Brookdale West Orange

What happens when a resident who started in assisted living later needs more structured memory support? At Brookdale West Orange, 520 Prospect Avenue in West Orange, New Jersey, assisted living and memory care sit on one campus, with care plans built around each resident. Brookdale Senior Living operates the community. Because both levels share the same grounds, a resident moving from one level of care to the other does not have to leave the building or lose contact with familiar neighbors.

Trained staff are available around the clock to respond to an emergency. On site there is a movie theater used for film showings, along with a regular calendar of social gatherings such as coffee meetups and other planned activities. A program called Personal Solutions lets residents or families order everyday items such as toothpaste and soap for home delivery, billed to the resident's monthly account.

Programming follows Brookdale's Optimum Life approach, which builds each day around a resident's own interests rather than a fixed schedule. Residents enrolled in Brookdale HealthPlus also get access to an RN Care Manager who helps coordinate care plans, follow-up appointments and communication with outside providers. Families comparing options can look at other senior living communities in West Orange before choosing.

A good question for a tour is how the move between assisted living and memory care works in practice, including whether it means changing apartments or care teams. Asking how often a care plan is reviewed helps families understand what changes to expect as a resident's needs shift over time.