The reviews present a mixed and at times sharply divided portrait of Dove Healthcare - Rice Lake. Several reviewers emphasize a very positive experience: a clean, new facility with attractive outdoor areas and meticulous upkeep; staff described as friendly, respectful, communicative, and helpful; and instances of attentive clinical care (notably support for residents with swallowing issues and staff present during meals). Some accounts explicitly state that rehabilitation was covered by Medicare and that care has improved over time, with multiple reviewers calling the current care exceptional and highly recommending the facility.
On the other hand, a number of reviews raise serious concerns. These include allegations of neglect, substandard care, and even abuse. Multiple summaries accuse staff or administration of dishonesty, covering up incidents, and lying about policies, and at least one reviewer specifically states that the facility does not follow state guidelines. There are also reports of inconsistent care — where some residents receive attentive, individualized treatment while others experience neglect — suggesting variability in staff performance or in unit-level oversight.
Staff behavior and communication emerge as a major theme with both positive and negative notes. Positive comments highlight staff who listen to family concerns, implement changes, and keep families informed, resulting in confidence in daily care. Conversely, the most troubling comments describe staff deception, cover-ups, and administration that allegedly misrepresents policies or understates problems. This contrast suggests that while some team members are providing high-quality, person-centered care, there may be pockets of poor practice or problematic management responses that erode trust.
Facility and environment are consistently praised. Many reviewers note that the building is new or recently updated, clean, and well maintained, with pleasant outdoor areas. These consistent comments indicate that the physical environment and maintenance are strong points for the community and are likely an asset to residents' comfort and safety.
Dining and clinical nutrition-related issues are mixed. Positive reports describe staff being attentive during meals for residents with swallowing difficulties. However, at least one review raises concerns about diabetic dietary monitoring, suggesting that dietary management and oversight of special nutritional needs may be inconsistent or require closer attention in some cases.
Management and regulatory concerns appear repeatedly in the negative summaries. Allegations that administration lies about policy, fails to follow state guidelines, or covers up incidents are serious and, if accurate, point to systemic problems in governance and oversight. Several reviewers state that care has improved, which may indicate that the facility has addressed some prior deficiencies; however, the presence of ongoing allegations means prospective residents and families should seek up-to-date verification (such as state inspection reports, recent complaint histories, and references from current families) before making decisions.
Overall pattern: the facility receives high marks for its physical environment and for many individual staff members who are compassionate and communicative, and some reviewers report excellent and improving clinical care. At the same time, there are multiple, recurring and serious accusations of neglect, abuse, dishonesty, and regulatory noncompliance. The reviews suggest variability in care quality and in leadership transparency. For anyone considering this community, the key takeaway is a mixed reputation: strong facility and many caring staff on one side, and alarming allegations of mistreatment and management failures on the other. Families should investigate current conditions thoroughly — asking specific questions about staff training, incident reporting, dietary protocols, state inspection results, and speaking directly with recent families — to determine whether the positive aspects are dominant and whether the reported problems have been rectified.
