Cantata Adult Life Services Brookfield, IL

We liked the vibe of Woodlands at The British Home - it was friendly and casual, yet the business of taking care of those who needed it was being attended to. The grounds were spacious and well tended. We were in Chicago checking out assisted living residences and decided to check out some of the suburban areas, since they are so easy to access from the city. There were plenty of staff to take care of basic needs and cleaning. All of the areas were pleasant to be in and we could see that the residents thought so, too. The activities ranged from board games, to discussions, private reading and watching film and TV - some people were also using computers. The staff is well-versed at taking care of a variety of types of people, from those who are not ambulatory - to people who have memory issues. Our aunt is in the early stages of dementia - it comes and goes - so she needs to live in a place that can handle this. The indoor areas were all clean and bright. There is plenty of sunlight so that they do not need to use lighting when it is sunny outside. This is true for many of the dwelling spaces, as well. Our aunt likes to make artwork, so the lighting is really appreciated. The activities they plan regularly include everything from visiting local restaurant favorites, the public library and movies - to day trips to nearby Chicago. They have planned exercise classes - but also offer residents to work out any time they wish. We liked that they encourage exercise - a people with early dementia can be forgetful. The dining room was quite nice, with plenty of space. The food we saw looked and smelled delicious. The menus all had healthy food options for all kinds of diets. Healthy snacks are offered all day and into the evening, as well as whenever residents request them. The private areas were nicely decorated and personalized for the residents and it was clear that they enjoyed their surroundings a great deal. We are glad we took the time to look at this facility and it is in the running as one of the better ones we visited so far.

One of my parents is a resident at cantata on the assisted living side. The rental is expensive and doesn't include much assistance. Every extra service is an additional cost. If we had more time, we would have gone elsewhere.

i would not use this facility ! it was ok when it was the british home but now that cantat took over it has gone down hill. the staff is not very pleasant to residents. the workers are not very professional. clothing disappears, the physical therapy is completely useless . i have been at a new facility for 2 months and i am beginning to walk again i was at cantat for close to 3 years and never did they attempt to get me up even when i requested always was told your not ready i plan to be back in my own home in 6 months now that i am in a facility that cares

I walked through Cantata Adult Life Services' nursing home facility. I found the people there to be very nice to deal with. The place seemed to be very good. It seemed to me to be well kept and very attractive.

My parents lived at Cantata in Brookfield. It was terrible.. The staff complained to me when my elderly Mom pooped in her pants.

My mom was happy with the lady from Cantata Adult Life Services. She was just fantastic, wonderful person. But her hours didn't meet with what we needed her for. They required more hours per day for someone to come out. We just couldn't do that because it depends on what my mom needs. Sometimes my mom needed her more, sometimes less. So we went with a private individual because her hours are better suited to our needs. My aunt was also a resident there for about four years before she passed. We couldn't be more satisfied with them. The grounds are gorgeous, the nursing home itself is spotless, very clean, and no smell. The staff is so helpful.

Cantata is the new name for what had previously been the British Home and apparently its name was changed just a few weeks ago. I was told that the name change is an attempt to overhaul the stuffy image associated with the British Home. The word "Cantata" is derived from the Italian word "cantare" which means "to sing" and the name change is meant to convey a kind of new age composition of voices to care for the elderly. To my mind I never had that image of the British Home as being stodgy. I used to go biking along the bike trail just outside the home and I was more curious than anything. I had always associated the Home with Brookfield Zoo which is practically in its backyard. Nevertheless I can appreciate what the nursing home is trying to do in recreating its image. I would recommend this assisted living facility based on its cleanliness, the amount of light exposure from its modern windows and an ample size health center that also allows membership from the community. Indeed on the day that I visited I saw some very energetic seniors on bikes and tread mills and I was very impressed. These folks were trying to live life to its fullness! That along with the light streaming from the floor to ceiling windows in the lobby and throughout sold me. Like any place that you are deciding to live there are pros and cons. Another positive is the proximity to medical staff that are housed at the facility. The thing that I did not like about the facility was the rather nondescript furnishings (the chairs and tables throughout). The sitting rooms just didn't seem like a place I could relax, but that could just be my own taste. The dining room I thought was pretty generic (except for the windows). The menu did not impress me, but I will say that I did get a whiff of what smelled like peach cobbler and that was fantastic. I was told that meal preparation had been taken over by new management recently. I also did not care for the individual apartments, especially the carpet which was dark and seemed institutional. I will say that the facility was clean and smelled good. The receptionist and customer relations specialist were very nice and helpful. Overall I would recommend Cantata and this may be a great time to move here not only because of its name change, but the kind of upbeat image it is trying to promote.