Candleberry ALF

Pros

• Cloudberry Lodge treats residents like family and makes them feel at home.
• The staff and management are outstanding and caring.
• The manager Aaron is extremely helpful and courteous.
• The nursing staff is friendly and attentive, with the lead nurse coordinating medications and appointments.
• Residents enjoy a variety of activities and outings that they love.
• Families feel comfortable leaving loved ones in their care and appreciate the supportive environment.
• The community is welcoming and the staff treat everyone like family.
• The team is friendly, professional, and amazing.
• New management is caring, kind, and responsive, prioritizing residents' safety and happiness.

Cons

• The reviewer claimed the staff were lazier and more unqualified than at any other place, describing them as alarmingly incompetent.
• The reviewer questioned the rate increases, saying long-time residents could no longer afford to stay and calling the action wrong and immoral.
• A reviewer was mind-blown that the facility could have more than one star, implying a strongly negative view of the rating.

Review

Cloudberry Lodge stands out in the memories of many families as more than just a place to live; it feels like a real community where residents and their loved ones are treated like family. Several families recount how quickly they felt at ease leaving a parent in the care of the staff, and they consistently give credit to the warmth and attentiveness of the team. One story notes a mom who stayed for six months and was comfortable enough to leave in their care, highlighting the reassuring presence of the nurses and the attentive leadership that guided her daily medication and appointments. The manager, Aaron, is repeatedly mentioned as exceptionally helpful and courteous, and the nursing staff are described as friendly and dedicated to the residents' well?being. The lead nurse is specifically praised for ensuring medications and appointments were well coordinated, underscoring a coordinated approach to care that treated each resident with dignity and consideration.

The sentiment about Cloudberry Lodge is deeply personal for several families. One mother who has become a long-standing resident - nearly two years - speaks of Cloudberry as her home and consistently describes the staff and management as outstanding. For these families, there is a sense of gratitude that the facility could provide so much more than routine care: staff who genuinely care, management that communicates effectively, and an environment where the resident feels valued. The message is clear: the care team goes beyond the basics, fostering a level of comfort and stability that families find priceless.

There are many stories of long-term residents who have formed a true attachment to the community. For example, a mother who has been at Cloudberry for 16 months is said to absolutely love the staff and to feel that she is well cared for. She initially did not want to go into care, yet she now regards Cloudberry as her home, enjoying the activities on offer and making many new friends along the way. The sense of belonging is so strong that families sometimes transition other relatives into the same setting, as one family notes with pride that their father-in-law has joined their mother in the same place, receiving the same high level of care from the same team.

The daily life at Cloudberry Lodge is described as friendly, welcoming, and filled with opportunities. A "great team" of people is repeatedly described as kind and amazing, and the staff are seen as treating everyone like family. Families mention how the staff are not only attentive but genuinely caring about each resident's needs, with examples ranging from gentle reminders for medications to lively engagement in activities. Some families even note that a family member who started as a patient later joined the staff, which speaks to the overall culture of commitment and care that permeates the community. The facility is portrayed as a beautiful, well?kept living space where safety and happiness are top priorities, and even though the building may be older, the care shines through in every interaction.

There are moments of high praise that underscore the profound impact the team has on residents. One reviewer highlights a 93-year-old mother who stayed for a seven-day visit and was so pleased with the experience that she did not want to leave. This kind of testimony is offered as a strong endorsement of the level of professional care and the warm, compassionate environment that Cloudberry Lodge aims to provide. The staff's dedication is also described in terms of responsiveness to residents and families, with several passages noting how the team communicates clearly and acts with kindness. In some accounts, the facility is described as being under new management with a renewed sense of purpose, and the accompanying changes are framed as positive progress toward even higher standards of care and service.

Linked to the changes in leadership are plans for renovation and continued improvement. Reviewers acknowledge that the facility is older, but they also emphasize that the new management, described as part of an amazing company, is actively guiding compassionate, resident?focused care. The sense from families is that the current leadership prioritizes residents' safety and happiness, maintaining a strong commitment to the well?being of those who live there and to the families who visit and rely on the staff. This forward momentum is met with optimism as Cloudberry Lodge moves through renovations and continues to cultivate a supportive, hopeful atmosphere.

Amid the overwhelmingly positive feedback, there is one clear note of concern that stands out. A single reviewer questions the integrity of the staff, describing them as lazy, unqualified, and alarmingly incompetent, and expresses disbelief that the place has more than one star. This stark contrast serves as a reminder that experiences can vary, and that not every visitor's perspective aligns with the majority. It underscores the importance of ongoing accountability and consistent quality of care, even as many families share stories of exceptional kindness, attentiveness, and a genuine sense of community.

Overall, Cloudberry Lodge emerges in these accounts as a place that many families come to view as home for their loved ones. The prevailing narrative celebrates a compassionate, professional staff who treat residents like family, support them through medications, appointments, and a busy calendar of activities, and foster friendships and social connections that enrich daily life. While concerns about pricing and one negative review remind us that no facility is perfect for everyone, the broad chorus is one of gratitude: a community where residents feel safe, cared for, and valued, with leadership and staff continually working to preserve and enhance that sense of home.

Located in Brandon, Florida, this area offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities for seniors looking to relocate. With multiple physicians and medical facilities within a short distance, access to quality healthcare is easily accessible. There are also several dining options nearby, ranging from fast food establishments to bakeries and cafes. Places of worship such as Nativity Catholic Church provide spiritual support, while parks like Sterling Ranch Park offer opportunities for outdoor recreation. Additionally, there are pharmacies in the vicinity for easy prescription refills. The presence of theaters and coffee shops add to the social and entertainment options available in this vibrant neighborhood.

Physicians

• Oshodi Temitope A MD - Obstetrics & Gynecology Associates (0.2 miles)
• Digestive Diseases Associates of Tampa Bay (0.3 miles)
• Women's Care Florida (0.7 miles)
• Spa Savi (0.8 miles)
• Kilgore, John Brandon Medical Center (0.9 miles)
• Florida Community Cancer (1 miles)
• Florida Orthopaedic Institute (1.9 miles)

Hospitals

• Total Imaging - Parsons (0.5 miles)
• Brandon Ambulatory Surgery Center (0.8 miles)

Restaurants

• Campbell's Dairyland (0.7 miles)
• Culver's (0.9 miles)
• McDonald's (1.1 miles)
• Moreno Bakery (1.1 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (1.4 miles)
• Pho Viet (1.5 miles)
• Denny's (1.5 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.7 miles)
• Walgreens (0.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2 miles)
• Walgreens (2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.1 miles)
• Walgreens (2.2 miles)

Places of Worship

• Nativity Catholic Church (0.9 miles)
• Nativity Catholic School (0.9 miles)
• Limona Village Chapel United Methodist Women (1.9 miles)
• The River at Tampa Bay Church (4.4 miles)
• Fishhawk Fellowship Church (6 miles)
• Grace Family Church (8.8 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (2.7 miles)
• Starbucks (2.8 miles)
• Starbucks (3.1 miles)
• Starbucks (3.8 miles)
• Foxtail Coffee Bb Riverview (4 miles)
• Starbucks (4.2 miles)

Theaters

• AMC The Regency 2 (2.9 miles)
• Xscape Theatres Riverview 14 (4.5 miles)

Parks

• Sterling Ranch Park (3.3 miles)
• Mango Dog Park (4.4 miles)
• Grant Park (7.8 miles)
• McKay Bay Nature Park (8.7 miles)