Brookdale Lake Mary

Maureen

I went to Brookdale Lake Mary. The place looked okay. There's like an outdoor screened-in atrium before the indoor entrance. There was like a staff person sitting there playing on their phone, and I didn't like that. So it seemed a little funky to me. I walked into the main entrance, and the lady that was the receptionist there was not very warm and she wasn't very welcoming. So I said, 'I'm here for a tour,' and I signed in. And the lady that came seemed a little disorganized. She introduced herself and she said, 'I'll take you on a tour. I just need to find out what rooms are available to view.' She kind of ordered the lady at the desk to give me the schedules, the menus, and stuff like that. I don't think she was used to giving a tour, so it was a little discombobulated. We got into one of the elevators and there was another staff in there, and she seemed kind of not happy about being there. It just seemed like they were not happy to be there. Then we went upstairs to look at one of the rooms, which was very nice. The rooms were more than what was advertised by about $100 or 200 for the studio. And I looked at a one-bedroom, too. The rooms were nice. But some other residents' family members were like, 'Hey, is there anybody that can come over here? We've been waiting for 30 minutes, and no one's come.' The staff I saw weren't happy. I could tell that people were not happy there. And then when we went into different rooms that were not being utilized like gathering areas, the air wasn't working. They must have turned off the air in those areas because as soon as we got out of the hallway into that section, it was quite warm. So those are the things that stood out. And I didn't say anything to them because I'm like I don't think we're going to come here because of the various things that I saw. The menu looked good, and the lady that toured me was nice. But overall, I would not want to put my mom there. I don't think she'd be happy. I think they need to work on their customer service and first impressions. I don't think their staff should be hanging out in the front atrium playing on their phones. It comes down to the staff. The staff turned me off. Like they weren't warm, and they weren't welcoming. The staff that was working there seemed disgruntled and inefficient. They weren't attentive to their residents but not all of them.

Provider Response

Teddie

My mom will be moving into Brookdale Lake Mary. They were very friendly. It's very clean, and it's an open space when she comes out of her room where there's a good sightline for caregivers. It just has a charm to it. I knew as soon as I went in there that it was the right place. It's very convenient for all the family, we all live within a few miles. I did not try the food, but I got a menu. They have a chef that's been there for 18 years, so, she's very experienced, and it looked like it was delicious. It smelled really good. The rooms were good-sized, and the outdoor areas were nice. That's a big point for us because my mom loves to garden and get outside. I didn't find anything that made me want to complain about it. I had met the head nurse, and she was very nice. She came to the house for an assessment and was just very helpful in every way.

Teri

The best aspect that Brookdale Lake Mary has is their director. She was extremely informed, has a ton of experience with families, and knows a great deal about the resources for elder care. She was just top of the line. They just seemed to have a higher turnover of staff. It was a little dated, but they maintained it really well. Also the rooms to me were a little on the small side, but they were very functional. They're a smaller community, so I don't think that they have the resources to be huge. For their size, they offer a good variety.

Provider Response

Rianna

We would have chosen Brookdale Lake Mary because it's in Lake Mary and I live in Lake Mary. My sister came from Texas and we went and had a look and we saw the actual room that my mom would have been in, and so we were very pleased. She showed us three options of rooms, different prices, and different sizes. It was just a three-story building. We toured all the floors and then because we kind of decided on that one, a big part of the reason too was the convenience of it because I'm here in Lake Mary. I also kind of discharged my mom for a day and took her to have a look around and see the room she would have been in, and all of that. She was just adamant about wanting to be on her own. They just had a small refrigerator, no microwave, you would have had to bring that yourself, nothing to cook with, just kind of microwave hot meals, to get your meals from the fridge and microwave it. We spoke to the tour manager. I think her name was Laura and she was very generous with her time, very patient, we asked her questions. She told us to ask whatever we wanted to ask. She did not rush us when we were touring the rooms, one of the rooms we knew that my mom would stay in, so she took us to see it, and the salon and everything. So she was very relaxed and very generous with her time and all the information. There was nothing else we needed, and we're still planning. If my mom comes to her senses, that would still be our choice. The external seating area outdoors could have some improvement. They have a big patio out front with tables and chairs. And they also have a back patio for smokers.

Lory

I toured Brookdale Lake Mary for my mom. They were all very helpful, very informative, and very friendly. It looks very nice. It looked a little dated, but that's the nature of things. The physical appearance of the place was still very nice nad very clean. I was looking for a 1-bedroom. They didn't have any 1-bedrooms available. It was either a 2-bedroom or a studio type, so that was a drawback for me. They had amenities like a salon, a library area, and a recreation room. The studio unit that I saw was very nice. It was clean, and they've probably recently updated those.

Anastasia

We chose Brookdale Lake Mary for my dad because of the cost. The employees seem to be very nice, too. They're all getting to know me, which is good, and they all seem very responsive for the things that we need. Their facilities all seem really well-maintained. He loves to sit in the front porch area and by the pool table. I know COVID hit them hard, but they just need more activities for them to do.

Daniel

I've been to Brookdale Lake Mary. It seemed OK. It was fine. It seemed clean. The rooms were OK. The price was very attractive, but it was assisted living. My mom has so many different needs; they finally said they couldn't take her. I understand that. It's very close to where I live, and it's a good location. They had different therapies and everything. They had the people that come in, like to do your haircuts and your nails and so forth. It was a nice lobby with a smaller lobby, but it seemed nice. The dining room seemed nice.

Lynn

We liked Brookdale Lake Mary a lot. We toured both assisted living and memory care. We liked the staff that we ran into and I was very impressed that Laura knew every resident that we came in contact with. She knew the person's name and she engaged with them. The facility was clean, neat, and had a really good, uplifting feeling. They have a huge menu for people and the residents can come and go, and that was nice. People seem to be genuinely happy. We also met Bill, who is the social director. He's a pastor actually and runs a Bible study. I don't know if my mother would be able to participate, but I just thought that was lovely. They also had a space where they were doing memory games for the residents, and that was good too. We sampled one of the apartments, a studio, and it was nice and spacious. Every time you get off the elevator, you're near either the dining room or the social room, so it wasn't confusing for the elderly people. The hallways were bright and spacious, and I thought that was good. I didn't see a lot of wheelchairs just out in the hallway with people doing nothing. The residents seem to be doing some activities every time.

Dianne

I visited Brookdale Lake Mary and saw their memory care. The tour guide was exceptional, and the staff was exceptional. We were able to see a room, and I liked how it was set up; it's plenty big enough. The community's layout was good, and it's very clean. The dining area was very nice, too.

Diane

My step-mom and dad moved into Brookdale Lake Mary. So far I've been very, very happy with it. It had by far the largest apartments that we had seen in any of the places, and that was a big deal for us. I've been very happy with everybody on the staff so far. They've been very happy with the food. It's actually one of the easiest places for the residents to get around of all the ones I've looked at, because everything comes off of one central hub that's straight up and down on all three floors, so all they'd have to do is step off the elevator on each floor, and that's where the activities happen.

Victoria

I liked the fact that Brookdale Lake Mary had a smaller memory care unit that was very centralized and very nice. The staff seemed very nice, too. A lot of the residents that I saw all looked good. Brookdale is multilevel, but their memory care is contained on one level, so they would not need to be taken to other levels. The rooms were really nice and laid out very well. We saw some of the residents doing some activities.

Marla

Brookdale Lake Mary was very nice. They didn't have a 2-bedroom-2-bath that my parents were looking for, but they offered the possibility that they could convert two units into one. They had a library and a game room, they offered in-house church service, and they had an activity director. During the normal time, they have activities where they go offsite. They are very Covid conscious. The facility was very clean. They have areas where you can visit your loved ones. Right now, they don't want you necessarily in their apartments, but you could go in and help them get moved in. The staff was very nice. A couple of people popped in and welcomed us. They were there to answer any questions we have or if we have any concerns. We didn't dine during the tour, and I don't think that's happening right now during Covid anyway. The grounds were well kept. There's ample parking if you want to have your own vehicle.

Brenda

My husband is in Brookdale Lake Mary. Everything has been excellent. The executive director was very helpful, and the price was somewhat reasonable compared to other facilities. The people that I spoke to on the phone so far since he's been there have been very nice. Everything was clean, but it's a little dated.

charlotteG

I can’t thank the caring and loving staff of Brookdale Lake Mary enough for the difference they made in my mother’s life in her final years. You showed my mother so much compassion and encouraged her to be active which made a true difference in her happiness and quality of life. God bless you all.

Laura

Brookdale Lake Mary was nice. The staff was excellent. I only saw one room, and it seemed spacious and nice. The memory care area only had a sitting area, a dining area, and a little bit of common space areas. We met two residents who seemed very happy, very high functioning, very clean, and definitely well cared for.

CaringReviewer141627

Our experience at Brookdale Lake Mary is excellent. It doesn't feel like a nursing home; it is more conducive to home life. The staff is excellent, very attentive, very friendly, and very professional. They have people who come in and entertain them. They also have a salon, an exercise room, and a dining room that is set up like you're in a restaurant. The food is OK. The value for money is good for what we receive. Value is definitely there.

Hope More

I lived in NY and my father stayed at Brookdale Lake Mary FL. Not possible to travel due to costs however the great caregivers at Lake Mary always gave me peace of mind he had his need well cared for. Dad passed away Dec 2016 and I know his stay at Brookdale was the right place to be. God Bless John

Visitor120753950

We visited Brookdale Lake Mary for my dad. The room was large and more reasonably priced. It was very nice with wide hallways and communal dining area. All in all, it was very nice. They appeared to cater to the residents, who were very happy.

Anonymous109449350

My mother is in Brookdale Lake Mary. They seem to be very responsive, and they are open to suggestions. The staff seems to be friendly. I am happy with it. She has a studio apartment, and it is large. It has a nice layout, and there is enough closet space. They have happy hours, live entertainment, and outings. I would recommend it.

Gloria44

We didn’t have a good experience at Brookdale Lake Mary. My mother was there only a little more than a week. I paid a lot of money to put her there, and my only request was that somebody check on her a certain amount of times during the day and escort her to the dining room so she got her meals. They did not do that, and two days after I left on a trip, she fell and split her head open while trying to make it to the dining room with no assistance. When she fell, I think there was approximately 25 minutes before they responded to her alert button. I did call the fire department, and the fire department confirmed it for me. I showed up at different times. I would walk in late in the afternoon, and I wouldn’t see anybody anywhere other than people just on the porch smoking; I felt very uncomfortable. In my opinion, the rooms and apartments are substandard for what they get. I look at baseboards and the bathrooms, just the little details. It doesn’t have to be new, but they could do a better job of cleaning. The dining room and the tables look nice. She enjoyed their meal in the dining hall, but being someone who didn’t see well, she needed to have somebody come to the table and say this is what we have to offer you to eat today; you can have this or you can have that. Mother wouldn’t necessarily speak up, so they would bring her stuff that she couldn’t chew or eat or didn’t even care for because she couldn’t read the menu. I looked around the room, and I’d say 90% of the people need softer foods. They need things that are either pre-cut-up or things that they can do themselves. It seemed like they were just in a hurry to bring you something and walk away. When we went there, they said that you’re not allowed to have rails on your beds, so we had to rent a hospital bed because it made it easier for her to raise it up and then get out of bed. When we rented the hospital bed, they made us take the rails off, so she still had nothing to pull up on. Somebody else might find it fine; it just didn’t work for us at all. It’s not a place I would recommend for somebody.

Provider Response

Caring104755850

Brookdale Lake Mary was very beautiful. The salesman and the folks were very friendly, but it was not a good fit for my mother. It was too big for her. The surrounding was very upscale. The rooms were beautiful. The dining room looked good. They had a variety of activities. It would be good for an elderly person who still had some capabilities to take care of themselves.

Pam102906650

My father is in an assisted living in Brookdale Lake Mary. Everything is very nice except for the carpeting. His room is very nice, and it's sufficient for him. It's just one room with a bathroom, and it has a small kitchenette with a small refrigerator and a couple of cupboards. The daytime staff are great; the middle of the night are not so good. What impressed me were the availability, the food, and the staff on site.

Sandee3

I would never go here. The rooms were small. The grounds and outside are beautiful, but the smell was bad. The staff was friendly. It just wasn’t the right place for him.

Provider Response

Rachel15

I like the arrangement of the dining area. It’s very much like a restaurant setting. You have multiple choices with regards to their food and I thought that was nice. They have numerous kinds of activities once a month, they have people who come in to entertain them as well. It's really nice. I definitely was able to check out the menu and they have a good assortment of food. They also kind of accommodate your likes and dislikes with regards to the food. The room is quite spacious. The staff looked like they had adequate staff. The people are very friendly and they greet everybody. It captivated me from the minute I walk in.

jim upper

It was fine. The staff was excellent. I saw the rooms and the dining room, and they were all fine. However, the residents are a little crowded in the lobby area.

gwen9

Joe was extremely helpful in fulfilling my requests and desires for my husband. It is first step initiative and he was tremendous and knowledgeable in his information. I deeply appreciate his concern as well as other members of the staff for the well-being of my husband.

Caring75026250

Mom is at their memory care unit. She has a studio apartment and it was really nice. The people there were all wonderful and really nice. The staff were very caring and sweet.

flore

I visited this facility when looking for Respite Care for my Dad while we were away. It is a lovely place and the staff is very welcoming. The residents seemed happy and engaged in activities. The staff interacts with the residents, taking a few minutes to just stop and talk to the residents as they see them around the facility. The rooms are very nice and they are nicely furnished for those seeking just a temporary stay. We ended up choosing this facility because the staff here went the extra mile to make my Dad feel welcome. They came to the house to visit Dad and got to know him on his own turf. They listened to him and planned for a buddy resident with similar interests to help ease Dad into his new environment. The staff here is very understanding and compassionate.

Charles13

It is a big complex, it's a lot newer and cleaner. They do your washing, three meals and two snacks every day and they help with your medicine. They have a doctor that comes every day. This place is better than the other one I visited.