Brookside Healthcare Center in Cincinnati, OH

Pros

• The staff are friendly and helpful from the moment guests arrive.
• Rikki Perkins has been a blessing in helping families find care.
• Rikki Perkins has gone well above and beyond for families.
• The therapy department is attentive and encouraging.
• The staff are knowledgeable about residents and responsive to their needs.
• New management is great and treats staff and patients like family.
• The facility is clean, and the staff are nice.
• The nurses are personable, knowledgeable, and always ready to assist.
• The transition from hospital to the facility was seamless.

Cons

• Do not put your loved ones in this facility.
• They double-charge residents and try to take all of their social security money, leaving them with as little as $50.
• The nurses' aides were mean to her and left her in pain.
• They place restrictions on patients to prevent discharge in order to keep beds full.
• There are constant problems with staff and a very unprofessional environment.
• They lie and are untrustworthy; some call it the worst facility in the world.
• The facility is accused of fraud and pressuring families to keep a relative confined.
• The food is horrendous and staff responsiveness is poor.
• The administrator hides in her office and won't speak with families.

Review

Brookside Healthcare Center in Cincinnati is best suited for families seeking a facility that shines when the admission process is handled with care and the therapy pathway is clearly defined. The community demonstrates practical strength for short-term rehab and transitional episodes, especially when a family can lean into an engaged front desk and a responsive therapy team. The most convincing cases are those where a resident's goals are clearly aligned with hospital-to-nursing-home transfer plans, and where staff members such as Rikki at the front desk, and therapy and social work teams, consistently communicate and coordinate the care plan. For families prioritizing a smooth intake and visible, hands-on staff involvement, Brookside offers tangible benefits.

But there are clear caveats that families must weigh carefully. Several reviews point to serious safety and reliability concerns that would push many to consider alternatives, especially for long-term care or memory-care needs. Allegations range from chronic understaffing and unresponsive phones to outright misbilling and questionable billing practices. Families also describe experiences of neglect, delayed medication administration, and distressing lapses in basic comfort and safety. These themes recur enough to warrant a conservative approach: visit multiple times, observe shifts, and demand transparent answers before committing long term.

The strongest positives - personalized attention from admission staff, reliable communication, a genuine sense of warmth from frontline workers, and a capable rehab therapy program - do offset some concerns on a short-term or transitional basis. Positive voices emphasize clean facilities, decent meal quality, and staff who treat residents with kindness. When management changes bring a fresh, more attentive leadership culture, some reviews note meaningful improvement in resident experience. In practice, this means Brookside can deliver a solid rehab trajectory and daily interactions that feel respectful and responsive - provided the facility can maintain consistency and avoid the disruptive patterns cited in other feedback.

However, the weight of negative reports cannot be ignored, especially for families evaluating long-term placement or dementia care. Stories of neglect, perceived fraudulent behavior, and critical communication gaps raise red flags about ongoing safety and accountability. There are also persistent concerns about staffing levels and turnover, with reviewers describing difficulty getting basic needs met, missed calls, and limited availability of social services. For a resident who requires predictable oversight, rapid response to emergencies, or a tightly managed care plan, these concerns may outweigh the observed strengths. The reality is that Brookside's strengths appear most reliable in the short-term rehab corridor and when families actively supervise and engage with the care team.

To decide with confidence, focus on practical due diligence. Schedule in-depth tours at different times of day, request to meet the administrator, and ask pointed questions about medication administration workflows, discharge planning, and memory-care capabilities. Inquire about staffing ratios by shift, staff qualifications, and how care plans are reviewed with families. Review the last state inspections and any safety notices, and request direct contacts from current residents' families to gauge consistency of care over time. This facility rewards proactive families who stay engaged and insist on clear accountability.

The bottom-line recommendation is selective care with Brookside: it can serve well for short-term rehab and for families who value highly responsive admission support and a caring treatment approach in the right moments. For those prioritizing long-term safety, predictability, and specialized dementia care, alternatives deserve serious consideration. If choosing Brookside, treat it as a tightly managed partnership - schedule comprehensive tours, demand transparent billing practices, and ensure a robust discharge and follow-up plan. In the end, Brookside should be high on the shortlist for the right case, but only after rigorous vetting and with a clear plan to monitor day-to-day care and accountability.

This part of Cincinnati, Ohio is a well-equipped and convenient area for senior living. With multiple places of worship nearby such as St Dominic Church and Seven Hills Church, residents have access to spiritual support and community engagement. The abundance of pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS Pharmacy ensures easy access to medication and healthcare needs. There are various dining options including Incline Public House and Frisch's Big Boy for convenient meals. Additionally, the proximity to reputable medical facilities such as St Elizabeth Physicians and The Christ Hospital provides peace of mind knowing quality care is readily available. Parks like Washington Park offer opportunities for outdoor recreation and leisure, while cafes like Deeper Roots Coffee provide a cozy spot to socialize with friends or relax. Transportation options including Delta Cargo and Government Square make it easy for seniors to get around the area comfortably. Overall, this neighborhood offers a mix of amenities that cater to the needs and preferences of older adults looking for a supportive and active community in which to reside.

Places of Worship

• St Dominic Church (1.1 miles)
• Seven Hills Church (5.2 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (2.1 miles)
• Walgreens (2.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.5 miles)
• Hart Pharmacy (2.5 miles)
• Walgreens (2.9 miles)
• Walgreens (3.3 miles)
• Walgreens (4 miles)

Restaurants

• Incline Public House (2.1 miles)
• McDonald's (3.2 miles)
• Frisch's Big Boy (3.2 miles)
• White Castle (3.3 miles)
• Burger King (3.5 miles)
• McDonald's (3.5 miles)
• Rosie's Tavern (3.6 miles)

Physicians

• St Elizabeth Physicians (2.8 miles)
• OrthoCincy (2.9 miles)
• Beers, Ann, Md - St Elizabeth Healthcare Regl (3.7 miles)
• St. E Diabetes Center (3.7 miles)
• Eye Care Associates (3.7 miles)
• Riverhills Neuroscience (4.2 miles)
• Tri-State Centers For Sight (4.5 miles)

Parks

• Eagle Ridge Playground (3.6 miles)
• Washington Dog Park (4 miles)
• Washington Park (4 miles)
• John G & Phyllis W Smale Riverfront Park (4 miles)
• Ziegler Park (4.4 miles)
• President's Park (5.1 miles)

Cafes

• Deeper Roots Coffee (3.7 miles)
• Coffee Emporium (4.2 miles)
• York Street Cafe (4.9 miles)
• The 86 Coffee Bar & Concert Venue (5.3 miles)

Transportation

• Delta Cargo (3.9 miles)
• Government Square (4.2 miles)
• CVG International Arrivals Hall (4.2 miles)
• Main Terminal (4.3 miles)
• Cincinnati / Northern Kentucky International Airport (4.3 miles)
• TSA Checkpoint (4.3 miles)
• Concourse A (4.3 miles)

Hospitals

• The Christ Hospital (4.8 miles)
• St Elizabeth Medical Center (4.9 miles)
• St Elizabeth Healthcare (5 miles)
• St Elizabeth Baby Center (5 miles)
• Good Samaritan Hospital (5.2 miles)
• Veterans Hospital (5.7 miles)