★★★★★
My stay for recovering from surgery could have been for 3 months but my wife got me out in 3 weeks for all that I went through there. After taking me to my first shower the aide brought me back to my room completely moved the bed away from the wall (for what reason I do not know) had it put down all the way to the floor (my wife and I told her it was to low for me to sit after arguing back and forth she bumped it up one notch and when I sat my leg snapped upward I screamed out aide looked scared my leg was killing me and I feared the pins in my leg had dislodged. Knee still is feeling it! One day no one came in my room for over 5 hrs my wife was there she can attest to that, it is why she spent 7 hrs a day with me to be my advocate. Most of my food was picked up uneaten, I was on a low sodium diet and restricted fluids but everything they served was dry as a bone. There is a huge problem with aides on staff conversing in front of the patients about there jobs and how their going to walk out due to the staff, pay etc situations that should not be what patients need to hear during their stay. Pharmacy was horrendous on timing of meds Sent there sometimes went a few days without certain meds, that is inexcusable! With the stress of staying there I lost 30 lbs, so leaving early was the best thing I could do. Oh also I expected to be transported home, as I was to the facility being in a wheelchair still. Was told they don't do that, but my wife spoke to higher up about all that happened and was told they would handle it. I arrived at home 7pm was giving med-van driver a tip and he said where is his payment, we told him they were paying and he was told otherwise. He would not leave until we payed so I wrote out a check for $119 for a 14 mile one way trip, texted it to official and to this day over 2 months later no compensation just one story after another.
★★★★★
I arrived at the Brookdale Palmer Ranch Skilled Nursing Facility two weeks ago for medication management of intravenous antibiotics following septic shock. I was a little anxious because the last time I was in a facility of this type I was unhappy with the level of care and the facility.
From the moment I arrived I was greeted warmly by the staff. The receptionist, Nancy, who was literally on her way out the door at the end of her shift, remained behind to ensure I was escorted to my room. Most of the patients there seemed to be memory care, elderly, some with dementia and several who were nonverbal. The staff was attentive to everyone's needs. They were not only pleasant but were genuinely friendly, compassionate and helpful. I had special dietary needs because of a weight loss program I am on (I've lost 135 lbs) and needed accommodations. The nutrition staff who are accustomed to putting weight on people did everything they could to assist me. Shout out to Ms. Nancy who sat with me and reviewed every meal for my duration AND checked in regularly. There was one mishap with nuts due to a recording anomaly on the menus which has since been remedied. Anything that comes up here (and there has been very little), a broken o-ring in the toilet, a spider in the bathroom (I'm allergic), the staff have jumped in and handled. People come genre and do their jobs. They genuinely and routinely show the compassion it takes to work with some if the most vulnerable (and often demanding) populations. I am so grateful that I landed here. It has been a frightening thing to get what took my mom (sepsis), but have a level of care she was not afforded.
From the phone call I received in the hospital from Felicia in intake, to my extraordinarily dedicated nurse China Smith, and the other nursing and CNA staff, Beverly, Jeanette, Janelle, LaToya, Maggie, Max, and the tech with the beautiful thick curly hair who is always smiling, and is professional and helpful (I have forgotten her name), PT Maurice, Ray and OT Christine (I might have her name wrong), the environmental staff who greeted me daily with a smile and a singsong voice - such joy, and Ms. Maria who took me to shower and frequently checked on me throughout the day, Larry in Maintenance, who hadn't expected to be doing this work post retirement but does a great job and is so competent and reassuring! The administrative staff - Suzanne, your staff is fantastic! There are staff whose names I have forgotten but please attribute it to my head and not my heart. Clearly, these are people who take their time and who make an impact every day. You made me feel safe and cared for. I am so very grateful. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I hope the company recognizes you (beyond a pizza lunch) and puts something extra in your paychecks because you deserve it!
★★★★★
My experience with Brookdale was great. My Mother in Law was there after she had a bad fall and went there for after care and general rehab. We researched several facilities in the area and were very happy we found Brookdale. The Staff were friendly and professional and nothing ever seemed like too much trouble for them. They genuinely seemed to care for her. The room itself was a home from home for her, nice kitchen and pleasant living area which came in handy when we all came to visit her.