Wynfield Home

Pros

• Brookdale Madison West has a gorgeous campus.
• The staff at Brookdale Madison West are caring, cheerful, and loving.
• The facility is well kept, safe, clean, and comfortable for residents.
• The nursing staff are knowledgeable and provide high-quality care.
• Executive Director Robin Frievalt is compassionate and dedicated to residents and families.
• Robyn and the Brookdale team communicate well with families and coordinate on-site medical visits and care needs.
• The staff keep residents clean, groomed, and well cared for.
• The meals are prepared with care and can be excellent, with accommodations for dietary needs.
• The community offers engaging activities and meaningful family events that enhance residents' quality of life.
• Families experience peace of mind due to the loving care provided by the staff.

Cons

• The staff were not taking good care of residents and were often rude or had bad attitudes.
• The facility showed negligence and delayed medical response, including a resident found in a bloody bed with no weekend medical staff.
• The facility was accused of illegally underpaying employees and offering only lip service to care.
• The place overworks its staff, with a nurse described as rude to employees, and med counts reportedly not performed before shifts.
• Reduced staffing after 3pm led to residents waiting over 30 minutes for assistance.
• One reviewer claimed that the reviews themselves are lies and paid for.

Review

Brookdale Madison West stands out in many observers' eyes as a beautiful, well-kept senior living campus that feels like a welcoming home for residents. Several families describe it as a warm and comfortable place where safety, cleanliness, and a good living environment are evident in everyday life. The facility's appearance and upkeep are frequently noted as strong positives: the campus is described as gorgeous and well maintained, with residents' apartments kept clean and tidy, and the overall atmosphere often labeled as pleasant and homelike. Food is mentioned as variable but frequently described as good, with several meals being highlighted as excellent.

A central thread in many positive accounts is the role of the staff and leadership, particularly the Executive Director, Robin Frievalt. Several reviewers praise Robin for going above and beyond, creating an environment where families feel welcomed and supported. Comments frequently spotlight Robyn/Robin and a team of caregivers - Lisa, Crystal, Keva, Jasmine, Shakira, Mavis, Tiesha, and others - whose dedication is described as making residents feel valued and well cared for. Families appreciate how staff manage daily routines, provide meals, handle laundry, oversee medications, and address special dietary needs, all while maintaining a spotless and orderly house. The sense that the staff truly treats residents like family comes through in many testimonies, along with appreciation for how the team coordinates health care, doctor visits, podiatry, and medication delivery.

Care quality is another prominent theme. Reviewers consistently commend the nursing staff as knowledgeable and attentive, with particular praise for specific caregivers and the responsiveness of the nursing team. Several accounts note that nurses keep families informed with regular updates and are accessible for questions or after-hours concerns. The ability of Brookdale Madison West to arrange on-site medical services, including bringing doctors to the community and coordinating with hospital care when needed, is described as a key strength. For residents with dementia or other chronic conditions, reviewers emphasize compassionate, patient-centered care and meaningful daily activities that promote social interaction and a better quality of life. Family members recount hospital and ER experiences where staff accompanied their loved ones, offering reassurance and support during difficult times.

Family experiences that are consistently positive include a strong sense of community and opportunity for family involvement. Reviewers highlight events such as barbecues and holiday gatherings, music, games, and thoughtful gifts that create joyful moments and a sense of belonging. The staff's attention to emotional well-being - acknowledging the emotional toll of caregiving and dementia, offering reassurance, and maintaining open lines of communication - appears to be a distinguishing feature for many families. One review even notes a particularly good onboarding and ongoing communication with families, underscoring how the leadership and care teams work to ensure mom or dad feels safe, happy, and engaged.

However, the picture is not uniformly positive. One deeply troubling account describes neglect of a father with dementia, including finding him in a bloody bed after a weekend where no medical staff were on duty and delays in responding to the situation. The reviewer questions the level of weekend coverage and the speed of care, suggesting that a nurse was contacted but that help took hours to arrive. This account emphasizes real safety concerns and serves as a stark contrast to the more favorable stories about day-to-day operations and the compassionate leadership highlighted by other families. It serves as a sobering reminder that even well-regarded facilities must continuously monitor and improve weekend staffing and responsiveness.

In addition to the above, a handful of reviewers raise concerns about staffing and workplace conditions. One person alleges that some reviews are lies and paid for, and asserts that employees are underpaid and not compensated fairly, claiming personal experiences of much higher pay elsewhere. There is also feedback alleging a shift to rely on fewer caregivers after 3 p.m., with reports of residents sometimes waiting long for assistance. These voices emphasize the importance of adequate staffing levels, fair pay, and respectful treatment of all staff, since morale and workload directly impact resident care. Another reviewer describes a nurse as rude and notes issues with how staff are spoken to, concerns about med counts not being conducted consistently, and critiques of the overall treatment of employees. The recurring thread in these comments is the perception that, behind the warmth of the community, there may be pressures on staff that affect day-to-day operations and the consistency of care.

Taken together, Brookdale Madison West emerges as a community with much to commend: a beautiful campus, a leadership team that many families trust and appreciate, a robust network of caregiving and medical coordination, and a culture that frequently centers on family involvement and resident well-being. The strongest praise centers on Robin Frievalt and the caregiving team, whose efforts to maintain a home-like atmosphere, ensure safety and cleanliness, coordinate medical care, and foster meaningful activities are repeatedly acknowledged. Yet there are sobering counterpoints about weekend coverage, perceived understaffing, and concerns about pay and workplace dynamics that some reviewers feel undermine the overall experience. For families evaluating this community, the message is clear: there are abundant strengths to celebrate, but it's wise to ask direct questions about staffing patterns, weekend coverage, and the specifics of medical and personal care to ensure alignment with their expectations and their loved one's needs. Reading a range of perspectives helps build a fuller picture of what life at Brookdale Madison West can be like for residents and their families.

This part of Madison, Wisconsin offers a convenient and bustling community with a variety of amenities within close proximity. There are several dining options ranging from casual fast food chains like Burger King and McDonald's to sit-down restaurants like Olive Garden and Delaney's Charcoal Steaks. Medical care is easily accessible with multiple physicians' offices nearby, as well as pharmacies such as CVS and Walgreens for any prescription needs. Additionally, there are cafes like Starbucks and Panera Bread for socializing or grabbing a quick bite to eat. For recreation, there are several parks in the area including Haen Family Park and Flagstone Park for enjoying the outdoors. The neighborhood also offers easy access to healthcare facilities such as the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital and entertainment venues like Point Cinema Madison. Overall, this area provides a well-rounded and convenient living environment suitable for seniors looking to enjoy all that Madison has to offer.

Restaurants

• Delaney's Charcoal Steaks (0.3 miles)
• Burger King (0.6 miles)
• McDonald's (0.6 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (0.7 miles)
• Olive Garden (0.7 miles)
• Portillo's Hot Dogs (0.8 miles)
• Culver's (0.8 miles)

Physicians

• Oakwood Village (0.3 miles)
• Wisconsin Psychiatric Institute-Clinic (0.5 miles)
• Westside Family Pet Clinic (0.7 miles)
• Sokol Advanced EyeCare (0.7 miles)
• UW Health Odana Atrium Clinic (0.9 miles)
• U W Health Physicians & Clinic (1 miles)
• Rogers Memorial Hospital (1 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.4 miles)
• Walgreens (0.9 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (1.1 miles)
• Walgreens (1.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.7 miles)
• UW Health West Clinic Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
• SSM Health Prescription Center (1.9 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (0.6 miles)
• Moka (1.6 miles)
• Panera Bread (2 miles)
• Panera Bread (2.5 miles)
• Starbucks (2.8 miles)

Hospitals

• Cell Line Genetics (0.7 miles)
• meriter Middleton clinic (2.8 miles)
• UWHC Outpatient Radiology (3.1 miles)
• William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital (3.2 miles)

Parks

• Haen Family Park (1.4 miles)
• Oak Park Heights Park (1.7 miles)
• Pilgrim Park (2 miles)
• Lakeview Park (2.6 miles)
• Firemans Park (3 miles)
• Flagstone Park (3.1 miles)
• Blue Mound State Park (3.2 miles)

Theaters

• Point Cinema Madison, Wi (1.5 miles)
• AMC Fitchburg 18 (3.3 miles)

Places of Worship

• Heritage Congregational Church (2.7 miles)