Brookdale Palmer Ranch

I am continuously impressed by this facility and the staff. I have been at this building several times to visit various people and the staff is always very friendly and engaged with the patients particularly in memory care. CNA Carlos in memory care is amazing. He jokes around with the residents making them feel loved and treating them like they are his family. The receptionist are also wonderful. 10/10 experience.

I arrived at the Brookdale Palmer Ranch Skilled Nursing Facility two weeks ago for medication management of intravenous antibiotics following septic shock. I was a little anxious because the last time I was in a facility of this type I was unhappy with the level of care and the facility. From the moment I arrived I was greeted warmly by the staff. The receptionist, Nancy, who was literally on her way out the door at the end of her shift, remained behind to ensure I was escorted to my room. Most of the patients there seemed to be memory care, elderly, some with dementia and several who were nonverbal. The staff was attentive to everyone's needs. They were not only pleasant but were genuinely friendly, compassionate and helpful. I had special dietary needs because of a weight loss program I am on (I've lost 135 lbs) and needed accommodations. The nutrition staff who are accustomed to putting weight on people did everything they could to assist me. Shout out to Ms. Nancy who sat with me and reviewed every meal for my duration AND checked in regularly. There was one mishap with nuts due to a recording anomaly on the menus which has since been remedied. Anything that comes up here (and there has been very little), a broken o-ring in the toilet, a spider in the bathroom (I'm allergic), the staff have jumped in and handled. People come genre and do their jobs. They genuinely and routinely show the compassion it takes to work with some if the most vulnerable (and often demanding) populations. I am so grateful that I landed here. It has been a frightening thing to get what took my mom (sepsis), but have a level of care she was not afforded. From the phone call I received in the hospital from Felicia in intake, to my extraordinarily dedicated nurse China Smith, and the other nursing and CNA staff, Beverly, Jeanette, Janelle, LaToya, Maggie, Max, and the tech with the beautiful thick curly hair who is always smiling, and is professional and helpful (I have forgotten her name), PT Maurice, Ray and OT Christine (I might have her name wrong), the environmental staff who greeted me daily with a smile and a singsong voice - such joy, and Ms. Maria who took me to shower and frequently checked on me throughout the day, Larry in Maintenance, who hadn't expected to be doing this work post retirement but does a great job and is so competent and reassuring! The administrative staff - Suzanne, your staff is fantastic! There are staff whose names I have forgotten but please attribute it to my head and not my heart. Clearly, these are people who take their time and who make an impact every day. You made me feel safe and cared for. I am so very grateful. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I hope the company recognizes you (beyond a pizza lunch) and puts something extra in your paychecks because you deserve it!

My review is based on the care my father received on the memory care floor of the assisted living. The apartment layout is the best of any of the apartments we toured in Sarasota. There was always a fun activity going on in the day space though my Dad wasn't a joiner. Amaya was often his daytime resident assistant and I can't say enough about how much my family appreciated her. Amayas patience and kindness was priceless and she developed a sweet relationship with my father. We put a camera in the apartment and when we saw Amaya come in in the morning we knew it was going to be a good day and I didn't feel the need to keep checking the camera. I will say the 2-10 shift was lacking as they wouldn't always come in unless they were dropping off his dinner tray as my Dad often didn't like to eat in the dining room. If they did come in after he had already put himself in the bed they often wouldn't check if he was dry as my father had urinary incontinence and they would just throw a blanket over him. Now that I think of it only day shift 6-2 (Amaya) would make sure he was clean and dry.This part was especially upsetting as my mom paid hundreds of dollars every month for incontinence assistance. I started coming after work to sit with my Dad, help him shave then get ready for bed including a fresh brief. I started to enjoy this part of my routine in life so I can't say I'm super salty about it.If my dad had Mirlaine as an aid she would help him get dressed in the morning and you wouldn't see her for the rest of the day/night unless she was dropping off the food tray and unfortunately for my Dad she would pick up double shifts on days Amaya was off. Kimberlie the health and wellness director was very caring and I truly felt she had my Dad's best interest at heart especially when his behaviors associated with Lewy body dementia became problematic. The nurses were also all kind, attentive and approachable. My dad enjoyed the food at Palmer ranch though according to him everything could use a little salt but that's a Dad for you. If I had a do over would I chose this community? Yes I would. There were a few kinks here and there but nothing that couldn't be smoothed out with proper communication and additional staff training.

My mother was just discharged after being at Palmer Ranch rehab for nearly 8 weeks. We had an excellent experience overall. The staff from nursing, patient aides, PT/OT to the front desk-- were all caring, warm, and extremely responsive whenever we needed something. My mother went from not being able to stand or care for herself, and not wanting to leave her bed to regaining her independence, walking without assistance, and engaging socially with everyone. She truly did not want to leave to go home she loved the people and place so much! A special thank you to Nurse Reyna who was amazing and extremely helpful and responsive- always with a warm big smile. Aides Zack and Galena were favorites of my mother (so patient and caring!) and a special thanks to all the PT/OT staff - who I cannot thank enough for getting my mother back in wonderful shape. She truly misses everyone already so much. These short-term rehab places are not easy places to work, there is a lot to manage at once and families of patients can be difficult as they go through emotional times. But if you treat the staff as the professionals they are, trust that they are doing their best and make reasonable requests politely I am convinced you will have a wonderful experience here too. This place is incredibly underrated and deserves 5+ stars.

This building is a great example of why this company is always drowning in lawsuits, scandals, and bad publicity. “Totally devoted to the care and well being of residents” is nothing more than a sales pitch. Once they have your money that goes right out the window. Expect there to be a new executive director every time you go there. Elderly residents need stability and consistency, not the revolving door of incompetency and dishonesty that this company likes to breed. Ironically, despite the dysfunction of management, they like to be draconian in their jobs and exert authority over residents and employees, as well as concerned family members. If you care about your loved one, keep them away from this nightmarish facility.