Brookhaven at Lexington

Pros

• Brookhaven is a lovely community and the staff is wonderful.
• Brookhaven does a wonderful job integrating the larger community into their programs.
• Brookhaven at Lexington is very nice and regarded as the best place among those visited.
• This is a top-of-the-line retirement facility; there is no other like it anywhere.
• The amenities at this life care retirement community are simply outstanding.
• The facilities include exercise rooms and a 25-yard heated pool.
• The buildings are nice and well maintained.
• There are a lot of wellness programs available on site, and also a heated indoor pool and whirlpool along with trainers for exercise.

Cons

• The elevator nearest a resident's apartment has been broken for over a year, and Brookhaven's CEO demonstrates a complete lack of urgency in fixing it.
• Brookhaven's administration is negligent, with reports that they do not return phone calls.
• Brookhaven does not coordinate between its finance and sales offices, causing delays and confusion for prospective residents and their families.
• Brookhaven will not allow family members to visit on behalf of residents or use FaceTime to communicate with them.
• Brookhaven has not been kind to aging parents and makes it difficult to obtain information or get questions answered.
• The waitlist at Brookhaven is very long, implying limited access and long waits for residency.
• Brookhaven is expensive, with some reviewers feeling the cost does not justify the value.
• Brookhaven may be great for those needing nursing care but is not well suited for more independent residents.

Review

Brookhaven at Lexington sits in the landscape of Massachusetts CCRCs as a striking option, renowned for its size, amenities, and the sense that life inside could be a continuous care dream. Yet the array of experiences shared by those who visited, toured, or lived there reveals a broad spectrum. Some visitors come away with the impression of a premier, almost model community, while others leave with serious questions about accessibility, administration, and day-to-day responsiveness. Taken together, the feedback paints a picture of a place that can offer exceptional resources and a vibrant senior ecosystem, but that also presents real challenges for some families, especially around cost, communication, and maintenance.

From the outset, the tour experience itself varied. One family noted that Brookhaven offered only group tours and presented a single small apartment view, while competing CCRCs showed multiple apartment configurations for prospective residents. They also described the waitlist as sizable, though not as long as some other communities they encountered. The impression left by Brookhaven's administrative staff was mixed in that account: it felt almost officious, suggesting a confidence born of demand. Ultimately, that family chose another community and reported being very happy with that decision, illustrating how first impressions and perceived responsiveness can shape long-term sentiment, even when a place is financially capable of choosing more restrictive marketing approaches.

But Brookhaven's appeal isn't limited to those with reservations about the process. A different voice labeled Brookhaven "Great service," praising the amenities as outstanding and noting a long-standing involvement as a Brookhaven volunteer. This reviewer has recommended Brookhaven to clients whose homes they've sold, insisting that many would love calling Brookhaven their new home. Their message was a strong nudge to Lexington seniors to consider placing their names on the waitlist sooner rather than later, given the long wait to gain entry. The tone here is unabashedly enthusiastic: Brookhaven's physical scale, program breadth, and on-site resources are presented as a compelling advantage for those who can afford the time and the cost.

Not all feedback aligns with the idea of an unassailable luxury. A different portfolio of reviews raised concerns about administration, pointing to negligent tendencies in some aspects of Brookhaven's operations. One reviewer, while acknowledging that Brookhaven is a lovely community with wonderful staff, criticized the administration as negligent. The most concrete example cited was an elevator that had been broken for over a year, which raised questions about maintenance priorities and the potential impact on residents - especially those who may be less mobile and rely on reliable accessibility. The implication was clear: when maintenance becomes long-running, it can erode the trust that a senior and their family place in a community that promises safety and ease of living.

Communication challenges also featured in several accounts. Families described difficulty with back-and-forth coordination between the finance and sales offices, with paperwork sometimes taking much longer than expected and information not reaching the right people in a timely fashion. One parent-facing note emphasized that Brookhaven would not allow a family member to visit on behalf of the residents to facilitate communication, including basic FaceTime capabilities. These details matter deeply to aging residents and their families, who value transparent, responsive processes and the ability to stay connected with loved ones during a major life transition.

Even as some reviews voiced serious concerns, other accounts celebrated Brookhaven for its vitality and sense of community. The sentiment that Brookhaven is an active, happy community of seniors recurs in multiple voices, with praise for on-site programs, lectures, movies, small libraries, and multiple dining options. Several reviewers highlighted the on-site opportunities for socialization and engagement, noting that the campus fosters a sense of belonging and connection that is not always easy to find elsewhere. Some families also spoke to Brookhaven's ability to deliver personalized, compassionate care within a Lifecare framework, where independence can be preserved even as more intensive support is available nearby if needed.

Beyond the core facility, respondents offered a mosaic of testimonies about particular experiences with staff and residents. A number of comments focused on the intimate, day-to-day warmth: grandmothers and mothers who felt understood and well cared for, staff who were described as patient and attentive, and a sense that the grounds, culinary offerings, and indoor amenities were well-kept and appealing. In one particularly vivid portrait, a resident's family described the living experience as deeply satisfying, with the ability to maintain independence in a sophisticated setting, praising the staff's familiarity with residents' names and personal histories, and noting the quality of the food and the variety of activities as strong positives.

Price and prestige inevitably surface in these narratives as well. Several reviewers acknowledged that Brookhaven is expensive and large in scale, with many expressing a willingness to pay for what feels like a comprehensive, high-end environment and an integrated health program. Yet for some, the cost was a meaningful constraint that tempered any otherwise glowing impressions, underscoring a recurring truth in the life plan community market: exceptional amenities and a broad continuum of care come with a price tag that not everyone can justify or afford. For those who can, the sense of security and lifestyle that Brookhaven offers can be compelling; for others, it can feel out of reach.

In the wider forum of opinion, Brookhaven's strengths are repeatedly framed against its weaknesses. Several entries argue that it remains a strong option for those who anticipate needing extended care in the future, particularly given its cohesive ecosystem - housing options, on-site nursing, and a continuous care philosophy. Others emphasize the practical realities of aging in place, including mobility considerations within a sprawling campus, the navigation of vast facilities, and the need for responsive, timely service. The recurring theme is that Brookhaven is a high-caliber community with much to offer, but it demands careful due diligence: assess your pace, your budget, your preferred level of independence, and your comfort with administrative processes and long-term maintenance commitments before deciding.

Ultimately, the collective voice around Brookhaven at Lexington is a mosaic rather than a single verdict. For some families and individuals, it represents a premier destination that delivers on luxury, engagement, and comprehensive care; for others, it raises important red flags about accessibility, communication, and the sustainability of maintenance. That duality is not unusual in the world of CCRCs, but it does underscore a crucial takeaway: the right fit depends on aligning expectations with dollars, pace, and the specific ways a community demonstrates attentiveness to residents' daily lives. Brookhaven's balance of extraordinary amenities and mixed administrative experiences invites prospective residents to weigh risk and reward carefully, visit thoroughly, and listen closely to the cadence of both praise and critique before committing.

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)