My dad moved into Brookdale South Bend last January. They have a very attentive staff and are very helpful with issues that have arisen. They're very pleasant and accommodating. Their food is very good. They have a very good chef preparing the food. Cleanliness is good. There are some maintenance issues because they lost their maintenance person, but they are quickly resolving some of those issues. They're taking care of it, so I'm still pleased with them. I know they have Wii bowling and bingo a lot. My dad personally isn't interested in them, but they do have some nice things that I think other people would appreciate. They're pet friendly.
Brookdale South Bend
Offers Assisted Living
14 Reviews
17441 State Road 23, South Bend, IN 46635
Call
(800) 385-2527
Reviews of Brookdale South Bend
Assisted Living Reviews for Brookdale South Bend
March 20, 2022
I am a friend or relative of a current/past resident
January 29, 2022
I am a friend or relative of a current/past resident
My dad moved into Brookdale South Bend. I like the fact that it's open. It's got big hallways. Everyone who works there is so kind. They have pets there, dogs running around, and it's great. My dad's room is a lot bigger than the one he had. It's got a walk-in closet, which I think is great. It's clean, which the other place wasn't. They have an exercise class and bingo games. The facility is modern-looking, clean, and very tidy. The dining room looks clean. They do a good job. They have a barbershop and beauty shop. They have an outdoor patio, but it's surrounded by the building. So people can go out there, but they can't wander away anywhere. They have gardens, and it looks like it's going to be pretty in the spring.
February 15, 2020
I am a friend or relative of a current/past resident
Brookdale South Bend has several staff persons who are truly caring towards residents - examples: David, Kristin, Jonetta, Lisa.
Important improvements needed:
1) Have the activities staff schedule weekly visits one-on-one with residents for at 20 minutes each if they regularly see that some residents are not attending group activities that are set up.
2) Do not use the excuse that the resident does not want to bathe or shower as the reason why they are not being washed 3-4 times a week. Get the necessary additional training to identify ways to achieve compliance.
3) Increase staff for 1st and 2nd shifts so that there are 4 aides on duty instead of just doing what the state requires. When it comes to scheduling aides, do more than just the requirement!
4) Provide aides with more than just the state required dementia training. Aides need to be skilled in mastering some more approaches and more techniques.
October 23, 2018
I visited this facility
I didn't care for Brookdale South Bend at all, probably because it's older. The setup in the rooms wasn't good. I didn't like that my loved one's bathroom is in a different area instead of just near her bed. It also looked drabby since it's older.
Provider Response
We are sorry to hear your tour of Brookdale South Bend did not meet your expectations. We want to thank you for taking the time to visit and provide feedback. Our staff is committed to providing the highest-quality service and care and we will share your feedback with our management team.
October 18, 2017
I visited this facility
The only problem with Brookdale South Bend is that they're well above our finances. They didn't show me much during my tour. The place was absolutely spotless, and the staff was friendly and knowledgeable. The rooms weren't that spacious, but they're adequate. The dining area was very clean and orderly, and the dining staff was wonderful.
Provider Response
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us from our tour of Brookdale South Bend. We have shared your feedback with our management team.
February 10, 2016
I visited this facility
I like that Brookdale South Bend is small, and it looks like it is personal. They have a courtyard where they have barbecues and those types of things. They have a full-time nursing staff. They also have doctors who visit the facility itself, so that is convenient for the patients. It seems like the residents feel comfortable. The place is not cheery, but it's not depressing, either. I get the impression that the residents really like being there.
November 25, 2015
I visited this facility
Sterling House hasn’t much in the way of activities to keep people busy, so there were people sitting in the corner. It wasn’t great. The staff was not really patient nor kind; they were indifferent. It was a depressing facility.
Provider Response
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. By giving us your feedback, you are helping us to understand what we do well and what we could focus on improving. Please be assured your feedback will be reviewed and used to help better serve our residents and their families.
September 29, 2015
I am a friend or relative of a resident
Brookdale South Bend (Formerly Sterling House of South Bend) is fine, and everybody there is great. I never tasted the food, but my dad said it's really good. They give him too much; he can't even eat it all. Security is great; you have to punch your code to get in and out. It's just all around a great facility, and everything is working out just fine.
June 25, 2015
I am a friend or relative of a resident
We have been happy so far with Brookdale South Bend. My grandmother has only been there for a couple of months, so it is kind of early, but we are happy so far for both service and cleanliness. They are very responsible and easy to work with.
June 15, 2014
I visited this facility
I looked at Sterling House, and I thought that it was a nice place. The staff is very knowledgeable and very helpful. She gave me a lot of different resources to look at and gave me some information about the VA resources.
March 29, 2014
I visited this facility
Sterling House of South Bend is very nice. One of the things I liked about it: it was a locked-down facility. It is one of the few facilities that had a lock down. So if you had a person who has a tendency to wander, you have to swipe a card to get in and out in these places. It was a bit smaller, which, in my mind, I like, and it was just nice. The first thing I noticed when I walked into a place is whether it smelled or not, and that place didn't. It was fresh and nice and clean.
September 11, 2013
I visited this facility
I have come across Sterling House through the internet. I was very pleased with it. The marketing manager completed the tour with us and we had a chance to go around the facility. We met with some residents and some of the staff who work there. My father did talk to one of the residents and he felt pretty comfortable there. The room that we saw was a small efficiency room. I would recommend this place.
August 09, 2013
I am a friend or relative of a resident
This is the second assisted living facility for my father who has Alzheimer's but is physically very healthy at 86 years old. The previous place was beautiful, like a resort, but much too big. Sterling House is like a house. It is very homey, with only 40 or so apartments. The residents eat in a dining room at small tables like a family would. And they all get one-on-one attentions because the staff/resident ratio is good. Recently, my brother passed away, and my father was too upset to come to the funeral, but the executive director brought a van with some of my dad's friends who are also residents to the funeral. My dad was able to bring his 2 fat, lazy cats with him, and his own furniture, so his apt. is a close to home as possible. But, more than the facility itself, the people are just wonderful!! The activities director and my dad have made a special friendship, so she comes and gets him to help her set up tables for events, or decorate, etc. It makes my dad feel useful, and gives him a feeling of being needed. Dad has been there for about 16 months now, and he is happy there and we don't have to worry about him. I don't know about every senior, but for my dad, Sterling House is the perfect place!
July 17, 2013
I visited this facility
Good morning Angel,
My husband John and I stopped by for our appointment last night at Sterling House. I was terribly disappointed. When we went to the front door, "someone" opened the door for us. She didn't smile, say Hi, ask who we were here to see, nothing. She just let us in then went back to clearing the tables from dinner. The dinner/cafeteria area is so small, cheap tables, no tablecloths, and very noisy. There were two staff members clearing off the tables asking the residents "Are you done". They looked and dressed like minimum wage, "I don't care if I keep this job or not" people. While we were waiting for someone to acknowledge us, my husband and I looked around the lobby area. Actually, there is no lobby. There were 7 or 8 elderly women sitting in a circle with their heads down. I did not see a smile on anyones face the whole time we were there. I told John that I am not getting a good feeling about this place. I need to leave. The carpets were stained. Chairs in the hallways were stained and looked like someone went to the bathroom on them. Wall paper was peeling off the walls. The courtyard cement was dirty and stained with, what looked like, cigarette ashes. I don't know that for sure, but it was black. Furniture around the area was folding chairs and folding tables. Once Polly arrived she escorted us into a little conference room that had sugar and creamers by the plant in the middle of the table. She was so "I know more than you" attitude and just gave me the creeps. When she finally stopped talking about her qualifications and everything she knows, I asked for a tour. She first showed us the room where physicians work when they visit the facility. OMG, dirty, cluttered, etc. I peeked across the hall to a room that looked like it was a file storage area. The door was wide open, files piled on the desk and very cluttered.
The first room Polly showed us was so small and depressing. There was a name plate (which looked tacky) on the door and personal belongings in the room. I asked her if this was someones home. She said Yes. I asked why we were going in someones home. She said she has the families permission to show this room. I would have asked to see that paper work if I had thought about it earlier. I doubt that she would have been able to produce such a document.
She then showed us another room that was terribly small as well and said the person in there was moving to Arizona. The carpets were extremely dirty. I thought they provide weekly housekeeping. It sure didn't look like that to me. The hallways were dirty, needed painting, window blinds were broken and hanging from the windows. She showed us a "treatment" room with a soaking bath in it. I walked in to check the cleanliness of the bath. The bath "tub" was OK but the toilet had a black ring around the water line like it hadn't been cleaned in months.
There is NO WAY I would put my in-laws in this facility. The costs are crazy expensive for such a terrible place. She was proud of the fact that they put the independent, assisted living, dementia patients, and nursing home patients all in one facility to protect their "dignity".
Provider Response
Thank you for taking the time to visit and provide feedback. We take your comments seriously and are committed to providing quality care and services to our residents. Your feedback has been shared with our management team for review.
Questions about Brookdale South Bend
Describe the overall population of assisted living residents at Brookdale South Bend. What is their average age? What are their favorite things to do?
The average age of our residents is from 60 years old and up. Residents love to play cards, including Euchre. They enjoy exercise daily, and walking club is a favorite. Our residents enjoy celebrating all nationalities and cultures.
What programs or activities does Brookdale South Bend offer to enrich residents' well-being?
B-Fit Balance and Flexibility & Relaxation and Breathing, Cardio & Lower Body, I-Pad mind games, Bingo, Flex your brain, Wii Bowling, puzzles and crafts.
What places are near Brookdale South Bend or within walking distance for assisted living residents to enjoy?
Brookdale is 5 minutes from the University Park Mall, lots of wonderful fast food and Restaurants, Grocery stores and Pharmacies, we are 2 miles from Notre Dame, 2 miles from St Joseph Regional Medical Center.
What transportation services does Brookdale South Bend offer to assisted living residents?
Scheduled transportation is available for a fee.
What makes the chef or dining program at Brookdale South Bend exceptional? What kind of menu can assisted living residents expect?
Our ‘family style menu’ is resident centered and created based on what the residents ask for. Our chef David meets with each resident to see how to tailor their meals tastes specifically. David is outside in the snow grilling hamburgers, making goulash, using a residents recipe for their favorite dish, dining at Brookdale South Bend brings nostalgia to the table.
What safety features or security measures does Brookdale South Bend offer to assisted living residents?
2-way speakers are activated in each apartment by pull cord and go directly to our phone line. Single level community - no stairs or elevator to worry about! Front entrance and side doors are secured. Walk-in Showers. Grab Bars. Enclosed residential courtyard.
How does Brookdale South Bend keep residents' families informed about their loved ones?
We keep families informed via emails, calls, texts and monthly zoom calls at minimum
What is the care staff-to-resident ratio at Brookdale South Bend during daytime and nighttime hours?
I varies, but we always have staff on site 24 hours each day.
If Brookdale South Bend accepts dogs or cats, what indoor/outdoor areas can they enjoy?
Yes, Brookdale South Bend is Pet Friendly! Pets can enjoy the enclosed courtyard. Off-leash playtime allowed!
What ongoing senior care training does the staff receive?
All staff receives monthly training regardless of their position.
What safety features or security measures does Brookdale South Bend provide to protect residents who wander?
We are a locked community; Front entrance and side doors are secured and only opened with a code.
Costs for Brookdale South Bend
Services and Amenities of Brookdale South Bend
Costs
- Rent Plus Care Fees
- Fee Structure Extra: We Offer A Month To Month Rental
- Assisted Living Starting At: $3195/month
Room and housing options
- Companion Suites: We Offer Companion Suites
- Studio Apartments
Dining options
- In Room Kitchenette
- Dining Room Shared Meals
- Room Service For Meals
Features
- Beauty Barber Shop
- Resident Transportation
- Party Space
- Tv Room
- Garden And Patio
- Resident Parking
- Features Extra: Library, 24 Hour Secure Exterior Doors Alarmed
Cleaning services
- Laundry For Linens
- Private Cleaning Services
- Housekeeping
- Laundry For Clothing
Technology and entertainment
- Cable In Rooms
- Technology Extra: Emergency Call System
Health services
- Medication Management
- Physical Therapy
- Nurse On Staff: Yes
- Pharma
Activities
- Offsite Activities
- Music
- Games
- Stories
- Religious Services
- Lectures Discussions
- Book Clubs
- Wii Sports
- Fitness Room
- Yoga
- Gardening
- Cooking
- Arts And Crafts
Financial guidance
- Home Sale Assistance
- Va Benefits Consultation
- Financing Advice
Guest services
- Guest Parking
- Guests At Mealtime
Diet
- Low Fat
- Low Salt
Languages
- English
- Spanish
General
- Respite Care
- Minimum Age: 65
- Pets: Yes
Range of services
- Physical Therapy
About Brookdale South Bend
Brookdale South Bend provides assisted living residents with lifestyles, housing, and services in comfortable surroundings combined with exceptional amenities, programs, and care. Through Brookdale's signature Personalized Assisted Living, we customize our care offerings for the individual. This allows each resident at our community the freedom and opportunity to make choices that will ease their lifestyle transitions. Residents enjoy life with the support they need, coupled with the appropriate accommodations as their needs change.
We promise Respect for Individual Preferences by offering personalized care needs and providing an atmosphere that encourages each assisted living resident to live in health and longevity. We also offer special housing and care options for those who require assistance with the activities of daily living such as dressing, bathing and assistance with medication. We offer graduated levels of care based upon the individual need of residents, as determined by our continual assessment process. We are dedicated to enriching the lives of residents every day with signature services for those who value their freedom and independence, but desire or need services providing them with the highest level of quality, care, and value.
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