I worked as a RN for this company for about 6 weeks. I was lied to about my job duties/workplace culture, from the moment I got hired. Nothing about this position is safe for the RN's nursing license. Many issues staff will direct toward the nurse, when I find that staff can be lazy and do not take delegating tasks well or correctly perform tasks, so the nurse ends up doing that. I worked the 3-11pm shift. I was told assisted living should be a bit less tasks to do than skilled nursing. Wrong! One nurse managing issues of an entire building (AL) of people that depend on the nurse when issues arise, is not practical. Especially, because of the size of the building, sometimes they will run with just one nurse for the entire building-memory care and assisted living, which is even more demanding. Management would come down on me for not punching out for my breaks-you can not take a break if you are literally running around the building and busy your entire shift. Too many tasks for the RN in a given shift-wellness director told me it was mainly narcotic administration and insulin administration, and a few other tasks here and there based on resident need. I could write a book on the short comings of this place. Not enough staffing, frequent call-outs, where the facility did not replace staff so you constantly have to work short, lack of support and communication from other departments/managers, thrown to the wolves my first day off of orientation-asked for another nurse and call
Beautiful community with lots of loving people to be surrounded by!
My day starts at 2pm, ends at 10pm, 4-5 days a week. I work full time with a rough 100 residents on the Assisted Living side of the building, and occasionally run over to the Memory Care side with the dementia residents, and I get a rough 37.5 hours each work week. I normally get to work, find my co worker(s) for the night, communicate with the AM shift to see what work needs to be done, or hear updates on our residents' conditions. I then normally see which showers I have to assist that evening so I can plan out when I will be able to do them, and what I will be able to do before and after. I help pass out the clean laundry that housekeeping has cleaned each day I work, I help change residents' depends, make sure they are clean, help them with whatever need they ask of me to help with, and make sure they are comfortable and content. I then bring residents to dinner at night, put them to bed, take out their trash and help clean their apartments when they need me to. I help lift and transfer a lot of our residents, and I help a lot of my co workers because I am pretty strong, so they rely on me to help with that. I also am able to build relationships with the residents, so when I am able to sit down for a little while, I converse and joke around with lots of the residents, because I consider them like my grandparents. I love each one dearly, and work hard to care for them individually. I have learned that no matter where you go, or what you do, if you truly care for someone an
ProsAnniversary starting date recognition during monthly meetings, new breakroom for employees.
ConsRaises are only up to $0.25 per year, Can't request time off beacuse it won't be approved, Even for personal and family emergencies, They schedule us short constantly for months on end, and it's hard to care for about 100 people while being short, we get most of the work done but we just don't have enough help everyday
stay clear and view frontlinePBS special on this company on web or tv
Was really pumped up in orientation they made you feel proud and how you would make a difference and pushed Their so called Family values. They do not live them with you and lie to many in interview. You do not find out till months later if lucky you may get a 5 to 14 cent raise. Management hides from corp and never see then when they are suppose to work weekends but they will take every weekend from you. They give certain people every other weekend off they will tell you they are working on it for everyone, NOT. Unfair practices when it comes to holidays where other assisted livings and nursing homes are more fair. They never keep up who worked a summer holiday to be fair and let you have at least one of the three. If your manager in uncaring they will have you work Christmas eve and Christmas where is there so called family values in that? Then you will end up the same the new years. They tell everyone they are going to work some weekends and yet they allow a few that are to be PRN get full time with no weekends. MA are lazy cannot ask them for help they do little and not trustworthy. First Shift you will be worked to death and the stress level is high. Care SEE frontline on the web about this company. We have people who do not belong in the building need to be under 24 staffing of a nurse with true CNA care. Many coworkers cut corners cover it up because they are either too tired, work too hard esp in dinning hall. First Shift spends over half of their shift in the dinni
ProsSome residents really care about you and you are all they got.
Consworked to death no raises no holidays off no respect to your family at home
2.0
Resident Care Associate | Wooster, OH | May 22, 2019
I stayed as long as I did for the residents only
The residents in the assisted living is what kept me at Brookdale as long as I did. I was employed as a third shift RCA and upon hire was told that I would not have to work in the memory care building that I was hired for assisted living. After a couple of months that was taken back and was told otherwise and that the supervisor who informed me I wouldn’t have to work in memory care was new at the time of telling me that so it didn’t stand. As an RCA you never know who your direct support is because there is hardly ever a nurse on third shift. If a problem or concern arises you must decide if it merits calling the on call or wait until the next business day to address. When waiting for the next business day, it is very hard to get ahold of any management. It seems as though management does not communicate with each other because when a corncern is brought to ones attention no one else is aware. Another associate comes and goes as pleases, takes well over the amounted time for lunch breaks, has been caught stealing cases of food and has never been fired or reprimanded enough to stop doing neglectful behavior. Those who are there for the residents and actually care for the residents are the ones who have it the worse, any concerns or problems brought up are brushed off and nothing is ever done to fix the issues. The management team needs training when it comes to communicating with associates, yelling and defensive speaking is not the professional or appropriate way to address
For context: I am in dining services.
I admit that I have yet to advance much through the ranks, so I haven't encountered the same circumstances as many of the other workers here.
However, at last as a dishwasher, I can say that Brookdale is the best company I've worked for so far.
The upper management actually listens to what I have to say. My input is valued. I've been acknowledged for the work I do. I am not penalized for my emotional state on a given day.
My coworkers and the office staff have my back when I am in a dire strait. We tend to be positive and give each other greetings and compliments. While professionalism definitely means not devolving into the sentimental, individuals I've confided feelings to don't put me down for having opened up.
I have encountered some difficulties and opportunities for improvement as well, so I have a lower-level understanding point for where these complaints and lower-score reviews are coming from.
However, I have thought out this and I realize: The very reason I for one can worry about these things, *is because* Brookdale creates a supportive, safe atmosphere where we can safely let our minds wander to these worries, and Brookdale itself makes of itself a company that I for one *care* about the success of.
As far as cons go, the two biggest I can think of - and it is *only* these two - are:
1. The snail-like pace of rising through the ranks. Brookdale has made itself to me, a company I *want* to be a part of, including in gro
ProsFree food, amiable atmosphere, employee wellness and input valuation, approachable superiors, balance of professional expectations with trust in employee autonomy
ConsSlowness of rising in ranks, bigger problems allowed to get out of hand (namely the trash)
I gave my heart and soul to this place for over 2 years. I never received appropriate training and asked for help for months and it all fell on deaf ears. I was on my own! The job was never ending with working 12+ hours a day and not so much as a "thank you"! AND phone calls and text message all night long until I went in the next morning. There is NO work life balance! They OWN you! 24/7/365! No matter what you do,it's never enough! I never took a lunch, eating at my desk. I even made sales! They do not care about the residents at all! All they care about is filling the building! The ED is heartless and when a resident passed away, her first statement was always "we can charge them until they get their stuff out of the room, so I'm in no hurry to have them get it out". When I started working there, the building was a complete nightmare, 2/3 full and horrible care staff! All of the caregivers were related to each other and made their own schedules! Most of them didn't speak English, so the residents, who already have dementia, had a hard time communicating with them. They didn't do their jobs even half way satisfactory. I completely revamped the staff and got good, caring, qualified caregivers in there. I was told by providers, that I completely turned the building around and I was the reason that the POAs were so happy. We were always understaffed because they pay caregiver a lousy $12.00 per hour to take care of 14 residents. I was expected to fill in on the floor includin
ProsNONE!
ConsOverworked and NEVER appreciated! Never got a break
I have mainly worked at the Brookdale of Kettering Ohio formerly known as the Grand Court of Dayton.
I really enjoy working with the residents and that is probably the only reason that I am still working with the company. I have been working there for almost four years now and when I first started there the place was wonderful to work for other than the pay, it sucked really bad and still does, it takes for ever to start earning half enough to live off of. When I first started there the Executive Director really was great to work for and the Financial Director that we had it seemed like there was never a mistake in pay roll or nothing and she really looked out for the residents and engaged with them really well, she always helped out with special events and she had a wonderful attitude, once she retired it just seemed like the place started going to pits, she went by seniority in the company and employee's got promotions that they deserved and had experience in. Now there are constant pay roll mistakes and you feel very uncomfortable going to talk to the person that is the Financial Director now because they just seem to always have an attitude about anything especially if they have to do any extra work. One minute she is so nice and the next she is just mean for no reason at all. It's like now they do not care if people have the proper credentials or experience for the positions they get and they they do not even try to train them the right way they just play favortism an
ProsWork with you if you are ill
ConsVery poor pay and do not go by seniority as they say they do
I worked for Brookdale Senior Living the entire time I was a manager for them, however Brookdale "culture" wasn't fully in place until about three months before I turned in my resignation.
Brookdale Senior Living, rated the 5th worst place to work for, should be number 1. Starting with the treatment of residents. Brookdale "culture" is code for, profit. So, if profit isn't being made, the resident suffers so the stock holders are left flush.
Under our previous culture, residents were treated to fantastic meals and could even submit their own recipes, something that really intertwined our entire campus, staff and residents alike. I was able to hold meetings, and manage the dining room in a restaurant style manner, as this was our goal. At rates starting at $3,800 a month and constantly increasing, I think that this type of treatment was what was expected at those rates. Each staff member in the Dining Room had the ability to get to know the resident and his or her preferences. Residents were constantly complimentary on how great the food and service was.
When Brookdale "Senior Solutions" came in, I became not only a working manager (ie, doing hourly jobs and going beyond my actual job responsibilities), but I was then made to cut 35% of my staff, offer less food choices, implement often times confusing management polices, and than constantly switching things around because our corporate leaders weren't happy with the policies they would make me put in place.
After
Honest opinion....There is a reason why this company is always hiring more staff, or employees are constantly quitting. The hardest working staff members are the least paid. The managers’ meet day to day to discuss topics solely based around budgets. Sales rep, seeking clientele solely based to fill a gap for a recent passing or availability of a room.
Incentive drives this company to unethical practices. The only time, Management (district level), cares is when THE BEST AUDIT is near. Then they will show up and arrogantly walk through the workplace demanding things be done. District management won’t even speak to you nor, acknowledge your existence. They have no problem taking away a pay raise (3%), even if you’re the hardest working individual. The only thing they care about, is passing that best audit and stay under budget, so they can collect a big fat bonus that only the ED and district managers benefit from. The overworked staff get nothing in return, at most, a pizza party at a mandatory meeting. I am just getting started.....
Brookdale informs residents and families of a 6% increase in monthly living expenses. This letter explained how it would pay staff better, giving employees what they deserve, ultimately driving them to perform better work and care for residents. 6% raise to every resident, think about that.... and they can only give 1.5 % raises on a measly 10.25 an hour employee? On an annual basis? Brookdale is bettering themselves ? By selling propertie
Rewarding work environment with supportive atmosphere
I started as a CNA at Brookdale Park Place in Spokane, WA. I was trained as a medication technician after about 10 months. Leaving this job was incredibly difficult for me because I valued my residents and my coworkers so greatly. This made all the difference in such a demanding position. Coworkers were always very supportive and it never felt like someone was working against me. Management went the extra mile to provide schedule flexibility if needed, and occasionally would put together employee appreciation events.
Anybody working in the medical field understands just how challenging their job it can be. Brookdale is no exception to this. Resultingly, conveying any negative aspects of the job is difficult because its not by any fault of the company. However, anyone working in medical also knows just how valuable they are to their residents, making it incredibly fulfilling and rewarding. Brookdale became a family, moreso than a job.
The assisted living facility has three floors with about 25-30 units each. The floors were divided upon two caretakers and two med techs during the day shift and down to one med tech at night. Graveyard shift had one of each. While I was there the 'assigned' work load was lopsided where one caretaker had more work than seemed possible and the other caretaker had almost no work load. I usually took the heavy load and at times it could get overwhelming, especially while new employees were getting their bearings. However, as a CNA, you're responsi
ProsGreat staff, Promotion Opportunities, Friendly and Safe Environment
ConsLow compensation
Questions And Answers about Brookdale Senior Living
What is a typical day like for you at Brookdale Senior Living?
Asked Mar 15, 2020
Over worked and underpaid
Answered Jan 28, 2023
Work and helping the elderly
Answered Jan 27, 2023
What is the best part of working at Brookdale Senior Living?
Asked Nov 23, 2019
The friendships with staff and residents
Answered Nov 10, 2022
Great work environment
Answered Jul 30, 2022
If you were to leave Brookdale Senior Living, what would be the reason?
Asked Mar 17, 2017
Money! Better benefits! Lack of fair promotion.
Answered Nov 10, 2022
Management, they play favoritism to certain people and treat everyone else like dirt.
Answered May 27, 2022
What is the promotion process like at Brookdale Senior Living?
Asked Oct 14, 2020
Very bad
Answered Oct 19, 2022
There is none
Answered Oct 19, 2022
What would you suggest Brookdale Senior Living management do to prevent others from leaving?
Asked Mar 15, 2017
Pay them better. Find cheaper better insurance.
Answered Nov 10, 2022
Make your regional directors work at sites to see the day in and outs of over worked staff and managers
