Brookwood Retirement Home in Media, PA

Pros

• The staff are incredibly kind and helpful.
• Their response time is impressively fast, leaving families feeling supported and informed.
• Rose Tree Place is a hidden gem in the community.
• Michael Rasmussen is a credit to Watermark and Rose Tree Place.
• The memory care program is second to none.
• The facility is clean, beautifully renovated, and well maintained.
• Residents feel at home and actively participate in engaging activities.
• The dining experience is top-notch with a diverse, nutritious menu.
• The staff go above and beyond to ensure residents' care and safety.

Cons

• The grandmother fell three times and was hospitalized each time because the staff would not answer the call button.
• There were poor excuses for not responding to the call button.
• Israel and his wife were locked out of the facility at 1am with no emergency number or any way to contact anyone.
• The facility is understaffed and not equipped to handle residents with dementia.
• The reviewer warned others not to place a loved one in the facility.
• Memory care was not available or adequate to meet the resident’s needs.

Review

Note: the reviews provided center on Rose Tree Place in Media, PA, not Brookwood Retirement Home. Those impressions set a practical expectation: this kind of community excels for families seeking a warm, socially rich environment where staff know residents by name, care feels personal, and life inside the doors is actively curated through programs, dining, and on-site services. It is a strong fit for seniors who thrive on daily engagement, meaningful connections, and a sense of belonging. For loved ones with very high acuity needs or who require consistently rapid call-button responses and round-the-clock supervision, alternatives with more specialized memory-care support may be warranted.

Across the board, the strongest positives revolve around staff vitality and resident-centric care. Families repeatedly describe staff as compassionate, approachable, and genuinely invested in each resident’s well-being. Onboarding and ongoing communication come up as standout strengths, with several families noting that caregivers and administrative leaders know their loved ones personally and keep them at the center of decisions. The memory-care track earns particular praise for tailored activities and attentive supervision, while the dining and activities departments receive frequent compliments for quality, variety, and opportunities to participate in frequent outings and events. In short, the community seems to function as a true extended family, where care is visible in everyday interactions.

Yet the record isn’t purely flawless. There are a few clearly concerning red flags that prospective residents should weigh carefully. One early report centers on delayed call-button responses led to hospitalizations, highlighting a critical risk when immediate assistance is needed for toileting and safety. Another account describes being locked out at 1 a.m. with no available emergency contact, underscoring gaps in access and contingency planning. A more pointed caution cites an eviction decision tied to dementia-related needs, suggesting there are instances where the facility may not align with a resident’s evolving acuity. Taken together, these notes signal that while the community shines in warmth and engagement, there are operational pitfalls that cannot be ignored.

Still, it’s possible to view the pros as largely outweighing the cons, provided the resident’s needs align with the facility’s capabilities. The recurring themes of personalized attention, steady staff presence, and a robust activity calendar translate into meaningful quality-of-life gains for many residents. Families repeatedly report improvements in mood, social connectedness, and overall functioning, with dedicated teams coordinating care, therapies, and even on-site medical oversight. The bright, well-maintained environment and the emphasis on meaningful experiences contribute to peace of mind for families who want their loved ones to feel valued, included, and safe within a supportive community.

To avoid misalignment during a move, prospective families should focus on targeted questions during visits. Confirm current call-system reliability and staffing coverage across shifts; request a transparent demonstration of response times and a clear escalation path for emergencies. Probe the memory-care program specifics: staff training, dementia-friendly routines, safety protocols, and how residents transition between levels of care as needs change. Talk with residents and families about day-to-day life, the dining experience, and the consistency of caregiving teams. Ask to see how tours are conducted, what the daily activity roster looks like across seasons, and how transportation for outings is managed. Concrete, data-backed assurances matter here.

Bottom line: for families prioritizing a warm, engaging, people-centric living environment with proactive communication and a broad slate of activities, Rose Tree Place in Media presents a compelling option. The community tends to produce strong, tangible benefits in mood, social connectedness, and perceived safety when care needs are well within its care continuum. However, those whose loved ones require highly reliable, rapid-response dementia care or who face recurrent safety risks in emergencies should scrutinize step-by-step safeguards and consider alternatives with a more specialized dementia focus. In the Medial area, this community stands out as a top-tier pick for many families, but due diligence remains essential to ensure the match is precise for every individual resident.

Located in Media, Pennsylvania, this neighborhood offers convenient access to a variety of amenities. With multiple pharmacies such as CVS and Walmart nearby, you can easily access medication and healthcare services. Hospitals like Riddle Hospital and Bryn Mawr Hospital are also within reach for any medical needs. There are several dining options ranging from fast-food chains like Chick-Fil-A and McDonald's to sit-down restaurants like Cracker Barrel. Enjoy the outdoors at parks like Ridley Creek State Park or Ellson Glen Park, perfect for leisurely walks or picnics. For your spiritual needs, there are places of worship like St Anastasia Rectory and Willistown United Methodist Church nearby. Transportation is also readily available with SEPTA stations and Philadelphia International Airport just a short distance away. Additionally, entertainment can be found at AMC DINE-IN Painters Crossing 9 or Regal Brandywine Town Center theaters. This vibrant community offers a mix of convenience and leisure activities for seniors looking to settle down in the area.

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (1.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (3 miles)
• GIANT Pharmacy (3.1 miles)
• Walgreens (3.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.8 miles)

Hospitals

• Riddle Hospital (1.4 miles)
• Bryn Mawr Hospital (8.1 miles)
• Lankenau Medical Center (9 miles)

Restaurants

• Chick-Fil-A (1.8 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (3.4 miles)
• Wendy's (3.8 miles)
• Wing Hing Chinese Restaurant (3.8 miles)
• McDonald's (4.8 miles)
• Cracker Barrel (5.5 miles)
• McDonald's (5.5 miles)

Parks

• Ridley Creek State Park (2.7 miles)
• Ellson Glen Park (5.2 miles)
• Goose Creek Park (7.5 miles)
• Market Square Memorial Park (7.6 miles)
• Clem MacRone Memorial Park (8 miles)

Cafes

• 320 Market Cafe (3.6 miles)
• Starbucks (4.4 miles)
• Styer's Garden Cafe (7.1 miles)
• Starbucks (9.3 miles)

Physicians

• Mid Atlantic Retina (4.5 miles)
• Bowen, Anne Main Line Healthcare Westtown Family Medicine (6.6 miles)
• Dr Madonna's Family Practice (6.7 miles)
• Pulmonary Consultants (7 miles)
• Christiana Care: Concord Medicine And Pediatrics (8.6 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Anastasia Rectory (4.5 miles)
• Willistown United Methodist Church (5.4 miles)

Transportation

• SEPTA: 101/102 Lansdowne Avenue Station (7 miles)
• Darby Transportation Center (7.7 miles)
• Terminal A West (9 miles)
• Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) (9 miles)
• The Centurion Lounge (9.1 miles)
• Baggage Claim A (9.1 miles)
• Dollar Rent A Car (9.1 miles)

Theaters

• AMC DINE-IN Painters Crossing 9 (8 miles)
• Regal Brandywine Town Center (9.2 miles)