Brookstone Estates of Charleston, now closed, sat in a quiet part of rural Illinois near churches, a fire station, and close to places like Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center and Walgreens, and the residents once enjoyed Taco Bell and Starbucks nearby. This senior living community offered both independent and assisted living, along with memory care under the Reflections Memory Care program, which focused on tailored programs for cognition and Alzheimer's or dementia care. The buildings featured studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments with full kitchens, semi-private and single room units, all with cable, and there were wooden fences, gardening plots, and a large enclosed courtyard for residents to enjoy, giving the place a home-like feeling. People living there could have pets like cats and dogs, and the community had a quiet, residential setting without much noise and was known for being clean and smelling fresh, a bit more like small apartments than a regular retirement home.
There were housekeeping and linen services, in-house laundry and dry cleaning, plus on-site meal programs with one or two prepared meals a day served in a shared dining space or private dining rooms, with care staff always around to help with meals, medication, dressing, and even nurses who provided support for 12-16 hours a day. Folks got transportation to doctor's visits and for errands, and there was parking for guests and residents, with Wi-Fi and cable available in rooms. The amenities list included a beauty salon, barber services, convenience store, recreation room, and things like religious services, scheduled game nights, story time, music groups run by residents, and lots of social or offsite activities managed by a full-time activity director. Memory care residents had access to an enclosed courtyard for safety, and everyone could join devotional services right onsite.
The place offered both physical therapy and mental wellness programs, and families could arrange respite care or hospice support. Lincolnland Home Care partnered with the community to provide home care when needed, and activities like gardening, trips, and outings helped people stay active. Staff worked on making things comfortable, supporting daily needs kindly, and keeping a warm and cozy environment. The executive director liked connecting with Eastern Illinois University and the Alzheimer's Association, making the community feel rooted in the local area. Pricing for this place started at $1,925 a month, which was affordable compared to others in the area, and there was an all-inclusive pricing structure which made things simple for residents and families. Brookstone Estates of Charleston was once part of a larger network alongside places like Heritage Woods, Villas of Holly Brook and Reflections, Arbor Rose, and Lakewood Village. Many people remembered the friendly staff and the awards the facility received for care, but the doors are now closed, so folks will need to look elsewhere for senior living in Charleston.
