The Bristol at Tampa

Pros

• The Bristol is described as a special, clean, and well-maintained facility.
• The staff are consistently kind, friendly, and professional.
• The courtyard provides a pleasant outdoor space for visiting loved ones.
• The nursing and therapy teams are patient, competent, and dedicated.
• Social services and admissions staff are responsive, helpful, and communicative.
• Families and residents frequently express gratitude and would recommend The Bristol to others.
• The environment is nurturing and engaging, with activities and therapy that support residents.
• The Bristol is seen by many as going above and beyond to meet residents' needs.

Cons

• The Bristol is described as old, dirty, and dilapidated, with roaches and unpleasant odors.
• Staff are described as rude, unprofessional, and uncaring toward residents.
• Medications are not consistently administered on time, and essential equipment or orders are mishandled.
• Front desk and administration communication is poor; calls are often unanswered or placed on hold.
• The facility appears severely understaffed, with one nurse for many patients, leading to neglect.
• There are safety concerns, including a shooting in the parking lot and overall security issues.
• Personal belongings are frequently lost or stolen from residents.
• COVID-19 policies are described as locking residents in rooms and eliminating normal activities.

Review

The Bristol at Tampa is best suited for families seeking a care setting where frontline staff are genuinely attentive, the environment feels clean and approachable, and rehab or memory-care support is a central feature. Reviewers consistently point to a facility that is well maintained on the surface, with a courtyard that makes visiting pleasant and a therapy team able to deliver steady progress for residents who need to regain or maintain function. The memory-care wing, in particular, demonstrates visible compassion from staff such as Mya, and the front-desk and admissions teams are frequently described as friendly and professional. For families who value a homey atmosphere, accessible outdoor space, and staff who know residents by name, Bristol can feel like a reliable anchor where daily care is personalized and staff are willing to go the extra mile.

Those who may want alternatives are families with a lower tolerance for variability in operations or who demand consistently flawless communication and program integrity. A substantial share of reviews flag uneven communication, with front-desk and administrative contact frequently hard to reach and slow to respond. The experience of care is described as highly variable, some days marked by kindness and competence, others by lapses in medication management, alarm responsiveness, and supervision. The building’s age and older-infrastructure footprint contribute to mixed impressions of safety and comfort, and staffing turnover or perceived staffing limitations can disrupt continuity of care. For families prioritizing predictable governance, transparent billing, and unambiguous, timely updates from a single point of contact, Bristol may not meet the standard, and exploring other communities with stronger, more consistent oversight is prudent.

The best pros at Bristol, cleanliness, a conscientious mood among many CNAs and nurses, visible therapy engagement, and a proactive admissions/social-services team, do align with meaningful resident outcomes. The facility’s upkeep and the quality of therapy can translate into real progress for rehab patients and a sense of dignity for long-term residents. Where these strengths matter most, families can experience reassurance that caregivers are capable and engaged, and that staff routinely go beyond basic tasks to support daily living. Yet the same positive threads are unevenly distributed. In some shifts and on certain units, the experience drops noticeably when communication falters, requests go unanswered, or care gaps emerge. The contrast between highly regarded teams and reported operational gaps creates a credibility gap families must manage, trust earned in one week can be undermined in the next.

The most persistent drawbacks fall into two broad buckets: communication and care consistency, plus the safety and upkeep realities of operating a large, older building. Families report long holds or unreturned calls, staff who appear distracted, and disorganized handoffs that undermine timely medication administration and timely response to alarms. There are stories of lost belongings, challenges obtaining medical equipment, and concerns about supervision levels on busy shifts. The physical plant itself is described as aged in places, with equipment and room updates not uniformly evident. Across reviews, there are also alarmingly divergent narratives about safety and respect, from commendations for compassionate nurses to complaints about rude behavior, perceived indifference, or even serious lapses in patient handling. In a facility of this size, such disparate experiences are a red flag for families seeking a consistently safe and responsive environment.

For families actively evaluating Bristol, a practical playbook helps separate truth from rumor. Schedule an in-person tour that includes areserved time with the director of nursing and frontline supervisors, and demand real-world examples of daily care routines, medication administration, and intershift communication. Obtain unit-specific staffing ratios and request a named point of contact for updates and emergencies. If rehab is the goal, insist on a formal therapy timetable and a concrete discharge plan that connects to post-acute care or home-health services. Inspect the memory-care area for engagement, staff oversight, and genuine resident interaction, not just pristine surfaces. During visits, observe alarm handling, mobility assistance, and personal hygiene practices; ask to review a recent incident log and the outcomes. Finally, talk with current families about long-term trends, not just a single positive encounter, to gauge whether Bristol’s strengths sustain over time.

In the end, Bristol at Tampa delivers undeniable strengths in cleanliness, approachable frontline staff, and a capable therapy ecosystem that can support rehab or long-term memory-care needs when operations run smoothly. The sheer volume of mixed reports, however, signals real variability in daily experience and governance. For families who prize predictable communication, medication safety, and consistent supervision, Bristol warrants a disciplined evaluation, ideally with a concrete verification plan on the unit where the loved one will live. Alternatives with steadier staffing and more transparent, proactive family engagement are worth considering for those who cannot tolerate swings in service quality. If choosing Bristol, anchor decisions to the most consistently praised teams, the CNAs and therapy staff, and insist on clear, ongoing updates and accountability from administration. The right fit exists here, but only for families prepared to demand and verify dependable, day-to-day performance.

This part of Tampa, Florida offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities for senior living. With multiple pharmacies such as Walgreens, Winn-Dixie, and CVS Pharmacy nearby, residents have easy access to necessary medical supplies and medications. There are also several cafes like Starbucks and King State for socializing or enjoying a leisurely coffee outing. In terms of healthcare, the area is well-equipped with reputable hospitals like Florida Hospital Tampa and H Lee Moffitt Cancer Center located within close proximity. Additionally, there are various dining options ranging from fast food chains like Chick-Fil-A to more upscale establishments like Acropolis Greek Taverna. For medical services, there are reputable physicians in the area including University Diagnostic Institute and ForCare Medical Center. The presence of public transportation options such as train stations like Stanleyville Train Station and Nairobi Train Station makes getting around the city convenient for seniors. Places of worship such as St Paul Catholic Church and Grace Family Church cater to spiritual needs, while parks like Carrollwood Village Park offer green spaces for outdoor activities. Lastly, entertainment options include theaters like AMC Highwoods 2 and AMC Veterans 24 for movie enthusiasts. Overall, this part of Tampa provides a well-rounded environment with essential amenities for comfortable senior living.

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.8 miles)
• Winn-Dixie (1.2 miles)
• Winn-Dixie (1.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.4 miles)
• Walgreens (1.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.1 miles)
• Walgreens (2.7 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (0.8 miles)
• Starbucks (4.2 miles)
• Starbucks (5.2 miles)
• King State (6.9 miles)
• Panera Bread (7.2 miles)
• Starbucks (7.3 miles)

Hospitals

• Florida Hospital Tampa (0.9 miles)
• AdventHealth Tampa (1 miles)
• H Lee Moffitt Cancer Center (1.2 miles)
• Florida Hospital Carrollwood (5.6 miles)
• St Joseph's Hospital (5.9 miles)

Restaurants

• Portillo's Hot Dogs (1.1 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (1.1 miles)
• Cracker Barrel (1.1 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (1.3 miles)
• Acropolis Greek Taverna (1.9 miles)
• McDonald's (2.8 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (2.9 miles)

Physicians

• University Diagnostic Institute (1.4 miles)
• Ambulatory Surgery Center - Tampa (1.7 miles)
• ForCare Medical Center (2 miles)
• Moffitt McKinley Outpatient Center (2 miles)
• Children's Health Center (2.9 miles)
• Innovision Eyecare & Eyeware (3.6 miles)
• Tampa Bay Bone & Joint Center (4 miles)

Transportation

• Stanleyville Train Station (2.5 miles)
• Nairobi Train Station (2.6 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Paul Catholic Church (4 miles)
• Idlewild Baptist Church (5.3 miles)
• Grace Family Church (5.6 miles)
• Vishnu Mandir (6.3 miles)

Parks

• Nye Park (5.1 miles)
• Carrollwood Village Park (5.4 miles)
• Rivercrest Park (5.9 miles)
• Grant Park (6.9 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Highwoods 2 (5.9 miles)
• AMC Veterans 24 (6.8 miles)