BRAESWOOD ESTATES SENIOR LIVING

After Braeswood Estates' failings of this past week I have to speak up and warn others about the continuing decline of this assisted-living community. I help manage the medical affairs, living arrangements, and care of a young-seventies gentleman who was recently struck by a vehicle running a red light while on his daily routine bicycling ride. We chose Braeswood Estates as his current residence since it was in close proximity to the Memorial Hermann TIRR Rehab facility, just 2 blocks away. What we didn't realize was that Braeswood Estates seems to be plagued with an exodus of employees and continually declining quality of care. But this latest incident is beyond acceptable and jeopardizes the health and well being of my friend. This past week someone on the staff searched residents' rooms confiscating and discarding vital prescription medications! All of this was done without the residents' notice nor approval! This is no lie. My friend had a small jar of prescription analgesic cream that he regularly applies to his arms to control neuropathic pain caused by his spinal-cord injuries, and it was taken from him and obviously discarded. This compounded medication costs $212.99 for a 120 gram jar and they will not even answer my emails requesting that it be returned (they claimed to the resident that they "can't find" it). They also took several Zofran tablets (prescribed and on his medications list) that he takes on an occasional basis to alleviate nausea symptoms. Plus, they took a full prescription bottle containing antibiotic tablets that he has been ordered to start taking one week prior to an upcoming surgery. His surgery will very-possibly be cancelled if we cannot retrieve this preoperative medication or get a new prescription from his provider. I will add that these medications have been out and in plain view in this resident's room for months. No staff member, including the Executive Director, the Nursing Director, nor the Medication Technicians have ever said that having this medication in his room was unapproved or disallowed. And since this incident, I have read over every page of the facility's "Admission Policy and Rental Agreement", "Resident Bill of Rights", and "Resident Handbook". What is stated in the "Resident Bill of Rights is that the resident "Has the right to make his/her own choices regarding personal affairs, care, benefits, and services". It is also stated that he has the right to "retain and use personal property in his or her immediate living quarters". While the "Resident Handbook" states that "Every effort will be made to notify you that an employee will enter or has entered your room for non-routine events", this unannounced and unauthorized search, seizure, and disposal of allowed personal property is not only contrary to the stated policy, it also appears to be an illegal act. This all happened not only to my friend, but to other residents in the facility as well. I have heard that others are planning to move out now because of this very issue, as well as the other host of problems now going on there. My attempts to resolve this matter have been ignored by the managerial and executive staff, leaving me no choice but to bring it to the attention of the public and the corporate office. Failure to promptly remedy this situation will lead me to continue this review further, noting the multiple additional deficiencies I have witnessed and am aware of. Corporate will be receiving a letter from me this week and I look forward to their response.

Braeswood Estates staff is very professional and genuinely vested in care of their residents. My family member loves it there and finds everyone they come in contact with friendly and helpful. Very pleased with our selection of Braeswood Estates.

My grandmother moved here over a year ago and my family and I were very apprehensive about moving her in. She adjusted well and made some new friends, she didn't need much care at the time. However, now she needs more assistance with things and I have to say the teamwork in this building got right on it and ensured that she received that level of care that she now required. Staff is friendly and helpful and the nurse managers are PHENOMENAL!! You get prompt callbacks and responses to any questions or concerns. My family and I feel at ease and glad we have made an extension to our family. The staff at Elmcroft is now family to us.