The Best Nursing Home Communities in Dane County, WI

"We are living in The Arbors, and the food is not up to my standards. It is very nice, but the problem is that if one of us needs assisted living, we have to leave the independent living apartment and go to an assisted living apartment. People are nice, and it is well-maintained. The apartments are nice, and they have really nice storage; they have extra storage rooms. "

"We visited this facility on a few occasions. The property itself is beautiful and the facilities and buildings are relatively new so they are in great condition. Grounds are well maintained. The staff seemed friendly (security, front desk, desk nurse) and were very helpful in navigating this massive property. The facility moved several years ago to the suburbs of Madison and it was a move for the better. The bigger facility allows more space for the various programs they offer, such as piano sing alongs and outdoor garden time. They also have the standard arts and crafts type programs. We didn't eat any of the food but the resident we were visiting had no complaints and it looked good. The facility publishes a daily newsletter similar to what you would receive on a cruise ship highlighting the days activities and locations which is a nice touch. I left with a good feeling about the place and can't think of any major negatives. "

"While my grandmother was staying at Oakwood, all of the nurses and staff knew her by name, and knew ABOUT her. And that meant a lot to me. It was always a clean environment, and very well managed. It definitely wasn't the most up to date facility I have ever seen, and it did seem at times they were slightly under staffed, but overall my grandmother got the care she deserved and needed. They had lots of opportunities to go to church, or other functions at the nursing home which my grandmother did take part in. I do wish that there was a bit more access to doctors, but it's a nursing home and not a hospital. My father is getting along with Huntington's disease, and there is a very good chance I will choose Oakwood for my father's care because of the positive experience. "

"St Mary's Care Center has a lot of activities. They help seniors write letters to their family. They have a writing club. They have a whole area where you can do puzzles. They have birds. They have a beautiful fish aquarium. They have a hair salon that anyone can use. They have absolutely wonderful activities. They have a chapel. They play bingo, and what they do is really cute because they win quarters. Once a week at the end of the week, or once a month, they have a store where they can buy things like lotions or knickknacks or whatever, which are worth a lot more than a quarter. They price them within their range. They have foot care that comes. I'm just very impressed. The staff were very caring, very friendly, and very helpful. They seem to really care about the patients. The food was very good. I think the physical appearance was wonderful. They have floral arrangements. They have a huge parking lot. They have a gazebo, and they have areas on different floors, too, and you can go outside with the patients. Inside they have lounge areas for family and patients. It is really nice. They're close to the kitchen where you can help yourself to something to eat or drink coffee. Each wing has a porch that you get out in the fresh air."

Oakwood Village Prairie Ridge, located in Madison, Wisconsin, offers a variety of care options including Assisted Living, Memory Care, Skilled Nursing Care, Short-term Rehabilitation Care, and Hospice Care. This community provides apartment-style living where residents can enjoy the comfort of having their own living rooms, kitchens, dining areas, and even a den or study in their units. This setup is ideal for those who appreciate having their own space while still having access to specialized care services.The amenities at Oakwood Village Prairie Ridge are extensive and cater to a wide range of interests and needs. Residents can participate in organized activities and programs, enjoy the outdoors in the garden or on walking and hiking areas, and engage in social and entertainment activities. For convenience and safety, the community offers meals, an emergency response system, on-site parking, and controlled building access. Additional amenities include salon services, fitness and wellness facilities, WiFi access, and spiritual programs, ensuring that residents have plenty to do and ways to stay connected.In terms of services, Oakwood Village Prairie Ridge is well-equipped to support its residents' health and daily living needs. The community has nurses and therapists on staff, offers medication management, and provides general transportation services. Residents needing physical or occupational therapy can find help right within the community. Additionally, assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) and housekeeping services make everyday life easier for residents, allowing them to focus more on enjoying their retirement and less on chores.

"Badger Prairie is a skilled nursing facility just outside of Madison. It's been in the community since 1845, but they have a big, beautiful new building, just off Highway 151. It's 120 beds in 12 units, so with just 10 to a unit, each unit feels small. It's a county facility, and the staff have excellent longevity and specialized training. They have PT, OT, speech, and psych services. They've had positive state survey results, and, because they have a large, well-trained staff, they're well able to handle difficult situations and behaviors. I haven't eaten the food, but I hear good reports. And they have excellent activities programming--structured group activities and psych services. A few downsides: Because it's the Dane County Home, they can't take anyone outside the county. And even for those eligible, the admission process can be slow. Also, Badger Prairie was originally the insane asylum, and the old building was scary. For some people in the area, it still has that stereotype. But now they have an excellent new building to go with the excellent care they provide. "

"This facility is where my Dad was until he died a year ago. He was there when he passed away and I was there with him. The people there were very caring and seemed for the most part to care about their residents. However, it could use some improvement in their processes and some details seem to slip through the cracks. Some of his belongings disappeared here and there, so there could be an improvement in that area. Overall, though, it was pretty good. I would give it a 7.5 on a scale of 1-10. "

"We placed our mother in Rest Haven two months ago. We chose it because it was highly rated, it was small, and they had space. Everything seems excellent. It's a nursing home, so there aren't a lot of activities, but they do have some structured activities during the day. They have some games, they read the newspaper to the residents in the morning, and they have some music. I like its smallness and the top care that they show, and the rooms are spacious and very clean. "

"Crossroads of Sun Prairie is an excellent community. They're a little understaffed, but the care is good and the food is good. They have activities available for the residents. They have a library and some other amenities. I have a 1-bedroom which isn't really spacious, it has a bed, a dresser, and there's two people in it. They take very good care of the facilities by keeping the floors and areas clean and the fire exits open."

"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. "

"I visited this wonderful place six years ago as a part of the 'Adopt A Grandparent' program that was done with Sacred Hearts School. I had the honor of coming out once a week with the school and was blown away by the level of care provided and all the luxuries that were afforded for the residents. The staff was very friendly and you could tell just by walking around for a few moments that their primary focus was the residents. Everywhere I looked there were smiles and that's something that's stuck with me all these years. The facilities were very well kept and every time I came the place was spotless. I was also very impressed that activities and social functions were held on a regular basis. Everyone always seemed to be having such a wonderful time with a smile on their face and I really couldn't ask for more. Absolutely wonderful! "

"My mom came to Nazareth following a long hospital stay and hip surgery. This was my/our first interaction with any kind of skilled nursing facility and I was nervous about the kind of care and facilities where my mom would be placed. I have been so amazed by the graciousness and patience of all the staff I have interacted with. They show all the residents compassion, make them smile and laugh, and care for their needs. I feel very lucky that my mom ended up here."

"Both my mother-in-law and my father-in-law did rehab here after a broken hip. The staff is very caring and considerate. They went out of their way to treat the residents with respect. It is a large facility, but kept in good condition. The rehab unit is newer and the rooms are larger but the rest of the building is nice also. They have a chapel which is nice for those who like to attend services on Sunday. There is a small room with tables and chairs and free coffee and cookies where families can gather. There is also a room which any family can reserve for a gathering free of charge. We used it for Father's Day and there was china and silverware and free coffee. The staff cleaned up the room after us. The Physical Therapy staff is available even on weekends to hasten your rehab. Medicare paid for services during this rehab, but because it is skilled nursing, Skaalen can get expensive once the resident is on private pay. They do accept Medicaid, however, once a resident is out of funding. The facility has a unique feel -- located in the Norwegian community of Stoughton, the common rooms and hallways are decorated with Norwegian rosemaling, making it look very homey and welcoming. "

"I've been to Ingleside Communities at dinner times and lunch times to visit my dad and they had very unappetizing food. He wouldn't even eat it. He enjoys the breakfasts though and they're taking good care of him. The facility has somewhat outdated decor. It feels more like a small hospital and dad's room has a window that overlooks the back of the parking lot and nobody should have to look at that kind of view. They have what they call a chatterbox room where there's a big TV and feel of a break room. They have three little birds in a cage that their residents can go and watch and they have a nice and very welcoming front room. My dad is there under Medicare. The staff has been fairly well. There's one gal that seems to take interest in my dad and is trying hard. I appreciate that, but she's not there every day. My son and I were there the other night and an elderly lady was calling out for someone to take her to the bathroom (my son thought of wheeling her to the bathroom). The nurse said that she'll get to it and that she should not worry, but that's frustrating to see. They are just understaffed. One day, my dad needed help with something and I wanted to put rubber gloves on my hands. There were two empty boxes on the wall with no rubber gloves in them and there were no liners in the garbage can. It's like somebody came in and cleaned everything out, but didn't replace it. I also feel like their magazines were all outdated and they're just all shoved in. There needs to be some sort of tidiness to it."