Brookdale Oak Park

Molly

Without question, Brookdale Oak Park had one of the best communities of residents of all the places I looked at, both here and in Evanston. It was a very energetic and active community. The staff who gave me the tour was great. She's been there for a number of years, so she knew the place. There was a very friendly vibe and a good vibe between the residents and the staff. They all seemed to know each other, and there was a lot of smiling and greeting, and they were engaged with each other. The physical building itself and the rooms were dated. Brookdale had a great sense of community, but the rooms were darker and a little smaller. The layout didn't make as much sense. Brookdale had one thing that you cannot discount as a senior. It had a great location. You could not get a better location for a senior who can't walk for miles. Everything was literally outside your door. It had a pretty robust set of group activities, and there was a lot of community interaction and involvement.

Barbara

I've chosen Brookdale Oak Park and I'm in the process of moving in. The tour was wonderful. It was so friendly, pleasant, inviting, and answering questions. It made me feel very important. I am coming from a fairly decent-sized condo, so I was downsizing in space, but it's still very nice. Wonderful staff. There's a bunch of activities. The atmosphere was very pleasant and very caring.

Joseph

Brookdale Oak Park was inviting, calm, and nicely decorated. The apartment was spacious. We're looking for a two-bedroom, and we saw one, and that's very nice. The staff member during the tour was excellent. She was very helpful, knowledgeable, courteous, respectful, answered our questions, and was thorough. We weren't able to sample the food, but the dining room looked very nice and very appealing, and was a nice place to eat. The facility was excellent.

Joe

I toured Brookdale Oak Park. They had an in-house chef. They were very friendly. It just didn't impress me as much as the other place I went to. They gave me homemade truffles to take home. They had a lot of resident led activities. They had quite a few activities and stuff to keep them busy. The rooms, for the price level, were a lot smaller than I would anticipate.

Xavier

The woman who showed us around Brookdale Oak Park was very friendly. It's very good seeing how she interacted with the other people living there and the other employees. They have a good working relationship and good friendship there. I also like how nice and clean and well put together the building was as well. I also like how convenient it was. It was right next to the stores and the gas station. Overall, it's a very nice place and has a very nice view from the upper floors. The staff members I interacted with were all very friendly and very willing to work. I only got to look at some of the menus and the dining setup. They showed me a one-bedroom and a studio and they were clean. I feel like they put a lot of thought into older people, especially ones that are in wheelchairs, and lower countertops, and it's easy to reach things. It was very well put together.

Maria

Brookdale Oak Park is a beautiful facility. They seemed to have a really good staff. They have a lot of extra available services and activities for seniors. They have a beautiful rooftop deck for seniors and they also have nice one-bedroom units. They seemed to have a nice menu selection and particularly, a fair amount of fish as an option, which is important for my mother who likes fish a lot. It's gorgeous and has Prairie Frank Lloyd Wright's style decor.

Dorthea

The location of Brookdale Oak Park is perfect. My church community is in Oak Park, so I know a lot of people living close by and I know the area well. Actually one of my friends just moved to Brookdale Oak Park, which was kind of what prompted me to even look at that. The person who showed me around was very friendly and accommodating. She was very well informed with lots of good information to share with me. The facility was lovely. They have a really good dietary program where they could accommodate dietary issues easily. I liked the fact that the apartments have a full kitchen. If I wanted to cook meals for myself, I could do that as well. They also have a little area where some of the residents can do some gardening. They have groups that go walking, a lot of different activities, and transportation to activities as well.

Gerd

I visited Brookdale Oak Park and I liked it a lot, the activities, the food, but it's way too expensive. They showed me an apartment for independent living, they showed me around everywhere to their gym and dining room. I saw them doing something where you sit on a floor mat and do these exercises, some of them were playing card games, and I saw the gym they had. They gave me a very good tour, I wouldn't expect a better tour. The staff who gave the tour was very friendly, helpful, and answered all my questions. She showed me everything I asked. Everything was very clean and I was very impressed, like the rooms that we saw. It's probably high above my standard of living, it's very good, clean, and fancy.

JosephS

I toured Brookdale Oak Park, and all of it was very luxurious looking and very nice. It looked like you have a lot of choices, especially in the dining room. You get a menu to order from, as I understand it. It also was a very nice location. The person who gave me the tour was wonderful and just a beautiful person. She was very helpful and took her time. The rooms were very nice and excellent. I observed a fitness room and it looked very nice. I didn't get to see too many events, but they have a very good list of events. I saw people on a sundeck high up on the building enjoying the outdoors. It was very comfortable. The dining room looked excellent and beautiful, and I understand that they have a chef there.

Ron

I've toured Brookdale Oak Park in person. I thought it was a very, very nice facility with excellent programming and a great location. They provide meals and they provide participative entertainment where you can play games or you can do music. You can also take trips with them. They will take you out, I think, a couple of days a week to grocery stores or Wal-Mart or Target. They will also take you to entertainment functions or art functions like preserves and museums, things like that. I think they had a full outlay of activities. I only met the director and I would rate her very highly.

Katherine

I toured Brookdale Oak Park and it looked like a really nice community. The staff was very nice and helpful. We were able to look at some amenities that they have at the place like a really nice library, a little gardening area, a very nice deck, and a shared dining room. I did go to one of the rooms. There were real spacious and nice. I went to a 1-bedroom and it was like a 1-bedroom apartment. I would say that the shared dining room and the shared patio were really beautiful. Their community has decided to get Covid vaccine a 100%, so they're probably going to be starting group stuff and social things pretty soon. So that's exciting.

Cathy Cadek

Our mom became a Brookdale resident in Nov 2016 and from day one, we knew it was the right place for her. She has been very happy living there which gives our family a lot of peace. The staff is friendly and genuinely cares about the residents. A wide variety of activities are offered on-site throughout the week, and in non-pandemic days they offered occasional local day trips and tours around the area. The units are very roomy with beautiful views of the city on the higher floors facing east. The staff has been absolutely wonderful during the Covid pandemic: going above and beyond keeping the residents protected and also providing activities they can do safely and sending email updates to families during this past year when we couldn't see them in person. Our family would highly recommend Brookdale OP as a residence option for your loved one.

Lynne P

Brookdale Oak Park is a terrific community for senior adults. The rooms are spacious with enough storage. The food is excellent. And most importantly, the staff is wonderful, treating residents with friendliness, concern and respect.

J. Tondelli

My mom has been living independently at Brookdale Oak Park for the last four years. The transition from her home to Brookdale was extremely easy for her because of the fabulous administration and staff. Always helpful and caring, each Brookdale employee has contributed to her feeling content and secure. Additionally, her apartment is lovely. She adjusted beautiful to her new home.

Terry Fahey

The Brookdale retirement community is exactly what my father needed. The staff and amenities are top-notch, and the care that is offered fits his need to a T. My family couldn’t be happier knowing he’s being so cared for in such an incredibly comfortable environment, even during these difficult socially distant times.

ML Wahlfeldt

I moved both my parents into assisted living in 2016 after visiting many facilities. First off, it's clean and well kept. Beautiful interior, and my parents apartment is bright thanks to floor to ceiling windows by their dining table (facing west). The staff is very helpful and attentive. There are many great events, activities to participate in. The location is central to many businesses within walking distance. I also walk with my Mom to the park a block away when the weather permits. It's been a wonderful place for my parents, an now just my Mom since my Dad has passed. I highly recommend Brookdale Oak Park.

D Marsey

Brookdale is an extremely well managed and lovely environment. The location and views of Oak Park and the city skyline are enviable and bring a lot of natural sun light. The top floor dining room, lounge, and outdoor space is something I'd love to have access to! I've always felt great about the independent living apartment my family member has and the many professionals at Brookdale. But it's never been more comfort as it is during Covid. I believe my loved one is safer than I am with the measures proactively taken every step of the way. In addition to the many staff members who are ensuring the well being of all residents, I'd like to recognize Kathleen M. who's the Executive Director. Kathleen has been proactive with communications to residents and family. Her transparency and genuineness is remarkable and greatly appreciated. I'm grateful for Brookdale!

terry sul70

To sum our experience briefly, we were in a very difficult situation in needing to move my mother rather quickly, and from the first moment we walked into Brookdale and met Patrick, to today, 2 months later, everything from the staff, room quality, residents, etc.. has been truly amazing. I can tell you how impressed all of my extended family is and how happy my mom is there. There is zero percent doubt on the choice we made.

Marcy O

I am so grateful my mom Is at Brookdale because I know she is getting excellent care. The staff is caring and professional. While my mom doesn’t partake in many activities she enjoys them when she does They throw occasional parties which everyone seems to love.

Phil Langeston

My father enjoys living at Brookdale. The staff are friendly and helpful. The food is good. I have eaten there several times with my dad. Our whole family is happy that he is there! He likes playing bridge and has made new friends. Plus the view from the dining room is amazing!

Russell

I'm at Brookdale Oak Park. My room is nice and comfortable, but it doesn't have a roll-in shower. The food is average. They have two dining areas: a general dining area on the top floor with a nice view of the surrounding community, and a small dining room on the third floor for assisted living folks. The staff is very nice and competent. They have a library, outings, speakers, and games they play with the residents.

Harris

Brookdale Oak Park is a nice place and I liked it. They have quite a few activities there like people from different arts communities in the neighborhood who come in to give presentations. They have a nice, small conference room there. The shops and movie theaters are not too far away, so that's good. A large park with tennis courts are also a block away. Their menu selection varied during the week, like three fish meals, beef, pork, and chicken, so there's variety as far as the different proteins. They had a 2-bedroom, which was good for senior living. The living area is a little smaller than I'd anticipated, but it's certainly comparable to others in the area. It had carpeting in the rooms and it was a better layout. As far as independent living, the price is midrange, so for the dollar amount I think it's a good buy. The learning events were a plus. The person I interviewed mentioned something that gave me a little pause, telling me that the client base is better-educated. I don't know if he was doing a little profiling, but I never expected a comment like that, which I felt was a little out of sorts. Otherwise, they answered all my questions, which I appreciated.

Dorothy154545

The staff of Brookdale Oak Park was nice, and I liked it. The room was nice. There was 1 bedroom, a living room, and a bathroom. They were very helpful. I just walked in and filled out an application for a waiting list. It was OK. It was clean.

Stacie150255

I like the fact that Brookdale Oak Park doesn’t feel very clinical. It’s very clean and very pretty. When we first walked in, the staff greeted us, and they were extremely lovely. They went and got the person that we were meeting. Laura -- one of the directors -- took us on a tour. She was exceptionally patient with my dad who was a little bit hard in hearing. She was very nice with him as well as with us. They were very forthcoming, very informative, and very hospitable. It was really a nice facility. I was impressed. They were having a little symposium on Shakespeare which was nice so a little movie and a special luncheon. Their food was very good, and the upstairs restaurant had a spectacular view. They have a crafts room and a lounge room where they have board games and card games. They do movie nights and social hours. They have Monday Manhattan nights. They do a lot of things, being a smaller facility. Every time somebody leaves, they redo the whole unit. They put in new carpet, they repaint, and they clean, and the rooms are very spacious. I think they do a nice job there.

MauroAJJKV

Everything at Brookdale Oak Park was very nice. I looked at a two-bedroom apartment, and it was nice and spacious. The staff was very nice, too. I saw the gym and it looked good. I checked the dining area, and it was very nice. This place was very expensive, and I didn't like its location, but everything else was nice.

Madonna B.

We really liked Brookdale Oak Park. We loved the amenities and the fact that the location was near my mom's house. Everything was very nice, but Mom's just not ready to move in yet. We looked at the two-bedroom, two-bath unit with great views because it had full windows. The staff was very friendly. The food was very good. They had a lot of activities and a bus that took the residents places. They have movies every day and visiting speakers, plus card games and exercises. It's a great neighborhood because we all grew up here, so our doctors and everything else are all right here. It is important for my mom that she stays within her neighborhood. The residents seemed very happy.

Jacquelyn4

I visited Brookdale. It was lovely, and it was the premier senior residence in Oak Park. It was a little pricey for us, but we could probably work it out somehow if we decided to go live there. The staff was very accommodating and very good. I had been working with their sales person, and she had been wonderful. I knew the chef and his wife. I met him a few times, and he was very accommodating and very nice. They were half a block away from all the stores.

With love from your daughter

The day Mom and I walked into Brookdale Oak Park (Holley Court Terrace) for the first time, we both knew this was the place! Dad had been refusing to move for 9 years, and it did take from April 2013 until October 2013 to actually make it happen. It would not have happened at all had it not been for the outstanding staff at Brookdale Oak Park. They were with me every step of the way with incredible patience, understanding and reassurance...and no pressure. Before I relate additional details about Brookdale Oak Park, it's important to tell you that this move has brought my brothers and me priceless peace of mind. After 4 months in his new environment, my Dad told me with tears in his eyes, that this was the best thing they could have done. No grass to cut, no snow to shovel, very few meals to make. The people who work here have been here for years; there is very little turnover in staff including the housekeeper who cleans my parents' apartment every Friday, and the staff who coordinates outings, senior services, and sometimes leads Sit and Be Fit classes. All of this, and what I am about to describe, is INCLUDED in the monthly rent. This retirement community is truly just that: a community. My mother is actually the quieter one, but she immediately starting making friends. She loves jigsaw puzzles, and there is always one in the library. Dad has met people just riding on the elevator to and from dinner! I think that is one of the best things about Brookdale Oak Park. You can easily choose your level of community involvement. Mom is out and about, taking the van to Jewel or Walgreens, (groceries are brought up to their apartment) and sometimes to a larger shopping mall. Dad and Mom, both in their upper 80s, are both involved with Sit and Be Fit 5 days a week for 30 minutes. Another great thing at Brookdale is the town car that takes my parents to anything within a 3 mile radius. Even during the harshest Midwestern winter days, Mom and Dad are picked up and returned in a warm car from door to door, usually with very little wait time. Medical situation requiring an unexpected visit to the doctor? They will fit you in the car schedule for the day or help you find a way to and from your appointment. Breakfast and dinner are served in a restaurant on the 13th floor with an incomparable view of the Chicago skyline. There is also an open-air patio with comfortable seating and 2 large grills for summer enjoyment. It's one of the best seats in town 3 seasons of the year. My parents worked hard all their lives, and they spent many of their active retirement years helping others. Now they are living in a place where residents look out for each other, staff helps create a consistently caring, yet independent environment if needed (assisted living is also available), and most of all, I didn't have to "put them in a home." They live in a beautiful apartment building with programs and services developed with great care to meet the needs and wants of all its residents.

dialogian

Formerly known as 'Holly Court,' this active residential facility is one of the finest I've ever encountered (and I've been through many as a pastoral care provider). The family-like spirit of the place is exceptional, and residents like my parents are offered a healthy diet and active array of programs, all within walking distance of the Green Line and in the beautiful historic city of Oak Park.

oak park daughter

Brookdale is my mother's extended family. A wonderful home where she feels welcomed and loved. The staff is the perfect blend of professional and caring. She finds intellectual, social and creative outlets available there. Her apartment is beautiful, and she is able to get assistance with whatever is necessary. I love how I feel a family at Brookdale as well. The convenience of it being in the heart of Oak Park makes visiting easy and often. I can't begin to describe how happy my mother is to have found Brookdale and make it her home.

Suzanne22

I visited Brookdale Oak Park for a couple of hours. I had lunch and walked around with the sales person. It is a beautiful facility. It is very nicely furnished, very clean, and very nice. They do have assisted living services available, but the focus is more on independent living. The food is great. I didn't really zero in on the kind of activities they have. I think it is a high quality place. It's just that my husband needed more assistance that I felt wouldn't be readily available to him there. He is really ill, and their focus is more on people who are more independent. The rooms are very nice, and they have more variety in the kind of apartment that you can get. You can get a one bedroom or two bedrooms. It is a facility that a couple can comfortably live in together. It was very good and extremely clean. It is well cared for, and the people are very nice. The reason I didn't select it is not because of the quality of the place but because their program is different. It didn't offer what my husband needed.

Thierry

My mother has lived at Brookdale Plaza Oak Park for nearly 6 years now, and for that same amount of time we have had one complaint and that is of housekeeping. Her apartment is truly filthy. I have literally found fecal matter present on her bathroom door. I have complaint continuously to the director of the center, and to the head of housekeeping both are always apologetic. Someone from housekeeping is sent to the apartment to give it a good cleaning, but then that is it. The sizable rent paid for an apartment includes housekeeping service. While someone does come to "clean" the apartment bi-monthly, my mother's apartment is always filthy. I have even gone as far as filing a formal complaint with Brookdale's headquarter but never has anyone responded. When I come to the USA to visit, I have taken it upon myself to thoroughly clean my mother's apartment. I try to do damage control by meeting with both the director and the head of housekeeping, and all I am ever offered is endless empty promises. This is a fact because ever year upon my visit I have the same conversation with them. If I thought I could move my mother to another living center I would, but at 92 years old such a thing could kill her. In short, the Director of this Brookdale living center has no follow through and does not uphold the mission statement set forth by the agency. I sincerely discourage anyone considering to move there.

Provider Response

Caring90178250

Brookdale Plaza Oak Park is a definitely a clean facility. The people that we’ve dealt with were all good and knowledgeable. The unit that we saw is a one-bedroom, and it has a nice kitchen. It looks nice and bright.

Herb5

I was impressed with Brookdale Plaza, I liked the place. I thought it was a little expensive but I spoke with residents and they liked the food and they were happy. The physical plan was very nice, it was nicely decorated and the rooms were very nice. I liked mostly everything about it. I came into contact with three people at the most and they were helpful and informative.