The Bristal at Lake Success

Pros

• The Bristal provides a clean, spacious environment with friendly and helpful staff who genuinely care for the residents.
• Residents enjoy a variety of engaging activities, ensuring they remain active and involved in their community.
• The meals served at The Bristal are delicious, with additional options available to accommodate residents' preferences.
• Families appreciate the beautiful atmosphere and well-appointed rooms that make it feel like home for their loved ones.
• The staff consistently demonstrates compassion and respect towards each resident, which helps create a supportive community.
• Families feel informed and supported by the staff, who are always available for consultations regarding their loved one's care.
• Many residents express happiness about their experience, indicating that they look forward to returning after outings with family.

Cons

• The facility has no systems or policies in place to assure services are rendered as promised, leading to significant issues in care quality.
• There has been astounding turnover of staff in every department over the past three years, which contributes to inconsistencies and mismanagement.
• Medications ordered by doctors are not given regularly and reliably, with families often unaware of missed doses.
• The current executive director refuses to provide receipts for over-the-counter medications brought in by families, despite doctors' recommendations.
• The wellness department frequently fails to answer phone calls from families and medical professionals, leading to communication breakdowns.
• Promised fitness activities and access to facilities are misleading, as important resources are restricted for research purposes only.
• Scheduled bus trips rarely occur as advertised, with instances of poor planning resulting in disappointing experiences for residents.
• The open computer room poses a significant risk to the personal safety of memory care residents, with administration ignoring concerns raised by professionals.

Review

The Bristal, particularly its Lake Success location, has garnered a mixed but generally favorable reputation among families and residents in the realm of memory care assistance. Many families express relief and satisfaction at having chosen this facility over others, praising its cleanliness, spaciousness, and dedicated staff. Several reviewers emphasize their experiences post-transfer from other memory-care organizations, asserting that joining the Bristal was one of the best decisions they made for their loved ones. The physical environment is frequently highlighted, with residents appreciating the abundance of natural light from large windows and the comfort of their private rooms or suites, each featuring a private bathroom.

Key to the positive experiences shared by family members is the staff's commitment to providing compassionate care. Reviewers consistently note how staff members treat residents with kindness and respect, addressing them by name and fostering a warm community atmosphere. This sentiment extends into various activities offered at the Bristal; residents participate in diverse programming—such as cooking classes and music programs—that helps keep them engaged. One family member notes that their mother is rarely bored and often stays active due to an array of options available. The Activities Director receives specific praise for being a standout member of this dedicated team.

Food quality at Bristal also emerges as a notable highlight among reviews. Family members report that meals are deliciously prepared with multiple options available to meet dietary preferences or restrictions. Residents themselves give testimonials about enjoying mealtime experiences, which further enhances feelings of comfort and homeliness within the facility. Coupled with beautiful surroundings and well-appointed living spaces, many family members feel assured that their loved ones truly have a place they can call home.

However, not all feedback is positive; some reviewers provide stark contrasts to these glowing assessments by citing serious operational issues within the facility. Reports indicate high turnover rates in staffing across numerous departments—including wellness—and express frustrations surrounding communication lapses when it comes to medication management. Families report instances where medications prescribed by doctors were not administered reliably or at all, leading to considerable anxiety over whether their loved ones received proper care.

Critiques extend beyond medication administration into broader concerns about transparency and accountability within the management structure of the Bristal facility. Families recount instances where inquiries directed toward administrative personnel went unanswered or were met with dismissive attitudes regarding day-to-day operations’ oversight. Concerning findings outlined include lost items such as laundry along with problems related to activity scheduling—where promised outings did not occur as planned or resulted in unfortunate experiences due to inadequate planning on staff’s part.

In summary, while many family members commend The Bristal for its ideal environment, caring staff, engaging activities, infrastructure amenities like spacious rooms filled with light—and robust culinary offerings—there exists a significant undercurrent of dissatisfaction focusing on crucial operational mismanagement issues that impact resident care negatively. As prospective families consider The Bristal for memory care services or those who currently engage with this establishment weigh their experiences against each other—the contrast between hopeful testimonials around individual caregivers' dedication versus systemic disorganization remains difficult to ignore in evaluating its overall effectiveness as a supportive home for residents dealing with cognitive impairments.

Located in Lake Success, New York, this neighborhood offers a variety of amenities that may appeal to seniors looking for a convenient and comfortable living environment. With several physicians and hospitals nearby, residents have easy access to healthcare services. There are also pharmacies for convenient medication pick-ups. Transportation options include several LIRR stations within a few miles, making it easy to travel around the area or into the city. For recreation, there are several parks nearby where seniors can enjoy nature and outdoor activities. Additionally, there are restaurants and cafes for dining out as well as theaters for entertainment options. Places of worship provide spiritual support for those who seek it. Overall, this part of Lake Success offers a mix of essential services and leisure opportunities for seniors looking to settle in a well-connected and diverse community.

Physicians

• 2 Pro Health Plaza (1.1 miles)
• North Shore Gastroenterology Associates PC (1.8 miles)
• Winthrop Professional Building (3.9 miles)
• Orlin & Cohen Orthopedic Group (7.9 miles)

Hospitals

• Division of Vascular/Interventional Radiology at Long Island Jewish Medical Center (1.1 miles)
• St Francis Hospital (3 miles)
• Winthrop University Hospital New Life Center (3.8 miles)
• Winthrop University Hospital (3.9 miles)
• Nassau University Medical Center (8.5 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.5 miles)
• Starbucks (1.8 miles)
• Starbucks (8 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.1 miles)
• Walgreens (2.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.9 miles)
• Walgreens (3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.4 miles)

Transportation

• LIRR - Manhasset Station (1.8 miles)
• LIRR - Little Neck Station (1.9 miles)
• LIRR New Hyde Park Station (3 miles)
• LIRR - Floral Park Station (3.2 miles)
• LIRR - Westbury Station (6.4 miles)
• MTA - Sutphin Boulevard Subway Station (7.2 miles)
• LIRR - Jay / Hall Tower (7.3 miles)

Parks

• Allenwood Park (2 miles)
• Alley Pond Park (3.1 miles)
• Cunningham Park (4.3 miles)
• Hempstead Lake State Park (7 miles)
• Flushing Meadows Corona Park (7.5 miles)
• Eisenhower Park (8 miles)
• Coes Neck Park (8.1 miles)

Restaurants

• Toku Modern Asian (2.5 miles)
• Burger King (2.9 miles)
• Hendrick's Tavern (3.5 miles)
• McDonald's (4 miles)
• Taco Bell (4.7 miles)
• White Castle (4.8 miles)
• Bar Frites (5 miles)

Places of Worship

• Community Church of East Williston (3.7 miles)
• St Luke's Episcopal Church (8.3 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Fresh Meadows 7 (4.6 miles)
• AMC Roosevelt Field 8 (5.1 miles)
• Regal Westbury Imax & RPX (7.9 miles)