Brookdale West St. Paul

Reviews of Brookdale West St. Paul

Memory Care Reviews for Brookdale West St. Paul

August 13, 2014

By Caring91267450

I visited this facility

We visited Clare Bridge and we liked it a lot, but they didn't have any openings at the time for what my mom could afford. They only had private rooms, no elderly waiver. It's just one floor and it's kind of in a square. It's set up in big, open areas where the residents dine in an open kitchen. The dining area was open right in the center like a restaurant. All tables and chairs are centrally located right off the kitchen. The way it's set up seemed very ideal for a person who has Alzheimer's. A shower and a toilet appeared to be in each room, which was great. The rooms were a fairly nice size with a window, which we thought was great as well. As far as bathing, they had a spot for a bath that people could step into that was centrally located, which was good considering that, for anybody who needed to take a bath, it was easily accessible to get into the tub with assistance. There were quite a bit of staff around, and they seemed attentive. They were having an entertainment evening, so the residents were in the central area enjoying food, music. Some were dancing, and the staff was around to assist them. The activity coordinator was also there interacting with them. They had a room where there were puzzles set up, and it seemed like they had games there. It seemed like a very well-laid out facility. There was plenty of opportunity for activity and interaction. They have 2 homes. One is a memory care home completely locked down. This one is more open, but every time the door opens, it's a really loud buzzer that goes off. They could use a different kind of an alert that isn't so obnoxious. That was the only thing that was negative, I think, about the facility. Otherwise, I fairly enjoyed the tour and I thought it was a great facility.

June 27, 2012

By hockeyguy123

I am a friend or relative of a resident

This facility appeared to be great for their residents. They had a caring core of staff, that seemed to be expertly trained on the multiple facets of the disease. They had on-call physicians and neurologists to expedite gaining prescriptions that may be necessary. Rooms seemed very cozy and appealing to the types of people at the facility. While visiting my grandfather there, I did notice that the staff all knew him by name, which was very important to me. I even was able to set up an appointment with the executive director of that facility and gain insight into just what it takes to run an assisted living home. It was a very eye-opening experience, and I thoroughly enjoy visiting there as often as I can.

Questions about Brookdale West St. Paul

What ongoing training does the staff receive in dementia care?

Providing excellent dementia care is a complex task that requires ongoing guidance and teaching for Clare Bridge associates. All associates receive initial and on-going training in proper techniques, approach and care of persons with dementia. All executive directors also attend Brookdale’s Clare Bridge Leadership Competency Training.

What programs or activities does Brookdale West St. Paul offer to keep residents engaged? How does the staff engage residents' long-term memories?

The Clare Bridge Daily Path offers a gentle daily structure (seven days per week) choreographed with a minimum of six programs per day. All are designed to maintain the resident’s abilities and to encourage the use of their current skills. The Daily Path gives each resident a sense of security that they are “right where they need to be.” Daily Path activities include the following: • Morning Mental Workout with discussions, brain-stimulating games and reminiscing • Daily Physical Activity with exercise opportunities including Brookdale Fitness B-Fit group exercises, walking programs and dancing • Daily Life Skills provide a sense of purpose, meaning and belonging individually or as group activities. • Person-Centered Programming includes activities designed to use the resident’s social history as a foundation, by honoring past interests and involvements, programs tap into current skills and support successful experiences.

Who assesses residents' health and cognitive functioning? How often is that assessment repeated?

The communities Health and Wellness Director, a Registered Nurse, assesses the residents prior to move-in, 14 days following move-in and every 90 days. In addition, if there is a change of condition an assessment will be completed. The community has a care cap so there is a never to exceed amount.

What techniques does Brookdale West St. Paul use to support memory care residents during mealtimes?

Designed by a team of culinary associates, experts specializing in dementia care and registered dieticians, the unique Clare Bridge Dining program sustains the resident’s opportunity to enjoy and master the dining experience. The program offers such specialized aspects as: • Dementia-Friendly Menus providing diverse offerings that help prevent weight-loss; selections are easy to manage, familiar and appealing to the senses. • Individualized Dining Assistance includes evaluating each resident to determine the level of prompting assistance needed to preserve their use of utensils as long as possible. • The Supportive Dining Environment, which incorporates small dining rooms with consistent seating to support the challenges of those with dementia, encourages familiarity and socialization while supporting the needs of the residents through the assignment of resident care assistants. Music, centerpieces, warm, scented wash towels and fresh linens enhance the dining experience.

How does Brookdale West St. Paul keep residents' families informed about their loved ones' health?

We hold regularly scheduled care conferences to verify that the resident is receiving the care and services they want and need. Our community leadership team coordinates individualized wellness needs in collaboration with the residents additional care providers.

Describe the neighborhood around Brookdale West St. Paul. Is it located in a residential neighborhood, a business district, a rural setting, or other type of locale?

Brookdale West St. Paul is located in a residential neighborhood but is minutes away from shopping, restaurants and entertainment.

Photos of Brookdale West St. Paul

Services and Amenities of Brookdale West St. Paul

Room and housing options

Companion Suites: We Offer Companion Suites
Studio Apartments
Housing Extra: We Have One Deluxe Studio Which Can Also Be Used As A Companion Suite

Dining options

Dining Room Shared Meals

Features

Beauty Barber Shop
Party Space
Tv Room
Garden And Patio
Security Gate
Features Extra: Library

Cleaning services

Laundry For Linens
Housekeeping
Laundry For Clothing

Technology and entertainment

Cable In Rooms
Wifi
Technology Extra: Emergency Call System

Health services

Skilled Nursing
Medication Management
Physical Therapy
Nurse On Staff: Yes
Pharma

Activities

Offsite Activities
Music
Games
Stories
Religious Services
Lectures Discussions
Fitness Room
Gardening
Cooking
Arts And Crafts

Financial guidance

Financing Advice

Guest services

Guest Parking
Guests At Mealtime

General

Resident Capacity: 19
Staff Patient Ratio: 1 To 5
Respite Care
Minimum Age: None
Pets: Small Pets Allowed

Range of services

Physical Therapy

Licenses

Licenses: Comprehensive

About Brookdale West St. Paul

At Brookdale West St. Paul we know that memory losses due to Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia are progressive and residents' needs are continually changing. That's why we provide balance in our residents' capabilities, personalities, and preferences to create daily routines that enhance their spirits and increase their sense of purpose. We believe the amount of satisfaction our Alzheimer's and dementia care residents receive from the tasks that fill their days goes a long way to maintaining their sense of purpose and overall satisfaction with life. An integral part of this is our promise to encourage each resident to find Daily Moments of Success. To help our residents achieve these moments, our associates receive the tools and training needed in such key areas as specialized dining and the ongoing monitoring of healthcare and behavioral needs, to name a few.

We provide Alzheimer's and dementia care residents with the lifestyle, housing, and services they need in comfortable surroundings combined with the amenities, programs, and care to help stimulate recognition, recall, and wellness in a safe environment. Through years of caring for individuals with dementia, our professional care staff has learned to create optimal surroundings and approaches to care. Familiar environments that our residents have enjoyed throughout their lives are recreated to help them feel reassured and comfortable. The Alzheimer's and dementia care programs at Brookdale West St. Paul are built to embrace, not restrict our residents' desire to wander and to provide a sense of belonging.

What Makes Us Special

We are a very small community: we look like a rambler style residential home from the outside. We offer very high levels of care - most other Memory Care communities do not offer. All of our common areas are right down the center of our community; everyone has a private suite; we have no stairs or elevator - all one floor.