Brandywyne Health Care Center

Pros

• Lake Mariam is an awesome facility where the staff truly cares for the residents.
• The front desk and physical therapy are top-notch.
• The administrator and Director of Nursing are genuinely caring and knowledgeable.
• The team is welcoming and accommodating, and they resolve issues promptly.
• There has been a tremendous improvement and a positive turnaround under new ownership.
• The building now feels like a warm, home-like environment where residents are the priority.
• The staff are compassionate and treat residents with respect and kindness.
• The facility has made ongoing improvements, including a new hairdresser and updated amenities, reflecting dedication to resident well-being.
• The therapy staff and CNAs are friendly and consistently on top of their duties.
• The facility is clean and well-maintained, with staff going above and beyond to meet residents' needs.

Cons

• The facility is not fit to stay in.
• The place is dirty and roach-infested, and patient care is horrible.
• There is no accountability and no inventory was taken when items were lost.
• Dentures and glasses purchased for the resident were lost and not replaced.
• A walker was not available, making it impossible for the resident to reach the bathroom.

Review

The collection of experiences at Lake Mariam Health and Rehab paints a picture of a facility that has seen both strong advocacy and troubling lapses, with much of the sentiment revolving around care quality, leadership, and the day-to-day realities of living and healing there. Across the board, residents, family members, and visitors describe a place that can feel like a home and a place that can feel chaotic, depending on when you visit and whom you speak with. What comes through most clearly is a facility in flux: improvements praised by many sit alongside enduring complaints from others, creating a complicated portrait of a community trying to get its footing.

A common thread among the more positive reviews centers on communication and empathy from the people in charge and the staff who engage directly with residents. Several comments highlight a welcoming, caring environment where the administration and nursing leadership are seen as genuinely invested in residents' well?being. Phrases like "the administrators and DON are very caring about the residents" and "the staff truly care about the residents" recur, underscoring a belief that leadership is accessible and compassionate. Several reviewers point to Kim, identified as the administrator, and the Director of Nursing as particularly notable for listening, addressing questions, and guiding a more family?like atmosphere. In many accounts, the caregiving staff are described as kind, patient, and reliable, with particular mention paid to certain nurses and aides who go above and beyond.

Among the most complimentary voices are those that describe tangible improvements over time. Families who had concerns at first note a positive turn after changes in ownership and management. They describe a building that looks and feels more like a home, with renovations, landscaping updates, and a newly warmer overall climate. For example, reviewers speak of a "tremendous turn around," a feeling that the facility is "starting to feel like a home," and a sense that "the walls are filled with warmth." The sense of a recovering reputation is reinforced by praise for staff who are described as responsive to problems and patient needs, and for a therapy team that is "nice" and capable of supporting residents through rehabilitation.

Yet, even as praise pours in for the people who care for residents daily, there are persistent and specific complaints that serve as important counterpoints. Several reviews recount serious lapses that are hard to overlook: dentures and glasses going missing or being damaged, with accusations that replacements were not authorized or promptly provided, and assertions that "there was not notified til 6-13" before a response could be made. One account describes dentures bought in January totaling "5k" that disappeared during respite care, along with glasses and clothing, and a nurse's firm response that replacements wouldn't be provided because of late notification. Another reviewer details a distressing incident in which a resident with dementia ends up without essential items, highlighting a troubling lack of inventory and accountability. Taken together, these stories raise questions about the facility's internal controls and follow-through during transitions or care episodes.

The sense of disorganization in some periods is underscored by a separate review describing a visit that felt unprepared and poorly managed: "no walker available to use, so could not get to bathroom," and the experience of being placed in a room already occupied. The same reviewer expressed intent to file a major complaint with the state, signaling that for some, the experience crossed from inconvenient to unacceptable. There are also voices of frustration about contact with the front desk and phone systems, with repeated mentions that calls go unanswered and that communications break down even when families are trying to coordinate care or seek information. In a care setting, these operational gaps can amplify the emotional weight of the more serious care concerns, leaving families feeling unheard even when the overall climate may be improving.

Nevertheless, a number of reviewers emphasize that the most meaningful aspects of Lake Mariam's care are frequently those that involve direct human connections - the patience, humor, and diligence of staff members who work directly with residents. The positive comments about specific team members - Renee and Breshia, noted as wonderful nurses who ensure that residents' needs are acknowledged and met - illustrate the impact a compassionate, attentive caregiver can have on a resident's daily experience. There is also appreciation for practical acts that make life easier for residents: the ability to borrow or receive assistance with items like an electric scooter, and the sense that staff listen and respond to personal care preferences, such as hairdressing and other grooming services. In short, when residents and families feel seen and heard, they are quick to recognize and celebrate the people who make this care possible.

Several reviews highlight the sense of community and continuity of relationships as a strength, even amid organizational changes. A recurring sentiment is that the staff are "like family," that residents form meaningful bonds with caregivers, and that the atmosphere has shifted from a cold or clinical feel to something warmer and more home?like. Descriptions such as "the building around the residents is turning around," and "the staff truly care" reinforce the idea that Lake Mariam's culture is slowly but steadily evolving toward a more resident?centered model. For many, the presence of a reliable, responsive administration and a caring nursing team helps restore trust and confidence in the care setting after prior challenges.

A few reviewers take a broader, more aspirational view, expressing hope for ongoing progress and continued attention to resident comfort and safety. They speak to changes in the building, improvements in how staff interact with residents, and a zeal to keep raising the standard of care. The sentiment is clear: when leadership communicates openly, when caregiving teams are supported and empowered, and when the environment remains clean, welcoming, and well?maintained, Lake Mariam has the potential to be a highly valued place for both rehab and long?term care. The cautionary notes - about miscommunications, inventory gaps, and occasional perceptions of neglect - are tempered by optimism that those issues can be resolved with continued diligence and accountability.

In sum, Lake Mariam Health and Rehab emerges as a facility marked by pockets of excellence and episodes of frustration. For many reviewers, the care they receive from certain nurses, aides, and therapy staff is a bright spot, anchored by an administrator and director of nursing who are perceived as caring and actively guiding improvement. For others, persistent operational problems, from phone access to missing dentures, create a fraught experience that tempers their overall impression. The overarching narrative suggests a community in transition - where strong, compassionate care is possible and praised, while gaps in communication, inventory, and consistency remind readers that the journey toward consistently exceptional care remains ongoing. As with any long?term care setting, the true test will lie in sustaining the improvements families already see while ensuring that every resident experiences reliable, respectful, and safe care every day.

This area of Winter Haven, Florida offers convenient access to several hospitals, day surgery centers, and medical clinics, making it an ideal location for senior living. There are a variety of dining options nearby, including fast food restaurants like McDonald's and sit-down establishments like Chili's Grill & Bar. Additionally, there are pharmacies such as CVS and Walgreens within a short distance for easy access to medication. For leisure activities, there is a Starbucks cafe nearby and the Regal Eagle Ridge Mall theater just a short drive away. Overall, this area provides a balance of healthcare amenities, dining options, and recreational opportunities that cater to the needs and interests of seniors looking for a comfortable living environment in Winter Haven.

Hospitals

• Day Surgery Center (0.6 miles)
• Winter Haven Hospital Cath Lab (1.6 miles)
• Nierman Stephen Winter Haven Hospital Winter Haven (1.9 miles)
• Winter Haven Hospital Occupational Health (1.9 miles)
• Regency Medical Center (2 miles)
• Winter Haven Ambulatory Surgical Center (2.1 miles)
• Mpn Medical Center Dundee (3.6 miles)

Restaurants

• Cain's Snowballs (1.4 miles)
• McDonald's (1.6 miles)
• Culver's (1.7 miles)
• Chili's Grill & Bar (1.7 miles)
• Gaskins Barbecue & Lobster (1.8 miles)
• Olive Garden (1.9 miles)
• LEGO City (2 miles)

Physicians

• Bond Clinic - Main Campus (1.4 miles)
• Gessler Clinic Womens Division (1.5 miles)
• Doctor Today Tlc (1.5 miles)
• Urology Associates of Central Florida (1.6 miles)
• Family Eye Care (1.6 miles)
• Center for Spinal Stenosis (1.6 miles)
• Feldman Foot Clinic (1.6 miles)

Places of Worship

• Winter Haven Worship Center (1.4 miles)
• First Missionary Baptist Church (2.4 miles)
• Beymer Memorial United Methodist Church (2.5 miles)
• The Rock of Winter Haven (3.4 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (1.6 miles)
• Walgreens (1.8 miles)
• Winter Haven Hospital (1.9 miles)
• Kay Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
• Walgreens (2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.6 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (2 miles)
• Baking Donuts Plus (2.4 miles)

Theaters

• Regal Eagle Ridge Mall (6.8 miles)

Transportation

• Bartow Municipal Airport-KBOW (6.9 miles)

Parks

• Lake Eva Park (7.1 miles)