Braeswood Estates

Part 2: Our mother’s neurologist later reviewed the medication list she had been receiving and stated that our mother was essentially being drugged. Once she was transferred to a new residence, physicians immediately discontinued one medication because it caused severe shaking and inability to feed herself. Within days, her speech returned, she became more alert, began feeding herself again, and no longer required incontinence products. On January 15, we were suddenly informed of a “wound” near our mother’s tailbone—just days before her planned move out. Two days later, urgent care confirmed it was a Stage 4 pressure ulcer. When my sister brought her to urgent care, staff questioned us in a way that made it feel as though we might be reported for neglect, based on the severity of the injury. After being evaluated by a wound doctor at her new residence, she was sent directly to the emergency room, where she required surgical debridement and IV antibiotics and remains hospitalized. Two days before surgery, our mother’s surgeon personally called me at 7:00 PM. She stated that she has never performed this operation on a patient who can walk and that this level of wound is typically seen only in patients who are fully disabled and non-ambulatory. I could hear deep concern in her voice. Since her move out of Braeswood approximately two weeks ago (1/19/2026), even with nearly one of those weeks spent hospitalized for surgery and recovery, our mother has regained her speech, visibly gained weight, and can smile again. She lost the ability to speak, smile, and show expression during her five months at Braeswood. After just one day at her new community, with simple prompting and assistance to the restroom, she did not require Depends. It is also important to note that during holiday visits with our family prior to her move, she did not have accidents while staying with us. Photos uploaded with this review show: • Christmas and my son’s birthday – significant weight loss, expressionless face, and visible decline • Hospital recovery following surgery caused by neglect – visible weight gain in her face and return of facial expression This wound did not develop overnight. Stage 4 pressure injuries occur from prolonged, unaddressed pressure and lack of proper repositioning, hygiene, nutrition, and monitoring. When confronted with our concerns, the Nursing Director stated she has “52 residents and can’t have eyes and ears on all of them.” The Executive Director was dismissive when asked about basic care concerns such as unwashed clothing and lack of hygiene. During a family event, instead of addressing resident care, the Executive Director spent nearly an hour presenting a slideshow about himself and his personal life while families sat visibly distressed about their loved ones’ decline. I was advised to wait before posting a review. However, I could not morally remain silent while other families may be considering placing their loved ones here. We are handling our mother’s specific case in the manner we believe is appropriate on her behalf. No family should discover catastrophic neglect only after their loved one is critically injured. Please do your due diligence before placing anyone you love here.

There are so many issues to address beginning with poor leadership - My sister WAS there for 6 years (only because of financial constraints) and the relentless turn over of staff from executive directors, clinical managers and resident assistants is shameful. We have experienced theft/loss of personal items (dentures, quilts, valuable Christmas items) - with facility stating "no liability clause over and over). There is resident neglect which has been reported to the State MANY times. We have needed to involve omsbudsman. This facility is rarely 50% capacity because they cannot properly take care of residents.

After Braeswood Estates' failings of this past week I have to speak up and warn others about the continuing decline of this assisted-living community. I help manage the medical affairs, living arrangements, and care of a young-seventies gentleman who was recently struck by a vehicle running a red light while on his daily routine bicycling ride. We chose Braeswood Estates as his current residence since it was in close proximity to the Memorial Hermann TIRR Rehab facility, just 2 blocks away. What we didn't realize was that Braeswood Estates seems to be plagued with an exodus of employees and continually declining quality of care. But this latest incident is beyond acceptable and jeopardizes the health and well being of my friend. This past week someone on the staff searched residents' rooms confiscating and discarding vital prescription medications! All of this was done without the residents' notice nor approval! This is no lie. My friend had a small jar of prescription analgesic cream that he regularly applies to his arms to control neuropathic pain caused by his spinal-cord injuries, and it was taken from him and obviously discarded. This compounded medication costs $212.99 for a 120 gram jar and they will not even answer my emails requesting that it be returned (they claimed to the resident that they "can't find" it). They also took several Zofran tablets (prescribed and on his medications list) that he takes on an occasional basis to alleviate nausea symptoms. Plus, they took a full prescription bottle containing antibiotic tablets that he has been ordered to start taking one week prior to an upcoming surgery. His surgery will very-possibly be cancelled if we cannot retrieve this preoperative medication or get a new prescription from his provider. I will add that these medications have been out and in plain view in this resident's room for months. No staff member, including the Executive Director, the Nursing Director, nor the Medication Technicians have ever said that having this medication in his room was unapproved or disallowed. And since this incident, I have read over every page of the facility's "Admission Policy and Rental Agreement", "Resident Bill of Rights", and "Resident Handbook". What is stated in the "Resident Bill of Rights is that the resident "Has the right to make his/her own choices regarding personal affairs, care, benefits, and services". It is also stated that he has the right to "retain and use personal property in his or her immediate living quarters". While the "Resident Handbook" states that "Every effort will be made to notify you that an employee will enter or has entered your room for non-routine events", this unannounced and unauthorized search, seizure, and disposal of allowed personal property is not only contrary to the stated policy, it also appears to be an illegal act. This all happened not only to my friend, but to other residents in the facility as well. I have heard that others are planning to move out now because of this very issue, as well as the other host of problems now going on there. My attempts to resolve this matter have been ignored by the managerial and executive staff, leaving me no choice but to bring it to the attention of the public and the corporate office. Failure to promptly remedy this situation will lead me to continue this review further, noting the multiple additional deficiencies I have witnessed and am aware of. Corporate will be receiving a letter from me this week and I look forward to their response.

I needed a short stay for my dad and this place checked off all boxes. The staff is very friendly and they care about their residents and their families. I highly recommend Braeswood Estates. It's comforting to know that I have a place that I can count on whenever needed. Thank you to Pearlie, Laura, Raymond and Soda!