Overall sentiment across the reviews is strongly positive with recurring high praise for the people, programming, dining, and the physical campus at Oakmont of Brookside. The most consistent theme is the caliber of staff: reviewers repeatedly describe staff as caring, attentive, professional, and quick to respond. Multiple reviewers named individuals (marketing director Aron, front desk Elaine, head nurse Cameron, and staff member Patty) as exemplars of responsiveness and helpfulness. Many families report that staff know residents by name and treat them like family, providing dignity and personal attention. Call-button response times and visible nighttime staff presence were specifically noted as strengths, contributing to a sense of safety and peace of mind for residents and families.
Care quality and clinical services earn generally favorable comments. Memory care is frequently described as thoughtfully designed and delivering good outcomes, with regular check-ins and attentive caregivers. Assisted living services are typically portrayed as respectful and dignified; several reviewers appreciated the coordination of medications and close contact with personal managers. However, there are notable exceptions: a small number of reviewers reported serious care concerns, including understaffing, poor transitions, and one especially troubling hospice experience where rooms were unfurnished, pain management was reported inadequate, and a patient was returned to the hospital and later died. These reports stand in contrast to the majority and point to variability in care experiences that may depend on staffing levels and circumstances.
Dining and culinary offerings are a major asset. Many reviewers praised chef-prepared meals, restaurant-style dining, daily specials, and special treats (examples include standout salads, a signature cocktail, mojito happy hour, and specific dishes like bacon-wrapped scallops). Breakfast served all day, a strong salad program, and positive interactions with kitchen and wait staff were common. A few reviewers mentioned issues such as perceived meal repetition, occasional rude dining staff, or an alternative menu that carried extra charges. Overall, food quality and variety are widely celebrated and contribute strongly to resident satisfaction.
Activities, social life, and programming are another consistent strength. Reviews list an extensive array of activities — lectures and discussions, games (poker, bingo), crafts, yoga and aromatherapy, live performers, movies, scheduled outings and weekly bus trips, gardening, and themed social hours — that support a lively, engaged community. The activity director receives positive mention for energy and engagement. Many reviewers credit these programs with improving residents’ social skills, mood, and overall quality of life.
The campus and physical facilities receive high marks for aesthetics, cleanliness, and maintenance. Descriptors used include beautiful, upscale, hotel-like, serene, and well-kept. Outdoor amenities (courtyard with pergolas and fountains, landscaped gardens, lakefront promenade and bike trails) are repeatedly noted as major pluses. Onsite conveniences — salon/barbershop, gym, movie theater, bistro, event rooms, and scheduled medical transportation — bolster the independent living experience. Private studio suites and spacious one-bedroom apartments are commonly appreciated, and families often highlight housekeeping and weekly laundry as helpful services. A few practical facility concerns were raised: some apartments experienced poor cooling/air conditioning and one reviewer cited the elevator as distant from certain units. Accessibility was generally good (wheelchair-friendly paths and courtyard access), but a specific safety/accessibility issue was reported where a security lock box was mounted too high for wheelchair users.
Management, administration, and communications show mixed feedback. Numerous reviewers commend the sales and marketing staff for informative, thorough tours and transparent paperwork explanations, and many felt the initial tour experience was excellent. Conversely, several reviewers raised concerns about misleading or inconsistent pricing (phone quotes lower than tour quotes, promised waived application fees that were charged, and confusing point-system pricing for escalating care needs). Administrative transparency and billing accuracy were flagged as areas needing improvement by multiple reviewers. Some families also reported coordination gaps between management and frontline staff, which can create confusion about care plans and condition changes.
Cost and contract structure are prominent concerns: many reviewers describe the community as expensive, and a few specifically note that costs can rise with declining health and that there may be no cap on assisted living expenses. The point-system pricing model and private-pay focus were cited as potential stress points for families evaluating long-term affordability. At the same time, some reviewers felt Oakmont offered good value relative to previous facilities due to higher quality and superior amenities.
Safety and clinical escalation issues require attention. While many reviewers felt safe because of visible staff and prompt responses, there are recurring notes about the campus not being adequately secure for residents who wander and at least one serious hospice-related failure. Understaffing was mentioned intermittently, with some families experiencing more constrained staff availability during busy periods. These reports suggest that while daily living support and social programming are robust, higher-acuity medical or end-of-life care may expose gaps in resources or processes.
In summary, Oakmont of Brookside is portrayed by a majority of reviewers as a high-quality, well-appointed senior living community with exceptional dining, vibrant programming, and warm, attentive staff that create a strong sense of home and community. The physical campus, amenities, and social offerings draw praise and appear to meaningfully enhance residents’ quality of life. Key areas for potential improvement include clearer, more consistent pricing and billing practices, strengthened administrative communication and coordination, addressing occasional understaffing to reduce variability in care, resolving accessibility details (e.g., lock box height, elevator placement), improving HVAC performance in some units, and ensuring hospice and higher-acuity care protocols and room preparations meet family expectations. Prospective residents and families should weigh the strong positive culture, food, and activities against the higher cost and the small but serious reports of administrative and clinical lapses when considering Oakmont of Brookside.
