Brightwell Behavioral Health

“If I could give negative stars, I would. It has taken me several months to write this review, but I feel strongly that this is the worst possible place to send a loved one. My father was placed in this memory care facility while still walking, talking, eating independently, and able to bathe himself. He was transferred to Brightwell from his memory care facility because he was combative and confused. He was described as “combative" and not cooperative at Brightwell. We were repeatedly told not to visit him. When we finally called about five days later to insist on seeing him, a nurse dismissively asked over the phone, “What does he have, Alzheimer’s or something?” When we were finally allowed to see him, his condition had drastically and devastatingly declined. He was wheelchair-bound, unable to speak, unable to hold his head up, with peeling lips and reaching desperately for water. He appeared as though he had suffered a stroke. Just one week earlier, we were eating cheeseburgers together and working on a puzzle. We immediately demanded that he be transferred to another facility. We were told repeatedly that a transfer was “not medically necessary.” Only after I asserted our legal right to transfer him anywhere we chose—followed by several phone calls and my mother forcefully insisting—was his transfer approved. During this process, I was told that if I did not leave the facility immediately, the police would be called to remove me. I was not allowed to remain with my father. He was eventually transferred to an acute care facility and entered hospice, where he passed away one week later. When we later requested his medical records, we were told that the transfer was prompted by a fall—specifically that he had been standing on a chair and fell. This incident was never reported to us, and it is clear that he would not have been transferred at all had we not demanded it. Based on our experience, the care provided was profoundly inadequate and deeply troubling. The lack of transparency, rapid unexplained decline, obstruction of visitation, and discrepancies in documentation raise serious concerns. I would strongly urge families to carefully consider other options for their loved ones.”

“Unfortunately over the course of my mothers life I have had to deal with many mental health facilities. This one very well may have killed her. My mother was admitted on a Thursday and died the following Monday. My aunt and I were denied any info on her despite her being unresponsive. I was never contacted to learn anything about my mother condition or to help with forming a treatment plan for her. This facility would not return my calls and used policy citing medical privicy that has never been an issue with other facilities. The traggic irony is that they did call me the night she died and left a message. They wanted to know what funeral home I would be using. Shame that they couldn't communicate or at least pretend to care when she was alive. Had I been aware of the horrible reviews and nature of this place I would have never allowed her to be sent there. Visitation is nearly non existent and has to be arranged beforehand by an unresponsive social worker. The website looks nice and the Facebook page looks legit that's about it. Really makes one wonder what really goes on behind the walls that is never shown. Questions I have, was mom on her oxygen? Was she on the correct medication? Was she eating and drinking? Why not communicate with family if patient was in such dangerous condition? It's been over a week since she died and not so much as a condolence call or letter. What are they hiding? Please eveyone research better when placing loved ones in facilities that's my biggest regret.”

“I wish I could give this facility NEGATIVE stars. My husband has Alzheimer’s dementia, and is currently a patient in this facility. His primary provider, Tess Thomas, appears to be knowledgeable, compassionate, and appropriately managing his care. On the other hand, the administrative staff is possibly the most unprofessional and unpleasant group I have ever encountered in a health care team. I cannot describe how rude, indifferent and inappropriate their UR person, Sherry, behaved on the phone with me. She appears to be making clinical decisions on behalf of the staff, without having (or providing) written explanation for clinical decisions, despite my requesting that documentation. My guess is that the facility makes more money for their corporation by churning patients. The corporate side appears cares less about patient safety and health, than they do about what benefits their bottom line. They are dismissing my husband before it is clinically appropriate. The only explanation appears to be financial motivation. Since there are so few geriatric psych units in this area, the families of patients are faced with the heartbreaking choice of sending their loved ones to a very substandard care setting, or not receive care at all. Very, very sad. Do your loved one a favor… don’t choose this facility!!!!”

“Would give it 0 stars, anyone with half a brain should know this place is insane the horror stories you see in the reviews are genuine, all 3 shifts are some of the evilest people there, from the staff too the reception people none of you wanted to even do your job all 3 of your shift leads and you should be fired for all the torment you cause those poor people every day, no phone calls when my mother was up? Not bathing her every day, yelling at her i could hear your friends on the phone. If anyone has connections to ABC news whas11 or any of them, please do what you can, my mother will never be here again (if you get on the phone a lady named jamie, she will lie through her teeth just to not do her job :) Also look at Jeffrey epsteins island and look at this building, thank me later”