Brookhaven at Lexington

Pros

• The community at Brookhaven is lovely, and the staff is wonderful, demonstrating care for the residents.
• Residents appreciate the various activities available, such as movies, lectures, and dining options.
• The physical layout of Brookhaven is interesting and provides an engaging environment for seniors.
• Many find the cleanliness of the facility commendable and enjoy visiting their loved ones there.
• The food served at Brookhaven receives positive feedback for its quality and variety, contributing to a pleasant dining experience.
• The wellness programs available on-site, along with amenities like a heated indoor pool, enhance the quality of life for residents.
• Staff members are noted to be genuinely concerned about the residents' emotional health and well-being.

Cons

• The administration at Brookhaven is negligent and shows a complete lack of urgency regarding maintenance issues, such as the broken elevator that has been out of service for over a year.
• Communication issues are prevalent, with staff not returning phone calls and failing to coordinate between the finance office and sales office, causing frustrating delays in processing paperwork.
• Family members are not allowed to visit or communicate via technology on behalf of their aging parents, demonstrating a lack of understanding and flexibility from the staff.
• The staff has been unkind and unhelpful towards residents' families, making it difficult to obtain necessary information or assistance.
• Although other facilities have been responsive and sensitive to new residents' situations, Brookhaven's approach has left families feeling frustrated and neglected.
• There appears to be insufficient staffing, leading to residents having to push for additional help when needed, indicating possible shortcomings in resident care.
• The front desk lacks immediate attention for greeting visitors upon arrival, creating an unwelcoming atmosphere.
• The food quality is subpar, receiving only a B minus rating with limited organic options available each day.

Review

Brookhaven, a community designed for elderly living, has garnered mixed reviews from residents and their families. While many appreciate the kindness of the staff and the cleanliness of the facility, there are significant concerns regarding administrative negligence and communication breakdowns. One critical issue highlighted by multiple reviewers is the broken elevator nearest to one resident’s mother’s apartment, which had remained non-functional for over a year. This lack of urgency from Brookhaven's administration raises questions about what other maintenance issues might be ignored, particularly for aging residents who may struggle with mobility.

Families considering Brookhaven often face serious challenges in navigating the moving process. One reviewer expressed frustration over a lack of responsiveness from Brookhaven's administration; phone calls went unreturned, and there was poor coordination between the finance and sales offices. This resulted in delays that added stress to an already emotional transition for families looking to relocate parents from out of state. Compounding this issue, Brookhaven reportedly does not allow family members to visit on behalf of their loved ones or utilize technology like FaceTime to facilitate communication during this important decision-making phase.

Despite these administrative hurdles, many visitors noted commendable aspects of Brookhaven itself. The facility is praised for its inviting atmosphere, featuring various amenities such as movie nights, lectures, a small library, and multiple dining options that cater to different tastes. Visitors appreciated the physical layout of Brookhaven — described as akin to being on a large ship with long distances between areas — which contributes to an engaging community environment but may pose mobility challenges for some residents.

The quality of care available at Brookhaven varies depending on individual needs. For residents requiring assisted living services, many found it comforting that nursing care is accessible around the clock; however, some have reported staffing shortages that necessitate residents advocating more vigorously for additional help when needed. Overall, while staff members appear genuinely concerned about residents' wellbeing - including their emotional health - there seems to be room for improvement regarding staffing levels and response times.

One highlight mentioned by reviewers is the food quality; although opinions vary with some rating it positively and others pointing out limited choices and lack of organic options. A major plus noted by those who visited was how engaged older adults felt in their independent activities within the facility—gardening, crafting flowers—and being well-remembered by attentive staff members contributed greatly to positive experiences shared by families visiting loved ones.

Ultimately, while Brookhaven at Lexington boasts appealing amenities and a supportive environment conducive to senior living—even those seeking high levels of independence—families should remain cautious due to prevailing issues surrounding administrative support and effective communication practices concerning potential new residents. With so much at stake when choosing a living community for aging parents or relatives—especially one as vital as this—the overall consensus suggests that while Brookhaven possesses great potential characterized by warm staff interactions and well-maintained common areas, significant improvements must be made in its management approach if it wishes to become fully trusted among current caregivers seeking peace of mind for their loved ones.

Places of Worship

• Our Lady's Church (0.3 miles)
• St Agnes Parish-Arlington (4.1 miles)
• Parish of the Messiah (4.8 miles)
• St Paul Parish, Harvard Square (6.5 miles)
• Temple Shir Tikva (7.1 miles)

Physicians

• Lahey Lexington (0.7 miles)
• Mersi (3.4 miles)
• Fresenius Medical Care (4.3 miles)
• Laser Gentle Medical Spa (5 miles)
• Lahey Clinic Ophthalmology (5.2 miles)
• Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates (5.4 miles)
• Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates (5.5 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.8 miles)
• Walgreens (2.3 miles)
• Immunogen (2.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.7 miles)
• Walgreens (2.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.5 miles)

Restaurants

• Pizzi Farm Market & Deli (1.2 miles)
• Wendy's (2.7 miles)
• Margaritas Mexican Restaurant (2.8 miles)
• Burger King (4.2 miles)
• Revolution Hall (4.4 miles)
• The Cheesecake Factory (4.7 miles)
• Sofra Bakery & Cafe (4.8 miles)

Parks

• Prospect Hill Park (1.6 miles)
• Rindge Park (2.2 miles)
• Cat Rock Park (3.2 miles)
• Mary Cummings Park (4.8 miles)
• Grove-Cedar Bike Path (5.9 miles)
• Tufts Park (6.2 miles)
• Newton Highlands Playground (6.8 miles)

Hospitals

• McLean Hospital (2.3 miles)
• Lahey Clinic (5.1 miles)
• Mount Auburn Hospital (5.5 miles)
• Newton-Wellesley Hospital (5.7 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (4.6 miles)
• Pressed Cafe (5 miles)
• Starbucks (5.3 miles)
• Cafe Rustica (6.1 miles)
• Flour Bakery + Cafe (6.1 miles)
• Forge Baking Company (6.3 miles)
• Tatte Bakery & Cafe (6.3 miles)

Transportation

• Hanscom Field (BED) (4.7 miles)
• MBTA Riverside Station (5.4 miles)
• MBTA Davis Square Station (5.6 miles)
• Porter Square MBTA Station (5.8 miles)
• MBTA Reservoir Station (6.8 miles)
• MBTA Union Square Station (7.2 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Burlington Cinema 1 (4.7 miles)
• Cinema World Majestic 7 (5.1 miles)
• Showcase SuperLux (6.9 miles)