Overall sentiment across the review summaries is mixed but leans positive in many areas while revealing serious and recurring concerns in others. Many families and residents praise Lakeshore Manor for its strong activities programming, compassionate staff, attractive lakeside setting, and well-maintained common areas. Multiple reviews highlight dedicated activities staff (by name in some accounts), an EMBRACE program and dementia-focused offerings, personalized memory-care plans, robust social and recreational options, and an abundance of opportunities that support meaningful daily life. The facility’s grounds, waterfront views of Lake Winnebago and the Fox River, spacious activity rooms, and secure memory-care environment are frequently cited as major strengths that contribute to a welcoming, home-like atmosphere. Dining receives many positive comments as well — described in numerous reviews as home-style, often delicious, and accommodating of special diets — though this is not universal (see below). Several families also emphasize helpful admissions staff, smooth move-in/setup, supportive administration, hospice collaboration, and an overall family-like culture among caregivers.
However, a significant subset of reviews raises alarming safety and care-quality issues that cannot be ignored. Multiple reviewers report understaffing, missed medications (including at least one report specifically mentioning a missed VA cancer drug), missed doctor-ordered medications, and even residents being left soiled or soaked in urine. There are also accounts of missed meals, laundry that smelled of urine, misplaced clothing, charting discrepancies, and perceived care deficiencies. At least one review references a state Board of Aging inspection resulting in code violations; other reviews describe a sense that outward appearances and marketing may at times be prioritized over the direct, day-to-day care needs of residents. High staff turnover and reports of new or inadequately trained nurses were mentioned as contributing factors to inconsistent or unsafe care. These serious complaints coexist with many positive reports, indicating uneven performance and potential quality-control problems.
Staff behavior and communication appear inconsistent across reviews. Many families praise compassionate, attentive caregivers who partner with families, prioritize dignity, and provide emotional support. Positive accounts describe clear communication, responsive staff and management, and individualized treatment including proper medication and coordinated medical services. Conversely, other reviews specifically call out poor communication from the nursing director or gaps in receptionist/phone coverage, delayed or inadequate responses to incidents, and variability in staff engagement. This pattern suggests that experiences vary substantially depending on staffing on a given shift, specific teams or employees, and perhaps which unit or wing a resident is in.
Facility and amenity impressions are mostly favorable, with multiple mentions of clean, airy interiors, well-maintained grounds, secure memory-care features, an exercise center, and a variety of common spaces that support social life. That said, some reviewers reported maintenance and cleanliness problems in individual rooms (broken closet doors, damaged drawers), dirty or plastic dishware, and occasional reports of smelly laundry or unsanitary conditions. A few reviewers described the facility as feeling upscale or ‘high-class’ in a way that felt unwelcoming or dark, while others found it warm, homey, and serene. There are also mentions of certain amenities being unused or not matching brochure claims (e.g., whirlpool bath), and outdated emergency pull strings prompting suggestions for wearable emergency buttons.
Dining and activities are frequently highlighted as strengths, with numerous specific examples of engaging programming, lively activity rooms, performances, crafts, outings, and daily snacks. Many reviews specifically praise the coordination and enthusiasm of activities staff and cite positive impacts on resident joy and engagement. Still, a minority of reviews criticized meals as poor or horrible, indicating variability in dining quality or expectations. Memory-care programming is generally seen as a strength — reviewers describe safety-minded programming, strong facilitators, and staff trained for dementia needs — though some families noted residents who did not participate in activities or who experienced inconsistent attention.
In summary, Lakeshore Manor appears to offer many of the hallmarks families look for in a senior living community: active programming, a compassionate culture in many teams, beautiful waterfront settings, and solid amenities for memory care. At the same time, there are recurring and serious red flags in some reviews — notably missed medications, hygiene and sanitation problems, understaffing, documentation issues, and regulatory violations cited by a reviewer — that indicate inconsistent performance and potential risks for vulnerable residents. Prospective residents and families should weigh the many positive reports against these serious concerns, verify current staffing levels and turnover, request recent state inspection results and corrective actions, ask about medication administration protocols and documentation, tour the specific unit where a resident would live, and speak with current families about recent experiences to confirm consistency of care.
