2085 S 33 1/2 Mile Road, Cadillac, MI 49601
To contact a resident: (231) 775-0522
For more information about senior living options: (866) 208-4318
Overall Review of Pleasant Lake Lodge South
Pros
The facility is described as a very nice place.- The manager is described as very caring and forthcoming.
- The facility is recommended by the reviewer.
- The environment is described as friendly and loving, with an owner and staff you can count on.
Cons
They were shocked by the number of state investigations that found claims valid and questioned how the facility could remain open.- They stated the facility cannot keep smells out of the homes and that residents are not being cleaned correctly.
- They described the staff as very restraining and noted that having only two bathrooms is unacceptable, wondering why their guardian sent them there.
- They described entering the home as impossible due to goat feces on the floor, called going through the door a nightmare, and criticized staff as rude and the home bath aide as lacking compassion, deeming the cleanliness and atmosphere unacceptable.
Review
Pleasant Lake Lodge South is best suited for families that prize a small, home-like atmosphere and value a personal touch from leadership when it’s present. When the administrator or owner is engaged, the environment can feel warm, attentive, and genuinely supportive for residents who respond to direct, caretaking interaction. This setting often appeals to families who want a facility with a clearly identifiable point of accountability and who are willing to tolerate fluctuations in day-to-day operations in exchange for a more intimate, neighborly feel.
Those who should consider alternatives are the ones who require a consistently pristine, highly structured environment with dependable staffing and strong, verifiable safety standards. Chronic cleanliness issues, odor concerns, and limited infrastructure can undermine everyday quality of life here. If reliability, predictable routines, ample bathroom access, and rigorous regulatory compliance are non-negotiables, this community is unlikely to meet expectations over the long haul.
The positives reflect a genuine, resident-centered ethos when management is active: a reputation for a friendly, loving environment and caregivers who can be counted on in moments of need, plus a manager who communicates openly and shows care for a resident’s well-being. Those strengths matter, especially in small, community-minded settings where personal relationships can shape daily experience. Yet the robustness of these strengths depends heavily on leadership presence; when the manager isn’t on site or when turnover is high, the intangible advantages rapidly lose traction.
The strongest counterpoints are hard to overlook. Multiple reviews describe serious cleanliness and odor problems that affect daily life, reports of homes with persistent smells and inadequate cleaning. Accessibility concerns also surface: only two bathrooms for residents and a sense that staff constraints and restrained dynamics interfere with timely, respectful care. Accounts of rude interactions from aides and a general sense of limited walkthrough access undermine trust in operational consistency. Additionally, there are references to state investigations that were found valid, signaling real compliance questions that families should weigh carefully.
Prospective families should demand concrete reassurance before selecting this community: current deficiency or citation histories, a clear plan for ongoing remediation, and visible improvements in cleanliness and odor control. Tours should include conversations with the administrator and frontline staff, and direct opportunities to speak with residents or their families about day-to-day routines. Ask for detailed staffing metrics, including ratios, shift coverage, and turnover trends, plus a walkthrough of the bathrooms, dining area, and cleaning schedules to confirm that the claimed improvements are tangible and sustained.
In the end, Pleasant Lake Lodge South can function for families who will actively supervise and advocate for ongoing quality, appreciating a homey vibe and personal attentiveness when it exists. However, the combination of odor and cleanliness concerns, limited bathroom access, and reported staffing and safety red flags makes it a high-risk choice for those prioritizing consistent daily operations and rigorous standards. If those assurances cannot be demonstrated through current audits, proactive management, and measurable improvements, it is prudent to compare other assisted living options, facilities where cleanliness is non-negotiable, staff interactions are consistently professional, and regulatory compliance is clearly verifiable.
Assisted Living
Activities on-site
Devotional services off-site
Indoor common areas
Ambulatory care
Diabetic care
Meals provided
Comprehensive Insights into Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and Their Assessment
Medicare Coverage for Assisted Living: An In-Depth Exploration
Choosing the Right Senior Care: A Detailed Exploration of Assisted Living and Nursing Homes