Brookdale Senior Living Violations & Complaints 

Brookdale Senior Living Inc. owns and manages senior living communities primarily located in affluent markets and communities across the United States. The company has over 640 retirement communities in 41 states with 59,000 residents.

Brookdale Senior Living offers various services, including assisted living, independent living, memory care, skilled nursing, continuing care retirement communities, memory care, and at-home care. Lucinda M. Baier is the current CEO and President of Brookdale Senior Living.

The company was founded in 1978 with just a single nursing home and the company has since expanded into a large network of memory care and independent living facilities. The company is currently headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee, but has offices in other states. 

In 2014, Brookdale Senior Living acquired Emeritus Senior Living in a civil lawsuit, further expanding its portfolio. This acquisition made Brookdale Senior Living Communities the nation’s premier operator regarding senior living.

Brookdale has become joint venture partners with various companies, expanding its owned real estate portfolio. Privately negotiated agreements have helped the company expand and provided access to financing. 

Real estate transactions with Welltower provided more consolidated units. A joint venture with Deerfield Management was crucial in securing capital to acquire more property. A press release advertised that the company acquired 11 senior living communities.

They continue to utilize privately negotiated deals to ensure future portfolio flexibility and expand their asset ownership. This continuous expansion ensures a powerful senior housing outlook. Brookdale has proven exceptional at maintaining collaborative relationships with key stakeholders, but it’s crucial to investigate whether they provide proper care to those who depend on them.

Senior living communities are designed to provide seniors with around-the-clock care and supervision. Some facilities also offer specialized care, including memory care. When staffed properly and with the right safety protocols in place, senior living communities provide many long-term benefits.

However, without quality care, seniors are more at risk for injury. Residents may suffer falls, worsening medical conditions, or pharmaceutical errors. Larger senior living communities sometimes struggle to maintain collaborative relationships with residents and implement reliable safety protocols.

If you or a loved one were the victim of abuse or neglect at a Brookdale Senior Living community, you may have legal options available. Contact the Nursing Home Law Center today for a free consultation.

CMS Ratings of Brookdale Senior Living

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) annually inspects all U.S. nursing homes, explicitly considering health inspections, staffing, and quality measures. Each senior living community receives a rating of between one and five stars. Families can use these ratings to evaluate the quality of facilities they’re considering.

Brookdale Senior Living communities have various ratings, ranging from one to five stars. For example, the Brookdale University Park SNF in Birmingham, Alabama, received a one-star rating, while Brookdale Santa Cataline in Tucson, Arizona, received a three-star rating.

Brookdale Greenwood Village in Greenwood Village, Colorado, also received a three-star rating. Even higher-rated nursing care facilities can have deficiencies. Brookdale Plaza Lisle SNF received a four-star rating, with specific deficiencies in quality measures.

Complaints and Legal Actions Against Brookdale Senior Living

Reviewing complaints and legal actions against an assisted living facility is a great way to learn more about the quality of care expected. Here are a few legal complaints to know regarding Brookdale Senior Living:

• California Department of Health and Human Services vs. Brookdale Senior Living
  • Allegation: In 2021, the state of California sued Brookdale Senior Living for manipulating data to inflate its quality of care ratings. The lawsuit concluded with a $3.25M settlement offer.
• Stiner vs. Brookdale Senior Living
  • Allegation: A federal lawsuit alleged financial abuse, consumer fraud, and violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Eight plaintiffs filed a collective lawsuit based on Brookdale’s mobility policies. The case will be heard in early 2025.
• Bright vs. Brookdale Senior Living
  • Allegation: A consolidated case alleges that Brookdale Senior Living intentionally understaffed its senior living communities, leading to inadequate resident care.
• Hennessy vs. Brookdale Senior Living
  • Allegation: Negligent misrepresentation, just enrichment, and declaratory judgment based on community fees.

Inspection and Deficiency Reports at Brookdale Senior Living

Reviewing CMS inspections can also provide families with useful information. Here are a few of the most recent deficiency reports at some of Brookdale Senior Living properties:

• Brookdale University Park SNF in Alabama [9/1/2024] – Issue Summary:
  • Violation: Various deficiencies related to freedom from abuse, neglect, exploitation, and resident rights.
  • Example: Failure to protect each resident from the wrongful use of resident’s belongings and money. Failure to provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders.
• Brookdale Santa Catalina in Arizona [1/5/2023] – Issue Summary:
  • Violation: Various deficiencies related to resident’s rights, quality of life and care, and nursing and physician services.
  • Example: Failure to honor the resident’s right to request or refuse treatment. Failure to ensure nurses and nurse aides have the appropriate competencies for quality care.
• Brookdale Greenwood Village in Colorado [3/9/2023] – Issue Summary:
  • Violation: A violation related to resident’s rights.
  • Example: Failure to honor the resident’s right to self-determination/choice.
• Brookdale Plaza Lisle SNF in Illinois [9/1/2024] – Issue Summary:
  • Violation: Deficiencies in resident rights and quality of life and care.
  • Example: Failure to ensure the nursing home is free from accident hazards and each resident has adequate supervision. Failure to honor the resident’s right to a safe and clean home.

Free Legal Case Evaluation

The Nursing Home Law Center offers a free legal case evaluation for those affected by nursing home abuse or negligence. A personal injury lawsuit helps abused or neglected victims and their families recover the compensation they need to recover.

No Fees Unless You Win

The Nursing Home Law Center also works on a contingency fee basis, which means you never owe anything unless you win your case. We understand the difficult position that a negligent nursing home can put you and your family in. Our team is dedicated to helping victims explore their legal options without obligation.

What To Do If Your Loved One Is a Victim of Nursing Home Abuse

Assisted living communities should provide safety and quality care to your loved one. When they fail to uphold this responsibility, taking certain steps to protect their well-being is crucial. Here are a few essential steps to take if you believe your loved one may be the victim of nursing home negligence or abuse:

1. Report the Abuse: Report suspicions of nursing home abuse immediately. Notify the local police if your loved one is in danger. Residents should also notify the administrative staff of the senior living community. Finally, file an official report with your state’s Department of Health Services or the Elder Affairs Department.
2. Seek Medical Care: Ensure your loved one receives medical care following abuse or neglect. Be sure to notify the medical provider of your suspicions so they can receive the appropriate care.
3. Gather Evidence: A nursing home abuse lawsuit requires evidence of negligence. Collect photographs of the injury or dangerous environment, video evidence, witness reports, and medical records. A lawyer can help gather the evidence you need for your case, but some items may be time-sensitive.
4. Contact a Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer: Contact a nursing home abuse lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your case. The Nursing Home Law Center offers free consultations.

Reasons To Work With a Nursing Home Lawyer

A nursing home lawyer can be beneficial to your case for many reasons. An experienced legal team can complete an investigation and determine what happened. Whether negligent hiring, training, or policies led to your loved one’s injury, we will get to the bottom of what happened.

Our team of negotiators also has the expertise to secure maximum compensation. If the insurance company or nursing facility isn’t willing to offer a fair settlement, our trial lawyers are ready to represent your claim in court. Our legal team is here to help you and your family navigate your claim every step of the way.

Many families have trusted the Nursing Home Law Center because of our company’s expertise and demonstrated commitment to holding negligent facilities accountable.

Explore Your Legal Actions Now

Eligibility for filing a lawsuit against a negligent nursing home facility depends on your state’s statute of limitations. The safety and well-being of your loved one is a priority, but soon after, it’s crucial to discuss your legal options with a lawyer to stay within these time limits.

Contact a Nursing Home Lawyer Today

The Nursing Home Law Center holds negligent caregivers, employees, and administrators liable for their negligent behaviors. We continually strive to improve the overall quality of assisted living and memory care centers. Through personal injury lawsuits, we can work together to seek justice and hold those responsible accountable, hoping to improve the future of assisted living.

Contact the Nursing Home Law Center today for a free consultation at (800) 926-7565. You can also fill out our online form to have a nursing home lawyer contact you.