BROOKDALE SHADOWLAKE

I have lived at Brookdale Shadowlake for 11 years and I am quite satisfied here. We have a wide variety of activities. There are many ways that residents can contribute to the community. Management is accessible and is quick to act on complaints and suggestions. For many years I have been able to serve as a Resident Advocate and have had input in many areas. This has been important to me, and there is always room for others like me. The Caregiving staff is cheerful and helpful. The food is above average. Our buildings are kept clean and our grounds are well tended. New group activities are tried out all the time and assistance found for individual activities if requested. Anyone looking for a relaxing well cared for community would like it here.

Think long and hard before you allow a loved one or family member to move into this facility. The staff has a high turn over rate, the food is institutional style and menu rotation is minimal....Alice's Chicken Salad was on the menu for 3 years. The call button pendant system to get an attendant to help is least desirable...very hard to depress the button to alert the need for help. The rent is extremely high for the services offered. Social Director is not able to help residents get to planned events and doesn't have enough help to manage all the wheelchair residents.

If you love your family members, think twice before dumping them here. I watched a dear family member suffer abuse from untrained low paid “caretakers” who are barely certified. We spent the majority of our time here having to keep an eye on the caretakers and provide additional care for our family member. The food they serve looks comparable to a public school cafeteria. I don’t know if they have made drastic improvements within the last year or two, but I seriously doubt it. I don’t want your sympathy, I want accountability.