Top 5 Nursing Homes near Bartow, FL

We chose Brookdale Winter Haven because what they had promoted about activities in the memory care unit. They have been without an activities director for well over a month. I can see myself that they are short handed just like everyone else. The staff that is consistent is really good. Overall there are just some improvements that they could make. In the county, it is one of the top memory care facilities.

My best advice is for family to stay in contact with your loved one and have a good rapport with staff. The building is fairly new, maybe 2 1/2 yrs. Old so it looks on first impression pretty clean. My dad has been there almost 6mths. and in my opinion they need to clean better. The elevator needs the carpet cleaned and the carpet in the 2nd floor needs vacuuming. I don't think they really clean the room. Looks more like they empty the trash and make the bed and maybe clean up dishes in the sink if there are any. Toilet, sink and shower and floor doesn't look like it gets mopped or swept. (I have cleaning supplies in my dad's room and I will come in and clean when I think it needs a good cleaning.) (Front desk person, [name removed] is great. She talks to the residents and really gets to know them. She helps keep me in communication with the directors and other staff who are much harder to reach.) In person the staff overall are very friendly and are very nice to my dad. (This has been an issue from the beginning) Can't tell if they're short staffed or not trained well enough. My dad moved in potentially in need of more assistance. Since March I've been attempting without any success to have him reevaluated. He is paying for Care Services he is NOT receiving nor for some of the services he doesn't need or they no longer provide. Communication with facility and resident directors are very difficult. I've tried to speak in person, by phone, by email, and text and almost in every instance I don't receive any response.) (THIS IS MY BIGGEST ISSUE WITH THE CANOPY. POOR COMMUNICATION.) An evaluation is done on the resident prior to or at time of moving in to determine care services and the total number from the evaluation determines care service costs. Residents/family need to go over these services very carefully. More staff is in the memory care side of the building. Assisted living side always seems to be short staffed. Need more dedicated staffing on assisted living side so residents aren't waiting so long before caregiver responds. Staff are friendly when I do get to speak with them, but overall communication and responsiveness to issues needs a lot of work. They use to have a chef but he left. Now they just have cooks so my dad says they don't make the same kind of meals they use too. Supposedly they microwave a lot of the food. The dining attendants are very nice to my dad and he says they make him a very good breakfast everyday and give him plenty of food. [name removed], person in charge of entertainment and activities does a great job. She's always bringing in entertainers. My dad enjoys the ice cream socials they have three times a week. They have a large van that takes the residents to the grocery store, out to lunch, special away activities like going to Parksdale Farms for strawberry shortcake and to the movies on occasion. This is a little difficult to determine. This is the only assisted living facility my dad has been in. They were the best priced placed for the requirements we were looking for. [Name removed], my "A Place For Mom" person, did a great job of helping me find this facility that met all the needs we were looking for, for my dad. She actually called me back later and told me about The Canopy after further research on her part and got me a FaceTime meeting the very same day with the Resident Housing person, [name removed], no longer there. Overall my dad is doing well and he is being assisted when needed in his daily needs. His room is a studio size apartment on the 2nd floor. The bathroom is equipped with handrails, and walk-in shower. The bathroom also has built in cabinets and under sink cabinet space. Room has large closet and plenty of cabinets in the kitchenette area. Kitchen sink can accommodate a wheelchair underneath it. Refrigerator is normal sized. He has a window and can control the temperature in his room. The Canopy has a health care provider who comes once a week. There's also PT services available on sight and they have a visiting Podiatrist. The place is small enough that the residents can get to know one another. It's also small enough so the residents can get around without having too far to walk or get lost with too many twists and turns and buildings to navigate. Everything is in one building. The Canopy has been a good place for my dad's overall health and well being.

It is an older building so we aren't sure if its the cleanliness or just the age but that is why we gave the overall and cleanliness a 4.5 out of 5 stars. The staff members there are super friendly. Our loved one is really enjoying playing cards with the other residents. There is also a pool, hot tub and a lake near by with a dock that we love to walk down to. We do think it is a good value for the money and we would absolutely recommend the Spring Haven Retirement community to other families.