Brookdale Gardens at Westlake

Brookdale Gardens at Westlake is a community that has garnered mixed reviews from families and residents alike, reflecting diverse experiences regarding care, staffing, and overall satisfaction. Many families initially chose this facility due to its reputation, location, and positive past experiences with other Brookdale locations. However, as families settled into the community, the feedback highlighted significant issues along with commendable aspects of the staff and services provided. One recurring theme in the reviews is staffing concerns. While some residents praised the friendliness of the permanent staff—with ratings often ranging around a solid four—agency staff received lower marks averaging around three. Families reported experiencing understaffing issues leading to inadequate care for residents, long wait times for assistance (often exceeding 35 minutes), and an overall high turnover among staff members. These factors have raised red flags for many families considering Brookdale as a suitable long-term solution for their loved ones. Despite these challenges, there are numerous heartening accounts of individual staff members who went above and beyond in their roles. Reviews consistently mention caring and compassionate employees such as Kim and Rebecca, whose attentiveness helped new residents adapt to their new environment. Positive interactions between staff and residents were cited as critical in easing the anxiety associated with moving into assisted living facilities. A variety of dining options available were also highlighted positively by several reviewers; many enjoyed balanced meals albeit sometimes repetitive in nature. The community's atmosphere seems generally warm and welcoming based on resident feedback. Many noted how inclusivity prevailed among both staff and fellow residents. There were mentions of daily planned activities that helped keep residents engaged. Activities ranged from bingo nights to exercise sessions and entertainers visiting regularly—a feature that added life to day-to-day routines within the facility. For some families, this vibrant community spirit was seen as a crucial factor in their decision-making process when selecting Brookdale Gardens for their loved ones. Nevertheless, there remains criticism about cleanliness and maintenance within the facility itself—some described it as being "not very clean" or noted a decline over time under current management compared to previous ownerships. Issues like running out of food during meal sittings also contributed to an overall perception that quality control needed improvement on various fronts. In summary, while Brookdale Gardens at Westlake stands out positively thanks to certain dedicated staff members who provide genuine care for residents during challenging transitions into assisted living environments, significant operational issues persist that cannot be overlooked. Families have expressed gratitude toward specific team members but voiced concerns regarding staffing reliability, cleanliness standards, communication lapses, activity limitations due to ongoing COVID restrictions affecting operations even post-pandemic conditions. Ultimately, prospective family members must weigh these varied perspectives seriously when making decisions about care for loved ones at Brookdale Gardens or similar communities. Recommendations appear mixed: while some would advocate for others based on particular positive experiences with dedicated employees—others urge exploring additional alternatives until considerable improvements are made concerning staffing stability and general upkeep at this increasingly scrutinized facility.