North Glendale Assisted Living in Glendale, AZ

Pros

• Brookdale North Glendale is clean and beautifully decorated.
• The caregivers are amazing and treat residents like their own family.
• There is a lot of interaction and activities to keep residents active and happy.
• Sylvia Leatherberry went out of her way to ensure the facility met her relative's needs.
• The staff get to know each resident and truly meet their individual needs.
• The atmosphere is homey and inviting, with a peaceful atrium.
• The team at Brookdale North Glendale is described as the most awesome, caring, and loving people.
• Tarah Miller is upbeat, positive, and connects well with residents.
• Mary Rogers, the director of fun, creates engaging activities that bring joy to residents.
• The care staff provide exceptional, loving care and daily affection.

Cons

• It isn't senior living; it's suffering.
• The grandmother's 2nd-degree burns prove it.
• The grandmother was handed soup so hot it left her with second-degree burns through her jeans.
• Brookdale served soup at unsafe temperatures and left it unmonitored.
• The staff left her sitting in burning jeans, never acknowledging her agony, never notifying the family, and never filing an incident report.
• For more than 16 hours, her blisters and swelling worsened while staff blamed others instead of wrapping her wounds or getting her help.
• Ambulance was called only after the family arrived and demanded it.
• She endured painful scrubbing and cleaning of her wounds because of Brookdale's negligence and inaction.
• This isn't an isolated incident; there are red flags about Brookdale that families should heed.
• New management is terrible, retaliates against employees, belittles you, and tells blatant lies to get you out the door.
• If you love your family member, do not put them here; neglect by the nursing staff is cited as the cause for a grandfather's death.
• A family member witnessed someone escaping from the facility, indicating safety concerns.
• The nurse did not advocate for the grandmother's best interest and failed to have patients' best interests at heart.

Review

Brookdale North Glendale Assisted Living in Glendale, AZ is best suited for families who prioritize a warm, home-like atmosphere in a small, tightly knit community where caregivers know residents well and long-tenured staff deliver personalized attention. This campus shines for residents who crave robust social programming, meaningful daily activities, and a sense of family involvement. It is particularly appealing to families evaluating memory-care options within a sheltered, engaged setting, where the rhythm of life centers on interaction, mobility, and ongoing engagement. The upside is a facility that feels less clinical and more homelike, with staff who stay long enough to build trust and familiarity.

Those who should consider alternatives are families for whom safety accountability must be unequivocal and consistently demonstrable. Several reviews flag serious safety and care concerns, including reports of delayed response after injuries, failure to notify families promptly, and questions about leadership stability and accountability. If a resident requires tight, transparent incident reporting, strict supervision, or a consistently strong nurse leadership presence, it is prudent to compare options with a clearer track record in emergency responsiveness and organizational reliability. Additionally, prospective buyers may want to assess newer facilities or other providers if a pristine, contemporary environment is a nonnegotiable priority.

On the upside, Brookdale NG combines a compact footprint with high staff accessibility. The small size - roughly 38 residents - facilitates real connections, with staff who genuinely know each person's routine, preferences, and needs. Families repeatedly praise the sense of a "home," not a facility, and point to long-tenured caregivers who deliver continuity of care and genuine warmth. The central atrium, bright common spaces, and a capacity for lively, resident-driven programming create a positive daily atmosphere. Positive testimonials spotlight a proactive activities team, a strong director-of-fun figure, and a care team that coordinates effectively with outside providers, which can translate into meaningful quality-of-life improvements, especially for memory-care residents.

Yet the most troubling notes appear alongside the good. Allegations of unsafe food temperatures and severe, unmanaged injuries surface in some accounts, painting a troubling contrast to the otherwise affectionate care stories. Critics describe lapses in immediate medical attention and communication with families after serious events, and they report leadership shifts that foster perceived instability. Individual staff concerns - plus reports of management practices deemed retaliatory or inconsistent - underscore that experience can vary by shift and by leadership. For families weighing this option, the risk-reward calculation hinges on whether ongoing safety improvements and transparent accountability have become the current norm.

Despite the red flags, the positives can meaningfully offset the drawbacks when the resident profile matches the strengths. A family member-centered culture emerges in daily life: engaged activities, personalized attention, and caregivers who treat residents "like family" create a sense of belonging that is hard to replicate in larger campuses. The cohesion among staff, together with coordinated medical oversight from the facility's team and external partners, supports a smoother care continuum for many residents. If the resident thrives on social stimulation, enjoys structured programs, and values familiar faces who stick with the same team, Brookdale NG offers a compelling, if imperfect, alignment.

The practical takeaway is clear. For families prioritizing a warm, socially active environment with personalized care and strong caregiver relationships, Brookdale North Glendale is a solid pick, especially if the resident benefits from a memory-care oriented program within a small community. However, if safety oversight, dependable incident reporting, and consistent leadership accountability are non-negotiable, it is essential to visit, meet the leadership team, and review the current safety protocols and incident history firsthand. In the end, the fit depends on whether the resident's temperament, care needs, and family expectations align with a setting that delivers daily heartwarming care alongside a carefully examined plan for safety and accountability.

This part of Glendale, Arizona is a diverse and vibrant community that offers a variety of amenities and services within close proximity. With several medical facilities nearby such as Arrowhead Hospital, HonorHealth Medical Group, and various pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS, residents can easily access healthcare services. There are also plenty of dining options ranging from Italian cuisine at Babbo Italian Eatery to classic American fare at Heroes Pub and Grub. Places of worship such as The Church At Arrowhead and St Thomas More Parish are also within reach for those seeking spiritual support. Additionally, the area boasts several parks like Foothills Park and Thunderbird Park for outdoor recreation opportunities. The presence of theaters like AMC Arrowhead 14 provides entertainment options for residents looking to catch a movie. Overall, this neighborhood offers a convenient and well-rounded environment for senior living.

Physicians

• Arrowhead Endoscopy & Pain Management Center (0.6 miles)
• Arrowhead Hospital - Bryan Ficarra, DO (0.6 miles)
• HonorHealth Medical Group - West Union Hills - Primary Care (0.8 miles)
• SimonMed Imaging (0.8 miles)
• Kevin Turner (1.4 miles)
• Paseo Family Physicians (1.6 miles)
• Arrowhead Dermatology PC (1.9 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.5 miles)
• Walgreens (2.5 miles)
• Walgreens (2.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.5 miles)
• Albertsons Pharmacy (2.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.7 miles)

Restaurants

• Babbo Italian Eatery (1 miles)
• Heroes Pub and Grub (1.4 miles)
• Oregano's Pizza Bistro (1.4 miles)
• Arrowhead Grill (1.4 miles)
• Zipps Sports Grill (1.5 miles)
• Portillo's Hot Dogs (1.6 miles)
• Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers (1.6 miles)

Places of Worship

• The Church At Arrowhead (1.1 miles)
• St Thomas More Parish (1.1 miles)
• CCV Childrens Building (3.6 miles)
• Christ's Church of the Valley (3.6 miles)
• Phoenix Arizona Temple (3.7 miles)
• Pure Heart Christian Fellowship (4.5 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Arrowhead 14 (1.3 miles)
• Arrowhead Fountains 18 (2.4 miles)
• AMC Deer Valley 30 (5.1 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.5 miles)
• Starbucks (1.8 miles)
• Dutch Bros Coffee (2.1 miles)
• Starbucks (3.5 miles)
• Dutch Bros Coffee (3.7 miles)
• Starbucks (4.6 miles)
• Black Rock Coffee Bar (4.9 miles)

Parks

• Foothills Park (1.7 miles)
• Fletcher Heights Park (1.8 miles)
• Thunderbird Park (2.8 miles)
• Rio Vista Community Park (3.9 miles)
• Mountain Ridge Park (4.4 miles)
• Green Belt (5 miles)