Assisted Living Facilities

Brookdale Salem

3.8/5.00 - based on 46 reviews
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 stars
3/5.00 Published 9 months ago

"Great Start, But Falls Short for Dementia Care"

It’s not that I wouldn’t recommend them, but people need to know they can’t provide 24/7 care as promised. We paid extra for it. They started well and were reasonably priced, but as my mother’s dementia progressed, they couldn’t handle her. Instead of being honest, they made excuses like being short-staffed. We even caught them using two diapers on her to avoid checking on her often. Probably better for more independent residents.

4/5.00 Published 1 year ago

"Great community but meals need improvement; feels like home"

I definitely recommend this place, but they could improve the meals. We chose this community because it felt more like home than the others.

3/5.00 Published 1 year ago

"Mixed Feelings About Assisted Living Facility"

We got caught up in some changes in management, and it seems to have been going on for a while. We're not sure about the meals and dining situation because Mom is in the Memory Care Unit and can't give feedback. So, we haven't tried the food ourselves. As for activities, since Mom is in Memory Care, we haven't seen any activities that seem helpful to her. We do appreciate that they're there for us, though. However, we're not sure if the amount we pay (especially since we just got a letter about a price increase) matches up with the care Mom gets.

2/5.00 Published 1 year ago

"Unhappy with Assisted Living Facility’s Care and Cleanliness"

My family member’s clothes and bedding haven’t been cleaned for over a month. I had to change the bedding myself last time I visited. The room and bathroom were also dirty for over a month until I asked the maintenance person to clean the bathroom just before we left. The call bell is often ignored, and most times, the residents stop trying to use it. Nobody seems to check on my family member regularly. There’s also a lot of new staff coming and going. The rent was raised shortly after we moved in. Overall, it’s been a really poor experience, and sadly, we’re considering moving again.

1/5.00 Published 1 year ago

"Understaffed, Misleading Administration, Unresponsive to Residents Poor Living Environment"

This place doesn't have enough workers. The people in charge aren't truthful with the residents. They don't care about what the residents want or need. It's not a good place to live.

4/5.00 Published 1 year ago

"Health decline beyond care capacity at Brookdale"

We gave Brookdale 2 stars for care quality because our loved one's health declined too much for assisted living. Brookdale shouldn't have accepted her. We are moving her to a different place.

4/5.00 Published 2 years ago

"Care improving with more staff"

I visit my mom often to check on her care. It's getting better with more staff.

3/5.00 Published 2 years ago

"Mixed Experience at Assisted Living Facility"

I thought the salesperson didn't explain things well. He was friendly, but I had to call him for information. The initial price changed for the first two months. However, things improved afterward. The staff is very kind, and my loved one receives good care.

3/5.00 Published 3 years ago

"Mixed Experience: Great Care, Communication Lacks, Good Facilities, Slow Administration"

Brookdale is a pretty place. It's mostly clean, but we had a problem with hot water. The people who help residents are amazing. However, the administration has issues. At first, they told us things that weren't true. They follow the contract strictly, so read it carefully. Sometimes they do things without telling the family. They seem to prioritize billing insurance over involving families. I disagree with this approach. They're improving communication now that we're more involved. The caregivers are fantastic, though. No one mistreats residents. Brookdale needs to keep families better informed. The food is really good. There are good things and bad things. It's tough on families always having to push for information, and dealing with administration is slow and frustrating.

4/5.00 Published 3 years ago

"Pushy Staff at Brookdale Salem"

Brookdale Salem looks nice, but the staff felt too pushy.

4/5.00 Published 3 years ago

"Another Community Better Suited for Our Loved One"

Our family visited in person, and the tour was great. The lady was very nice. However, another community could better meet our loved one's care needs.

3/5.00 Published 3 years ago

"Limited Services and High Costs"

I believe they should clearly state that transportation is available only on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The doctor visits infrequently, so you don't see them often. Additionally, their in-house pharmacy is quite pricey.

5/5.00 Published 6 years ago

"Beautiful facility and informative tour"

Great tour—the staff took the time to answer all my questions. The facility is also beautiful.

4/5.00 Published 6 years ago

"Lovely Setting, Friendly Staff, Decent Food - Overall Satisfied"

This place is really nice, with pretty surroundings and friendly staff who are easy to talk to. They made my visit enjoyable! I felt sure that moving here would be a good decision. The only little issue was the food. It was alright, but nothing super special, which seems to be normal for big places like this.

3/5.00 Published 6 years ago

"Fingers Crossed for Improvements Here"

During the beginning of my Aunt's time here, there were a lot of issues. It felt like I had to constantly remind the workers to do things like take out the trash or give her a bath. I was about to switch her to a different place, but the boss lady asked me to give them a second shot. It seems like things might be looking up now. The people who work and live here are nice. But, the nurses just aren't doing their jobs right. I wouldn't tell other families to put their loved ones here based on what's happened so far.

5/5.00 Published 7 years ago

"A Tour for Mom"

We toured this place for my mom. The rooms weren’t what we wanted because the restrooms didn’t have sinks. The staff was friendly and the place was clean. They seemed very attentive. They also have a nice menu. Even though they didn’t have the room we wanted for my mom, we would recommend this place for other families to check out for their loved ones.

4/5.00 Published 7 years ago

"Positive Tour!"

I had a great experience during my tour of this community. The staff were all friendly and provided lots of helpful information about everything they offer. The floor plan was nice, and there were plenty of amenities for the residents. Unfortunately, it just wasn't the right fit in the end.

5/5.00 Published 7 years ago

"Perfect Place for My Mother Safe, Clean, and Caring"

My mother’s move to this community has been fantastic. Everything is going smoothly, and I’m really happy with what they’ve done for us. She’s safe and getting excellent care. The staff here are great, and the place is always clean. Her room and the whole community look nice and tidy whenever I visit. Overall, everything is going really well, and I would definitely recommend it.

4/5.00 Published 7 years ago

"Positive Experience at Brookdale Salem"

My family member is doing great at Brookdale Salem. The staff is friendly, but they need more help because they're short-staffed. Overall, my aunt loves being there.

5/5.00 Published 8 years ago

"Absolutely love it here!"

They have been so great to me and my brother. He enjoys the activities because they keep him busy. The food is awesome, and if I could, I'd eat here all the time. The place is always clean. I love it here and I'm very happy.

4.5/5.00 Published 8 years ago

"We Love It!"

The staff at this place has been amazing with my loved one. We genuinely appreciate the friendly and attentive staff, as well as the consistently clean and neat community. I would definitely recommend them to others.

1/5.00 Published 8 years ago

"Left Hanging at Facility with No Info or Tour, Disappointed"

When we got to the facility, Noah wasn't there and we were told he wasn't even in town. The woman at the desk tried to get Erin to help us but Erin didn't even talk to us. Instead, she left us with the receptionist, who seemed really sorry about it all. She was super nice and even called around for us, only to find out there weren't any open spots in the memory care section. We ended up leaving without even getting a tour or any information. It was totally disappointing. I'm only giving this place one star because I can't give it zero starts on here.

5/5.00 Published 8 years ago

"My Mother-in-Law Is Thriving in This Great Assisted Living"

My mother-in-law is doing great here. Everything has been working out really well for her. I'm happy with all they've done for us. The place looks nice and clean, and both her room and the community are kept up well. The staff is friendly and caring. There are activities she can join whenever she's ready. I feel confident that she’s being well taken care of. Overall, this is a great community, and I’d definitely recommend it.

5/5.00 Published 8 years ago

"Great Tour, Friendly Staff, Clean Place"

Our tour of this place was great. They treated us really well. The community looks awesome and is very clean. The staff was nice and friendly. They answered all my questions and gave us lots of info. It was a good experience.

2.5/5.00 Published 8 years ago

"Mom's Adjusting to Care, Staff Good at Clean Facility"

My mom's still getting used to life at this community. I can tell she's safe though. They're definitely taking good care of her. The place is kept clean and they've got a bunch of activities ready for the people who live there. The food's okay. I just wish there were more residents she could really connect with. A lot of them are dealing with serious dementia, and my mom isn't. But this is a solid community with a really good team.

4/5.00 Published 8 years ago

"Peaceful Assisted Living with Friendly Staff and Tasty Meals"

My grandma's here and it's been good. Rooms for budgets. Nice, caring staff who talk well. Grandma enjoys the food. I suggest this place.

4/5.00 Published 8 years ago

"Doubts at first, BUT exceeding expectations now"

My dad just moved in there a few weeks ago, and the people taking care of him have been really great. I was worried because some other reviews said they didn't follow through, but from what I've seen, the managers and staff are really eager to help and fix any problems I have. Dad says it's like staying in a nice hotel with really good service. The food people are still figuring out some things about what to serve and when to serve it, but they're always ready to make him something he likes. The cleaning could be a bit better, but overall, the place is pretty clean.

5/5.00 Published 8 years ago

"Great Community: Clean, Caring, and Fun Activities!"

My mother is adjusting really well, and I've had a great experience. The community is clean and nice. The staff are friendly, caring, and attentive to residents. The food is good too. Since moving in, Mom has gone bowling and is looking forward to other activities. I would definitely recommend this community because it's a lovely and clean place.

1/5.00 Published 9 years ago

"Disappointing Experience with Brookdale's Unmet Promises"

We've had a disappointing run with Brookdale. It seems like the staff don't talk to each other at all, and it affects the care they provide. When they showed us around, everything looked fantastic, but they failed to deliver on those promises. I'm really starting to wonder if we're actually getting the extra services that we're shelling out for. If you're searching for a place for your family member, you might want to consider other options.

4/5.00 Published 9 years ago

"A Proactive Staff"

I felt they were really quick to help when we had an emergency. Within an hour of my first call, they were accommodating. They understood our situation well and kept me informed.

5/5.00 Published 9 years ago

"A Wonderful Community"

Brookdale Salem is a great place. It's very clean. The food is really good, and they have two meal choices. The residents are friendly, and the staff is nice. This is a wonderful community.

1/5.00 Published 9 years ago

"Unflattering Review for Emeritus Still Missing In Action"

Last Saturday, I gave Emeritus at Ridgewood Gardens a really bad review. Even after saying they'd put it up in 1-2 days, my review still isn't here. I was just being honest about how terrible this place really is. I would tell anyone not to send their loved ones here unless things get massively better. You're putting folks at risk if they live here, like others have found out, and some worse than that. My own relative lived here for less than a year before we saw the real deal. Yeah, Emeritus might look all shiny and fancy, but don't let that trick you. Let's see if this review, or the old one, ever shows up.

3/5.00 Published 10 years ago

"Assessment of Local Assisted Living Facility: Nice but Imperfect"

The staff are nice and the facility is near home. The living spaces are small studio apartments and the place often smells like pee. They do have a welcoming entrance area, though. There is a big, round staircase in the main lobby - it kind of scares me because the residents could trip and fall. It seems like the staff don't know all the residents' names. It was my fourth option due to its location, but the cost is pretty fair.

3.5/5.00 Published 10 years ago

"Assisted living facility shows improvement after rocky start"

Our experience at Emeritus has been positive. The facility looks nice and is well maintained. The care staff we've met have all been wonderful. However, when we first moved our loved one in, the management staff had some organization issues. They weren't prepared on her move-in date. But after the first week, things got much better and have been fine since.

5/5.00 Published 10 years ago

"Nice, clean, and helpful staff"

The place was really nice, clean, and looked great inside and out. Gaylen was super helpful on the phone before our visit and with my husband and me during the visit. She was friendly, knew a lot, and was very helpful. We're definitely thinking about choosing this place if we can afford it.

4.5/5.00 Published 10 years ago

"Great Care and Friendly Staff"

I really like this place. The staff is helpful and the layout is nice. My brother, who has dementia and a brain injury, gets great care here. They keep me updated on everything, which is really reassuring.

3/5.00 Published 11 years ago

" Lack of Care and Attention"

They stopped caring, so I pulled my mom from their place. I asked them over and over for two and a half months to take away a piece of equipment she didn't need or use, but when we left, it was still there. I requested that my mom's doctors revisit her need for Lasix medicine. They claimed they'd be giving her Lasix, but when I checked her medicine list, it wasn't included. Besides the super fast visit from the doctor, trying to get them to do anything else was like pulling teeth. I'm not sure if the doctor or anyone else even noticed her because they should've seen that she was swelling. Considering how much we paid, it just wasn't right for them to serve hot dogs and hamburgers for dinner several times because the kitchen was closed. My brother and I once visited when they were cleaning the carpets. This would've been fine if they'd done it after dinner so it'd be dry by morning, instead of making the residents eat sandwiches in their rooms for dinner, which really ticked me off.

3/5.00 Published 11 years ago

"Emeritus Assisted Living - Poor Management and Negligence"

The situation at this assisted living facility is deteriorating. A recurring problem is staff turnover, especially nursing assistants who provide the bulk of the care. It's difficult to find good ones. I don’t mean to be harsh, but there seems to be an issue at this Emeritus, as they constantly change directors. Luckily, the nursing director remains constant, serving as the backbone of the operation. Unfortunately, food service staff are no longer present and the waitstaff that used to make extra cash are also gone, evidence of the downward spiral. My relative was hospitalized multiple times, yet every return visit is mishandled. They remove necessary aids to prevent her fall, claiming she needs a physician's order (which is already in place), inevitably leading to more falls. This Emeritus may be atypical, but reduced cafeteria hours suggest they are having financial trouble. Response times of 40 minutes are not uncommon, negligence that risks her health because they have no knowledge of whether she needs medicine or if she fell and fractured her hip. Mismanagement is evident. Getting results requires knowing where to apply pressure, rather than random haphazard actions. Yes, some staff are pleasant, but friendliness is irrelevant when you hold someone's welfare in your hands.

Brookdale Salem

Address
2001 Ridgewood Drive
Salem, VA - 24153

Website

Email

Telephone
(540) 387-4945

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