The reviews for Lakewood Nursing & Rehab Center present a highly mixed picture with strong polarization between very positive personal experiences and serious clinical and operational concerns. On the positive side, many reviewers repeatedly praise individual staff members and teams for kindness, compassion and hands‑on attention. Multiple comments describe a family‑like atmosphere, staff who go above and beyond, and examples of specific caregivers being called "angels" or named with gratitude. Activities and social programming are frequently noted as strengths: active bingo sessions, weekly entertainment, special event days (root beer float day), and a therapy dog that provides comfort and family‑friendly interaction. Several reviewers also complimented the dining options (varied menus, good dinners), comfortable living areas, and nicely decorated rooms with a studio‑like feel. In these accounts the facility is described as clean, pleasantly decorated and staffed by professionals who honestly communicate with families.
Counterbalancing those positives are a number of very serious and recurring clinical complaints that raise safety concerns. Multiple reviews allege medication failures — delays, missing medications, and in at least one report the absence of life‑saving medication — and specific mentions that IV antibiotics were not given as scheduled. These medication and treatment lapses led some families to remove residents from the facility and to call for reporting to state (DHS) and federal (Medicare) authorities. Reviews also describe the rehab side as having infrequent doctor visits and, in some cases, therapy that left patients worse rather than improved. These types of clinical allegations are among the most consequential themes in the negative accounts and suggest potential systemic or process problems in medication management, clinical oversight, and timely therapy.
A second major negative theme is inconsistent staff professionalism and communication. While many reviewers praise caring staff, others report rude or unprofessional behavior from certain employees, difficulty reaching nurses (long hold times), reliance on public speakerphone communication, and instances of staff being out of scrubs or appearing inattentive. Several comments indicate a pattern of low staff morale or poor management treatment of CNAs, which can affect continuity and quality of care. Infection‑control and safety practices also appear inconsistent across accounts: some reviewers note that staff rarely wear masks or are not encouraged to do so, which contributed to COVID‑19 concerns for families.
Facility environment and cleanliness are likewise described inconsistently. Numerous reviewers say the rooms are small but clean, nicely decorated and have pleasant aromas. In contrast, other reviewers report strong urine odors, poor cleanliness and an overall unpleasant smell in parts of the facility. Environmental complaints also include reports of it being too hot in the building. These conflicting descriptions point to variability by unit, shift, or time period rather than a uniform condition across the facility.
Activities, dining and social support are frequently cited as positive aspects. Aside from bingo and weekly entertainment, reviewers mention frequent staff check‑ins and engaging special activities that provide residents with social stimulation. The presence of a therapy dog and family‑oriented events are repeatedly noted as meaningful contributors to resident well‑being in the positive reviews.
Taken together, the reviews indicate that Lakewood Nursing & Rehab Center can provide excellent, compassionate personal care and a warm social environment under certain caregivers or shifts, but there are serious and recurring reports of critical clinical lapses, inconsistent infection‑control practices, communication breakdowns, and variable cleanliness. The overall pattern is one of pronounced inconsistency: families report both exemplary individual staff members and alarming safety failures. For prospective families or those monitoring current residents, the reviews suggest it would be important to confirm medication administration processes, clinical oversight on the rehab side, COVID‑safety practices, and unit‑specific cleanliness and staff stability, because experiences appear to differ markedly depending on timing, staff on duty, and unit. The most frequent and consequential negative themes reported are medication/treatment failures and communication/management problems; the most frequent positive themes are compassionate staff, engaging activities, and comfortable common areas.
