Brookdale Riverwalk

This place is very poorly ran!!!! My grandmother was found over medicated after being taken to the hospital for a horrific fall. Every time we visit her hearing aid's are not placed, when they do place them they tug and yank on her ear and hurt her, I've witnessed it. Her belongings have gone missing from her room since the first week she was there, sunglasses she has had over 50 years, sweaters and shoes she loves, her bath rug, just every thing missing. Also her false teeth went missing after a week, they stated they don't know where they went and it was 2600 to replace them so she could eat. Their excuse the residents take things, in my opinion due to not being supervised like they should be. They also make disrespectful comments such as "they wont come back if your not nice", while sitting on the table in the middle of the living room. I feel like for $9,000 a month the patients should be treated like king and queens while they are living in this home. Nobody cares about any of the residents, they are just there for a paycheck and it shows. Please if I have any advise for you please don't ever put your loved ones in the hands of these people.

To Whom It May Concern, and to Every Family Considering Brookdale: Four months. That’s how long our father lived at Brookdale Assisted Living. In that time, we paid thousands of dollars every month— $3,500 for rent. $350 to have him escorted to meals by wheelchair. $720 for someone to help him get dressed. $340 for basic showers—showers he rarely received. $700+ for medication administration. $10 per meal delivered to his room when he didn’t feel strong enough to go downstairs. And in return? He had four showers in four months. He sat in the same clothes for days. He waited over an hour after pressing his call button—sometimes calling us because no one ever came. He had a seizure, soiled himself, and we weren’t notified. His soiled pants were still in the bathroom sink when we arrived. He had a dangerously low blood pressure reading, and the staff nearly gave him the wrong medication—until Lori Harl, RN, stepped in and stopped them. He was taken to the ER for a severe nosebleed. We weren’t told until the hospital called asking us to pick him up. He developed a pressure sore, and no one informed us. He was left vulnerable, neglected, and ignored—despite us paying for care that was never delivered. We tried to advocate while also drawing boundaries. We were exhausted, emotionally spent, and still—we showed up. We brushed his teeth. We cleaned his room. We insisted on proper medication. We watched over his care. We asked hard questions and were met with deflection. Brookdale did not deliver on their promises. They were understaffed, undertrained, overpriced, and dismissive when concerns were raised. And when we decided to move our father to a better facility, they attempted to hold us to a 90-day notice clause—demanding over $16,000. We fought back. We wrote a letter detailing their neglect, and they released us from the contract. It should not have taken that kind of pressure to be heard. We’re writing this now because other families deserve to know the truth. We wish someone had warned us. If you’re considering placing your loved one at Brookdale, look deeper than the brochure. Ask about staffing ratios. Ask how long it really takes to respond to call buttons. Ask how often residents are actually bathed and changed. Ask how often families are notified about emergencies. Most of all—watch what happens when no one is watching. Because no loved one should have to suffer in silence while others profit off their care. We gave Brookdale thousands. They gave us broken promises. Never again. Sincerely, LeAnne Organista and Lori Harl, RN Daughters of Don Wilson For every family who’s been forced to do the job they were paying someone else to do

Visiting my mother, who was placed here for physical therapy. This was her second stay, and I am grateful for the staff and treatment she received during her stay. The facility is always so clean and the staff really provide a great atmosphere for the work they provide.

Martha and the team at Brookdale in Bakersfield are wonderful! My 93 year old Aunt was living alone in a a two story condo prior breaking her ankle and wasn't keen on the idea of moving. After a 3 month stint in physical rehab (during Covid) we convinced her to move to Brookdale as her only family lived thousands of miles away. After a little adjustment to new surroundings boy did she shine!. The staff really got her out and about, joining activities and she found a new zest for life. The medical team kept good tabs on her needs, and even managed the Dr. Appointments and arranged transportation. It was a great relief for us to knowing she was safe 24/7.

Residents are hesitant to complain about low quality food and parking for fear of service retaliation. Cost increases do not equate to improvement. Just a money grab.