Brookdale Maltsberger

1. Overall experience-GREAT!! The director, [name removed] is an absolute angel! The day I met her, she had come in on a weekend just to check on the residents to play bingo with them on her day off. And that is consistently how she is in caring for them and their families. She gave me her personal cell phone number for anytime that I had an issue and always responded promptly and in the most compassionate and caring way! And [name removed] , the head nurse is the other angel of that facility. She very personally cares and is a fantastic geriatric nurse! They both go far above the call of duty and treat the residents like their own family. 2. Cleanliness-This is a Modern new building done very beautifully with very much an at home feel. This place smelled clean and nothing like a geriatric residential home or nursing home. Their dining hall had lovely aroma a fresh cooked food every day and not the horrible smell of mass produced food. The common areas were all always very clean and organized and well decorated. They did have some staffing shortage in the last few months of Mom's life last year. A few times I found my mom with the same clothes on from the previous day so she had never been put in a nightgown or helped with getting dressed for the next day. A few times during those last few months, I found food on the floor from the previous days breakfast on days that I was not able to go the day before and was there before the current days breakfast. (Maple syrup spilled from an uneaten tray, etc). When I brought this to [name removed] attention, she personally went and got a mop and cleaned the mess up herself. She apologized and said that corporate Brookdale had cut back on their staff and last year was a tough time to get staff anyway in my own business experience. So I felt supported by the management and I think it is always important anywhere for family to show up randomly and being involved regularly. 4. Quality of care overall good. Again in the last few months, they were shortstaffed and Mom's hygiene suffered when I was out of town. I came in to find her hair in dreads and it took several hours to work that out. I notified [name removed] who as I mentioned had limited resources. She tried to keep an eye out, but it did happen a couple more times. I didn't feel that that was a dealbreaker because mom didn't care and she could be difficult and allowing someone to come her hair even when it was me who she generally was very compliant with when I asked her to do anything. But Alzheimer's can be a tricky thing to work around, and ultimately they loved her and spoiled her so that was a concession I was willing to live with. 5. Meals/Dining-my mom moved from a facility in the Houston area where she had lost weight and had no interest in eating because the food was not good and smelled like mass produced cafeteria nursing home food. This facility cooked fresh meals and I sample them myself before I took my mom there. It had home-cooked taste and I was very happy with it. They also spoiled their residence and making special meals for them if they don't like whatever is cooked for everyone. my mom would ask for tea and coffee and they all knew that she had to have five sugars and she liked cream in her coffee. She also loves tomato soup and they kept it on hand just for her again. It was only during those shortstaffed times that I would find her trays in her room where I specifically said I did not want her to eat & they were cold & uneaten. When I let [name removed] and [name removed] know, they started checking on her and that didn't happen anymore. 6. Activities-they were great with activities. as I said, [name removed] would come out on her days off to play bingo with residents and create other fun things for them to do. They had parties more than any of the rest of us do-Always on every holiday and for birthdays, and sometimes even for no reason at all just for fun. They had an activity room with books and puzzles and other fun things. The center of the building is an open air atrium that some of the ladies did gardening and they were birdfeeders and fountains and a beautiful path completely closed in so it was safe for my mom to go in and out as she pleased. They were always wonderful to encourage everyone to participate and made significant effort to enlist my mom and activities as I requested. I always threw a big birthday party for my mother and it was very cute that some of the resident who also had to mention thought it was their birthday too and we just let them enjoy that. 7. Value for Cost-elder care is incredibly expensive and was a huge cost for me as I had no other family to help. This facility not unlike others was expensive but certainly worth it! And they actually gave me a bit of a price break and accommodated quite a lot for what I paid. The size of the facility is a huge part of the very personal care that we received there and I knew that was what my mother wanted so I made it work. The value was definitely much greater than anything else that I looked at in the city and after experiencing their care Was even more valuable to me! I would absolutely recommend this facility to anyone who is looking for a place for their loved one! As long as [name removed] and [name removed] are there, I absolutely highly recommend this place. I looked at other Brookdale facilities and they did not even come close to matching the quality of this one. They were not bad, but this is the best! That is partly because it is a new and beautiful place, but most importantly because the two ladies who run the place, that do that very difficult job with their heart and soul and it absolutely shows! I am a business owner, and I am also a nurse. So from my professional perspective, I would love to have employees like [name removed] and [name removed] . From a nursing perspective, I visited over 15 facilities, ate a meal & talked to residents & families at each one, & interviewed staff from caring & medical perspectives. I also as an ER nurse have seen MANY nursing home residents as my patients. That is what terrified me when I realize that my mother needed more care. The majority of facilities are incredibly neglectful. There are only a handful that I have seen, loved and cared for geriatric residents. Brookdale Maltsberger is a diamond in a sea of nightmares by majority in my observation across the nation (as a travel nurse). I made a very good decision in choosing this wonderful place upon your fantastic recommendation. From my personal perspective, I am also blessed with these two lovely people in my life beyond the amazing care they gave to my mother. I will forever be grateful to [name removed] & [name removed] and to all the staff who so lovingly cared for my mother! This is a home for very loved family members that are treated as their own!

The staff at Brookdale Maltsberger is proactive in reaching out about things we may want to know and great at making recommendations.

It is very pleasant and fulfilling to love here. I have made good friends and the staff is very nice.

I believe that Brookdale Maltsberger is one of the finest establishments that I have had the pleasure of living at. The employee are fantastic.

Brookdale is a pleasant place to live. Friendly people. Curious people and a fine community to live in. The community has great entertainment with nice outdoor view.

It's a really good community. The nurses are very good here. I love that my room has close access to activities.

The community is good to live at the rooms are oaky and spacious. The workers are very nice and pretty.

I love Brookdale and the people that work here are very nice. The community overall is very nice and they try to go out of their way to help you.

When we would into Brookdale the managers and staff where very welcoming, and open there are to my son and I. Before we signed the papers we did pro's and con's on our question and tour of the facility. We came up with no con's.

It is pleasant enough, most residents seemed happy enough. The staff was kind and took an interest in mom. The room itself was poorly maintained. Flimsy door frame and the floor in bathroom was crumbling up near the wall. Counter surfaces, were never dusted or cleaned. They tried, but they were just always so short staffed!

The meals and dining and activities are hard to judge since my dad wasn't able to eat much or take part in activities. I don't remember the monthly rate, but it was cheaper than comparable home care. I found staff responsive, professional, and empathetic. Building, room, and grounds were pleasant and inviting.

Brookdale is very open to communicating with family. They are very attentive to the residents. Activities director keeps the residents involved. Mom has adjusted well with her move in.

These ratings apply to the experience of my 102 year-old-mother. This facility is perfect for her and she is content and well cared for. The wonderful staff, the small size of the facility, and the excellent way it is maintained are the things I like most.

From my first tour 8 months ago, to today, I have nothing but praise for this facility and all the wonderful folks that keep my 102 year-old mother comfortable, safe, and happy which became impossible for me to do at home. It is small, meticullously maintained, and the staff is caring.

I've lived here for four years and have enjoyed it as my second home. I consider the staff as my friends and have several residents as good friends.

Brookdale Maltsberger is a welcoming community with an efficient nd loving staff of professionals. Even after 6 years, we are very happy knowing that mom is in a safe and comfortable environment surrounded by caring people who treat her like family

We picked this community, because it was close to family. Staff is friendly. Facilities are very clean. Excellent attention to caring for residents needs. She calls it home! It took a few days to adapt, but now she loves the staff and the activities. I would recommend to other families. I feel their loved one will be well taken care of and will make it their home.

I could not be more pleased with Brookdale Maltsberger. My mother is 101 years of age and the smaller size is perfect for my mom's comfort and safety. It is well maintained and the staff are kind and attentive to her. I go to visit my mom everyday and I have never seen as much as a piece of paper on the floor. The facility is very well maintained and I have never smelled any unpleasant odors. All of the staff are outgoing and friendly from the moment I walk in the door, volunteering to give me an update on mom as time allows and always ready to answer any questions I might ask. I cannot complement enough all the staff at Brookdale Maltsberger for the care being given to my mom, nor ask for more. As I said everyone there is kind and attentive while maintaining a high degree of professionalism. She and all the residents are checked on regularly, her medications are given according to instruction and her personal needs are met very well. Any questions I have are answered promptly. Mom is also receiving hospice care and the Brookdale staff coordinates very well with the hospice workers. Brookdale Maltsberger did not advertise "5 star meals/buffets" like some of the other facilities I considered, but that was fine with my mom and the family. Such elegant fare had become hard for her to tolerate. That said, all the meals I have seen look appetizing, are varied, well balanced, well-prepared, and reportedly very tasty! Mom consistently says she enjoys her meals. The staff is also very accommodating about delivering meals to the residents' rooms if they are unable or uninterested in going to the dining room for any particular meal. Although my mom does not participate in many of the activities offered, she is always asked to join the other residents when they are happening. The activities director is wonderful and has a great sense of what Brookdale Maltsberger's residents will enjoy. She works very hard to make that happen for them and is always open to requests and new ideas. There is no getting around the fact that assisted living with personal care is expensive. I looked at 4 good facilities all within similar price ranges. I found the size, combination of services and overall population at Brookdale Maltsberger to be the best for mom and the care, compassion, socialization, safety, nutrition and overall environment for her and peace of mind for our family to be of great value to us and worth the cost.