Brookdale Senior Living Review 2025
Brookdale offers comprehensive and affordable senior care across 41 states.
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Brookdale Senior Living is one of the largest retirement community providers in the United States. It currently houses more than 60,000 full-time residents and provides additional services to another 16,000 patients. While Brookdale Senior Living started small in 1978, it has grown and spread throughout the country.
Today, thousands of families depend on Brookdale Senior Living to provide comprehensive, affordable services for seniors and retirees. Resident and family testimonials speak to the beautiful facilities, wide range of activities, and staff members that go above and beyond to care for residents. In this guide to Brookdale Senior Living, we’ll cover the types of care and programs offered, amenities, costs, locations, and more!
Pros About Brookdale
- Customized care for each resident
- Versatile services for older adults
- Varied price structures based on specific needs
- A long history of quality care and service
- Pets are allowed
Cons About Brookdale
- Quality of services and facilities may vary by location
- High costs for more comprehensive services
- Currently not available in nine states
Types of Care
About 1.5 million older adults reside in nursing homes and another 1 million live in assisted living — and those numbers are projected to increase.1 There are many types of care options to consider. One of the greatest benefits of Brookdale Senior Living is its varied services. Brookdale Senior Living offers six primary types of care: independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, continuing care retirement communities and home health care. You’ll find similar services offered at other companies, such as Benchmark Senior Living.
Brookdale residents; Image Source: Brookdale
Below is a breakdown of each type of care.
- Independent living: Brookdale Senior Living provides independent living care so older adults can live comfortably without needing to worry about cleaning, lawn care or even cooking. This service is best for older adults who either cannot manage household maintenance on their own or would prefer to spend their time on other pursuits.
- Assisted living: With an assisted living community, retirees can enjoy their golden years in the comfort of a safe, structured environment with 24-hour assistance and services. Living in the same facility as other older adults and staff encourages a stronger sense of community. Seniors can maintain social lives through organized activities while having around-the-clock care at their doorstep.
- Memory care: About 1 in 9 people ages 65 or older has Alzheimer’s.2 A Brookdale memory care facility provides seniors living with memory loss (such as Alzheimer’s disease or dementia) with an apartment and surrounding facility to provide optimal care. Studies have shown that memory care facilities offer older adults with memory issues a much higher quality of life, because they provide specific care and safety measures to meet each patient’s needs.
- Skilled nursing: Brookdale Senior Living skilled nursing facilities provide more long-term care for patients who may be recovering from an injury or illness. It is essentially a facility between the hospital and home, offering older adults more time to recover under the care of medical professionals.
- Continuing care retirement communities: Brookdale’s continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) give older adults versatile care that can adapt to their changing needs. A person may start at independent living and later transition to memory care depending on their circumstances. A CCRC generally requires a larger up-front deposit to account for changes in services later on.
- Home health care: For older adults who still want to stay at home, Brookdale Senior Living offers home health care. Medical professionals visit patients at their homes on a regular basis to provide general mobility and hygiene assistance, administer medication, and give patient-centered medical care.
Want to learn more about these types of care and senior living? Check out our video below.
Brookdale Signature Programs
Research has shown that participating in social activities may lower the risk for developing health issues such as dementia, heart disease, stroke and some types of cancer.3 Brookdale offers several signature programs that fall under the umbrella of the Optimum Life mindset. The strategy focuses on providing older adults with the best possible quality of life by emphasizing emotional, physical, social and spiritual engagement.
Brookdale Signature Programs; Image Source: Brookdale
Pro Tip: When looking for senior housing, finding amenities and programs that help keep residents emotionally and socially fulfilled is important.
Here are some of Brookdale’s signature programs that reinforce the Optimum Life mentality:
- EngagementPlus: Connects like-minded residents to foster natural friendships
- Growing Together: Promotes lifelong learning by connecting residents, staff and the community in collaborative educational experiences
- B-Fit: A physical health regimen that includes eight different exercise class options
- The Ageless Spirit: Focuses on helping older adults practice socialization and kindness in a structured environment to keep them feeling young
- My Life Story: Allows each resident to tell their personal story and offer their wisdom to friends and acquaintances at their Brookdale Senior Living community
- Brain Fit: Encourages older adults to improve their mental fitness with games, activities and social workouts
- Resident Technology: Provides electronics and software to ensure that residents can keep in touch with their loved ones, even from a distance
Did You Know? Some locations offer pet therapy with different kinds of animals, including horses, which can be beneficial for those living with dementia or depression.
Brookdale Amenities
Brookdale’s amenities will vary by the type of care and the community. That said, Brookdale’s amenities focus on five areas of importance: safety, convenience, recreation, social spots and dining.
Brookdale amenities; Image Source: Brookdale
Safety
More than anything else, people want to feel that their parents and grandparents are safe when they are away from the family home. Brookdale focuses on several key safety features, such as 24/7 security, daily check-ins, keypad entry in secured memory care units and emergency alert systems. The features are designed to keep older adults safe and give everyone greater peace of mind.
Convenience
Brookdale Senior Living communities have various offerings to make life more comfortable and convenient for each resident, including Wi-Fi access, transportation services, beauty salons, pet-friendly housing, health clinics, concierge services and therapy rooms.
Recreation
Just like anyone else, older adults need ways to stay busy and have fun on a daily basis. Recreational activities and services make it easier for residents to engage in fun, safe activities by themselves or with other community members. Many locations feature amenities such as a fitness room, billiards, library, theater, game room, walking path, and arts and crafts studio.
Social Spots
Socialization is particularly important for seniors. Feeling isolated can lead to loneliness or even depression, which is why Brookdale Senior Living encourages residents to engage with the social life of their surrounding community. Some of the popular social spots at Brookdale Senior Living centers are sports bars, chapels and comfortable courtyards and gardens.
Dining
Food preparation is one of the most important services for older adults. Not only is a healthy diet important, but older adults also need to have access to diverse and delicious options. Communities may feature cafes, culinary chefs and professional dieticians.
Did You Know? Through the Personal Solutions program, residents or their families can have items such as toothpaste and mouthwash, hand and body soap, hearing aid batteries, shaving products, paper towels, hygiene products, and more delivered right to their door.
Brookdale Senior Living Cost
| Type of care | Monthly base cost | Additional monthly fees |
|---|---|---|
| Independent living | $1,695 to $12,595 | A one-time community fee ($550 to $6,100) |
| Assisted living | $2,160 to $14,300 | A one-time community fee and other care-related fees ($550 to $6,100) |
| Memory care | $3,395 to $12,560 | A one-time community fee and other care-related fees ($385 to $6,100) |
| Skilled nursing | Call 844-322-8629 for personalized pricing | N/A |
| Continuing care retirement communities | Call 844-322-8629 for personalized pricing | Entrance fees vary by location |
| Home health care | Typically a flat hourly rate;
call 844-322-8629 for personalized pricing |
N/A |
Brookdale senior living costs vary greatly based on the type of care and location you choose. Some resident and family reviews state that the prices are fairly high, but the facilities and amenities are worth the cost. It is also important to note that Medicare or Medicaid may cover a significant portion of the costs for skilled nursing care, home health care or hospice care. Independent living, assisted living, memory care and continuing care retirement communities typically are not covered by Medicare or Medicaid.
Pro Tip: Health insurance will likely pay for some of the costs of Brookdale Senior Living’s services and housing, but you should still expect to pay at least 50 percent of the basic costs out of pocket.
You may still be able to get help with the costs through private health insurance. Additionally, Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage will pay for certain services you get within an assisted living facility, such as fitness or medical costs. Brookdale Senior Living offers competitive prices compared to similar senior living communities, especially when you consider the breadth and quality of care.
Brookdale Senior Living Reviews and Ratings
Brookdale is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau, but it has an A+ rating. On ConsumerAffairs, however, Brookdale gets 2.2 stars, and it receives mixed reviews on individual Yelp pages. Brookdale Senior Living has the most communities recognized by U.S. News & World Report as Best Senior Living for the fourth year in a row.4
Brookdale Senior Living Locations
Brookdale has communities and services in 41 states, making it one of the most widely available senior living providers in the country! Many other companies, such as Bickford Senior Living and Brightview Senior Living, offer services in only small regions of the country.
You can find Brookdale locations in the following states:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
How Brookdale Measures Up Against the Competition
Brookdale has communities and services in 41 states and gets an A+ rating from the BBB. Atria Senior Living, for comparison, has 17 locations and gets a F rating from the BBB. Atria, however, has locations in Canada as well. Brookdale doesn’t have as many locations as Home Instead Senior Care, which has 1,200 locations, and TheKey also has locations in Canada and Australia.
Our Methodology
Our research team dedicated over 50 hours to analyzing a wide range of senior living communities, focusing on the elements that matter most to residents and their families. For Brookdale Senior Living, we examined essential aspects such as affordability, available services, facility offerings and the professionalism of staff members. Below is a summary of the key areas we evaluated.
- Cost and affordability: We looked at how competitively priced each community is, whether pricing is easy to understand, and if flexible payment plans or refund policies are available. Transparency in billing and overall value were major considerations
- Care standards: Our review included a close look at the level and variety of personal assistance and medical support provided, including the responsiveness and 24/7 availability of caregivers and health staff.
- Facility offerings: We explored what each community offers in terms of amenities, such as dining services, group activities, fitness programs and transportation options. Safety tools such as emergency alert systems and design elements tailored for older adults were also reviewed.
- Living experience: We assessed the quality and comfort of the accommodations, from independent apartments to memory care units. Factors such as safety, cleanliness, atmosphere and the ability to personalize living spaces to suit individual needs were critical to our evaluation.
Final Thoughts on Brookdale Senior Living
Brookdale Senior Living focuses on individual care, providing comprehensive services to older adults from a wide range of backgrounds. Not every state has access to a Brookdale senior community, but the vast majority of states do. High standards and comprehensive training for staff and medical personnel also ensure that residents and patients can stay safe, healthy and happy. As a bonus, Brookdale works with families and insurance providers to help pay for their senior living services.
FAQs
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What level of care do I need?
Advisers will create a personalized service assessment to help you find the best care level for you or your loved one.
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Does Brookdale allow pets?
Residents can bring their furry friends, but make sure to check with your individual community for any breed or weight restrictions.
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Can residents bring their own furnishings?
Whether you choose a furnished or unfurnished space, residents are welcome to bring their own furnishings to add a little touch of home, such as curtains, artwork and photographs.
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What kinds of activities does Brookdale provide?
Brookdale provides physical activities such as yoga, tai chi, cardio classes, walking clubs and chair yoga. There are also mental challenges, such as table games, Name That Tune, Flex Your Brain and BrainFit, as well as educational opportunities such as cooking workshops and dance classes.
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Senior Services of America. (2025). What Percentage of Seniors Live in Assisted Living?
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Alzheimer’s Association. (2025). Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures.
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National Institute on Aging. (2022). Participating in Activities You Enjoy as You Age.
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Brookdale Senior Living. (2025). Brookdale Recognized by U.S. News & World Report.