I feel as though I would have gotten much better care in prison. I was here for one full month, and it was so appalling, the quality of care is non-existent, [[HIGHLIGHT]]the language barrier almost sent me to the emergency room because a CNA did not know how to tell the RN that my blood sugar was dropping, by the time the RN actually came to my room, My blood sugar had dropped to 45![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]! That was not an isolated incident by any means. I was there for serious post-surgical care on a major foot infection, with the doctor's orders to change my dressing twice a day. It was all I could do to get it changed ONCE a day, [[HIGHLIGHT]]I reported this directly to the physician her in the facility and he didn't seem to care because nothing changed.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I tried explaining to the nurse's that the rest of my life depended on my care at this facility, any faulty care could result in amputation of my leg from the knee down. One day, size 10 rolled around and not one nurse had come to see me all day (with the exception of giving me my meds.) [[HIGHLIGHT]]I struggled into the wheelchair, rolled myself to the door of the room, and at the top of my lungs I yelled out "Would someone please come and change my dressing!" Bunch of employees game running, and my dressing was changed immediately.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] How sad I had to stoop so low to get any medical attention. The staff was neglectful, the RNs were WAY over-worked, and management did not seem to care so long as their protocols were being met. I actually wrote a long complaint letter to the licensing board of the state of California to let them know of how egregious the "care" I received from this facility. DO NOT GO HERE!! read more

My dad spent two weeks at Brookside. Overall, I'd say Brookside is above and beyond any other SNF. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Elsa, Sury, Kayla, and the other managers on staff are extremely caring. They will go above and beyond to make sure your loved ones are cared for.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Nurses like Samantha, Casey, Jake, and Jorieth go above and beyond to take care of the patients. I would highly recommend this facility. They have updated several areas of the facility and it looks very up to date. Dad is with Kaiser and Dr Sainath and RN Lily were great. I appreciated their patience and true care for him. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]My sister had a very positive experience at Brookside Nursing and we are very grateful to Administrator Elsa Rodriguez for her willingness to make her stay there very comfortable -- her Brookside stay was very helpful to her healing journey[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. Elsa pays attention to details and I am highly impressed with the competence and professionalism of her staff, nurses, CNAs, PT team, and workers. [[HIGHLIGHT]]They were so courteous and friendly and made my family feel reassured that my sister would be well taken care of.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Brookside is bright, clean, spacious and they have an outdoor space which is a center courtyard where they have activities for those interested in participating. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Within one business day of her arrival, we had a family meeting set up with the Brookside team to review our expectations, they answered questions, and allowed us to mention any special requests we had during my sister's stay at Brookside Nursing[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. This family meeting is part of their standard operating procedure and I think is a big benefit for its residents. This is a huge contrast to an experience we had at another skilled nursing facility where there was no formal dialogue offered. The Brookside PT and OT team are exceptional. They are motivational and are attentive to the needs of my sister. Some of the skills she learned while there are helpful as she adjusts to life back at home. Many thanks, Brookside team! read more

My sister has been with Brookside SNF since March 2018. The excellent care provided by the staff has shown how contented, well-nourished and she looks so peaceful. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Thank you to all the staff for the wonderful care, especially the nursing department, activity, social services (special thank you to Myla) and other departments.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The staff are indeed caring. The facility is well maintained, beautiful and well managed. Sincerely Steve P., Brother read more

i was patient there for 19 days and I should have gone directly home and had my therapy there. They had me walking on a sprained ankle the whole time. Not anyplace I would recommend. Awful food, not enough help to answer your needs. Many days in the morning you are left to sit in urine soaked depends for 1 to 2 hours. Totally unacceptable. read more

My mother has been in and out of the hospital so many times that I forgot to leave a review for this SNF. My mother stayed at Brookside for about two months. In the beginning, she was sundowning a lot and heavily taxing staff. It is truly amazing how patiently they dealt with her. Eventually, she was comfortable enough to feel safe and secure at the facility. I visited my mother every day and always saw that the facility was immaculate. They pay a lot of attention to cleanliness and organization because of their manager, Elsa. Due to her the facility was immaculate. The rooms and the facilities are extremely clean. I saw that one person posted in a picture of something dilapidated. However, It is just simply not true that the facility is not maintained. The facility smells and looks clean. If you encounter housekeeping, they will sweep and mop around even under the bed. Although my mother left three times a week for a dialysis when she would return, her room would be organized in the bed made. The Food at the facility is also very good compared to the other SNF my mother has stayed at. I highly recommend this place for your loved ones. read more

My experience with my Mother here was unsurpassed. The quality of care and dignity that my Mother has was excellent.

My mother was there for a few months. The staff was exceptional. They were very attentive and caring. I would recommend this skilled nursing hospital to anyone of my friends or family. read more

My mother was there just recently instead of telling my brother, they don't want her at the facility and not to return, they lie about procedures. And tests needed and send her back to the e. R of Kaiser, they have been pushing my mother back-and-forth and treating her as if she doesn't even exist. She has an infection now that God knows where she got it from the hospital. Or the previous nursing home, and it is very painful. Unfortunately, she had an allergic reaction to morphine. It made her act crazy and she was shouting not only because of the drug but because of the pain. My mother suffers from high anxiety and mental illness. She is a survivor of World War 2, so her mind is affected by all the trauma.Personally, these people get paid way too much.They charge $400 dollars a day for sloppy service. Seriously.They should just be honest.I can understand a facility that treats elderly people as if they are just a number, not a good place. We all die, and we all have souls, and what it's done to others shall be done to them. read more

Very good care of their residents very friendly staff and helpful. Not all facilities are as well run ,clean, And have good responsive directors and nursing staff. I highly recommend this facility read more

Brookside Skilled Nursing Hospital - My aunt and mother enjoying Brookside patio - Skilled Nursing Near Me - San Mateo, California

[[HIGHLIGHT]]The team at Brookside was just wonderful. Elsa really helped with my mom. She went above and beyond to assure everything was done to allow her to stay here. It was a complicated case but Elsa put in the extra time to assure her admittance.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] After she got there the entire team from the nurses, caregivers and therapists were top notch in caring for my mom. All her medications were managed and administered. They all pushed her in a good way to assure she made progress to eventually go home. When she had to go offsite for her doctor's appointments they even helped arrange for her transportation, at a very reasonable cost versus other homes that arranged vans costing over $200! The food was good and was delivered daily at the appropriate time. The facility was very clean and well taken care of. It's not easy having a family member stay at a nursing home but the team at Brookside gave us a peace of mind knowing that mom was well taken care of and safe. We finally were able to get some rest. [[HIGHLIGHT]]A special shout out to Elsa, Myla and Sheila. Even though my mom has now been home for a couple of months they still call us to see how she is doing. They genuinely care[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]. I know it's a tough decision for family, but if you are in need of a high quality nursing home, I highly recommend Brookside. Should we have the need in the future we are going to Brookside! read more

My wife needed to recuperate after 40 days in hospital. They did little to nothing to help her messed up on meds and she became so dehydrated that needed ambulance and emergency services to get her back to hospital. Phones did not work I had to call 911 myself. 6 days in hospital after this horrible place and finally she is home. She is fully recovered and doing great now. This place should only be used to go and die at. Just my opinion read more

I was at Brookside a month ago post surgery for a broken leg and broken bones in both feet. I am 73 years old. I checked out after three days due to poor quality of care. So many reasons, lack of basic supplies ie wet wipes and diapers (they used wet paper towels?), extremely rude hospital administrator, medication given inconsistently. Call button answered randomly. Loud staff interactions and music at odd hours. There were two CNAs (Lucia and Brenda) who were very kind and delivered quality care and the Physical Therapists were also professional. However remainder of staff clearly were overworked, disinterested, rushed and/or lacked basic training. If you have to bring your loved one here, visit at random times consistently, bring wipes and diapers. Frankly take them elsewhere. I would not go back here or have a loved one go here. Ever. read more

I'm writing this review to protect other unassuming families from bringing a loved one to Brookside "Semi" Skilled Nursing (BSN). My Dad was transferred from the ER room to BSN. He was on around the clock antibiotics. BSN made mistakes on the dosage amount and the times of administration each of his first three days. He required his lung to be drained every 48 hours. They waited an additional 7 hours wihile my Dad struggling to get air into his lungs Because the only nurse who knew How to use the drainage pump was the head nurse and even she struggled with it.They would leave my Dad for hours in his own pee without cleaning him. The Staff in this facility seemed guarded and aloof. Management was not supportive or receptive towards my Father's needs. do not take anyone to Brookside. read more

We had a very good experience with Brookside. When we were first set to be moved here after an emergency hospitalization, we were very nervous since the reviews seemed mixed. While my great uncle was the one receiving care, my great aunt and I were the ones mainly communicating with staff. The facility was much cleaner and more updated than in other online reviews, I think they did the floors since those photos were posted. Again, this is a well maintained facility with kind and eager staff. One of the doctors said to us before we went, most of these places are the same - you get out of it what you put in. If you are cooperative and non combative with the staff most of them will go out of their way when you need extra help. Everyone was very kind and willing to help and answer questions whenever we had any. The intake process and family communication were also very good. They kept in touch with listed contacts - which helped us so much since most of our family lives across the country. Everyone was attentive, kind, and helpful. The admin, nurses, therapists, cleaners, food coordinator, everyone that came through the door. The manager Elsa Rodríguez was so helpful! We were pleasantly surprised with our experience, and wanted to leave this review for any other curious family members. read more

My 97 year old father arrived with a fractured spine, and multiple medical issues. Every aspect of his move was actively managed by Brookside Administrator, Elsa Rodriguez. The internal communication between PT, OT nursing staff, physician, dietician and social worker was effective and powerful. Our family was given clear expectations, which were exceeded. Response time once my father pressed the buzzer was consistently in less than 5 min and his pain was addressed promptly with medication and calm, reassurance. The food is delicious, plentiful and healthy, with choices. The rehab he received at Brookside enabled my father to regain strength and mobility and return home with new skills to keep him safe and active. Brookside staff coordinated sending records to his doctor, and he arrived home with 10 days worth of all medications. Thank you, Elsa and Myla (social worker). He is up and about on a walker, enjoying meals in the kitchen, exercising and responding to emails on the computer. Above all, Brookside staff, from the top down, have one unspoken motto: No excuses. Debbie Herman read more

Simply the best care possible for my sick husband. Strongly recommend! The staff is truly amazing! They are caring and compassionate. Thank you! read more

Brookside Skilled Nursing Hospital - Special candlelight birthday celebration with my husband's favorite food! Cheeseburgers and fries! - Skilled Nursing Near Me - San Mateo, California

BROOKSIDE SKILLED NURSING SAN MATEO. [[HIGHLIGHT]]All the staff is excellent.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The problem at this center is in the administrative area. with Mrs. Elsa Rodriguez and Mrs. Francini, Kaiser coordinator. I am making this report so that no one goes through what happened to my mother who was recently in rehabilitation for knee surgery at this care and rehabilitation center. But she received very little. They said she had covid 19 and they isolated her in a room for 10 days. And that was false. She never had covid. I don't know what purpose they did this for. She just came out of isolation and they wanted to discharge her. I begged Mrs. Elsa Rodriguez to give her the time she was isolated and her necessary therapy. But she and Mrs. Francini, Kaiser coordinator, denied this right. Saying that they weren't giving it to her because she didn't need it, seeing as I saw that they gave her very little. What they did was give her her discharge immediately. If I did not agree, I could appeal to LIVANTA LLC. Health Center for Medicare. I appealed the same day they notified me of her departure. In which they told me that they would send a doctor outside of Brookside but it never happened. They only ask for medical records and send a report, which Livanta respects. I believe that Livanta and Brookside agree. Because I visited my mother every day, I realized that what they say is something for the benefit of Brookside, not the reality of the patient. My mother was in a lot of pain, they gave her 5 mg of oxycodone. When I asked during the regular visit to Kaiser that they give her an anti-inflammatory, the only thing they gave her was oxycodone and medicine to go to the bathroom. My mother lost her appetite. She lost a lot of weight and had a lot of diarrhea. I asked them to please not continue giving her more medicine to go to the bathroom but they continued doing it. Proof of this. My mother was severely dehydrated and did not sleep all night. I had to take her to Kaiser in the emergency room, where she was immediately stabilized. My mother has full medical coverage and Medicare. I did not understand why they would deny her a right that was due to her physical therapy, which is what she was admitted to this center for. It was all due to the negligence of Mrs. Elsa and Francini. What they did to her was very little compared to what she needed. The physical therapy they claim is not professional, as Mrs. Elsa says. All they do is get you out of bed, stand you up, lie down, that's all. Not what a rehabilitation center offers. This Brookside center was recently remodeled and does not have accessible bathrooms for visitors with wheelchair access. read more

I called regarding care and [[HIGHLIGHT]]the receptionist was very very rude & disrespectful.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Hung up on me other began answering the phone.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Kept Lying regarding she receptionist ( Myra ) [[HIGHLIGHT]]They said the Administrator was Elsie would never let me speak to her.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]They keep playing with the phones so I couldn't get through[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I wouldn't recommended no one to this facility with this nasty attitude. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's sad how your treated from staff.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

After hip surgery at Stanford, I arrived at Brookside Nursing Facility in the afternoon of 5/23. I agreed to stay five nights. Dr. Lee, Brookside's pharmacist, visited me almost immediately. I'd been receiving (a modest) 10 mg of oxycontin every 4 hours and he continued that protocol. Incredibly, that night the staff repeatedly refused to dispense the tablets. By Friday morning I was suffering and told Ms. Rodriguez I was going home. She assured me she'd talk to the staff and encouraged me to stay. She showed me Dr. Lee's written prescription: 60 5mg pills, 2 every four hours. Again Friday night, in spite of my repeated requests, the staff refused to provide my medication. They also refused to give me Dr. Lee's and Ms. Rodriguez' phone numbers. I closed the door to my room and cried. Saturday morning I found Ms. Rodriguez' business card among my papers, called her and left a message. She never responded. That day the staff dispensed my oxycontin very sporadically. Most employees refused to acknowledge this abuse. Someone offered me an ice pack and others offered these outlandish excuses: Dr. Lee voided his prescription. Dr. Lee changed his prescription There is no prescription. Dr. Lee's written prescription is different from the electronic prescription. Sunday afternoon I learned the staff had no medicine for me. IMPOSSIBLE. Even If they'd dispensed the medicine according to Dr. Lee's instructions, they'd still have twenty four tablets. I felt they were just irresponsible but I give them credit for providing some very creative reasons: The pharmacy delivered only 24 of the prescribed 60 tablets. The staff hadn't intentionally run out of tablets. They had contacted the pharmacy and requested 36 more tablets. They hoped to receive the oxycontin eventually. I asked a friend to take me home. When he arrived I gathered my belongings and headed out the door. The staff reacted violently; two employees physically restrained me. Someone called Ms.Rodriguez but, disappointed that she hadn't returned my call, I felt that now we had nothing to discuss. Someone summoned the San Mateo Police.They arrived and protected my right to leave the facility. I was home within minutes, unable to relieve my pain, but home. Since this mis-adventure I've learned that caregivers commonly "divert" patients' medications. The fact that I'm a competent adult didn't prevent Brookside employees from diverting my oxycontin. Surely they're victimizing those residents who are less than lucid and more vulnerable. This preventable suffering is heartbreaking. It's also illegal. I survived Brookside but I believe they owe me an apology. read more

My 91-year-old mother was extremely happy with the care received at Brookside Skilled Nursing. She had a bad fall at her home where she incurred a left femur fracture needing the services of the skilled nursing facility. The overall care she received at Brookside Skilled Nursing was excellent; it was caring and professional. The Administrator, Elsa Rodriguez and Myla, Director of Social Services who are very hands on, ensured smooth admission, coordination, and quality of care. The nursing team, particularly Shannon, RN, led by Dr. Gary Lee focused on managing her pain, which allowed her to participate in Physical and Occupational Therapy. Her P.T. Harnie was professional, patient and encouraging, which enabled her to regain her strength, mobility and return home. The CNAs were very responsive, caring, and compassionate, particularly Laura and Selena. My mother suffers from depression, and they kept encouraging her to continue to participate in rehab and in keeping her spirits up. The Activities Director, Debbie, and staff kept her active and included in activities. My mother is now home getting stronger and back to enjoying her time with the family. Caring for a loved one in a rehabilitation facility is difficult; it's not perfect; emotions ride high; but Brookside made my mother's journey manageable. I would recommend Brookside Skilled Nursing. Thank you Brookside for all the care provided to my mother. L. Chavez read more

Avoid. Poorly trained & unfriendly administrative staff and a part-time staffed admissions office. As its my first time handling care for a senior relative and they don't teach you this in school, I called Brookside to gather the necessary information (insurance, doctor's order, etc) I would need in order to admit my recently bedridden grandmother. I was unable to get in touch with the admissions office after several calls over two days and no returns for my voice message. Then, there was one particularly rude receptionist who ignored my inquiries and cut me off mid-sentence with "okay leave a voice message, bye byeeeeeee". It should take no effort at all to find a better facility. read more

Wish I could leave zero stars. This place killed my grandmother. She came into your facility after breaking her back and you never enforced her pain meds or made sure she ate. She withered away into a skeleton. Couldn't even give her an ensure or boost nutritional drink, or sit with her to spoon feed her. You kept the doors shut on her the entire time in the hot heat with no air circulation and no mental stimulation. I walked in on my grandma naked inside the facility once, and when I told you, you said you were aware of it and did nothing to tend to it while stating, "yeah, she does that from time to time." You sent her home to die because you were tired of hearing her pained screams in the middle of the night. read more

I would like to thank all the staff at brookside skilled nursing for the amazing care that I received while in your care. You are all very hard and dedicated staff.keep up the good work Brookside!! Thank You Eileen Long read more

This is the text I sent to Elsa, the administrator thanking her for taking care of my mother while recovering from an injury: "Hi Elsa, words cant express my gratitude for you and how well you run the facility. The injury was such a stressful and upsetting situation when it happened, and your beautiful care completely eased my worries and got her to such a good point in a short amount of time You are truly gifted and a great person as well as your competent staff . Thank you so much" It is a very clean facility and the entire staff is super attentive. If you don't know which facility to pick - pick this one. They run a tight ship and add the human touch. My mom had nothing but great things to say about her stay every day. Also , the physical therapy is AWESOME and got her independent in a miraculously short amount of time. They work with Kaiser insurance. Hope this helps and thank you to the entire staff. read more

Today is May 30, 2021. My mother was admitted here today after surgery at Kaiser on her fractured femur. She will require daily physical therapy to regain her ability to walk. Apparently, this place doesn't keep up with CDC and local COVID guidelines as they have an unnecessarily restrictive visitation policy. I strongly suspect the real reason for this is that they can avoid outside observation of their practices. I am an RN working at an acute care hospital and there are very few restrictions on visitation any longer. Also true at Kaiser. Brookside's hours are very limited and most irksome is that one has to make an appointment 24 hours in advance!!! This is unreasonable. I would definitely not recommend this facility. read more

My mom was there for 3 weeks after a fall where she suffered a hairline fracture on her pelvic bone. The admitting staff was very helpful in answering questions even late at night when we arrived. The nursing staff is very attentive to the needs of the patients. The CNA's are the ones that I really have to give credit to because they are the ones who helped my mom with her routine needs such as bathroom, dressing, changing linens, and making sure she has anything she needs. Overall, the staff is very friendly, cheerful, and caring. The physical therapists there are top notch! They had her working the next day, 6 days a week for about an hour each day including group/partner work. She was able to walk without pain towards the end and now is at home with follow-up therapy from Kaiser. I am very impressed with the therapy service she received. The building is outdated and in need of remodeling, but the rooms are kept clean. Not sure how most nursing homes are but the majority of the patients were mentally as well as physically disabled. The activities there are not for a patient who is fully alert mentally. There should be an organization that can come out to conduct mentally stimulating activities such as current events discussions. read more

This past April/May 2021 I had a fantastic experience with Brookside Nursing. I came to Brookside with a left elbow in a cast and both legs in braces!! The only workable limb was my right arm!! The treatment and therapy I received was excellent!!! Everyone was very helpful and professional!! The feel I got was that they were a family!! Everyone was so caring!! Within 3 weeks, with all the wonderful care and therapy, I was able to go home. I could walk on both legs and the cast was removed on my left elbow! I will always be grateful to everyone at Brookside!! I want to thank Elsa Rodriguez and the whole staff for getting me so far in my healing process Denise Mayfield read more

Dont get me wrong I mean there taking care of my mom right now!!!! I calling my mom and people that works there the staff they dont answer there phone it takes long or goes to voice mail I'm really piss off answer ur phone?!! I just want to check up on my mom. read more

My father wound up at Kaiser, not sick enough to be admitted but too weak to come home. Faced with a spreadsheet of possible "Rehab Facilities" and only a few minutes to make a decision, we turned to Yelp. I'm glad that a few people had good experiences at Brookside, but sadly our experience was very difficult. If you are finding yourself in the position of making a difficult decision in a short amount of time, I recommend that you call the facility and ask to speak with an administrator. You will learn a lot from the tone, the vibe and the knowledge base. Here are some questions to ask: https://www.angieslist.com/articles/10-questions-ask-when-selecting-short-term-rehab-center.htm Also, know your rights. You will be asked to sign paperwork the patient and caregiver rights. Be sure you receive a copy. Report any violations to the State of California and to Kaiser. read more

My sister- in -law is a resident of Brookside Skilled Nursing since 2018. My husband and I are so impressed with the excellent care provided to her. The facility is clean, staff are warm and caring. The Activity Director (Debbie) is so professional, pleasant and accommodating and shows care and concern for the residents and family members. We observed a lot of improvements in my sister-in-law's health condition. read more

I was admitted as a 58-year-old guy with a Trumatic knee injury recovering from infections and waiting for a pick line class l had to stay for 11 days the staff is very courteous and understood my situation I had fun there as best I could if you have to go through a situation like this this place is not bad read more

Based on the Yelp reviews I read about this place. I took my 78years old mother to this facility for a rehabilitation after her left femur surgery. Most of the staffs are friendly. The physical therapists are very good. Unfortunately my mother's experience at this place wasn't a pleasant one. I don't know what went wrong during her 3 weeks stay at this facility; she became very ill. Nauseous, vomiting, hypotension and rapid heart rate I was told to send her back to the hospital. She was taken to the emergency room and was diagnosed with the possibility of C Diff infection,stomach inflammation and dehydration and was admitted to the ICU. I am writing this review watching my weak mother lying. She was supposed to get strong after surgery so she can come home. Instead she is back at the hospital I do give a credit for the supervisor at the Brookside and thank her for recommending my mother back to the hospital. My mother would have suffered more. I just wish someone at the Brookside would have taken little more seriously at her symptoms and conditions and treated her much earlier. read more

My Dad who just turned 101 stayed at this facility for two weeks. He received excellent care. From the nursing staff, the therapy department staff, even the kitchen staff they were just fantastic. The office staff was very helpful in explaining all the options available to us. Over all excellent service. read more

I and my family are extremely disappointed with the care our mother received here while recovering from a fall. There appears to be absolutely no coordination or communication among the staff. During her four week stay, they consistently failed to pass on information about her condition. For example, shortly after arriving, they were supposed to set up an appointment for an orthopedic appointment. After about a week, we asked when she'd see the orthopedic surgeon. One nurse told us we were supposed to set the appointment up. Another nurse said they needed a referral from Mom's primary physician. As it turned out, it was the doctor on staff at Brookside who was supposed to provide the referral and set up the appointment. When the day of the appointment came, they had failed to set up ambulance transport for her. Meanwhile, our mother develops a cold. I expressed my concern to the head nurse since Mom has a history of bronchitis and pneumonia. The nurse said she'd follow up. A couple of days later I get a call from another nurse who informs me my mom has developed a really bad cold and they're going to do a check for pneumonia. Then they wanted to know if she had any allergies other then Penicillin. I suggested they check with my mom's doctor. She was floored by the suggestion. Heaven forbid they consult with the person most familiar with Mom's medical history. Thankfully Mom was discharged from Brookside today and moved to a different facility. But not before they failed to line up transport.... Or have her dressed, fed and ready at the scheduled time.... Or have any discharge paperwork lined up. The leadership team met for a meeting the week before to go over the discharge with my sisters and I. What's the point of meeting to discuss the details if no one bothers to follow up? I wouldn't recommend this place at all. They not only dropped the ball (repeatedly), it seems they failed to be able to pick it up in the first place. read more

My father had three operations for a subdural hematoma in January and February and actually had two stints in Brookside from 1/11/16 to 1/21/16 and again from 2/17/16 to 3/23/16. The first time, he needed much less care and progressed very quickly. However, he had two relapses, the second of which greatly affected his speech and mobility and resulted in severe depression. As a result, he required much more intensive care the second time. It's always trying to see a loved one struggle to recover from a serious illness. My mother and I spent many stressful and depressing days and nights with my father until he finally turned the corner towards recovery. Luckily for us, the staff was wonderful and were so accommodating to our needs. We asked numerous questions every visit as to how much he ate, how much therapy he had, and how he slept. To supplement his diet, we brought food from home and the staff gladly stored everything we brought in the refrigerator. We were there every day, but the staff never acted as if they were tired of us and never got impatient. Ronabelle, Robert, Chito, and so many others were so supportive and helpful and clearly didn't think of my father as just another patient. When he went home, some of the staff actually had tears in their eyes and were so happy that he was improving and was able to go home. The physical and occupational therapists were wonderful, patient, and caring - especially during the time when my father was the most depressed. They never gave up on him and kept encouraging him to do his therapy every day. Unfortunately, dealing with the Kaiser staff onsite was another story. The Kaiser staff seemed more concerned about getting my father out of Brookside than with him getting better. My father's onsite physician, Dr. Neal Snyder, could be very flippant with his prognosis. When my father was about to leave the hospital, he was improving, but still very weak and spent a lot of time in bed. Dr. Snyder said, in front of him, "well, this is about the best he's going to do." My mother and I were upset that Dr. Snyder would make such a negative and flip prognosis in front of a patient, especially one that was still suffering from depression. We later found out that he made these comments without consulting with the physical or occupational therapists onsite and therefore didn't know that my father was actually making progress when he made his remarks to us. My father was still in a fragile state at that point and my mother and I had been through the wringer emotionally and Dr. Snyder's flip and cursory attitude did not help at all. Fortunately, my father greatly improved after his release despite Dr. Snyder's prognosis. But by far the worst aspect of my father's stay at Brookside was dealing with Evelyn Chan - the Kaiser liaison at Brookside. Our dealings with Evelyn the second stay were a disaster. The first day of his second stay, she approached my mother and started talking about when Medicare would require them to discharge my father. My father was in such bad shape at that point that it was inconceivable that he could be discharged. In addition, it caused my mother great distress at a time when her nerves were already shot. Evelyn promised that the staff would take my father's poor condition and depression into account when deciding to discharge him, then two weeks later informed us that he would soon be discharged and denied her previous promises. Several times she told us one thing one moment, then told us something else later and denied what she had previously said. When my father was discharged, she said that she would have a fully electric hospital bed delivered to my parents' home. Then, when the supply company informed us that they were going to deliver a manual bed, she lied and denied she ever promised a fully electric bed, then claimed that my father didn't qualify for the upgrade, then took credit for getting my father the electric bed after I had to make the arrangements myself. Evelyn is a serial liar and is simply awful and can't be trusted to follow through on her promises or even give a consistent story. If you have the misfortune of having to deal with Evelyn during your stay, be sure to save every e-mail and voicemail and document everything she says, including the time and date of the conversation so that she can't get away with changing her story. In other words, the actual care and staff at Brookside are wonderful. However, be warned that if you have to deal with Kaiser during yours or your loved ones' stay, you should remain vigilant. It's a shame because Brookside is a terrific facility. Without our struggles with Kaiser, this facility would easily rate five starts. Brookside staff and facilities: *****; Kaiser staff: No stars read more

My stay at Brookside Skilled Nursing Hospital, San Mateo, CA When I was released from Kaiser Santa Clara after my total knee replacement I was nervous when told I would need to go to a skilled nursing facility instead of home. I had heard a lot of negative things about nursing homes and never expected the excellent care I received at Brookside Skilled Nursing Hospital. From the moment I arrived and was greeted by the dynamic duo of Maria and Luca I knew I was in good hands. During the two weeks I spent at Brookside I met so many of their staff, all friendly and eager to help me in any way they could. The main reason I was sent to a nursing home was for physical therapy and you would be hard pressed to find a better staffed or equipped facility than Brookside. I received therapy everyday from a widely varied group of therapists all of whom taught me how to rehabilitate and strengthen my new knee, and some who gave me health advice I will carry with me forever. When you are at your weakest after surgery it can be humbling and humiliating to need help with the most basic things and at that time I was lucky to have Yolanda as my CNA (nurse's assistant). She always treated me like a mother would her own child and allowed me to retain my dignity in difficult times. I was doubly lucky to have the help of the incredibly kind, caring and always happy nurse, Ronna belle, to administer my medication and take care of any of my problems. I did have a problem with one temporary employee on the therapy staff and at that time I met the very helpful and contagiously joyous Annette who immediately comforted me and completely solved my issue. While you are staying at Brookside you are under the watchful eye of an accommodating staff led by John and Elaine who will make every effort to fill any personal requests you may have from dietary to entertainment and whatever else you can imagine. Overall I must say that my luck at finding such a great nursing facility was a big part of the healing process that made my knee surgery the success that it is. read more

Very professional staff who respected the needs of Bob. Very clean and attentive.

My grandmother, almost 90 years young, was recently admitted to the Brookside Skilled Nursing facility. Over the years she has attended several nursing home facilities to recover from varies injuries. Most of the homes fit the stereotype of places we fear we would not want our loved ones, let alone ourselves, to EVER be placed in. Many places smell and have "lukewarm" staff and food. This has not been the case at Brookside! I arrived later on Valentine's Day to visit my grandmother and bring her a strawberry sundae as a treat. I was welcomed by 4 smiling faces from the night staff, all of whom I could tell loved their jobs. They were very welcoming and accommodating, even at 9:20 p.m.. My grandmother was happy, and that was most important. As I left I felt really good about my grandmother's care. I called this evening to see if there was a phone in her room and the wonderful woman on staff gladly assisted me in getting connected with her. In speaking with my grandmother, she said unlike other places she has been very pleased with staff, her personal needs are being met, and the food was "okay", she said she can't complain. Thank you to all the staff that work around the clock to support our family in friends. read more

My father spent five weeks here after he broke his hip. Everybody was great including the occupational and physical therapists. It's a very nice facility in a convenient location. read more