The Bristal Assisted Living at North Hills

sue51

My mother was a resident at The Bristal at North Hills for 2 1/2 years. She lived in her own apartment for 2 years with the help of the very kind and attentive staff, and maintained her independence as long as possible. Her studio was sunny and comfortable. When she was switched to the Reflections unit we found the staff to be very kind and caring. They made it their business to know what she liked and needed. I am grateful to the entire staff at the Bristal for the care they gave her.

Mindy223516

We visited The Bristal at North Hills. It was very positive and clean. The residents looked happy and engaged. There seemed to be a lot to offer. The rooms were clean. We ate there, and the food was good. The people were very nice. I absolutely would recommend them.

RRG

When my cousin entered the Reflections unit over the summer, she had a rocky transition. Although she required some medication, it was more than balanced by extra care and structured days filled with people and activities. Betsy and her staff transformed her into her old, sociable, cheerful self in about 6 weeks. We were hoping for clean and safe, but we got more - we got happy. What we had not taken fully into account was the value of being in a world filled with people. Our cousin had become angry and bitter, as well as confused. She's still confused, but she is happy. She is and was a people person. I would always be glad to chat with any one caring for a person with dementia and encourage them seriously to consider The Bristal at North Hills.

Janet F

My 89-year old father moved to The Bristal at North Hills about 5 months ago, having lived alone for 22 years. We all thought this transition would be a challenge for him, and yet, from the very beginning of our experience with the place and the staff, it is so affirming, reassuring and comforting to see him acclimated, relaxed and happy in his new environs. It is a pleasure to spend time with my father in this beautiful new home, where he has access to well-balanced meals, a selection of activities, and a most caring, skilled, talented and cheerful staff. We live out of state and come frequently to visit, but having this experience with The Bristal gives us - his children and grandchildren - much needed peace of mind.

Wendypb

My father was moved to the reflections area 3 months ago from the assisted living area and he and I are very happy. Betsy s amazing. She treats my father as part of her own family. She coordinates his mental, physical and emotional wellbeing by being proactive and making suggestions to improve the quality of his life ,He has dementia and I have seen an improvement in my fathers attitude ,emotional health and his memory. He has told me that he is happy and Is Taken good card of . I visit him weekly and have noticed how Betsy is very organized , kind , patient and professional . My father is happy and he feels cared about . I feel safe at the Bristal at the reflections area and would highly recommend it . Wendy

Dancer47

My mother lived at The Bristal at North Hills for seven years. She considered it her home. There were many friendships with other residents over the years. She participated in activities such as the daily exercise class, writing group, and took the bus to shops, concerts, movies, and shows. Our family felt that she was in very good hands. We could stop by to see Luz, the social worker, received calls regarding medications from Victoria in Wellness, had conversations with Linda and Winsome. During the last two years, my mother required more assistance and was able to receive that, enabling her to stay in her room and remain as independent as possible. During the last weeks, LouAnn Dinolfo, head nurse, coordinated her care with hospice, gave us the support we needed. Whenever I entered the lobby, I was greeted by Pam, or Paul, or others who were cheerful and really knew my mother. The Bristal is spacious, immaculate, and welcoming. It gave my mother meaning to her life during her last years.

Caring110825850

I did visit The Bristal Assisted Living; however, I think they were also in the same category where you have to be ambulatory. They didn't have that level of assistance if you were wheelchair bound. Nonetheless, the staff was very nice. Actually it was on a Sunday morning that I visited there, so it was quiet, but just the overall look of the place was very nice. The rooms/apartments were probably the same as the other place. They were very nice too. They were on the same vein as the other facility, e.g., roomy, very nice, a lot of closet space, nice views, and clean. The residents were very well dressed; it looked like they were very well taken care of. The overall atmosphere of the place was very inviting when you see how the facility was well-kept -- the grounds, the outside, and the inside.

Ethan S, Burger

Hi: My mother lived in the Bristal for approximately 4 years. I would highly recommend the Bristal at North Hills. The residents seem to get along and are respectful of one another. They have programs for exercise and some more intellectual events. The staff are seems to really care about the residents and treat then with dignity. They return phone calls if one calls about various things ! ! ! !. They try to be accommodating, for example, I was always able to stay overnight when I visited from out of town. I lived in Australia for 3 years. The Resident Relation Director Luz Jaramillo made a real effort to keep me informed about my mother's situation. She would even call me when my mom was having health issues on her day off. They do a good job monitoring the patients. It is close to North Shore Hospital and if they have some concerns about a resident that react promptly. The Bristal is not inexpensive but is better than most of the places my friends' parents are living at only sightly greater cost, They operate a beauty shop about every other week. If I had to identify a drawback, it has more to do with the facility's location and not teaching residents more about computers. There is NO shopping nearby and walking there is quite difficult. They have a bus that takes the residents to shopping once or twice a week Thank God for Amazon.com.

ShesAlmost91

The Bristal at North Hills has been home to my mother for more than 4 years now. The staff has been exceptional- caring and professional. They have guided us through many changes as Mom moved from Assisted Living to Reflections. They have shared advice and resolved many questions with their experience and knowledge. Mom is truly treated with dignity and respect. We sleep well knowing she is safe and happy. She is in a stimulating group environment. It's a beautiful home for us all.

Provider Response

Caring99303750

My mother moved into The Bristal North Hills. It's magnificent. It's wonderful. The facility doesn't smell like old people. It's beautiful, friendly, welcoming, immaculate, and well-maintained. It's lovely. They have a nice closet space, too. The staff is lovely, caring, and knowledgeable. They care as homelike as possible. Mom is 86, and she's really happy. I'm having a good experience, because my mom is. My husband, my mother, and I went together and investigated. It's the best out of all the places we looked.

Linda86272750

The Bristal seemed very quiet, and has not much activity going on. It was clean, modern and updated. The atmosphere was not as warm and friendly. I did like their friendship suite because they have their own bathroom. ItÕs like two little studios in one area but they have individual bathrooms. However, it was also pricier.

meredith11

My mom lived there for a while for assisted living, and it wasn't a positive experience. The one star was because she seemed to enjoy mealtimes but the food seems pretty bland so it could have been the company. There is a gatekeeper at the door who was not warm or friendly, kind of seemed like a security guard... I have met nicer doormen in the city. The people who run the facility did not seem compassionate to mom's needs. Seemed to be more run like a business rather than a home. A good clue is that one of the women who run the "show", her parents used to live there and they moved because they weren't happy there. I wouldn't recommend to anyone I cared about. However, I cannot review the area there where they care for alzheimer patients because that is a whole different experience.

Provider Response

Mom's Son

The building is well maintained and the apartments are fairly spacious. The staff really seems to care and take pride in their work. They greet, schmooze, and engage the residents, and there are always activities and excursions for those who want to participate. Food services are probably their weakest "asset", but then again, I find it hard to believe any single place can always satisfy everyone day in and out. Mom has been there for a few years and management and staff have always been responsive to any issues or concerns we've had, and I know she is well cared for.

Ann39

Dad is at The Bristal. It’s a wonderful place and he loves it there. The place is actually terrific, but right now he needs 24/hour care. They have different types of rooms with different sizes. They have apartments with one bedroom, a living room, a kitchenette area, large bathroom, walk-in shower. He is now in a studio apartment which is very large one room that has a bed, a couch, a separate bathroom, a large bathroom, and kitchenette. Overall, it's wonderful. It's like being in a hotel. The staff are very friendly, helpful, and really nice. I couldn’t say a negative word about them.

Helaine1

Highest praise and gratitude for the Bristal North Hills team. Each person who works with my uncle has show the utmost compassion for him and for us. They are responsible for assuring all residents the most dignified life at all stages from independent living to supported care we could not do it without them!

Rachel 1

Bristal at North Hills is a beautiful place The people were very nice and accommodating. My father just thought it was too big for him. But I thought they were good.

scrivado13

My wife and I are extremely pleased with The Bristal community home, as is my mother in law. She praises the three gourmet meals that she gets per day. She has made many friends and is very social. I am particularly fond of the various activities they have throughout the week for her. But I believe what makes it over the top is the 24-hour emergency response. This ensures a sense of safety in my wife and I.

Val2

The staff was very hospitable and the conditions of the facility were exceedingly above those of the others facilities I visited. I would recommend facility and the location. The rooms were very nice and allowed for a comfortable, yet slow and endearing, end to one's life. I was very glad to have visited as I entertained the elderly. I loved the social aspect of it. They had weekly trips to theaters and other various events. They had scheduled card games, bingo, and parties. The community areas were beautiful and large enough to fit many residents at the same time. From my few visits, it seemed that the staff members were not only capable, but that they genuinely cared about doing the best job they could. They went out of their way to make sure not only that every resident was getting the best physical care that they required but also that their emotional needs were being met. The communal breakfast area allows both friends and new acquaintances to feel comfortable in their own environment, while the vast size of the room also allows for privacy for those who desire it.

nurseman007

I have been volunteering at the The Bristal Assisted Living at North Hills for several months now. My volunteering experience has given me much insight into compassionate care, fear, vulnerability and suffering. On my first visit, I was impressed by the warm, comfortable furnishings of the nursing home. Even in the short time I spent at Bristal, I noticed how the residents were all treated with respect and compassion. I looked forward to my first "hands-on" visit.I did not realize how difficult that visit was going to be. I went into Bristal thinking I would be able to relate to the residents the same way I do with other people. I brought a deck of cards with me and even thought of some conversation starters.I was immediately assigned to help out with the Sewing Circle. As I have always been interested in sewing, crocheting and knitting, I was looking forward to this activity. When I walked into the room, six or seven wheelchairs were pulled up to the tables. About half of the women sat hunched over, staring vacantly into space. The other ladies were talking to one of the staff members, Sharon, about sewing in general. I joined in the conversation with enthusiasm and started working on a tote bag pattern.I soon realized that these ladies were not cognizant in the same sense one generally assumes people to be. Our conversations were circular. The women talked about the past as if it were the present; however, recent events such as lunch and today's activities were lost memories. Most of the women were physically incapable of tracing the tote-bag pattern. I found it difficult to find something to talk about with the residents for an extended period of time. We often ran out of things to say; I often could not understand what they were trying to tell me. Their daily life experiences were so different than mine. As the days went by I just felt we were family and everything went better than expected.

Provider Response

Thebest1090

This was a nice facility. The staff was very hospitable and the conditions of the facility were exceedingly above those of the others facilities we visited during our time france two years ago. I would recommend both the facility and the location. The rooms were very nice and allowed for a comfortable, yet slow and endearing, end to one's life. I was very glad to have visited as I entertained the elderly. I loved the social aspect of it. They had weekly trips to theaters and other various events. They had scheduled card games, bingo, and parties. The community areas were beautiful and large enough to fit many residents at the same time. From my few visits, it seemed that the staff members were not only capable, but that they genuinely cared about doing the best job they could. They went out of their way to make sure not only that every resident was getting the best physical care that they required but also that their emotional needs were being met. The communal breakfast area allows both friends and new acquaintances to feel comfortable in their own environment, while the vast size of the room also allows for privacy for those who desire it.