my husband in front of the TV, often found him almost falling out of his chair. Wouldn't recommend Brookdale due to poor conditions.
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DM
"Disappointing Experience: Assisted Living Facility Falls Short on Promises"
I wouldn't recommend this place. They were nice, but they didn't do what they said they would. I was told they had activities to help with thinking, but they didn't. I was worried about my relative being active, but they didn't help with that either. When he arrived, he could walk, but when he left, he couldn't. They always had him in a wheelchair and didn't try to help him walk. They didn't give him the machine he needed either. He fell a lot, and sometimes they didn't even tell me. He had trouble eating, but they didn't provide the special tools he needed. They moved him during a water break and lost his clothes and supplies. I talked to them a lot before he moved in, and they said they could meet all his needs, but they didn't.
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O.L.
"Great Place, But Too Expensive"
I visited Brookdale Dickinson Avenue and had a good time. The campus and staff were both really nice. We picked another place because Brookdale was a bit too pricey.
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Joyce
"Basic Care Overlooked and Extra Charges at Brookdale Facility"
When our family member was at Brookdale, his personal care was ignored. His nails were never trimmed, facial hair was left unshaved, and he only got showers twice. No one there helped him or encouraged him to keep moving, even to do simple things like picking up cups or utensils. He couldn't even lift his water cup when we visited. It seemed like he'd forgotten how to use his hands. He was also very dehydrated. The basic care he required was overlooked. This place tried to charge us for every little thing, adding levels of care that didn't seem necessary. We felt tricked.
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Tanya W
"Assisted Living Falls Short on Respect and Experience"
My family member stayed here for two weeks, but they couldn't meet his needs. The cost increased after he moved in, so we had to take him out. Sometimes, the staff isn't respectful. Unfortunately, my father didn't have the full experience; he was essentially pushed out.
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Anonymous
"Brackets"
My husband went here during the pandemic, but I couldn't visit inside. I phoned every day because I couldn't see him, but we never got any word from Brookdale. Each time I talked to him, he expressed his dislike for the facility and wanted to come back home. He wasn't allowed to see his doctor, and they started administering meds that made him sleepy. They sent him to the hospital several times without proper clothing and told the hospital they wouldn't accept him back. I was never informed about this. Brookdale faced a shortage of staff due to the pandemic, and they overmedicated my husband as a result. Wouldn't advise anyone to choose Brookdale Dickinson Avenue.' : 'Brookdale's Poor Communication and Overmedication: A Negative Review
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Funny Girl
"Mixed Feelings About Assisted Living Facility"
The staff is really nice and caring towards residents, but there aren't enough of them. This place needs some improvements considering its cost. The call bell system is old and has been broken at least twice recently. Mealtime is chaotic and sometimes takes up to 45 minutes for food to arrive. However, the activities provided are fun and varied, and everyone enjoys them.
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Anonymous
"Mixed feelings: caring staff, issues with staffing and food quality."
This place has nice folks who really care, but sometimes there aren't enough of them around. Mom has to wait too long for help sometimes. Most of the staff tries hard to be nice to everyone, though. The food here isn't great. They don't always serve what they say they will. Once, they said it'd be beef and potatoes, but it ended up being soup and a sandwich. Lots of people here complain about the food being bad. They've talked to the bosses about it, but it doesn't seem to get better. This place is clean and well-kept. It doesn't smell bad like some other places do. Mom likes that they do her laundry twice a week. It's a small place with fewer than fifty people, so it feels cozy. Mom's room has a pretty view and the outside is nice too, with flowers and birds. I wish they would tell us about events better. There was a dinner for Thanksgiving, but they never told me about it. I also wish they would do what they say they will without taking so long. For how much they charge, I want more for my money. Overall, I think this is the best place for Mom right now. I'd tell others about it too.
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Anonymous
"Friendly, Clean, and Family-Centric Assisted Living"
The person who showed us around this place was nice. Everything looked neat, and they have fun things to do. We picked a community close to our family.
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Anonymous
"Decent facilities, friendly staff, but no available openings for admission."
The place seemed good when we went there. The person showing us around was friendly. But they didn't have any space when we wanted to join.
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Anonymous
"Good food, clean, friendly staff, recommend this place"
The food is good and they have fun activities. The place is clean and they clean my loved one’s room every day. The staff are friendly and supportive. I would recommend this community.
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Anonymous
"Disheartening Experience in Assisted Living Facility; Needs Substantial Improvement"
Writing this review took me some time because the experience was so distressing I found it hard to discuss. I actually had to scrap what I was penning several times. When first arriving, there is no proper introduction such as when to shower, laundry schedules and where to sit at meal times. For instance, my mom mistakenly sat in a regular resident's chair during her first meal and it caused an unnecessary scene. A $2500 upfront payment is demanded for activities, which are mainly bingo. The daily activities are displayed at the front desk, which was problematic for my dad who has Parkinson’s. It wasn't until I protested that an activities schedule was placed in their room. Communication is completely overlooked in this place, between residents, management, and staff. The memory care unit is a financial drain. After one week, my mom had noticeable injuries from being inappropriately handled by a certain staff member. I quickly realized that seeking legal help was futile unless my mom had severe injuries. Even though state investigations were done, not many inhabitants or their families file complaints due to fear of backlash. The memory care unit itself is in dire need of a makeover. The outdoor area is puny with not nearly enough area to move about. The entertainment facilities are lacking, with only a tiny screen serving as a TV and computer. If a resident wants to play a game, no one else can watch TV. Accordingly, the staff lacks proper training in dealing with dementia patients. The assistance staff can offer is not proportional to the fee charged. As my dad's disease advanced, our bill increased but there was no improvement in the care he received. Consequently, I had to withdraw my parents from the facility. Their fees for the following month were supposed to be a whopping $13,000 without any extra staff or services added. The only conclusion I could reach was that the money was not being used effectively. The staff were overworked and underpaid despite their dedication to their work. The meal times were another disappointment. The food director was never present to interact with the residents or get their feedback on meals. My parents' deteriorating health meant that I had no choice but to move them back home until we could find them a better place. I can confidently assert that this facility is a letdown. My mother has since moved to a proper Memory Care facility. The best piece of advice I can give to someone looking for an ideal place is to connect with the relatives of people already in the facility to get a realistic idea of what to expect.
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