Ernest P. Barka Assisted Living in Brentwood, NH

Ernest P. Barka Assisted Living is an assisted living community in Brentwood, NH.

Information last verified:

117 North Road, Brentwood, NH 03833

For more information about senior living options: (866) 208-4318

4 from 37 reviews
5 stars
22
4 stars
5
3 stars
3
2 stars
1
1 stars
6

Overall Review of Ernest P. Barka Assisted Living

differentiator 4 reviews mention this

Hospice and nursing care continuity

Families describe easier transitions when higher-level nursing is needed.

Several reviews mention hospice care happening in the same setting, with residents and families feeling that the support stayed consistent as needs changed. One family also highlights a way to move into a nursing area within the same complex when specialized nursing is needed, without a disruptive transfer. Another review points to hospice rooms as part of ongoing improvements, and one family describes strong end-of-life care while a loved one was receiving hospice services. Residents also appear well-positioned for medical follow-through, including mention of Portsmouth Hospital after a loved one’s passing.

common 26 reviews mention this

Staff compassion and dignity

Residents and families consistently describe staff who treat people with dignity and compassion.

Across many reviews, families praise staff for showing compassion, respect, and dignity, including care delivered across different shifts. Multiple reviewers say the team supports not just residents but also family members through clear communication, comfort during visits, and responsiveness to questions. A few reviews also include specific examples such as medication help, assistance with concerns, and staff members taking time to help residents remain comfortable. While some negative feedback mentions care not being adequate in specific situations, the most repeated theme overall is that staff are caring and attentive.

common 5 reviews mention this

Activities feel part of daily life

Residents describe activities that help them stay engaged.

Reviews mention scheduled activities and regular social time, with highlights like bingo, bowling setups, and music sessions. One family describes the day-to-day experience as planned enough that they could even share photos of meals and a daily list of activities. Another review notes Halloween decorations brought by a scout troop, and that visit experience also references the community gathering spaces. Several families say the assisted living setting supports more activity and social connection than a previous arrangement.

common 7 reviews mention this

Clean, updated spaces (with mixed notes)

Many reviewers appreciate cleanliness and room updates, even though condition varies.

Several reviews describe the building as clean and well organized, with one family calling out an updated, bright assisted living environment. Other reviewers point to improvements like a redone rehab floor and renovations across the facility, along with pleasant common areas to sit and visit. Some feedback is more mixed, noting older or run-down areas and occasional issues such as smells, dirty bathrooms, or less comfortable common spaces. Overall, cleanliness and upkeep appear to be a meaningful strength, with exceptions raised in a few reviews.

caveat 6 reviews mention this

Food quality is divisive

Food reviews range from good to unappealing or lacking nutrition.

Some reviewers report that food is good and that it worked well for their loved one, including comments that it was good for the facility’s size. Others are much less satisfied, describing meals as unappetizing, lacking nutritional value, or very salty, including one review calling the food “godawful.” A family also mentions that food on the assisted living side was connected to a contracted provider and still didn’t motivate their loved one to eat. Even when care is praised overall, these dining concerns show up as a recurring point of disappointment.

caveat 2 reviews mention this

Staffing concerns and safety risks

A couple of reviews raise concerns about staffing and resident safety.

One review says the facility no longer has enough staff to keep the environment feeling safe, specifically citing fall-risk residents not being watched closely enough. Another negative review references staffing problems severe enough that part of the building was shut down and implies that this affected care availability. These concerns stand apart from the many positive accounts of staff attentiveness, but they are direct, safety-focused criticisms in the reviews.

How we summarize

Counts show how many written reviews mention each theme; a review can touch several themes, and only frequently mentioned themes become a section.

Features

Housing

  • 49 resident community capacity 49 resident community capacity

Types of Care

  • Assisted Living Assisted Living
  • Skilled Nursing Facility Skilled Nursing Facility

Amenities

  • Beauty salon Beauty salon
  • Cable or satellite TV Cable or satellite TV
  • Dining room Dining room
  • Fully furnished Fully furnished
  • Garden Garden
  • Housekeeping services Housekeeping services
  • Kitchenette Kitchenette
  • Move-in coordination Move-in coordination
  • Outdoor space Outdoor space
  • Telephone Telephone
  • Wi-Fi/high-speed internet available Wi-Fi/high-speed internet available

Transportation

  • Manchester (20 miles away) Manchester (20 miles away)

Care Services

  • 24-hour call system 24-hour call system
  • 24-hour supervision 24-hour supervision
  • Activities of daily living assistance Activities of daily living assistance
  • Assistance with bathing Assistance with bathing
  • Assistance with dressing Assistance with dressing
  • Assistance with transfers Assistance with transfers
  • Coordination with health care providers Coordination with health care providers
  • Diabetes diet Diabetes diet
  • Meal preparation and service Meal preparation and service
  • Medication management Medication management
  • Mental wellness program Mental wellness program
  • Special dietary restrictions Special dietary restrictions
  • Transportation arrangement (medical) Transportation arrangement (medical)
  • Transportation to doctors appointments Transportation to doctors appointments

Dining

  • Diabetes diet Diabetes diet
  • Special dietary restrictions Special dietary restrictions

Activities

  • Community-sponsored activities Community-sponsored activities
  • Scheduled daily activities Scheduled daily activities

Nearby Places of Interest

Pharmacies

  • Walmart Pharmacy (1.3 miles)
  • Walgreens (1.7 miles)
  • Hannaford Food and Drug (5.8 miles)
  • Hannaford Pharmacy (5.8 miles)
  • Walgreens (5.9 miles)
  • Rite Aid (5.9 miles)
  • Walgreens (6 miles)

Restaurants

  • Burger King (1.3 miles)
  • Orient Pearl (2.2 miles)
  • Memories Ice Cream (4.6 miles)
  • Tuckaway Tavern and Butchery (5.9 miles)
  • Thirsty Moose Taphouse (6.1 miles)
  • McDonald's (6.4 miles)
  • Chipotle Mexican Grill (6.6 miles)

Places of Worship

  • St Joseph's Church (3.1 miles)
  • St George's Episcopal Church (10.6 miles)

Physicians

  • Rockingham Vna & Hospice (4.5 miles)
  • Exeter Hospital (4.5 miles)
  • Sleep Institute of New England (4.7 miles)
  • Klunk John MD - Elliot Primary Care-Raymond (5.9 miles)
  • Exeter Pediatric Associates (6.2 miles)
  • Core Gen Surgery And V (6.3 miles)
  • Core Cardiology (6.3 miles)

Cafes

  • Me & Ollie's (5.8 miles)
  • Starbucks (6.7 miles)
  • Horseshoe Cafe (7.3 miles)
  • Honey Dew Donuts (9.9 miles)
  • The Works Café (10.5 miles)
  • The Juice Box (11.3 miles)
  • Aroma Joe's (11.9 miles)

Hospitals

  • Exeter Hospital (11.8 miles)
  • Anna Jaques Hospital Billing (12.8 miles)
  • Portsmouth Regional Hospital (13.2 miles)

Transportation

  • C&J Bus Lines (12 miles)
  • Portsmouth International Airport at Pease (PSM) (12.6 miles)
  • Pease Planesense Air Force Hangar (12.8 miles)
  • Port City Air (12.9 miles)
  • C & J Bus Lines (13 miles)

Parks

  • Amesbury Town Park (12.3 miles)

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Ernest P. Barka Assisted Living?

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