Nursing Home Communities in Beaver Dam, WI

"My sister stayed at Markesan Resident Home for rehab. It was excellent. The people there were very caring. They took extremely good care of her. The place was clean. It was very nice, and we can't say enough positive about it. It was wonderful. The rooms were nice. She had a private room with a window, and it was very clean. She had a bathroom she shared with someone else, but there was nobody in the other room. The food was good. They just took such good care of her. It didn't smell bad at all, it smelled really good. Everybody that's worked there has worked there for a long time. So, they don't have a big turnover which is always a good sign. My sister didn't take part in any of the activities, but one thing they had was a hair salon. Then they had music, activities, and art activities. They have a dining room and a courtyard. In terms of cost, it's pretty average. They give you everything other places might say they give you, but the others aren't probably as good at it."

"The staff were very friendly. They always asked if we needed anything. My dad felt very comfortable and had pleasure staying there. It is a clean facility."

"My mother went to Hope Health & Rehab for a month for rehab. It was not updated, the bathrooms were a pony, they didn't have automatic doors, but the caring staff was great. The food was good, they had a lot of activities, they had card games and bingo. The rooms were small, and she had a roommate."

"Columbia Health Care Center is a great place with multiple activities. The food was excellent, and they offered a discount for family or friends. It seemed like a very good place with a great vibe. They had a physical therapy room downstairs and long hallways where people can try to walk and get a little exercise. The hallways were broken up by care level, which was an interesting concept. The gym seemed very well equipped, and they had a 24-hour nursing staff. The staff was very nice, very accommodating, and asked how they can help. The only concern I had was they didn't have an on-site doctor, and it didn't seem like the doctor came very often, but they had plenty of registered nurses who seemed to be able to accommodate very well. The facility was very nice and older, but you can't tell. They had a great maintenance program. You can walk outside when it's not cold, and they had a lake where the residents could sit on benches and be outside."

"My mother-in-law did go into this nursing home . It was not a great experience. She was there for seven weeks. The problem is when somebody is alert and is only there for short term, I don't think they're really attuned to that type of patient. They weren't as attentive as what I would have liked or that my mother-in-law would have liked. The meals were terrible. Staffing was minimal, so that caused increased time in call bells being answered. My mother-in-law called 2:20 a.m. at our house, and said, 'Rhonda, I can't get a hold of anybody. Can you call down here? I have to go to the bathroom really bad.' Now, this is at night. It's not busy. Nobody came until I called down there, and then they went to help her. At that time, she couldn't do it independently. I bought her a cell phone so that she could communicate outside of the cordless phone that they have. She's 89 years old, and she learned how to use a cell phone. Nobody should have to call 2:30 in the morning and say, 'Can you get some help for me' when the call light is on. The meals, maybe they were OK for others. My mother-in-law might be a little picky, but she did not like them at all. She lost 10 pounds while she was there. When I called down there, the administrator and the social worker would call me back. We would work to try to resolve some things. Due to COVID, they had minimal staff. That's no fault of the nursing home itself, and obviously it was hard to visit her. We had to make appointments and call 24 hours before (and that's just part of COVID). We understand that, but it added to the anxiety of her being there and wondering if we're ever going to be able to see her. We were able to take my mother-in-law's personal recliner so that was a positive. They shared bathrooms, and I didn't like that. I don't think that they remodeled or anything like that. They got a new phone system too, but you couldn't even get through. I was very thankful that she had her cell phone, so at least we could talk to her, but you couldn't talk to the staff who didn't know how to use the phone system. They carry this cell phone around, but they still don't answer the phone all the time."

"My mother was at Whispering Pines rehab nursing, and when things progressed where the rehab was no longer appropriate, she went to strictly nursing, and that was her very short period of time before she passed away. I was very pleased with them. My mother was there during Covid restrictions. She was quarantined for two weeks when she first went there, which was appropriate. The nursing staff and everybody who came in contact with her were fully masked, gowned, and gloved. I can't say enough about their Covid protocols. We as family members were not allowed in the facility, but because it is on one floor, we were able to do window visits with her, and the staff was very accommodating for that. When it got to the end-of-life, they contacted us. Their communication was excellent, so it wasn't a surprise that end-of-life was happening. When we really did get to where it was going to be over soon, they said, "Yes, absolutely, when we get to this point, we have family members if they wish to come in." We were fully gowned, we were facemasked, and we wore shields as well to go into my mom's room. We were escorted in and out, we touched no surfaces, and the sign in and sign out was done by a staff member. Their Covid protocols were excellent, and the care was excellent as well. The communication between staff and myself about my mom, I was also very, very pleased with. There were care meetings that were generally every two weeks, what the update was, what had been happening, and what the plan was going to be."

"Fountain View is a very caring community. The staff is absolutely wonderful. They are very kind and generous. You can tell that every one on the staff loves their jobs because of the smiles on their faces. Like most other nursing homes they have an activity time. There are several different games they play. My daughter likes to jump in and play when the residents are rolling the giant ball to each other. The residents enjoy her playing with them too. We also enjoy their giant bird cage full of finches. We could sit for hours watching them. There's also several other games we play with the residents like board games, card games, and puzzles. Fountain View is a very clean, organized place. Everything is always very well put together. It's just like home; there's comfortable places to sit, a TV that the residents are able to watch together, and a fancy dining area that most, but not all, of the residents ate in. Some would eat in their rooms and others in front of the big TV. The food is very delicious. Once in awhile I would be there on an off day and the food wouldn't be very good, but all in all I loved it. I always loved looking through my grandmas window when she was there because of the view. You could see the school children playing out in the field next door and the birds, once in while a squirrel or rabbit, eating at the bird feeders. Several residents chose to have feeders put outside their window so they could watch, but others didn't. I think its nice that the residents can have that feature. Overall Fountain View is a great place for the elderly to stay at. I would highly recommend it to anyone. "

"As far as I can tell, the care that Sun Prairie Retirement Center provides to my husband has been very good, I would say excellent. I've never been in the place because of the virus. In some manner, they've accommodated outside visits by having a plexi glass with a table and being 6 feet apart. They've tried to accommodated visitations now that it's colder, though right now they're not doing the visiting. As far as I can tell it's been very good. I get reports like if he sees a doctor, he's had a fall and they called, and they've called with questions. I can talk to him virtually and they do updates if he gets his flu shot. I'm his medical attorney and they need to contact me if he gets a shot, and they do. He likes the food although I haven't seen it. He said he's comfortable. Their facility on the outside looks very nice, and they have it decorated for the season. The facility itself is fairly old but it certainly in good repair so it's fine."

"Shorehaven was a very lovely, and the surroundings were exquisite. The staff was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. The rooms were lovely, and they had activities for every interest and every level of person. They were grilling and having fun outside, and it was impressive. "

"Willows Nursing & Rehab Center was fine. I didn't see any problem. They took care of my mother all right. I had no negative comments against them. The staff was very good. The food was all right. The room was always kept clean, and my mother was always kept clean. They had activities that people could do every day like playing games and watching movies, even little field trips at some place. However, my mother could not have any of that because she could not get out of bed. "

"This is my 3rd nursing home this year. They all suffer from understaffing, altho Crossroads seems to have the most staff. I like my room. It is not huge (approximately 15x10). I share a toilet with the person next to me but there is a bathroom right across the hall. There is a sink in each room to help with the twice a week showering. There are things to do here with a small group of active residents. The staff is really nice as are the therapists. The bad issue is the food. It is terrible (0 star). Low quality of food that is cooked poorly. The biggest complaint is that the food is overcooked on the outside and still undercooked on the inside. To order, they send around a form the day before, and you pick what you want. Far too often, this form is ignored. Luckily, across the hall is a fridge we can use and a microwave so I have a few days food stored and that's what I eat."

"Overall the service is good quality. The staff is fairly friendly and helpful. The meals are adequate. Sometimes care between shifts could have better continuity. Maintenance issues have been addressed fairly promptly. There are various social activities listed on a calendar that's kept in the room. Examples of these activities are bingo, happy hour, movies, and others. One problem we have experienced is that though there is a shuttle to the hospital, it is only available until 5PM. My grandpa had to get to the hospital fairly quickly one day shortly after 5PM but they were not able to take him. We had to drive in in order to take him to the hospital. It would have been better to get him there sooner. Overall the facility is nice. The rooms have amenities to make living there more comfortable for the guests. The bathroom facilities are up to date to accommodate people with disabilities. Elevators are available with easy to access buttons for people in wheelchairs. There is an outdoor patio area where the guests can enjoy the fresh air. People in power chairs are allowed to travel to local shops. "

"St Francis is the best nursing home in Fond du Lac! We toured many area nursing homes before deciding on St Francis, which was our first and only choice for our elderly mother. She was a resident of St Francis Home for 6 weeks in the medical rehab unit (following a serious hospitalization) and again later for 18 months, before passing on. The care she received at St Francis was outstanding! Communications to family from staff (supervisors and care givers) were continual throughout her stay, and they were readily available for questions. The grounds and buildings are beautiful and well maintained, always clean & well kept. Meals were nutritious and offered a wide variety. There are many activities available daily, games and many things to be involved in. The chapel offers church services for those wanting to attend, and there are frequent planned outings, movie nights, and also musical entertainment & performances on site. As St Francis is linked via a hallway to St Agnes Hospital and Fond du Lac Regional Clinic, it was especially easy to take her to doctor appointments without going out into bad weather! And the Clinic and Hospital facilities offer a coffee shop and cafe, gift shop, pharmacy, and other amenities. "

"My husband moved into Harbor Haven Health & Rehabilitation. They are caring. They did all the moving. Everybody has done what I've asked, so I can't complain. I helped my husband eat today, and it looked good. Their dessert was very good. They have daily activities."