All states › Florida › Tampa › Whispering Oaks
1514 E Chelsea St Tampa, FL 33610 · Hillsborough County
All 18 nursing homes in Tampa, FL (17 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 105299 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Whispering Oaks a good nursing home? Reviews, ratings and inspection record
There are no official resident reviews of nursing homes: Medicare's Care Compare publishes inspections, staffing and quality data instead. Here is what that record shows for Whispering Oaks as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 3 out of 5 stars overall, about the same as the Florida average of 3.3.
Online reviews from families and residents are on Google Maps and other sites; they reflect individual experiences and aren't checked by CMS. The full inspection reports, including what inspectors observed, are on Medicare Care Compare.
Staffing
Nursing staff spend about 3.24 hours per resident per day at Whispering Oaks, below the Florida median of 3.67 (US median: 3.72). About 0.70 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.06 hours, 6% below its all-week average. 32.1% of nursing staff left within a year (Florida median 42%).
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Whispering Oaks: Medicare and Medicaid
Whispering Oaks is certified for both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare Part A can cover a short skilled-nursing or rehab stay here after a qualifying hospital stay of at least three inpatient days (observation days don't count), for up to 100 days per benefit period. Medicaid can pay for long-term care for residents who meet Florida's income and asset rules. Being certified doesn't guarantee a Medicaid bed is open, so ask whether the home accepts residents whose Medicaid application is still pending.
In 2026 Medicare covers days 1–20 in full after the Part A deductible ($1,736 per benefit period); for days 21–100 you pay $217 a day; after day 100 you pay all costs. Medicare doesn't pay for long-term custodial care. Medicare's coverage rules.
Health inspections
The most recent standard inspection was on February 12, 2026 and found 9 deficiencies, plus 1 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 27 citations in the last three years.
Each citation has a scope and severity letter from A to L. A–C: potential for minimal harm. D–F: potential for more than minimal harm. G–I: actual harm. J–L: immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety.
What the inspections found
Over the last three years, inspectors issued 27 citations at Whispering Oaks across 4 inspection dates, 1 of them from complaint investigations. None were at the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy levels; 27 were "potential for more than minimal harm" (D–F) and 0 were minimal (A–C). The most common areas cited were resident rights (7) and resident assessment and care planning (6). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "coordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed" (tag F0644, level E, February 12, 2026). 2 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
February 12, 2026 · 9 citations
ECoordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
EPASARR screening for Mental disorders or Intellectual Disabilities
EProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
DAllow residents to self-administer drugs if determined clinically appropriate.
DHonor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
DProvide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
DEnsure each resident’s drug regimen must be free from unnecessary drugs.
November 19, 2025 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DProtect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
August 24, 2023 · 9 citations
EProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
DTimely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
DCoordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
DProvide appropriate care for a resident to maintain and/or improve range of motion (ROM), limited ROM and/or mobility, unless a decline is for a medical reason.
DImplement gradual dose reductions(GDR) and non-pharmacological interventions, unless contraindicated, prior to initiating or instead of continuing psychotropic medication; and PRN orders for psychotropic medications are only used when the medication is necessary and PRN use is limited.
DEnsure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
DEnsure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.
DProvide or obtain dental services for each resident.
DDevelop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
August 13, 2021 · 8 citations
EHonor the resident's right to and the facility must promote and facilitate resident self-determination through support of resident choice.
DHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
DKeep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential.
DProvide timely notification to the resident, and if applicable to the resident representative and ombudsman, before transfer or discharge, including appeal rights.
DNotify the resident or the resident’s representative in writing how long the nursing home will hold the resident’s bed in cases of transfer to a hospital or therapeutic leave.
DEnsure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
DDevelop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
DProvide or obtain dental services for each resident.
Questions to ask on a tour of Whispering Oaks
- CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on November 19, 2025. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- Do you have a Medicaid bed open now, and will you admit someone whose Medicaid application is still pending?
- When is the first care-plan meeting, and can family attend?
Questions come from this home's CMS data: its inspections, staffing and ownership record.
Fines and payment denials
CMS reports no fines or payment denials for this home in the last three years.
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 3/5 | 2/5 | 3/5 | 5/5 |
| August 2026 | 3/5 | 2/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Whispering Oaks
The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.
- 2.4 mi
-
2.9 mi
St Joseph's Hospital TampaEmergency room ★★★★☆ Medicare overall 4 of 5Median ER visit 3h 7m for patients treated and sent home
-
3.4 mi
Tampa General Hospital TampaEmergency room ★★★☆☆ Medicare overall 3 of 5Median ER visit 3h 54m for patients treated and sent home
Hospital ratings, ER visit times and more at Hospitals In Each State
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
Nearby nursing homes
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Compare Whispering Oaks with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Higher-rated nursing homes within 10 miles
- Canterbury Towers · Tampa · 5 stars · 5.9 mi
- Excel Care Center · Tampa · 4 stars · 5.3 mi
- Palm Garden of Tampa · Tampa · 4 stars · 6.2 mi
- Northdale Rehabilitation Center · Tampa · 4 stars · 7.7 mi
Other Senior Health South nursing homes in Florida
- First Coast Health and Rehabilitation Center · Jacksonville · 5 stars
- Treasure Isle Care Center · North Bay Village · 2 stars
- Winter Haven Health and Rehabilitation Center · Winter Haven · 2 stars
- Concordia Manor · Saint Petersburg · 1 stars
- South Heritage Health & Rehabilitation Center · Saint Petersburg · 1 stars
- Alpine Health and Rehabilitation Center · Saint Petersburg · 1 stars
Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 8 Senior Health South nursing homes ›
Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog (provider information, health deficiencies, penalties), October 2026. Inspection citations and penalties cover the last three years. Nursing Homes In Each State is independent and not affiliated with CMS or Medicare. About the data · Report a problem with this listing. Is this your nursing home? Feature it here.