Barry Wilson
Feb 2026
Our family’s experience with Brookdale Fort Collins spans about 2½ years, as they cared for my mother-in-law during the later stages of her dementia until she recently passed away.<br><br>Before moving her into memory care, my wife and I tried everything we could to care for her ourselves. We even moved her into our home. It quickly became clear that we were not equipped to provide the 24/7 care she needed while managing careers and three kids in college. After evaluating several facilities, we chose Brookdale.<br><br>The transition was not easy. Dementia is hard on everyone, and my mother-in-law was very upset about the move at first. There were difficult phone calls and plenty of guilt on our end. Looking back now, it was absolutely the right decision. We simply needed help, and Brookdale provided it.<br><br>The staff kept her safe and cared for her with compassion all the way to the end. They communicated well with our family, especially whenever something happened, such as a fall or health change.<br><br>For families going through this decision: be prepared for an adjustment period—for both your loved one and for you. It’s emotionally difficult, and the guilt can be heavy. But once my mother-in-law settled in, it became clear that Brookdale was the best place for her.<br><br>She ended up happier there than she had been living with us. She had her own space, her cat, friends, and activities. She loved walking the halls. We visited at least once a week, and it became a place where we could simply spend time together instead of constantly worrying about her safety.<br><br>We are truly grateful to the Brookdale staff. Many of them formed real bonds with her and clearly cared about her wellbeing. Even at the end of her life, they treated our family with kindness and compassion. One employee even adopted her cat.<br><br>We would also like to thank Bloom Hospice Care for the support they provided during her final months.<br><br>This work is not easy, and we deeply appreciate the people who do it.
