Concierge Director: Yossi Mandelbaum
Patients Age: 77
Admission Date: 1/17/24
Admitted From: Maimonides Hospital
Discharge Date: 7/12/2024
Discharged To: Assisted Living
Length of Stay: 5 months and 26 days
Reason for Stay: Fall at home, general strength improvement
How did this patient hear about The Chateau at Brooklyn Rehabilitation & Nursing Center? Hospital Staff Recommended The Chateau


Details of experience:

Barry is a seventy-seven-year-old man who came to the Chateau after a fall at home. He felt uneasy because he had never been in a nursing home, and not knowing anyone was another concern.

However, within minutes of his arrival, Barry felt the warm atmosphere at the Chateau. All of his previous concerns were washed away. From making new friends to creating relationships with the CNAs and always having positive energy in the building, Barry knew the Chateau was the correct decision.

One of the team members who had a tremendous impact on Barry’s journey was the Assistant Director of Recreation, Liz. Barry expressed that she always had so many fun and new activities each and every day. Every day was packed with excitement to keep the day moving. She truly is a gem, and in the words of Barry, “I always look forward to seeing and hearing what Liz has in store for us each and every day.” Barry compared The Chateau experience to the famous saying, “When you’re having fun, time flies.”

During Barry’s stay, he received rehab five days a week. During rehab, one of the machines that he would use was the bike. While Barry was trying his best, exercising on the bicycle was very difficult. After some discussion with the rehab team, Barry realized that even though the bike was difficult for him, it was exactly what he needed to flourish during his rehab journey. The bicycle got easier each day, and by the end of his stay, the bicycle was rather simple. With constant communication, encouragement, and care, Barry always looked forward to each and every session. Barry noted that things do get better. Every day is a day for improvement and progress. Moreover, Barry recognized that a crucial point to recovery is giving it 100%.

With this new mindset, Barry became more comfortable with his surroundings and began to see his improvement. As time went on, Barry truly understood that the beginning is always the hardest, but once you get the ball rolling, your progress picks up drastically. Like a snowball going down a mountain, at the beginning, the snowball is small and moves slowly, but with every roll, the ball gets bigger and faster. This is exactly what happens at the Chateau. You receive encouragement from rehab, knowledge from nursing, creativity, and fun from recreation, assistance from social work, and customer service from the Concierge. With all of this focus, it’s literally impossible not to improve.

As Barry was reflecting on his stay, he wanted to give a special thank you to Yossi Mandelbaum, the Director of Concierge. “Yossi always checked in on me and all the residents daily. He made sure that all my questions were answered and taken care of. Not only had that, but he always kept me updated with any news on any topic I asked about. He is the core here at the Chateau. You can visit him if you need anything, and all your questions/concerns will be resolved.’ Aside from the five-star customer service, Barry also wanted to thank the dietary team at the Chateau. The in-house chefs always make enjoyable meals for everyone. Knowing you are getting a nutritious and appetizing meal every single time is truly the cherry on top. At The Chateau, we cannot be happier for Barry and wish him all the best on his new journey.