This is Brookdale

Pros

• Brookdale is beautiful, always clean, bright, and welcoming.
• Brookdale offers three levels of care, giving residents opportunities to live long-term.
• Brookdale is a fantastic assisted living facility to place a loved one with.
• Brookdale's staff were especially helpful when memory care and hospice care were needed.
• Mary is a key staff member who makes new residents and families feel at home.
• Brookdale does wonders and can be the perfect place for assisted living needs.
• The staff are outstanding and always accommodating.
• Brookdale staff are willing to help and answer any questions.
• Residents love Brookdale, and the rooms are very nice; staff work hard to ensure proper care with respect and love.
• Brookdale is an awesome place for a senior to live, offering safety and dignity.
• The staff take great care of residents and are always helpful and friendly.

Cons

• Super poor management.
• Not a good place for loved ones; they care more about money than proper care.
• There were only two staff members at night for 33 residents.
• A resident fell at least ten times and ended up in the ER at least six times.
• A resident was left in incontinence diapers from 7:00 PM until 7:00 AM and had not been bathed.
• There was no one around to assist; the resident had to drag herself to her door to call for help.

Review

Brookdale comes across in these accounts as a place that many families find beautiful and inviting. Reviewers describe the facility as consistently clean, bright, and welcoming, with an atmosphere that makes new residents feel at home from the outset. A standout element in several remarks is the way the admission process is handled, particularly by Mary, who is repeatedly praised for her warm, welcoming presence and for guiding families through the transition. The campus is noted for offering three levels of care, creating room for residents to grow with the facility and to stay longer as their needs evolve.

The breadth of care options is a recurring positive theme. Several reviewers highlight that Brookdale provides choices ranging from independent living to higher levels of memory care. The facility's ability to tailor care levels to individual needs is linked to favorable experiences, including support during memory care transitions and even hospice involvement when a resident's condition requires it. In these stories, Mary is singled out as a key staff member who often meets new residents and families at the start, helping to set a tone of comfort and reassurance that many families value during potentially stressful times.

Staff is repeatedly described as outstanding and accommodating. People recount that Brookdale staff members are willing to help, patient, and responsive to questions, which contributes to a sense of trust and reliability. The sentiment that staff go "above and beyond" to ensure residents are cared for and treated with respect and love appears in several testimonials, reinforcing the view that the day-to-day experience can feel supportive and attentive. For some families, this has translated into genuine gratitude for the way their loved ones are greeted, settled, and looked after by the team.

There is also a strong personal voice expressing affection for the place. One reviewer states, "I really love this place," noting that residents love the community as well and that rooms are nice. The observed dedication of the staff - who are described as "busting their butt" to ensure proper care and respect - adds a sense that Brookdale can feel like a true home for seniors who want to remain engaged and well cared for as they age. In this thread of praise, the managed atmosphere, the friendliness of the residents, and the overall sense of dignity contribute to a compellingly positive portrait of the facility.

Not all reflections align with the glowing view, however. One comment is bluntly negative, reducing the overall sentiment to "super poor management." While others celebrate the facility's strengths, this critique signals concerns about leadership and administrative effectiveness that can color families' experiences, reminding readers that results can vary significantly from person to person. The same thread of opinions also includes a more ambivalent tone, highlighting both safety and dignity as positives while acknowledging that the experience can be highly individual depending on circumstances and personnel.

The stories about long-term outcomes for specific residents provide a mixed picture. In one case, a father has been at Brookdale for two years and is described as being well cared for, with staff who are helpful and friendly whenever he needs assistance. This positive experience underscores the potential for Brookdale to be a reliable, nurturing home for a resident who builds a strong rapport with caregivers and feels consistently supported. Yet another account offers a stark contrast: a family member describes a four-week stay marked by serious safety and care shortcomings, including repeated falls, multiple ER visits, and at least one instance of obvious hygiene neglect - his clothes were not his own for days, and he was not bathed. The account also cites insufficient nighttime staffing for a large number of residents, raising concerns about supervision after hours and overall care quality during emergencies.

Beyond these serious criticisms, a separate reviewer raises a pointed concern about prioritization of money over proper care, suggesting that financial motives may overshadow the well-being of residents. Specific examples include leaving a resident in a soiled condition through the night, clothing errors contributing to falls, and a lack of timely assistance when needed. These testimonies echo a broader worry that operational and financial pressures could undermine the standard of care in some situations, particularly when staffing levels are stretched thin.

Taken together, the collection of experiences presents Brookdale as a facility with strong positives and notable strengths, especially in terms of environment, care options, and dedicated staff like Mary who ease transitions and foster trust. At the same time, the reviews acknowledge serious concerns about management practices and staffing sufficiency that can, in some instances, lead to troubling lapses in care. The resulting impression is one of a place that can be wonderful for many families and residents, but with caveats: outcomes depend heavily on leadership, staffing, and day-to-day vigilance. For families evaluating Brookdale, the takeaway is clear - there are powerful benefits to be found in the facility's culture and care model, but it's wise to look closely at how well the particular location is supported by leadership and staffing on a given shift, and to speak with multiple staff members and residents to gauge whether the experience aligns with expectations.

Located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, this neighborhood offers a variety of amenities suitable for senior living. Within close proximity, there are several restaurants such as The Hungry Peddler and The Barrel Inn Bar & Grill, providing convenient dining options. Additionally, there are pharmacies like Uvanta Pharmacy and Walgreens nearby for easy access to medications and healthcare needs. For entertainment, the Marcus La Crosse Cinema is within walking distance, offering an opportunity for leisurely outings. Medical services are also readily available with Mayo Clinic and Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in the vicinity. Parks like Grandad Bluff and Riverside Park provide opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. With transportation options like Amtrak accessible, this neighborhood offers a suitable environment for seniors looking for convenience and quality of life in La Crosse.

Restaurants

• Hungry Peddler (0.2 miles)
• McDonald's (0.5 miles)
• Wendy's (1 miles)
• The Barrel Inn Bar & Grill (1 miles)
• Schmidty's (1.3 miles)
• JavaVino (1.3 miles)
• Arterial Tavern (1.5 miles)

Pharmacies

• Uvanta Pharmacy (0.3 miles)
• Walgreens (0.5 miles)
• Prescription Center (1 miles)
• Degen Berglund Medical Equipment (1.2 miles)
• Gundersen Pharmacy La Crosse (Degen Berglund) (1.2 miles)
• Gundersen Pharmacy La Crosse East Building (1.4 miles)
• Walgreens (1.7 miles)

Theaters

• Marcus La Crosse Cinema (0.3 miles)

Physicians

• Vandyke David Mdsc (0.7 miles)
• Mayo Clinic (1.2 miles)
• Gundersen Lutheran - Gordon L Johnson MD (1.4 miles)
• Gundersen Health System: Plastic Surgery Center (1.4 miles)
• Gundersen Health System- Department of Nephrology (1.4 miles)
• Gundersen Pharmacy La Crosse Clinic (1.4 miles)
• Gundersen Lutheran Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation La Crosse (1.4 miles)

Places of Worship

• Mary Mother of the Church (0.8 miles)
• English Lutheran Church Elca (2.2 miles)
• Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church (2.3 miles)

Hospitals

• Gundersen Lutheran Hospital (1.3 miles)
• Gundersen Health System- Dental Specialties (1.4 miles)
• Gundersen Health System- Hospice (1.4 miles)
• Gundersen Health System Eye Care (1.4 miles)
• Lutheran Hospital-La Crosse (1.4 miles)
• Gundersen Health System - Labor & Delivery (1.4 miles)
• Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center (1.4 miles)

Cafes

• Moka (1.8 miles)
• Greengrass Cafe (2.3 miles)
• Moka (2.4 miles)
• Grounded Specialty Coffee (2.6 miles)
• Pearl Ice Cream Parlor (2.6 miles)

Parks

• Weigent Park (2 miles)
• Houska Park (2.2 miles)
• Pammel Creek Park (2.2 miles)
• Grandad Bluff (2.5 miles)
• Riverside Park (2.9 miles)
• Hixon Forest Park (3 miles)
• Copeland Park (4.1 miles)

Transportation

• Amtrak (3.9 miles)