Vila Nova Place of Clearwater

Pros

• The staff at Curlew Cares treated residents as if they were their own family, offering hugs and time to talk about their day.
• They kept families informed about health concerns and arranged hospice care when needed.
• The facility feels welcoming, warm, and cozy, with a beautiful sitting room and fireplace.
• Kathryn, the owner, and her team are amazing and consistently available, following up with families around the clock.
• The building is clean and comfortable, with residents who are happy and well cared for; rooms are nice and homey.
• They encourage residents to bring in personal items to keep them connected to home.
• Curlew Care is a smaller, 25-bed ALF with caring staff, making it feel like a personal home.
• The residents are like family, enjoying shared meals, activities, and movie nights.
• Families describe Curlew Care as a safe, loving home and a blessing to many.
• They are considered a benchmark for assisted living facilities.

Cons

• The reviewer warned others not to put a loved one in Curlew Care.
• They claimed a family member was given Ambien at night and that the facility sedates its patients.
• They reported no one was assisting residents at night and that residents were left unattended.
• They stated a family member was robbed and her cell phone used to call out of the country.
• They noted several assaults on their loved one by other residents.
• They were disappointed that the facility looked nothing like the photos and believed some rooms housed three residents, possibly violating Florida law.
• They said the administrator sounded cold when explaining charges.

Review

Curlew Care / Curlew Cares in Clearwater emerges in the pool of reviews as a small, welcoming haven that many families consider a true home for their loved ones. One heartfelt family story centers on Kathe Griffin, who moved from a large, impersonal assisted living facility into Curlew Care. There, she was able to stay in her own room even after she could no longer walk and required total care. The staff treated her as if she were their own mother - sharing hugs, taking time to talk with her about her day, and making her feel seen and cherished. Even during the hardest days of the pandemic, Curlew Care found ways to keep families connected: windows were opened for safe chats, phone calls were arranged, and socially distanced porch visits were organized. As her end of life neared, the staff arranged hospice care and answered every concern with immediacy. The family remembers her passing as peaceful and perfect for her spirit, and they credit Curlew Care with giving her a final chapter filled with love and dignity.

Alongside these glowing testimonials, not all experiences are described in the same light. A separate review conveys significant safety and policy concerns. The writer describes a situation where a family member, treated with Ambien nightly, appeared to receive sedating medications in a way that troubled them, and they report not finding staff at night - resident safety and supervision were questioned. They recount incidents of a resident being robbed and of a cell phone being used to call internationally, as well as multiple assaults among residents. This account asks hard questions about nighttime coverage, security, and the overall safety environment. It is presented as a family member's direct observations, contrasting sharply with the overwhelmingly positive stories that dominate many other accounts.

Other reviewers highlight the distinct advantages of Curlew Care's smaller, more intimate setting. Several writers describe the facility as smaller but feeling more personal and like home. They praise the staff for being friendly and for creating an atmosphere where activities feel meaningful and resident-centered. A recurring theme is the sense that a smaller community allows for deeper connections, where residents can receive individualized attention, and where families feel more at ease visiting and engaging with the people who care for their loved ones. One reviewer specifically questions why the facility receives poor ratings, arguing that in their view, the smaller, home-like environment and personalized attention are preferable to the impersonal feel of larger facilities.

The heartbeat of Curlew Care, in many voices, is the leadership and the accessibility of the people who run it. Several reviewers sing the praises of the owner, Kathryn, and her daughter Natalie, noting how available they are for families and how promptly they respond to questions - day and night, weekdays and weekends. They describe walking into Curlew Care and sensing warmth and welcome: a cozy, well-kept environment with a fireplace, clean rooms, and purposeful design that encourages residents to bring personal items to make their space feel familiar. The team is described as compassionate, patient, and actively supporting both residents and their families, with a sense that everyone is part of a caring family rather than a distant institution.

The facility's offerings for a spectrum of care needs come up repeatedly in the testimonials. In a story from years past, Curlew Care provided respite care for a relative with a prior need for high levels of care, and the same family has continued to rely on the center for ongoing support. The reviewers highlight the consistent care teams, the importance of social activities, and the attention given to the emotional well-being of residents who may be losing memory. Staff members are praised for going above and beyond, and for maintaining a presence that makes families feel confident that their loved ones are safe, loved, and well cared for. The sense of being part of a blessed, supportive community is a common refrain - one that many families call a blessing and a gift that helps them navigate difficult health journeys.

Tours and firsthand observations reinforce the favorable impressions many families hold. One reviewer details a recent visit to Curlew Care of Clearwater, noting the building's cleanliness, the resident enjoyment of a live show, and the spacious rooms that offered options from private to multi-bed configurations, all with their own bathrooms. The tour left them confident enough to arrange for a loved one to move in, and they described the pricing as reasonable. The overall impression from this experience was one of warmth, accessibility, and a team that makes prospective residents and their families feel heard and respected as they plan for the future.

Across the board, the experiences shared about Curlew Care present a nuanced but largely positive portrait. The facility is repeatedly described as a smaller, warmer, and more personal alternative to larger assisted living facilities, where staff are often cited as deeply caring and attentive, and where families feel included in the care plan. The environment is portrayed as home-like and comfortable, with residents who are clean, well cared for, and engaged in meaningful activities and social opportunities. Yet, as with any care setting, questions around safety, nighttime coverage, and clarity of pricing and room configurations surface in some accounts, reminding readers that each family's needs and expectations are unique and deserve careful consideration.

Ultimately, Curlew Care / Curlew Cares in Clearwater shines in the eyes of many families as a compassionate, hands-on community that can offer real peace of mind during challenging elder-care chapters. The recurring messages celebrate the dedication of Kathryn, Natalie, and the staff, the home-like atmosphere, and the honest, ongoing communication with families. For some, the facility represents a beacon of hope - a place where a loved one can be cherished, stay connected with family, and receive attentive, individualized care until the end of life. For others, there are caveats to consider, including concerns about safety and the day-to-day operations, underscoring the importance of visiting, asking questions, and weighing the full spectrum of experiences when choosing a care home. In all, Curlew Care emerges as a well-loved option that many families would recommend to others seeking a nurturing and attentive home for their loved ones.

This part of Clearwater, Florida, offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities for seniors. With several pharmacies within close proximity, accessing medication and healthcare supplies is easily manageable. In terms of dining options, there are familiar chains like McDonald's and Olive Garden, as well as local favorites such as Taco Bar and Pho Queen. For medical needs, there are reputable physicians and hospitals nearby including North Pinellas Surgery Center and Mease Countryside Hospital. Additionally, the area is surrounded by several parks which provide opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. The presence of a variety of cafes like Starbucks also ensures that residents can enjoy socializing in a relaxing environment. Overall, this part of Clearwater provides a comfortable and accessible living environment for seniors looking to settle down in the area.

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.3 miles)
• Walgreens (0.4 miles)
• Walgreens (2 miles)
• Winn-Dixie (2.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.5 miles)
• Winn-Dixie (2.7 miles)

Restaurants

• McDonald's (0.5 miles)
• Taco Bar (0.5 miles)
• Olive Garden (0.7 miles)
• Pho Queen (1 miles)
• Burger King (1.2 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (1.5 miles)
• Lucky Dill Deli (1.7 miles)

Physicians

• North Pinellas Surgery Center (0.6 miles)
• The Reproductive Medicine Group (1.8 miles)
• Rose Radiology-Boot Ranch (2 miles)
• Advanced Gastroenterology Associates (2.2 miles)
• Virginia Street Dermatology (3.9 miles)
• Dunedin Pediatrics (4.6 miles)
• Clearwater Pediatric Care (5.7 miles)

Hospitals

• Mease Countryside Hospital (1.8 miles)
• Mease Countryside Hospital-Medical Arts Building (1.8 miles)
• AdventHealth North Pinellas (5.9 miles)

Parks

• Canal Park (1.8 miles)
• Stirling Park (3 miles)
• Cooper Bayou Park (5.1 miles)
• Kapok Park (5.3 miles)
• McMullen Booth Tennis Center Clearwater FL (6.6 miles)
• Anclote Key Preserve State Park (7 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Woodlands Square 20 (2 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (2.5 miles)
• Starbucks (2.6 miles)
• Starbucks (4.2 miles)
• Starbucks (6.7 miles)