Berkley East Healthcare Center — Local services in Santa Monica

The facility is kept Very clean. The nurses are all top-notch, but they are overworked due to a lack of staffing; often covering 20 patients in a single shift. The CNA's overall are good, but again due to understaffing, they can sometimes be brusque and short with patients. When ringing a call light, it can take up to 45 minutes to an hour for a response. Where this facility shines is in the physical and occupational therapy areas. The therapists Are knowledgeable in body mechanics and teach patients how to live with their disability, be it short term or a permanent condition, providing exercises that are suitable for the patients current condition helping toward complete recovery. They are cautious about making sure you are safe at all times, but still working toward complete rehabilitation. they read medical notes from doctors and implement exercises specifically geared to the patients' specific needs. The food they provide is nutritionally sound, and generally palatable, but if something is truly terrible, you may request an alternate meal of something different like a chef salad or fresh fruit and cottage cheese and the CNA will take your tray away, call the kitchen and tell them your request and go down to the kitchen and get it and bring it back to you. I was on the fourth floor for 2 1/2 months . standouts in personnel that I recall are the following: Nurses- Millie, Brent, Fanny, Sherina.

CNA's- Rosa and Rosa ( yes, there are two), Olga, Reina, Melly, Jose, Jin, Varita

Physical and occupational therapists- Mansour, Emma, Janey, Leo, Sam, Tyler, Audrey

Additional staff of note:

Luis - procurement of just about anything you need and ask for, be it an air mattress or a hug.

Alex- activities director extraordinaire who brings bingo cards, cooking demonstrations, and amazing chocolate chip cookies. Never forgets your name even if he's only heard it one time. He will greet you with a warm hello every time...

I was a patient at Berkley East Health Care Center for 18 days.. sufficient time to take note of how they care for a 76 year old patient with a left total knee replacement, observe the facilities and how they take care of other patients on my floor. I have nothing but high praise for the nursing, dietary, admin and especially the Physical and Occupational Therapy team. My meds came on time with a brief explanation for their purpose. Housekeeping kept my room clean. So were the rest of the floor. No smell. The Nursing staff from the CNA, LVNs, RNs and supervisory were very professional and warm. My call light was answered in less than 5 minutes. My request for ice bags were granted every four hours. There were times when the menu could have been better but overall they were good servings. While I was at St John’s, the admissions lead came to visit to welcome me to Berkley East. I really appreciated that. I was visited by a medical staff, a psychologist, a social worker, a dietician, the nursing supervisor who spent time listening to my surgery and a young pretty woman who knocked on my door one morning to ask me what could be better with the accommodations. The PT and OT are an excellent team. I had a chance to work with a few of them. They helped me transition to the discipline needed to recover well. The staff are hardworking, very careful, patient, very knowledgeable and inspite a heavy work load- very pleasant, honest and encouraging. They need a bigger room for the activities and the number of patients they see. I did read the reviews of Berkley East before I was admitted there. Some were negative which bothered me. But my 18 days had the opposite experience. I am very glad...

**Be aware * Berkeley East was recommended by our hospital. After reading their reviews on yelp, I was wondering why the rating is so poor? Now I know!!! After they confirmed our application and us visiting the center they assured us that our application was read three days ago and everything has been approved. we let the hospital know and they set up the transfer for my mom from the hospital to Berkeley East rehab facility. We went to lunch and after we came back 45 minutes later to do the final paperwork, the director of community relations “Alaya leyva” told us that they will no longer be able to give us the room. Even though it was confirmed by her assistant. After complaining and trying to elevate it no one wanted to get in trouble with alaya and everybody stopped communicating with us. we found out they are owned by Aspen health and we try to write him an email. But no one got back to us. Why am I not surprised? 🙄

After I explained to alaya that my mom is 83 years old and she just had a complete knee surgery and now with what you’re doing we have nowhere to take her!! She didn’t wanna hear any of it and after me and my sister spoke with her extensively. She said I’m sorry, but I have no room to let you in. IT was really surprising to me because, as we were leaving, I saw an ambulance bring a new patient in. 🤔

After talking to the front desk people, they have mentioned that there were police officers on the promises a short time ago. And I was told once police officer shows at these facilities they usually go under investigation. All I can say is “this is wrong”. And I hope this doesn’t happen to any of...