Brooksby Village is like a big city with multiple buildings. They've even built upper bridges from building to building. It's primarily independent living for the most part, which means that you have to walk to where the kitchens or the dining rooms are. They have a very high fee when you come in through the door, which is about $89,000. They claim that up to 90% of the fee is refundable. You're just renting the place, you're not buying in, and that's ridiculous. It's one thing I don't like about the place. It's a small area where they take care of assisted living, and they take care of the resident's unit, or they assist if you have problems. There's a little corner I have been closely looking at, but the place is just too big and my mother wouldn't like it there. If you're independent you don't need the help, and if you have the money the monthly fee would be less, but you have to pay the upfront fee which is really high. The staff members that I met during the tour were all wonderful.

This is a continuing care facility in name only. It's ok for folks when they can live independently, but once they need more medical care, it's horrifying! There's no other word to describe it. Dr. Mulder, my parents' primary care doctor doesn't listen to his patients (this is from my firsthand, observations). When my father was in the rehab (Braeburn) skilled nursing center due to hospitalizations stemming from Parkinsons, he was supposed to have OT and PT 6 days a week, but he was lucky if he got it 3 times weekly: The aids seem overworked and understaffed; the social worker (Lindsay) is in the wrong profession. She treats the patients with no compassion and family members with little respect - rarely calling people back even when they've called and left messages 3 times. As a social-worker, I expected her to work to help the patients and their families get well enough to leave the rehab and train the family to know how to care for their loved one so that s/he would be able to return to an independent life. But instead, she works her hardest to move people out even when they are clearly not strong enough. She should not have the power to make the decisions that she quite clearly doesn't have the foresight and understanding to make. Her attitude is one of 'it's your problem, not mine!" Honestly, with the money paid to Erickson, we expect them to follow through with their end of the contract and provide quality care for our parents as they age, not cut corners on food and compassionate, capable care. Please spare your parents this experience. It truly is heartbreaking!

I found Brooksby Village. It was absolutely excellent and wonderful. It's the best I looked at among six or seven different places, and they have everything you need. The staff couldn't be nicer. You could go on January 1st and not come out until December 1st, and you'd never need anything. They have every facility you can think of, wonderful medical staff, and a bank and stores. There's a pool, gym, and 120 different activities and clubs. They even have their own TV station, wood-working shops, and arts and crafts.

Everything was lovely. Brooksby Village looks like a very fine community. It's on my list to places that I'm going to consider. The staff seemed to be very, very nice. They answered all of my questions. They were very open and willing to share information. They gave me everything I wanted. If you're looking for a place in Massachusetts, I would say it's a perfect place.