Brookdale Vernon Hills

Patricia

I went to visit Brookdale Vernon Hills and it was unbelievable. It's so impressive and gorgeous. It has a spectacular rainforest, and all the rooms face the rainforest. The woman that takes you around is the best I've ever seen and they also had great activities. It's a tough choice. I was looking at their independent living, but they go down to all the levels. At some point, if you're independent living and you need a little help, they can just take care of you while you're in your apartment. So that's convenient.

Scott

The staff at Brookdale Vernon Hills was well informed, helping us to better understand the options that were available, and the advantages and tradeoffs of each of the available apartments. The apartments have ample space, and several options were provided at various price points to help us with our decision. The facility was very well maintained. The rainforest and gardens were well taken care of. The sidewalks in the winter were well salted for safety. We were actually there right after a snowstorm, and the main lanes were cleared of snow and ice. They explained their local transportation for shopping and for doctor visits, and accommodations for residents to participate in, both indoor activities as well as outside activities that range from local parks, to museums, and other destinations that are very community driven. Residents' input seemed to be highly valued.

Johan

My mother-in-law has moved into Brookdale Vernon Hills. They've got a big atrium. We liked the studio right on the corner near the elevator, so she didn't have to walk very far. She liked that a lot, too. They've got a good transportation program. It just seemed to fit and it's closer to where we live and where her old home was. I don't have that much experience with the staff other than the salespeople, but my mother-in-law complains a lot. She had to do some work with the housekeeping people to get things on the right path, but overall, I think she's pretty happy. My mother-in-law is Italian and she has not complained about the food. She participates a lot in activities. She's a big fan of water aerobics and they have them three times a week there. It's very clean and well-maintained. On the move-in, I got to know the building engineer, and he's on top of it. It's not cheap, but it's competitive with everything else we looked at.

Larry

Brookdale Vernon Hills had a huge beautiful rainforest. So, they had more advantages to be outside. The rooms were just on the smaller side, but the upkeep was spectacular. The lady who toured us around was excellent. That was the first one I went to and she was extremely helpful. The food was also very good.

ReviewerVT022620211

My mother is at Brookdale Vernon Hills. They're fine, and it's very nice. It is very good, except for the last year because of COVID. They have nice-sized rooms. They clean their apartments every week. They have not had anything available this year because of COVID, but they have a workout room and a library, they plan events, and they have a bus that takes them out to different events. My aunt lives there; that is why we moved her there, so that she could be with somebody. They may start next month, but they don't have anything going on right now. They used to go out to different restaurants, movies, or shopping.

Chris

Brookdale Vernon Hills was a big community, and it had a very pretty atmosphere and layout where everybody can look out of their apartments onto a rainforest. We toured two independent apartments, and they were both adequate in size for my mom. It's a busy and crowded place. They had a lot of features, like the pool. It's very clean. My concern is if my mother will need the full assisted living, she would have to move. They have the feature that if she would want to come in the wintertime and do a preview for a month's stay, they will allow that if they have the facility open. It's like a trial stay, but you pay for it. The staff was very helpful. It was a little overwhelming for me and my mom.

Pat

My friend moved into Brookdale Vernon Hills. It was lovely, and the sales person was great. He couldn’t have been nicer. He came on a Sunday to accommodate us, and bring some other people through. My friend could not be happier. He got a 1-bedroom right across the elevator, and he’s doing fine. He loves the food, the interaction with the people who are there, and it’s all good. He couldn’t be happier with the staff, if he needs something, he pushes a button, and they’re there.

Jean

We had a good experience at Brookdale Vernon Hills. We saw a 1- and 2-bedroom and the amenities like the dining room, rainforest, and swimming pool. They offer movies and trips. The 1-bedroom was too small and claustrophobic, but the 2-bedroom was rather nice and had nice closet space, and even the smaller bedroom had enough room, and you can put in a bed and a desk. It had a bathroom, a walk-in shower, a kitchen with a dishwasher, and range. The place was very modern, but I didn't get a feeling of it being very cozy because it seemed more like a hotel. They play mahjong, and they showed us the art room, which was very good, and they said there's a gentleman who comes in once a week to teach Spanish. The staff member who helped us answered all our questions.

Raymund

Four years ago, we moved into Brookdale at Vernon Hills because my wife was very sick. She had Parkinson's disease and carcinoma of the pancreas and died almost two and half years ago. When my wife was originally sick, this place was a god send. It was a place that took care of people in her condition as taking care of people like me who were left. It was an all inclusive movement to this place, but it was not cheap. It was close to almost 10,000/month. I have a small apartment with two bedrooms. One bedroom is so small it’s hard to call it a bedroom (only one bed fits in it). The other bedroom is a little larger. The apartment has one bathroom, a lot of closets, and a small kitchenette where I can make meals. I don’t usually make my meals, I go down and eat in a large dining room. I get two meals a day, primarily lunch and supper. The food is fine, but they have a lot of things that could be improved upon. Sometimes they cook the food so long that it cooks all the nourishment out of it. There are exercises, people come in for entertainment in the evening, and they playmovies. They keep us entertained. The people here are very helpful and they get along well with the residents. There's a good deal of support from the staff as well as the people that live here. So that works out fine. Sometimes we have trouble with the administration, but for the most part they're cognizant for the need for care. I may be paying a little more than other places, but it’s pretty good when you compare in comparison.

margitta203756

I have seen Brookdale Vernon Hills, and I liked it very much because it had a swimming pool, and the forest that they put in was a nice concept. It was a nice atmosphere. The rooms were nice as well; I liked them very much. The only thing that I am missing is the washer and dryer. It does not have that in the rooms; they have them on the floor, but they don’t have them in the rooms. I was very impressed.

Dawn710415

Everybody was unbelievable ,wonderful, and kind at Brookdale. They have a swimming pool, and they do have exercise equipment. There's a chapel and a rain forest, which is very interesting and very tropical.

Charles581226

My wife and I were at Brookdale Vernon Hills. They’re great. They’re topnotch. They were very responsive and very friendly. They’re just very professional, capable, and competent. however, we didn’t realize that there would be so few active seniors, and it was difficult to have any companionship. We were hoping to do things with people. They gave us a half price for awhile, and we jumped into it because it was only for a limited time that they would offer that so we didn’t really look at the people. We looked at the premises, which were wonderful, but then when finally saw there were no active seniors, it just didn’t fit us. But to be fair to them, they’re first class. I wouldn’t fault them for who is there.

Marian681842

Brookdale Vernon Hills was gorgeous but very formal. And it seemed cold and too rigid to us. Otherwise, it was fine. I liked the grounds more. They had more walking paths and grounds. If they like the more formal type of living, of course, I would recommend. That was the only thing I had against it. The food was good.

Anne313678

Brookdale Vernon Hills was very clean and nice, and the staff was friendly. They had all kinds of different programs, like reading, exercises, swimming, and more.

Lynda081376

Brookdale Vernon Hills was a wonderful place. The setting itself was just gorgeous. The full-grown trees in the pool area were just great, and the food service was wonderful. The staff was attentive. It's secure, clean, and very homey. They had entertainment for the residents and tons of things to do.

Kenneth23

We were very impressed with Brookdale Vernon Hills; we are going to move in at the end of the month. The apartments were very spacious and opened up to the "rain forest," an atrium with a swimming pool, therapy pool, lots of plants, and a waterfall. It’s very pleasant. They have parties every Friday afternoon. Everybody goes down there for the entertainment. We enjoyed our visit. Everybody bent over backward to give us what we needed, so we decided this is where we want to stay.

Caring Visitor5

I visited Brookdale Vernon Hills for my husband. It was a beautiful place, but it was very expensive. The rooms were really nice. It was a superb place. If I could afford it, I would go there myself. I saw the dining room and it looked like a fine restaurant. Everybody looked like they were happy and they were all very active and they were going on bus trips. Everybody we saw looked like they were having a good time of it. Everybody was superb, but it has to be. Everything was excellent. It was like going to a resort hotel. It was that nice, but it was super expensive.

Jim117561350

We would never have agreed to move my mother into Brookdale Vernon Hills if we didn't think it was right for her. They have various, multiple activities every day including some of the routine ones and, of course, there's always bingo. They have a number of movies, performances, and lectures. The food is good; she likes it. I've tried it myself and for what it is, it's very good. They have a larger dining room and a smaller one for the assisted living people. They could choose whether they want to eat in the larger one or the smaller, more intimate, less noisy one.

Christine116983350

The staff at Brookdale Vernon Hills was extraordinary. My father stayed there for a few weeks for post rehab and strengthening. They were accommodating and gracious. The food was very good. They have stunning indoor garden. It’s a whole huge room, like a rainforest area. It’s so pleasant. My father’s room was pleasant as well. It was small, but it’s nicely furnished, handicap accessible, and seemed very welcoming for anyone who would come in. It had a little kitchenette, which was nice.

Bright ideas

Staff is wonderful, upper management needs some training in respect.

Provider Response

Caring110750550

My parents are in Brookdale Vernon Hills (Formerly The Park at Vernon Hills). It's very good, the environment is beautiful, and the service seems to be very caring. The apartments are lovely. They offer a variety of things like exercise classes and movies. The dining room is lovely, and the food is good. The public spaces are beautiful.

Gail35

Brookdale was very nice and expensive. Mom only lived there for a year, and the apartments were gorgeous. They had like a rainforest in the middle of it, and she looked out over the rainforest. The dining and the food were very nice. They had things for the residents; they do little parties and bingo. They did have a swimming pool and waterfall in the middle of the rainforest. It was just too expensive.

Mollie4

We visited Brookdale in Vernon Hills, and they were fine. The staff seems to be friendly. It was clean, but I wouldn't say it was spacious. They do some recreational activities, like I know they have the residents playing cards, exercising, having social events, and going on trips.

Caring104869150

It was very attractive and well-appointed. When you walk in, it's very inviting, and the people were friendly. I had a very nice tour. The person who took me around was very informative. The rooms were very well-appointed and very nice. They just put $2M dollars into it to update, paint, and things like that. It was very fresh looking, and it has all the amenities that most of the other places have as far as a game room and a lot of things available for the residents as far as getting together to play chess or exercise class or anything like that. They have a really pretty dining room, and right in the middle of the building, there was an atrium that has a really pretty pool with a little waterfall; it was very nice to walk through there. It was very serene.

Eddy1

Brookdale Vernon Hills is good. I like it here. The staff has been pretty good to me. We have lots of activities like playing bridge or watching movies. I have a one-bedroom apartment.

Caring102828950

I visited my sister-in-law when she was in The Park in Vernon Hills, and I thought that was very good. She liked it, and she was able to transition from independent living to assisted living.  Unfortunately, she has passed away now, but I thought it was very good while she was there.

Caring11222014_02

The Park in Vernon Hills was very nice too. I was there at least a year ago. It’s a lovely place. The thing that attracted me was the indoor rain forest; it was really beautiful. It has an indoor pool that you can use too. When I was there, it was 3 below 0, and there were people swimming so that was really the main thing that I was interested in. The person who took me around was very nice. She’s been in touch two or three times, but at that time my husband was in a nursing home, and I was just planning ahead to what my future might hold. I saw the apartments; it was very nice. A very nice lady was hospitable to let us in. You bring your own furniture as far as I understand. There’s plenty to do; you can choose to do what you want or nothing -- it’s entirely up to you. They have a nice exercise program, happy hour on Fridays, transportation, and trips to entertainment and stores. They also have a lovely atrium area.

JS5

The facility was very active and alive during my two visits. The employees were friendly and helpful. The hallways seemed dark and maneuverability around the elevators was narrow (especially for a walker).

Caring87484250

Right now my mom is at a Brookdale facility in Vernon Hills. We are trying that out, and she seems to like it. It is pretty independent. She has been there for about six months, and we are seeing that she enjoys it. She likes being around the people and the activities. She's getting more and more acclimated. She's at The Park in Vernon Hills, which is now Brookdale Vernon Hills, and she seems very happy there. She doesn't require a lot. She is very simple, and she is very satisfied with everything, and we are too. It's just nice for her. They come and clean her room once a week. The common areas seem to be nicely maintained. There are some common areas, like the bathroom on the first floor, that look like they could be updated for the next couple of years, but I think for the most part when you walk in the staff is very friendly, the downstairs is inviting, and it's got a nice vibes to it. They seem to take very good care of it. The hallways and all that stuff are clean. I really don't have too many complaints.

Caring87717150

The staff at The Park was very friendly and accommodating. They met my schedule and answered my questions. They were very good.

Caring83609350

At The Park at Vernon Hills, they were friendly. It looked like an exceptional place. The rooms looked like they were well maintained.

Caring65656850

The Park was an okay facility. We knew a couple of couples that were there and they liked it. The rooms are nice, but they were just a little small.

Barbim42

The Park had one apartment that matched what we wanted. However, it was dark, dreary and dingy. We came in at the time that people were going in to eat and it was like sharks at a feeding frenzy. They were tripping over each other trying to get in the dining room first. The staff was very good and their amenities were great. If the bus was busy and you needed some place to go, there was a chauffer car that would take you. They had activities but I wasn't impressed with the environment of the entire community.

Melissa6

The Park at Vernon Hills was very nice. They had a rain forest at one area with all the trees in the middle. It was in the main lobby; it was surrounded by the room and it was lovely. They had plenty of space for parties and they had happy hours as well as weddings. Their food was very good. They had activities like arts, entertainment and exercise. They also had shopping trips. The only trouble that I had with them was that their rooms were very small.

Bertine

I just placed my daughter in The Park at Vernon Hills, so right now I'm still assessing things. It's closer to my home, I can be there in 15 minutes or so. It offers everything and anything I could have wished for. I actually have her in the independent living program there. They offer a lot of social activities, taking them out into the community regularly, they go out to local restaurants with live theater performance. It's been absolutely wonderful. It's close to beautiful rainforest. They have swimming pools, saunas, they do bingos, and they got every kind of club. She's in the walking club. It's a big property, so there are plenty of places for her to walk around safely. They have many options more than what she really needs. My daughter's problems were too many brain injury with short-term memory problems. But she's functional enough to have an appreciation for a small studio apartment she has and the activities. The food is like going to the Hyatt Hotel. She has two meals a day, they do Sunday brunch. Nothing is depressing about the place and nothing that gives you an opinion of old. It's a very ideal situation.