line cook

qualified medication aide

caregiver

executive director

certified medication aide

Civitas Senior Living

I liked working for Arabella, it was okay. Pros: The bosses are nice, helpful, respectful, and very understanding. Great teamwork, everyone looked out for eachother, the employees get free meals. It was a pleasure prepping the food and serving it to the residents, I also enjoyed dishwashing, listening to music while getting them done. I liked the benefits, and the paid time off. Cons: The residents, dont me wrong they are nice, but some of them can be a pain and pretty annoying to deal with. They always complain and they are miserable, which can take a toll on the employees mental health. I get that they are elderly and they go through it but the employees are humans too and we all have a limit on what we can take. It just takes a special type of person with thick skin, patience, and a lot of self control to do this type of job. Not only you have to do your job but you have to do other people’s jobs. You may get called in early, pressured to stay passed your shift, called in early from break, or called in on off days. They force all employees to attend meetings and do online training that has nothing to do with the job position itself. I understand that going above and beyong to make sure our residents and co-workers are taking care of is important but at the same time its unfair and inconvenient to those that are already trying to do their own jobs. The harder you work, the more they expect out of you. If that’s the case, then they need to be paying more. The pay just doesn't seem to be good to be working pretty much your whole day, taking care of the residents. Its nothing but a waste of time, You can hardly even get important things in your outside life done or even live your own life. 

What is the best part of working at the company?
The best part of working there is that the people who live there get to make choices about what kind of food they are served and get good food portions . 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The kitchen lacked a full time manager, there was no team work and it seemed that there was no fluidity. The cook had the job of cooking, serving, steam table,  dishes , truck day and expect to do this while being short handed, mouthy CAN's who think they know your job and can do it better than you. A very hostile environment and very stressful. The waste of food in the kitchen is pitiful and the residents deserve better with their money. So much food was left over only to be thrown out or told to take it home because it wouldn't be used for another time. I didn't understand that,  given all the alternative meals made daily.  

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The kitchen lacked team work. There was a lot of "It's not in my job description". After cooking a meal and several alternative meals and then serving on the steam table , I am suppose to have another kitchen member to be a runner just in case there isn't something on the serving line that someone wants . They are not suppose to be back washing their dishes so they can go home as soon as the main meal is served  done. They nerd to help with clean up first then we all do our dishes. There was no respect

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Mostly pretty good when everyone works together. Truck day is very bad. Very hectic. Being shorthanded does not help and no the manager does not pitch in to help. It may be different now since I don't work there anymore. And once again too many alternative meals to prep and cook along with the main meal and other prep work.

What is the best part of working at the company?
The residents only. I’m a nurse I love what I do. 

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The Ridglea Community it was no secret of the lack of respect. Several care staff and Med aides their attitudes and behaviors was unbelievable. Apparently, it’s been allowed for a while. I observed this first day of being employed. I was outwardly disrespected by staff and was put on the spot and basically told by the ED I had to get it under control. On a daily basis majority of each day nothing but drama out of control. Having to deal with issues of staff wanting to fight being very disrespectful to each other in front of residents and their families. No assistance from the leader of this community which made it extremely hard and stressful. I was only employed with this company for 2 months and fingers was pointing at myself that the wellness department was lacking leadership. The chaos was all there prior to my employment at this community. The daily chaos that was presented each day made it difficult to focus on the main priority which is the care of the residents.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Work environment was toxic at The Ridglea Community. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
A typical day was full of drama and gossip. The ED, AA and Marketer behind closed doors gossiping. Marketer playing both sides of the fence. The AA who thinks she’s the actual ED and the bodyguard of the ED. Care Staff allowed to be disrespectful not follow the rules. If they come to complain to the ED it’s noticed that they could continue.

The job lies to you about how much you are paid. You can definitely make 21k a year, but that is not nearly enough for the tasks you are supposed to do. If you work there you are not only a caregiver or med aide, you are a server, a custodian, you do people's laundry, and you are supposed to do all of those things while also being scrutinized for missing something. Trash was always something we got a talking to about. The benefits they offer after your probation period take nearly 200 dollars out of your paycheck (You will start at 11 dollars an hour) which is about a 700 dollar check. Meanwhile, the management kicks back in their offices and is fairly rude (depending on who you are) They say they like to promote internally, but I didn't see that while I worked there. I had to beg for a promotion because I was already doing what was asked of the promotion while not being promoted. The residents are the only good part of the job, but it does not make up for the absolute awful atmosphere I had to work in. If you aren't worried about making end's meet without doing a LOT of overtime (which they WILL call you on your days off and constantly ask you to stay for 16 hr shifts) Then this job is for you. Otherwise, I would stay away. The turnover is bad as well, I trained close to 2 dozen people only for them to leave. You also, don't get paid for training people unless they stay for 3 months in which case you have to find and fill out the form yourself to get the supplemental pay. 

I am not a disgruntled employee.  The fact is that this company only focuses on the bottom line $$$$$$ money, money, money and not for the residents as people needing care. The only positive reviews are from the corporate employees who get paid great salaries and work in a office. For the employees who actually work in the facilities and with the residents they are overworked and underpaid. The wellness staff are universal employees they are caregivers, med tech, dining room servers, housekeepers and every other title you can think of. Management tries to avoid working the floor when. Short staffed and act angry and upset when they have no choice too. Management is always threatening to write up or fire staff for every thing that the corporate moguls put pressure on them for. the stress from Uptop corporate management is pressured down to the staff that actually work..this is why each facility has a large turnover rate in staff.. pay is poor for the job description, expectations and actual on the job requirements and work. This company offers no substantial benefits, the health care plan is actually too high priced for the wages the staff recieve. And there is no free lunch its $3. Lunch ticket right before the food is sent to the garbage. The wellness staff work as dining staff. 1 of a few companies that doesn't have it's own dining staff in the longterm care industry. This adds to the stress of facility management, staff, housekeepers and residents as this is an ongoing issue.

I loved my job and the clients. The upper management was awful. They lied about everything. They would lie to clients coming in about what they would offer them. They promised all clients things they never got. The marketing people that would come in from the Company office out of Fort Worth would lie to them all just to get them to sign a contract. It was a money hungry company, I work very hard at this job and gave 13 hours and more everyday. I bought and paid for things out of my own pocket for my clients to have. When I went on vacation they called me on vacations and told me I couldn't return to work, because I was under investigation for something I knew nothing about. When I got to return, I had been written up for everything. I couldn't believe what was happening. It was all a lie and a total back stabbing game they do when employees don;t lie and do what they say. I am a strong woman and I have worked for 35 years of my life. Hard work. Never once have I taken unemployment or ask for anything to help me. This company told me that I would be looked at every week to see if I had improved and if not, I would be terminated. That is a good lie to say next week you will be gone. I refused to sign the lies that they had written me up on. I also resigned. I was not working 35 years of my life with a write up being fired. I did nothing wrong. Never got anything from this company. Would I won't anyone to live here. No.

The Brooks at first seems like a great place to work but, the management doesn't care about anything other than themselves and making money. They are unsupportive and don't communicate well with their staff. Every staff meeting I ever went to was telling us all of the things we are doing wrong never anything positive. If you communicate your concerns or try to stand up for yourself or others they retaliate and create drama. 

The community relation directors aka sales continues to put residents in Independent living that need higher levels of care, resulting in residents falling and remaining on the floor for days - then they blame someone who had no control over the situation and fire them. These residents who need higher levels of care not only end up hurt in the process but, the other residents who are fully independent don't have a good experience. 

The only good thing about this job is the residents. I have met some of the best, most kind people working there. You form connections and bonds that mean so much to not just the residents but also yourself. 

The job itself is easy, it is the management that can make things difficult and miserable. Staff turnover is extremely high and for good reason. I think if there was a change in executive director and sales staff the brooks could become a good place to work. 

I worked here for around 8 months as a server, the residents were the main reason i stayed so long. I had major issues with how the place was run, the upper management has unrealistic expectations on their "lower level" employees for how much work was expected of them. All of my coworkers were over worked and burnt out every single day. They were talked down to by the head director when things were not upto their standards. This facility claimed to care for the staff and residents but would cut corners and blame everyone but themselves when things went wrong. The kitchen was severely understaffed to the point where coworkers of mine worked 12 hour days for a month straight. We had 2 head chefs quit in the time I worked here due to the upper management in the company not giving them the resources they needed to run the kitchen properly, Which directly impacted the residents quality of life. There were multiple times where we didnt have a single cook on staff, and had to scramble to figure out meals for the residents. They werent able to hire more people for shifts that they needed for the kitchen to run smoothly as it cost the company too much money. Which caused a higher turn over rate in employees and even more work placed on the remaining ones. I would not recommend working here.

Management is terrible. I'd love to list names but my review wouldnt be posted. Their constantly contradicting themselves. AWD in AL is a complete liar. Starts drama between employees. Rude. Ignores complains. They over work you and cheat you on your pay. When you question it. They'll make up an excuse for it. HR isn't really HR. Constantly making new rules without enforcing them. No cameras in building work. Inside or outside. They have caregivers/ medication aides doing nurses jobs. Injection, Wound care etc. They dont properly train you on anything. If you question it or ask for help management will tell you they'll come to help you but never show up. Always short staff. They fire people they don't like. They favor employees. Management is unprofessional. If the building gets state called  they'll set up employees and lie about it. Documents aren't ever read. Half of the residents they bring in aren't fully evaluated. They'll bring in people with severe behavior health issues. Or other seeking skilled facility help. They always have residents "Escaping" They false document on injuries, medication, daily task. When you try to correct them they'll say the regional director of wellness will he upset with them if they find out. You can inform the executive director all you want. She'll smile and say thank you. (In one ear and out the other)

I am a part-time evening/weekend receptionist. I am surprised how everyone (management, co-workers, residents, guests) is so nice. Hearing please and thank you is the norm. My job is not exciting, but it is rewarding as I have the opportunity to help residents and guests and make the residents' lives easier/better. The facility and grounds are beautiful. I do question having to go to staff meetings and do online trainings that do not apply to my job in any way. They should have different meetings/trainings that actually apply to my position. I would like learning how to interact better with residents, especially memory care patients as my relationship with them is very different from caregivers who have to assist with their ADLs, whereas I may see them only when they come to the front desk with a particular problem, real or imagined, or questions that they may or may not comprehend/accept the answer to. I would like to learn how I can give them the help they want and need and help them feel more secure. Overall, Arabella is a very good place to work and I would recommend it to others.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Line cook 8 salaries reported	$17.69 per hour
Qualified medication aide 4 salaries reported	$16.00 per hour
Caregiver 4 salaries reported	$13.75 per hour
Executive director 4 salaries reported	$102,250 per year
Certified medication aide 3 salaries reported	$17.33 per hour

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