Lifetides Home INC

Pros

• The Mease Life building and community are clean, well-maintained, and have a welcoming atmosphere.
• The activities program offers many interesting, challenging, and fun options, including wine tastings, group excursions, and visits to local arts centers and thrift shops.
• The food at Mease Life is varied and delicious, with weekend buffets described as a special treat.
• The location is conveniently downtown, close to shops and boat docks, contributing to a positive overall experience.
• Residents feel very happy there, often making friends through exercise classes, events, and amenities like the pool and water aerobics.
• Cedars at Mease Life provides excellent rehab, with a 24-hour nursing presence and accessible, helpful, considerate, and professional aides.
• The occupational therapy and physical therapy departments are dedicated to the goals of their patients above all else.
• The staff are hardworking and go above and beyond for residents, with Patricia Masotta cited as an amazing moving coordinator.
• Mease Life demonstrated hospitality during storms, arranging rest areas and a beautiful dining room for residents.

Cons

• The dining room and kitchen management mistreat servers, with favoritism, gossip, and unprofessional behavior.
• Managers act like high schoolers spreading rumors rather than leaders.
• A particular server is very disrespectful and worsens the work environment.
• Communication with Mease Arcadia's nursing leadership is exceptionally poor, and concerns are minimized.
• The executive director is rude and unprofessional, dismissing family and resident concerns.
• Specialty referrals (cardiology, neurology) were only partially completed, leaving care incomplete.
• Medications were mishandled; new meds were never given and requests to review records were denied.
• A slip-and-fall incident was minimized by staff, with delayed care and poor communication to primary care, resulting in a concussion.
• Heating and furnace issues are persistent, with old equipment, outages in cold weather, and slow or unavailable replacements.

Review

The collection of firsthand accounts about Mease Life and its related facilities presents a portrait of a place with strong, appealing fundamentals that are sometimes overshadowed by serious difficulties in management, communication, and daily operations. Across the reviews, the campus itself is repeatedly praised: clean, well-maintained buildings, a welcoming and lively community, and a setting that feels convenient and attractive to residents and their families. The Mease Life complex in Dunedin earns frequent compliments for its 9th-floor apartments with east-facing morning sun, the opportunity to see clouds and treetops from the windows, and the overall atmosphere that helps people feel at home quickly. The surrounding area - Dunedin's shops, docks, and downtown vibe - adds to the appeal, as do the varied activities and the social opportunities that come with living in such a community. Many residents and families highlight the weekend buffets, the broad menu, and the sense of companionship that grows from participating in wine tastings, group excursions, and local arts events.

A number of reviewers also sing high praise for the practical, day-to-day operations when it comes to housekeeping, maintenance, and responsive on-site staff. In several posts, residents note that housekeeping is a real plus, maintenance responds quickly, and staff members - ranging from nurses to aides - are kind and helpful. Specific staff mentions recur in a positive light: one reviewer singles out a nurse (Lexi) for exemplary care, another calls a moving coordinator (Patricia Masotta) amazing and capable of multitasking with a positive, "get it done" attitude, and others praise the dinners and the dining staff as being friendly and attentive, with Ashlyn highlighted as a standout server. The positive experiences extend to emergency and storm contexts as well, where Mease Life staff were described as accommodating and helpful when the Westminster residents needed to shelter during a storm, with arrangements made for dining and rest areas and gratitude extended to the hospitality shown by the staff.

Beyond everyday living, several reviews emphasize the quality of care in formal medical or rehabilitative settings connected to the Mease Life brand. One resident's family member recounts a highly favorable rehab experience after an elbow injury, noting that Cedars at Mease Life provided excellent inpatient and outpatient therapy, with a dedicated 24-hour nursing presence, accessible aides, and goal-oriented occupational and physical therapy that aligned with the patient's recovery. This positive rehab experience underscores the potential strengths of the organization when the care team is well-coordinated and resources are aligned around the patient's rehabilitation and safety.

Yet the same collection includes a substantial volume of concerns about management practices and communication that seriously affect the day-to-day experience for residents and their families. Several reviews about Mease Arcadia - the assisted living component - paint a troubling picture of inconsistent medical referrals, half-done specialist appointments, and a nursing leadership team described as rude or dismissive. In one troubling account, after a new medication was prescribed, the meds were not administered for several days; the family had to discover, through a photo, that the medications were present in a folder but had not been called into the pharmacy. The patient's primary care doctor reportedly advised the family to seek care elsewhere, and the incident culminated in a lengthy notice to move out. Other episodes highlight a lack of accountability, with a nurse director minimizing concerns and an executive director described as unprofessional. These stories are coupled with a number of safety concerns, including a slip-and-fall incident that led to a concussion and the perception that the staff did not respond with timely or adequate concern. Heating problems during a cold snap, with rooms left in the 60s and scarce parts, further illustrate ongoing maintenance and safety gaps that can make a vulnerable period even more difficult for residents and their families.

In addition to the medical and maintenance concerns, some reviewers report a culture clash within the management structure that affects morale and daily operations. The perceived undervaluing of frontline workers - especially aides - by upper management is a recurring theme. One reviewer notes that staff went "above and beyond," yet feel underappreciated by those in leadership positions, including the director level and human resources personnel. The sentiment extends to staffing and pay issues, with claims that hazard pay and other COVID-era supplements were unevenly distributed, and that scheduling and staffing levels are not adequately aligned with the needs of residents. A related complaint centers on the interpersonal dynamics of the leadership team, described by some as rude or unprofessional in daily interactions, which can ripple into the experiences of residents, families, and even visiting staff.

There are vivid, conflicting snapshots within the same broader system. While some families laud the Mease Life community for its social life, accessibility to downtown Dunedin, and the sense of belonging that develops over time, others describe a different reality: threats of towing cars, perceived harassment during visits, and what some call "horrible" food and a security posture that does not inspire confidence. These negative experiences emphasize that the difference between a highly satisfying senior living experience and a disappointing one can hinge on factors such as consistent leadership, reliable staffing, respectful communication, and the perceived fairness with which staff are treated and supported. Taken together, these accounts suggest a campus with excellent potential in terms of physical environment, resident engagement, and clinical care when functioning smoothly, but with meaningful, sometimes systemic, gaps in management practices, staff support, and cross-facility communication that can undermine the resident and family experience.

Ultimately, the collection of reviews presents a nuanced portrait of Mease Life and its related facilities: the core offerings - clean facilities, active programming, accessible care, supportive rehab services, and a sense of community - are widely valued and celebrated. At the same time, there are recurring, credible concerns about how the organization handles staffing, medication administration, fall remediation, heating maintenance, and the tone of leadership. Families and residents who encounter the positive elements consistently describe a bright, hopeful environment where people can feel at home and engaged; others who have faced the negative patterns - miscommunication, delays in medical attention, and what they perceive as unprofessional or dismissive leadership - advise others to proceed with caution, to verify care and safety measures, and to advocate actively for their loved ones. For prospective residents and their families, the overarching takeaway is that Mease Life can be a wonderful home with many practical and emotional benefits, but it is essential to assess the specific building, meet with staff, ask pointed questions about medication and safety protocols, and stay closely connected with care teams to ensure that the high potential is truly realized in daily life.

This part of Dunedin, Florida offers a range of amenities within close proximity, making it a convenient and vibrant area for senior living. There are several dining options nearby, including Pho Queen, Olive Garden, and Norton's Sports Bar & Grill, as well as various pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS Pharmacy. For medical needs, there are reputable physicians such as North Pinellas Surgery Center and Virginia Street Dermatology within a short distance. Additionally, parks like Stirling Park and Canal Park provide opportunities for outdoor activities and relaxation. Mease Countryside Hospital is also conveniently located for any healthcare emergencies. Overall, this area provides a nice balance of convenience, entertainment options, and healthcare facilities for seniors looking to settle in Dunedin.

Restaurants

• Pho Queen (0.6 miles)
• Olive Garden (0.8 miles)
• McDonald's (0.9 miles)
• Taco Bar (0.9 miles)
• Norton's Sports Bar & Grill (1.1 miles)
• McDonald's (1.2 miles)
• Our Place (1.3 miles)

Physicians

• North Pinellas Surgery Center (1 miles)
• Virginia Street Dermatology (2.5 miles)
• The Reproductive Medicine Group (2.5 miles)
• Dunedin Pediatrics (3.1 miles)
• Advanced Gastroenterology Associates (3.3 miles)
• Rose Radiology-Boot Ranch (3.4 miles)
• Clearwater Pediatric Care (4.6 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.2 miles)
• Winn-Dixie (1.3 miles)
• Walgreens (1.4 miles)
• Walgreens (2.2 miles)
• Winn-Dixie (2.4 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.2 miles)
• Starbucks (1.7 miles)
• Starbucks (5.7 miles)

Parks

• Stirling Park (2 miles)
• Canal Park (3.1 miles)
• Kapok Park (4.7 miles)
• Cooper Bayou Park (4.8 miles)
• McMullen Booth Tennis Center Clearwater FL (5.6 miles)
• Dog Run (6.7 miles)
• Sand Key Park (7.1 miles)

Hospitals

• Mease Countryside Hospital (2.6 miles)
• Mease Countryside Hospital-Medical Arts Building (2.6 miles)
• Morton Plant Hospital (6.6 miles)
• Morgan Heart Hospital (6.6 miles)
• AdventHealth North Pinellas (6.8 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Woodlands Square 20 (3.2 miles)