Brookdale South Charlotte

So far Brookdale South just seems like a really nice community for loved ones to be at, and based on the experience we have had up to this point we would recommend them to other families.

A loved one has lived here. Below are my opinion of strengths and weaknesses. Overall the day-to-day experience was hit and miss, and a relatively poor value for the price. I cannot recommend. Strengths: a) Food quality and variety is good b) The transportation to medical appointments was reliable c) Leadership responds to communications quickly Weaknesses: a) Facility condition-simple maintenance items are not addressed (burned out lightbulbs, dirty air intake registers, dirty carpet). There is a hole in the wall and water damage by an elevator. Additionally, they need to replace carpet, paint, and fixtures. b) Staff responsiveness and continuity - Staff change very frequently, and they rely on outside staffing yielding A LOT of inconsistency in delivery, and no continuity of relationship between staff and residents. Staff can be slow to respond when called. c) Lack of quality control - management does not have a way to monitor or control the delivery of services

Overall, they've been very good. Our loved one has had some issues with falling, and I don't feel like they get to her fast enough. But the staff is very responsive once you address an issue with them. We've talked with the Executive Director and the Medical Director, and they've been very helpful. They're very good about medications and talking through any concerns about that. The facility is very nice, very clean, and accessible. Our loved one likes the food. If a resident can't go down to the dining room, they will actually deliver food to the rooms, which is a big plus for us. I feel like it's a pretty good value. They really worked with us on the cost.

I met with [name removed] who was very helpful in understanding the facility and next steps. I would have preferred an apartment or at least a one bedroom, but all they had available was a one-room suite. Overall, a nice place and has good potential. Very clean and the staff was extremely nice. Good price point.

Bottom line: not happy here The disappointing: Inconsistently deliver agreed upon services including bedding changes, showers, clothing changes, and laundry. Staff say that they are “too busy” to help. High turnover among staff. Dining service is slow- again due to understaffing. Residents sometimes wait >30 minutes in the dining room to be served. Sometimes the Executive Director I helps out serving food. Activities are also inconsistent - some days are pretty sparsely planned, while other days are enriching. Food is pretty good.

My husband was at Brookdale South for several years. One of the aids would hurt him every time she had to change him. He would tell her to stop hurting him and she just kept going. Finally one day she got mad and flogged both of us. On another occasion my husband rode on the Brookdale bus to Target. [Name removed] the manager was driving. When she loaded the bus to return to Brookdale, she did not lock down his electric wheelchair. As she pulled out of the Target parking lot at Stonecrest the wheelchair turned over on top of my husband and she drove him up Rae Rd with the 150 pound wheelchair on top of him and his head banging on the bus floor. He had already had 2 strokes. He had a concussion and large hospital bill. Needless to say he has been moved to another facility.

So far, so good. We have my wife's aunt there. She has been in residence about two weeks. The staff is very attentive to any concerns we have and to our aunt's needs. We have been impressed with the professionalism of the staff and management. They had a program worked out for our aunt to get her socialized and involved in activities from the moment she arrived.

This is a beautiful community and the staff here did a great job showing us around, they took their time and they answered all our questions. My dad just did not feel comfortable with the multiple story build or having to work with the elevator. I would suggest that you schedule a tour and see the community for yourself.

We had a loved one placed here and they declined severely while there. Only to improve once moved to another, more professional and supportive Dementia Facility. If your loved one requires 1:1 care, forget it. We noticed how other memory care residents were treated and they are ignored for the most part. The only residents that did well were 1. were mobile, and calm. 2. immobile and limited to a wheelchair or 3. in the early/mid stages of the disease. What we did see was residents caring for each other more than the Aides cared for them. Often left alone in groups, unsupervised, when residents called out to an Aide, they would continue to keep on walking and ignore them - unless we said something. There is a water fountain, but no one knew how to use it. We did NOT see them being given fluids every hour. Only with meals and medicines and the medicine fluids are tiny little cups. We would have to direct an Aide to get someone to get a beverage i.e. Bottle of Water. NO water available anywhere else unless they know to navigate to their room and drink from the sink via a cup. However, late stage dementia patients need to be reminded/directed to do that as anyone with experience knows. This facility is terrible and I would not recommend them at all. Only after the money ,not the care of the resident. Brookdale is also the same chain with lawsuits against them in Florida and California for [Removed].....its a chain, there are hidden fees that they don't charge until you enter. Then the 'level of care' and cost rise. Its an a la carte pricing structure. Activities? TV is on, Music is on, sing alongs that is pretty much all we saw. You might get one aide that was truly committed to what she was there to do, but we saw other residents pay to have Sitters/CNAs et al come in to care for their parents. THAT is ridiculous! You're paying for the care already....

This is a very nice community and the staff here did a great job showing me around, they took their time with my tour and they answered all my questions. There were a lot of amenities for the residents to choose from and I think my mom would have liked being here, there just was not any availability when I was looking. I would recommend you take a tour.

We toured the Brookdale South Charlotte and the staff was friendly and knowledgeable. The community looked very clean and inviting. We were looking for a smaller community as my dad is blind and needs closer supervision and the resources to care for his needs.

I toured this community for my mother, and her needs. My tour went pretty well overall.

I had a pleasant tour of Brookdale South charlotte. The facility was clean and well maintained. Everyone there was friendly and the tour guide was knowledgeable. It was a good choice but I found another community that fit my husbands needs best.

My husband could not wait to get back to Brookdale while he was in rehab. He is doing as well as he can with nurses who are monitoring his leg. I get informed of any changes. He gets along with all the staff and likes to have fun with the staff who help him. They walk with him to dining room and he thinks the food is good. The location works for my daughter and I, which is the main reason I choose them.

We are very satisfied with my aunts move to this community. She has adjusted very well to it, and they are caring for her very well. The staff is wonderful, they are very helpful, and kind. She has improved very much since her move, she has gotten better everyday. There are plenty of activities available, she is having a good time. I have tired some of the meals, and the food is excellent. This is a community I would highly recommend.