If you are considering moving here, don't. There are so many internal issues to mention. The most egregious is the food. There has been a problem with "chef" after "chef" and the food right now is not edible. My mom throws hers out 6 out of 7 days. She resorts to peanut butter sandwich and milk regularly. They will not take anything off the rent for food, so now we have to have food catered and the grocery bill is 4 times as high. This is nothing more than a nursing home so for the ones that are independent this is not the place. Moving her out as soon as possible. You've been warned. read more

People who think living in a retirement center equals heading down to the end of the dusty road need to visit The Heritage at Gaines Ranch. This place looks and operates like an upscale hotel. Just walking into the spacious, beautifully appointed lobby will clue you in that this is no ordinary retirement facility. High ceilings, marble floors, upscale furniture, a fully stocked hard volume library to the left, an extended double living room to the right (complete with a giant tropical fish tank, a posh seating area, and a billiards table), and a great room with a grand piano straight ahead that regularly transforms to host a live music party, or happy hour. Around the corner to the right is the restaurant, which offers chef-prepared meals selected from a menu throughout the day. Down the hall past the elevators is the indoor pool, hot tub, and exercise room, and farther down the hall is the deli, beauty salon, and crafts room. A close relative of mine lived here for four years, and I kept telling him it seemed like he was on permanent vacation at Club Med. I ended up spending a lot of time with him there, it was such a pleasant experience. We always had plenty to do together. The Heritage offers a packed calendar of classes, day trips, club meetings, parties, and other special events. Most activities are included in the monthly rent, but some cost extra. Four of the five floors consist of independent living apartments, with the other floor being dedicated to residents who require more assistance and want a smaller, quieter environment. That floor has its own dining room and additional activities as well, though residents may choose to eat or attend activities downstairs. They do offer assistance on an a la carte fee basis for residents in the independent living apartments as well. The staff is overwhelmingly pleasant and treats all residents with extreme care and dignity. At the time my relative was there, they offered residences for independent and assisted living, but not for nursing or dementia care. It was expensive, but not out of line with costs for similar services in the Austin area. And I think it stood head and shoulders above those other places as far as quality and value. read more

Read Karol M's review, I cannot add much of anything else. I am thrilled Mom is in such a beautiful place and that she is being cared for with the up most respect. Her memory is slipping a lot and they have taken extra care to work with her cognitive skills. I lived here for 4 days and enjoyed the food, the happy hours, the swims. When the time comes I only hope that I am lucky enough to find such a nice facility. read more

The recognition luncheon for Volunteers of the Senior Activity Center, Lamar, Austin, was a wonderful experience. It appears that you and the Austin Parks and Recreation worked this event. Thank you, Paul Birdsall read more

Took my Mom here several times. Each time it got worse. First time they gave her too much morphine on a Friday. Dr refused to return my calls to see about getting meds adjusted until I had to go stand outside her office on a Monday. In the meantime she got very dehydrated because she was so drugged. Then had to be treated for a UTI. Second time they kept giving her the antidepressants that helped her sleep in the mornings because that's when they liked to schedule it. Again she didn't drink enough fluids and became dehydrated. The last time she actually had a stroke while there and they staff didn't notice it. I found her there laying in her own waste and had to call an ambulance. They don't have turn over from one shift to the other. All of this was right before COVID. I can only imagine how bad it is now. Don't get fooled thinking since it's in Westlake Hills that it is higher quality. Most places I went to spelled like urine so it's a very difficult journey. read more

STAY AWAY FROM THEIR ASSISTED LIVING FLOOR! My father was a resident on the independent living floor for just under three years and I cannot say enough positive things about his time. With the medical services, such as in home MD visits and 24hr. staff, we were able to keep him happy, safe, and out of hospitals. This says a lot since my father was 89 when he arrived. However, my family and I were very disappointed as well my father, when we moved him to their assisted living floor. The monthly rate increased approximately $2000 and the services were sorely lacking. While he was sufficiently alert and taking his own medication before moving, that was no longer permitted on the assisted living floor. On more then one occasion I found his medication knocked to the floor after being left by the LVN. No one observed him taking them, although the staff documented them being given & taken. His hygienic care was also terrible; he slept in his chair for two months! My sister, my family, and I visited him daily and on more then one occasion found him half clothed and sitting in soiled garments, not to mention the full urinals, trash, etc. left out around his apartment. My family and I complained on multiple occasions to the director and we were met with disbelief, defensiveness and an overwhelming effort to deny any problems with his care. After three months and a very significant decline in his independence we moved him to another facility where he was bathed, shaved, tucked into a real bed, and slept on his last night with us; he died the next morning. read more

My parent has lived at the Heritage at Gaines Ranch for over 5 years. I do not wish to be very specific, as I do not want my post to cause her retaliation. The Heritage has been under two different directors since my parent moved in. Their has not been any change in the way that the facility has been managed under either of these individuals. First - if you have a parent who needs medicine reminders, make sure that they have an active advocate. My parent has been on medicine reminders for over 3 years. There have been countless times that an error has been made during these medicine reminders: someone not showing up to provide the medicine, not making sure that the medicine was taken, not taking medicine boxes to their room, removing medicine boxes from their room so that medicine can be provided, etc. How can anyone make so many mistakes - especially when it has to do with medicine? I know of other residents that their have been medicine mistakes as well. When I have brought this to their attention, I get the same answer, "We will look into it". The situation may, or may not, improve for a short time period, only to fall back into making mistakes again. My parent is very concerned, what about those residents who don't have an outside advocate to follow up with the administrators? What do those residents do that don't have anyone or may not know if they have had their medicine or not? This is a very simple task, one that they should not routinely have errors. Department heads are rewarded for cutting budgets. Meaning, there are fewer activities and special events in the last 3 years. Activities are changed without noticed. Seniors do not like to have their schedules changed so frequently. Yes, it says that the schedule is subject to change without notice, but this is just poor planning on the behalf of department administrators to make so many changes. Events are changed to different days to accommodate one or two residents, even though many others are affected by the change. These majority are not considered important. When I brought this up with the Heritage Director, he did speak with the social activities director. I was chewed out by this director for going over her head. Her explanation for why events were changed did not include the word resident, quality of services, or anything else that had to do with residents. It was all about what was best for her schedule. I felt as if she might physically harm me during this event. When I mentioned this to their HR person, I was dismissed. The number of activities has decreased substantially. Look at the schedule, there are several days that there no activities that my parent can take part in at all. Happy Hours are no longer every other Friday. The food at these events have been cut back substantially, although there is still money in the budget for members of the staff to dress up occasionally. They will have activities in the main lobby and place signs on the outside of the doors not letting anyone to enter from the rear parking lot. You can't see the signs until you walk the long distance to the door. If the back load dock isn't open, you will have walk around to the front of the building. Very inconsiderate of residents and their guests not to have earlier warning. The staff all seem very friendly to the residents and family. But until you have a problem, you don't realize that they only care for those who are accepting of them as is, period. So you are asking, why don't I move my parent if it isn't so wonderful? My parent has friends at the Heritage. They have a routine that is very important to them. Moving them would be too stressful for them at this stage of their life. I have asked my parent and others at the Heritage to say something. They won't say anything because they are afraid that one of the directors and/or staff members won't like them any more. They complain, but don't feel comfortable about saying anything to the directors. They also know that I have said something, and they have seen that nothing was done. After watching the interactions at the Heritage, I know why there are laws to protect our seniors. They are vulnerable. They make choices that they would not have made earlier in their lives, because the importance of being liked is so much more important. They are so trusting and giving. The Heritage takes advantage of this. Please, be very careful before having your parent or loved one become a part of a retirement community. Really talk with individuals who are there. Ask to talk with advocates. Look to see how they handle a concern of a resident. Ask residents what they would improve at the community if they had the ability. In the case of the Heritage, they give residents $1500 if they get someone to move in. When a guest comes to visit, they are all so very positive, because they want the $1500 incentive. read more

I can't say enough about Gaines Ranch as a quality facility and organization. My parents moved there in 2010 because dad was having health issues and mom was already in her 90s. We moved them into independent living and at first they missed their own home, but once they got into the swing of the activities and met some other couples they were fine, my mom especially liked the fact she no longer had to cook and clean, my dad loved going to breakfast every day with friends. As time went on and health problems increased I moved them to assisted living which took a huge load off my mom with medicines and the increased service levels. Dad passed in late 2016 and the staff was wonderful with my mom and served as a great support group. After dad passed away my mom's health went downhill rather quickly and the Assisted Living Staff took excellent care of her, kept me informed of anything they noticed that needed medical evaluation and were always helpful to me when I contacted them about her. My mom who was an Army nurse in WWII and the Korean war paid them the ultimate compliment when she told me that they had taken really good care of her and dad, not something she admits readily. As the end became evident, rather than telling me I needed to move her to a skill nursing facility, they provided care, in concert with Hospice until the end. I will always recommend them to my friends and anyone who ask.. Brookdale as a corporation provided many services as a courtesy that are not readily evident, such as coordination with hospitals, skill nursing and in some cases insurance companies that have proven invaluable to me, especially with the many ER visits and hospital/rehab stays the last few years. read more

Moved Mother to assisted living from independent living when she started to need more care. Fighting with these people everyday. If they want to get in touch in with you they send an email. If you email them back a question no response. I am ordering my Mother's meds instead of them. The person in charge will NOT tell me if my Mother is out of meds. Mother received a wound not from them but it needed tending to. At first they said they would until I got in to see a doctor. Then I was told later they were tending to her wound only as a curtesy and I really needed to get that dr. apt. I got HH for my mother so they would not have to be bothered. HH called to say she would be over 2-3 times next week. I told her the orders were for once a day for 7-10 days. She said she didnt want to step on any toes at Brookdale. If you complain the executives they act daft and pretend you have lost your mind. Not at Brookdale! Then they spew worth the corporate bs answer out of both sids of their mouth and nothing changes. All of this for $5300 a month for a studio, meals and meds. It is frightening. Brookdale is buying up up all of the facilities so there is NO place to go but to them. Be very aware....independent living....might be fine but if your parent moves to assisted living on the second floor visit often and keep your eyes peeled and your ears sharpened. read more