Overall sentiment across reviews of Brookdale Edina is predominantly positive around staffing, social programming, amenities, and the facility’s built environment, but there are persistent and meaningful concerns around clinical staffing coverage, value/cost, and the operational impacts of ongoing construction and building scale.
Staff and care: One of the most consistent strengths cited is the quality and demeanor of frontline staff and tour personnel — reviewers frequently describe staff as friendly, caring, knowledgeable and responsive. Many families praised specific leaders (sales and nursing directors) and long-tenured associates who create a warm, family-like atmosphere. That said, there is notable variability in clinical care reports. Several reviews cite strong therapy support (OT/PT), engaged nursing at times, and good caregiver ratios in some units, while others report limited nurse presence, unresponsive staff during emergencies, delayed assistance after falls, medication communication gaps, and even formal complaints. In short: while many families feel supported and confident in daily care, a nontrivial subset experienced lapses in assisted-living or memory-care oversight, which is important for prospective residents who need reliable medical and safety coverage.
Facilities and layout: Brookdale Edina’s physical campus and amenities are major selling points. The facility is praised for its clean, bright apartments (some about 650 sq ft), large windows, remodeled interiors, and a hotel-like lobby. The unique connection to Edinborough Park — a large indoor arboretum/park with hundreds of plants and public access — plus on-site amenities such as a pool, fitness center, salon, movie theater, bistro, and underground parking make it feel resort-like. These features support active, social lifestyles and intergenerational interactions (children in the indoor park). However, the community’s scale and high-rise design (18 stories, with assisted living on specific floors) create tradeoffs: many reviewers found the building large, impersonal, and sometimes confusing to navigate. Narrow hallways, only a few elevators, and distance between spaces can be challenging for mobility-impaired residents or those with cognitive decline.
Dining and activities: Dining receives strong, frequent praise. Multiple mentions of restaurant-style service, diverse menus, dietitian oversight, and chefs interacting with residents indicate a robust food program that many find better than average. Activity programming is another consistently positive theme: reviewers report abundant offerings (concerts, movies, fitness classes, lectures, resident-led clubs, outings, happy hours) and a busy social calendar. This programming is a key reason many residents report strong quality of life and social integration. A minority of reviewers cited meal inconsistencies, relocated dining without notice, or repetitive menus, so prospective residents should confirm current dining practices and CHOICE-dining options.
Management, operational issues and remodeling: Several reviews note strong administrative and sales support during touring and move-in, including helpful ambassadors and staff who assist with logistics. Conversely, recurring operational complaints include inconsistent communication about billing, deposits, move-out prorating, and unexpected charges. Numerous reviewers also highlight the disruptive impact of ongoing renovations: noise, dust, blocked areas, displaced programming, and resident stress — sometimes while residents are billed at full rent. These issues are temporally significant and should be clarified with management regarding timelines, resident protections, and any compensatory measures.
Safety, clinical limitations and regulatory constraints: Important red flags include mixed reports on nursing availability and safety responses (including a report of a resident lying on the floor for 30 minutes), and inconsistent memory-care conditions (door security concerns, limited beds, and variations in quality). Additionally, Brookdale Edina’s high-end, private-pay positioning means some services (therapy, higher-level skilled nursing) may be limited by Medicare-based rules and the site’s refusal or inability to accept Elderly Waiver cases in Edina — which affects affordability and long-term care planning for families relying on public funding.
Cost and value: Many reviewers describe Brookdale Edina as a premium, high-cost option — “Cadillac of senior living” — with a level of amenities and programming to match. However, several families expressed concerns about value for money given reports of staffing fluctuations, construction impacts, and occasional service lapses. Prospective residents should get detailed, written fee schedules (including pet fees, therapy fees, meal package options, guest room rates, and incidentals), and confirm policies on deposits, prorating, and billing dispute resolution.
Patterns and final takeaways: Brookdale Edina is highly recommended by many reviewers for independent and socially active seniors who prioritize amenities, dining, programming, location, and a lively community connected to an indoor park. It tends to excel at resident engagement, hospitality-style dining, and the overall aesthetic and upkeep of public spaces. Conversely, families of frailer seniors or those who need consistent 24/7 clinical oversight should carefully vet current nursing coverage, response times, assisted-living staffing levels, and memory-care procedures. Also confirm the current status of renovations and any temporary service impacts. Because experiences range from glowing to critical, the most practical next steps for prospective residents are a detailed, in-person tour focused on clinical staffing and safety protocols, a review of the full fee schedule and resident contract, and direct conversations about construction timelines and compensation policies. This will help align expectations to Brookdale Edina’s strengths (amenities, activities, food, social life) and mitigate the operational and clinical concerns reported by a subset of reviewers.
