Brookdale Gardens at Westlake

Pros

• The staff at Brookdale Gardens is consistently described as friendly, caring, and accommodating, making residents feel welcomed and valued.
• Many families express gratitude for the attentive care their loved ones receive, noting that the aides and nurses create a warm, supportive environment.
• Residents appreciate the variety of activities available, including daily events and opportunities to form clubs, which help keep them engaged and active.
• Families highlight the clean facilities and well-maintained grounds, enhancing the overall comfort of living in the community.
• The dining service receives positive feedback for offering balanced meals with good variety, ensuring residents enjoy their dining experiences.

Cons

• The community is understaffed, leading to inadequate care for residents and cleanliness issues.
• There is a high turnover rate of staff, causing inconsistency in care and services provided.
• Residents often experience long wait times for assistance, with some waiting over 35 minutes for staff response.
• The facility has run out of food during the second sitting, indicating poor management of supplies.
• Residents have reported that activities are limited, creating a lack of engagement opportunities.
• Some reviewers found the environment to be dark and gloomy, negatively impacting their overall impression of the community.
• There have been delays in service, contributing to frustration among residents and their families.
• Management has been criticized for poor oversight and mismanagement of the facility's operations.

Review

Brookdale Gardens at Westlake is a community that has garnered mixed reviews from families and residents alike, reflecting diverse experiences regarding care, staffing, and overall satisfaction. Many families initially chose this facility due to its reputation, location, and positive past experiences with other Brookdale locations. However, as families settled into the community, the feedback highlighted significant issues along with commendable aspects of the staff and services provided.

One recurring theme in the reviews is staffing concerns. While some residents praised the friendliness of the permanent staff—with ratings often ranging around a solid four—agency staff received lower marks averaging around three. Families reported experiencing understaffing issues leading to inadequate care for residents, long wait times for assistance (often exceeding 35 minutes), and an overall high turnover among staff members. These factors have raised red flags for many families considering Brookdale as a suitable long-term solution for their loved ones.

Despite these challenges, there are numerous heartening accounts of individual staff members who went above and beyond in their roles. Reviews consistently mention caring and compassionate employees such as Kim and Rebecca, whose attentiveness helped new residents adapt to their new environment. Positive interactions between staff and residents were cited as critical in easing the anxiety associated with moving into assisted living facilities. A variety of dining options available were also highlighted positively by several reviewers; many enjoyed balanced meals albeit sometimes repetitive in nature.

The community's atmosphere seems generally warm and welcoming based on resident feedback. Many noted how inclusivity prevailed among both staff and fellow residents. There were mentions of daily planned activities that helped keep residents engaged. Activities ranged from bingo nights to exercise sessions and entertainers visiting regularly—a feature that added life to day-to-day routines within the facility. For some families, this vibrant community spirit was seen as a crucial factor in their decision-making process when selecting Brookdale Gardens for their loved ones.

Nevertheless, there remains criticism about cleanliness and maintenance within the facility itself—some described it as being "not very clean" or noted a decline over time under current management compared to previous ownerships. Issues like running out of food during meal sittings also contributed to an overall perception that quality control needed improvement on various fronts.

In summary, while Brookdale Gardens at Westlake stands out positively thanks to certain dedicated staff members who provide genuine care for residents during challenging transitions into assisted living environments, significant operational issues persist that cannot be overlooked. Families have expressed gratitude toward specific team members but voiced concerns regarding staffing reliability, cleanliness standards, communication lapses, activity limitations due to ongoing COVID restrictions affecting operations even post-pandemic conditions.

Ultimately, prospective family members must weigh these varied perspectives seriously when making decisions about care for loved ones at Brookdale Gardens or similar communities. Recommendations appear mixed: while some would advocate for others based on particular positive experiences with dedicated employees—others urge exploring additional alternatives until considerable improvements are made concerning staffing stability and general upkeep at this increasingly scrutinized facility.

Westlake, Ohio is a vibrant and convenient area for seniors looking for a peaceful yet active lifestyle. With a variety of dining options such as the Dover Gardens Tavern, Bonefish Grill, and The Cheesecake Factory nearby, residents can enjoy delicious meals without having to travel far. In terms of healthcare, there are several pharmacies and physicians within a short distance, including Bay Dental Offices and North Shore Gastroenterology & Endoscopy Center. For entertainment, Regal Crocker Park & Imax theater offers the latest movies while Starbucks cafes provide a cozy spot to relax with a cup of coffee. Additionally, the city offers easy access to nature with parks like Bohlken Park and Rocky River Reservation nearby for outdoor activities. With hospitals like St John Medical Center and Cleveland Clinic - Avon Hospital in close proximity, residents can also feel secure knowing medical care is readily available. Overall, Westlake provides an ideal balance of amenities for seniors looking to enjoy their retirement years in a welcoming community.

Restaurants

• Dover Gardens Tavern (0.2 miles)
• Bonefish Grill (1.2 miles)
• Blue Sushi Sake Grill (1.2 miles)
• The Cheesecake Factory (1.2 miles)
• Yard House (1.2 miles)
• Another Broken Egg Cafe (1.3 miles)
• Crocker Park (1.3 miles)

Pharmacies

• Discount Drug Mart (0.3 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.2 miles)
• Market District Supermarket (1.4 miles)
• Walgreens (1.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.7 miles)
• Cleveland Clinic - Richard E. Jacobs Health Center (2.8 miles)
• Walgreens (3.2 miles)

Physicians

• Bay Dental Offices (0.9 miles)
• Fairview Ob Gyn Associates Crocker (1.2 miles)
• North; Shore Gastroenterology & Endoscopy Center (1.5 miles)
• Premier Physicians (1.6 miles)
• Orthopedic Associates Westlake (1.8 miles)
• Westshore Primary Care (4.9 miles)

Theaters

• Regal Crocker Park & Imax (1.3 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.3 miles)
• Starbucks (1.4 miles)
• Starbucks (3.3 miles)
• Starbucks (3.4 miles)
• Starbucks (4.1 miles)
• Panera Bread (4.5 miles)
• Starbucks (6.7 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Barnabas (2.1 miles)
• Jehovah's Witnesses (2.4 miles)
• St Joseph Church-Avon Lake (5.9 miles)

Hospitals

• St John Medical Center (2.2 miles)
• Cleveland Clinic - Avon Hospital (2.8 miles)
• Cleveland Clinic - Fairview Hospital (5.5 miles)
• CCF Fairview Hospital (5.5 miles)

Parks

• Tri-City Park (3 miles)
• Bohlken Park (4 miles)
• Bain Park (4.1 miles)
• Rocky River Reservation (4.7 miles)
• Metroparks Rocky River Reservation North (5.2 miles)
• Loraine County Metro Park (5.3 miles)
• Niagara Park (5.7 miles)

Transportation

• Cleveland Rental Car Center (5.5 miles)
• National Car Rental (5.6 miles)
• Hertz Rent A Car (5.6 miles)
• Concourse B (5.9 miles)
• American Airlines Ticket Counter (6 miles)
• Concourse C (6 miles)
• United Airlines Ticket Counter (6 miles)