Brookdale Salem Virginia

Debra

I was very impressed with Brookdale Salem Virginia. It seemed to be a very nice facility. The dining area was a little more cramped than the other facility. They were close as far as they were seated, and it seemed like the residents were very comfortable with it. But I thought it was a little close. The staff was wonderful and very knowledgeable. They had plenty of activities planned. We saw the general area where they could watch television. They had a large front porch where they could go out, a nice little garden area, and an activities area. The rooms were spacious enough for assisted living, so I was very impressed with the size.

Tracey

I chose Brookdale Salem Virginia for my mom because the pricing was cheaper and they worked with you. It was clean and everything looked nice. It is in a convenient location, so I could drive by every day. The food is pretty good, too. The people who are working with the residents, like the CNAs, do great. The ones that are inside the office, like the senior nurses, are in the office a lot. There's been no communication as far as them getting in touch with me. They also put on there that my mom was getting assistance for showers and stuff like that. That was an extra $600 charge and they haven't gone in there once to help her. There are not a lot of activities, but they do fingernail polish for the residents or go to Walmart. You just sign the papers if you want to go.

Provider Response

Julie

We went to Brookdale Salem, but it was full. The rooms were pretty small compared to others, but the facility itself was nice, and it's a great location. I didn't really get a whole interaction with the staff. We weren't able to tour the inside, but the facility looked traditional.

KT

Brookdale Salem was the first choice my mother made, but the apartment was too small. She liked the proximity to stores and things like that, and she liked that there was a full kitchen. It was just a one-bedroom apartment, and it would've been too small for her. You have to bring your own furniture. The staff was very nice. They had activities. The other thing that we didn't like about it was they wouldn't allow her to have her own cleaning materials. They said she couldn't have them, and she felt that they were patronizing her a little bit.

Angela

I like the pricing of Brookdale Salem. The representative was very friendly and very informative. It is actually my preferred home for my father-in-law but his health has declined so the cost was prohibitive for our family. The atmosphere was very welcoming. The staff and the residents interacted very cordially with one another. I found it to be a very warm place. The dining area looked very nice. The residents were lined up to go into the dining area. The staff said that mealtime is a very social time of day, so that's one of the reasons why they were lined up to get in. They have a calendar of events that are offered throughout. They also have day trips where the activities director takes the residents to go shopping at Wal-mart. It is a beautiful and super friendly place. They kept in touch with me and were really informative when I called back. They were always very helpful. The facilities were well maintained, neat and orderly. It wasn't a large community. It was just nice size, which I like.

Jackie

I went to visit the memory center of Brookdale Salem, and it felt like they're in a basement. It was probably around lunch time. When we came up on the elevator, everybody was shoved into this little living room with a TV and everyone was just sitting there. It just didn't feel good. It felt like we're in a dungeon even though it was above ground. Everyone was just sitting in front of the TV and it didn't feel like there's any life in it. The rooms upstairs in the second floor were certainly not that nice, and they were very small. They had studios, and they had a room where you could have two people and they share a bathroom, but it was kind of like a hospital and not very nice. The staff was nice and friendly, and we talked to the people in the independent who said they like it. In the memory care we didn't see anybody out and about.

Provider Response

TS

My in-laws are in Brookdale Salem. The care is adequate, the food is marginal, and the administration is terrible. I would not recommend it. Basically everything administrative has been done in error, and there is at least one fire drill every week. The community is very nice. They have a two-room apartment, which is very nice, but the activities are very limited and they're not exactly what they tell you they are in the brochure. The ice cream parlor has no ice cream in it and the Sunday ice cream social consists of the residents sitting in the lobby eating little cups of ice cream. They have some really good staff members. The food is alright if you don't mind having cheese sandwiches on white bread and chicken tenders four days a week. Their meals are not served restaurant style.

ReeRee2

I could not have chosen a better place to call home. The staff are loving and have made this transition So much better. The food is wonderful with a large variety. The housekeeping and cleanliness is second to none.

Superman244680

I liked the appearance of Brookdale Salem, and the way everything looked inside. It didn’t look like an old folks’ home. At first the staff was pretty good, but right now I can’t say a whole lot about them because it seems like nobody knows what they are doing. They had an outbreak of some kind of virus and my aunt, who is over there and I’m her power of attorney, came down with it; they said that they called every family member, but I never got a phone call about her being sick or anything else. There have been other problems where they hadn’t notified me, either. I think their staff needs a lot of training. Cleanliness is good, but their housekeeping could be a lot better. A lot of times they don’t come around when they say they were going to. The food is very good.

Provider Response

Patty49

The inquiry was for my sister, and she already moved in Brookdale Salem. Our experience so far has been great. During our initial visit, she just clicked with the sales manager. She decided right there and then to move in. I did sit at lunch with my sister one day, and the food looked great. She scarfed the food down, and that was a good sign. It looked like home cooking that my mom used to cook. The staff has really helped my sister adjust. She is participating well in the activities. They seem to have a multitude of activities. She said she is busy and never had any downtime. It is just wonderful to see her active again. They have embraced her and pull her out of her shell. We are really grateful for that.

Victoria C

Brookdale Salem was excellent. I liked the setup of the facility in the way that they have separated the community into different sections. They have a dementia unit, and the activities there are very effective. The staff was very positive and very caring about their community and the residents. They keep their patients involved in the daily activities.

Caring100482150

We chose Emeritus at Ridgewood Gardens for my mother-in-law. It was a lot less expensive. It didn't have the nursing home kind of feel. Finally, they had the memory care we were looking for. We really liked the rooms at first, but now it is becoming a problem. We are kind of disturbed by my mother-in-law's roommate who is creating a bit of trouble. The rooms are spacious enough for what she needs, but it is not well maintained. We liked the community better in the beginning. It is OK right now, but it would be better if things changed. They are understaffed, and there are too many patients right now. They need more staff to take care of the people here, and they need better housekeeping in the rooms.

Provider Response

Gail27

Emeritus at Ridgewood Gardens was very attractive, and I liked everything about it. I liked the way their dining room was set up, and everybody that I spoke to was very friendly. I had no qualms about it at all. The food was excellent. The rooms were somewhat small, but it was bright and airy. They have reached out to me a couple of times, and I am very thankful for the fact that even if I am not going to be living there, they've reached out to me with suggestions and help. I saw nothing there that would make me feel like they were inadequate in any way. It was apparent to me that the residents were their primary concern, but the family members were also extremely important, and you cannot beat that.

Caring82788650

My mother-in-law is in Emeritus at Ridgewood Gardens and it is very good. The nursing staff seems veritable. The people in charge seem very knowledgeable and very willing to help. They are really nice people. The rooms are nice. They have a single room and a studio. Everything is clean. The administration works with you very congenially. They are friendly and helpful. I know they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. I hear that the food is good, but I didn't taste it. I like that they try to foster a sense of community more so than the other assisted living facility I visit. I will gladly live there.

ssmith56

I visited this community about 6 months ago searching for a place to care for my mother. The staff were very knowledgeable and we're so kind to my mother. I have since moved my mother into this community and she couldn't be happier!

Caring87115650

Emeritus looked fine. The room looks fine. The room had a living area and a bedroom. They also have studios. I didn’t like the fact that she would have to be on the second floor, though. I like one-level facilities.