Brookdale Salina Fairdale

It was a wonderful experience. I would say that the care was incredible and the admission process was such a comforting experience during a very stressful time that I actually cried in relief to know there was place my step-dad would be cared for as though he was their family. They asked about who he was to cater to his personality and life experience as well as his diagnosis. I couldn't be happier with the level of compassion shown from staff. Communication was excellent. I was always made aware when any changes occurred and taken care of with questions that I had. They were personable and seemed great at making a quick connection with my step-dad. Often I'd see his ornery smile when he was interacting with staff.

My mothers possessions were moved in and she spent a few hours a day for 2-3 days at the Fairdale, location in Salina, Ks. We were trying to let her get used to a new place. She has dementia. She never spent one night there. After 3 days we are shocked to learn that Fairdales' administration had not completed the paper work required for Mom to be there. So was she ever truly a resident? However, rather than focusing on the paperwork as their issue, the RN became rude and my mothers sundowning behavior, cursing and trying to leave the facility, became the issue. Mind you, they evaluate each person before accepting them to the facility. Moms primary RN did not even know Mom was there on one of the days. Another day it was verbalized that they thought my mothers prior caregiver would be staying the day to help with her. After some discussion with the manager and primary RN, the RN voiced the decision that Mom wasn't appropriate for the facility and would have to leave.. The RN was quite nasty and the manager made few comments. In an attempt to get reassurance that the facility would be able to give Mom good care, I feel like the primary RN and manager were not pleased with their interactions with me, and that was a part of why mother was asked to leave. No I was not happy when they raised the cost of her care, a large amount, because she was sundowning. So in the end we paid to move Mom in and then out, and approx. $2000 was kept by the facility. There district manager did return my phone call but at that point it was a done deal. Be aware that several families told us that they were paying for private duty aides to come in and care for their family, that is in addition to what they pay Brookdale. Both Salina facilities could use cheerier decor, but we really liked the floor plan of both of them. Cost wise they were about the same as other Salina assissted livings. No doubt now, it just wasn't the right place for Mom.

Nice, clean atmosphere. As for prompt service, there is none. RARELY checks on our family member that is paying dearly to stay there... When worker told family they would leave door open and would check often, we found door shut and no one had been in there....even after a fall that no one was there for...again. No one seems to be able to update the family on anything without us having to ask several times, and then staff acts as if we're harassing them. There are very clearly not enough workers to keep up. Wait time to get in/out of building is crazy. From what I have witnessed, my loved one is not treated by staff as someone that is loved, someone that has experienced love and pain and marriage and war and children and grandchildren and so on....my loved one is treated like a chore that is thrown to the bottom of the list and ignored. Guess it's just business?????

I like this community for the good care for my dad. The staff is always keeping me updated on his progress. He is active but both of my parents are here and like that they are offered activities. We would recommend this community to other families for good care and the good value.