Johnson Memorial Hospital

Pros

• The reviewer praises Johnson Memorial Care Center for providing excellent care.
• The mom lived at the center for about 12 and a half years, indicating sustained, high-quality care.
• The reviewer cannot think of a single negative thing about the care her mom received.
• The staff treated the mom as if she were their own mother.
• The overall message emphasizes that the care was wonderful and compassionate.

Cons

• The staff exhibited poor, apathetic attitudes, which made the experience overall bad.
• The quality of the food had declined.
• There was a shift from cooking from scratch to relying on processed foods.
• The food, while potentially nutritious, did not taste good.
• Meals routinely used instant mashed potatoes and heat-and-serve meats.
• In the later years, family members rarely dined with their loved one because of the meals.

Review

There were two main threads to my experience with Johnson Memorial Care Center, and they sit side by side in my memory. On one hand, there were moments when the attitudes of some staff members - specifically a nurse and a radiography tech - felt apathetic and dismissive. Those impressions were enough to cast a sour note on what otherwise might have been a smooth stay, and they left me wishing for more warmth and attentiveness in those key interactions. It's not easy to overlook that sense of indifference, and I've carried it with me as a reminder that the overall experience hinges as much on everyday bedside manner as on clinical skill.

But those frictions pale against the overarching truth of the care my family received over many years. My parents were residents at Johnson Memorial Care Center, and my mom lived there for twelve and a half years. In all that time, I can't think of a single negative thing about the actual care she received. The continuity, the vigilance, the routines, and the steady presence of caregivers provided a sense of security that mattered deeply to us. It wasn't just medical care; it was a steady, compassionate form of support that helped our family navigate the long arc of aging.

What stands out most is how they treated my mom - as if she were their own mother. The care was genuine, patient, and consistently respectful, and this is the memory that endures most clearly: someone who looked after her with kindness, attention, and a dignity that felt personal rather than procedural. That sense of being valued, of being treated with the same care and consideration you'd extend to your own family, defined the core of the experience for us. It wasn't merely about procedures and routines; it was about the daily trust we placed in the people who cared for her.

The quality of care, in other words, was wonderful. It showed up in the quiet moments as well as the more obvious medical interventions. For as long as she lived there, we felt confident that she was in good hands, surrounded by people who were committed to her well-being and comfort. This profound sense of reassurance - that she was seen, protected, and cherished - made a significant difference in our family's sense of peace during a challenging chapter.

There is a separate thread that complicates the overall narrative, however: the food. The one real complaint we carry is that the meals declined in quality over time. They used to cook from scratch, and the shift toward more processed, heat-and-serve options changed the taste and experience of dining. The nutrition may have remained solid, but the flavor and freshness weren't what they had been. It's a tangible change that affected those family moments we used to share around the table with my mom. The example is telling - instant mashed potatoes and other convenience foods became common, contrasted with earlier years when meals felt more homey and thoughtfully prepared.

In the late years, we found ourselves visiting less often for meals, not because of the people or the care, but because the dining experience didn't invite us to linger and enjoy together as it used to. Those shifts in the kitchen are a reminder that environments matter - the ambiance and quality of routine moments like meals can color the overall impression of a place, even when the core caregiving remains strong. I want to stress, though, that the care itself was, and remains in memory, truly outstanding. The staff's dedication to my mom's comfort and dignity left a lasting imprint, even as we noted the changes in the food you presented.

Ultimately, I've carried forward a dual memory: the deep appreciation for the care that treated my mom with the warmth and respect that any parent deserves, and the regret that some staff interactions could feel impersonal at times. The contrast matters because it illustrates how a care center can be a place of profound comfort and also a place where improvements in everyday interactions can lift the entire experience. My mom's years there stand as a testament to the genuine kindness and capable care she received, qualities that are worth recognizing and valifying, even as we hold onto the hope for consistently improved experiences across all staff and all aspects of the day-to-day routine.

Hospitals

• Johnson Memorial Hospital (0 miles)
• Johnson Memorial Health Services (0 miles)
• Dawson Clinic (0 miles)
• Madison Hospital (8.4 miles)
• Advanced Chiropractic and Wellness Clinic (17 miles)
• Chippewa County Montevideo Hospital (17.3 miles)
• Davita (17.3 miles)

Places of Worship

• Presbyterian Church (0.2 miles)
• Grace Lutheran Church (0.5 miles)
• CrossRoads Lutheran (0.8 miles)
• Lac Qui Parle Lutheran Church (0.8 miles)
• Dawson Covenant Church (5.9 miles)
• Providence Valley Lutheran Church (7.7 miles)
• Borgund Lutheran Church Parsonage (7.8 miles)

Pharmacies

• Nelson Rexall Drug (0.6 miles)
• Dawson Drug (0.6 miles)
• Thrifty White Pharmacy (8.3 miles)
• Larson Drug (16.1 miles)
• Thrifty White Pharmacy (17.4 miles)
• Coborn's (17.5 miles)

Cafes

• Wanda's Coffee Cup Cafe (0.6 miles)
• Madison Mercantile (8.2 miles)
• Pantry Cafe & Catering (8.3 miles)
• Boyd Community Cafe (9.8 miles)
• Java River (16.8 miles)

Restaurants

• Co-Op Cafe (0.7 miles)
• Subway (0.8 miles)
• De Toy's Family Restaurant (8.1 miles)
• Happy Hour Sports Bar (8.2 miles)
• Pantry Cafe (8.3 miles)
• Kennedy's Bakery (8.3 miles)
• After Five Supper Club (8.4 miles)

Parks

• Gnome Park (1.1 miles)
• Theodor Slen Park (8.2 miles)
• Elementary School Park (8.3 miles)
• Big Fishy (8.3 miles)
• Lac Qui Parle State Park (12.3 miles)
• Lions Park (14.9 miles)
• North Park (15.8 miles)

Transportation

• U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer (7.7 miles)
• Wallhangers Taxidermy Studio (17.1 miles)
• Mj's Taxidermy (17.3 miles)
• U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer (17.4 miles)

Theaters

• Grand Theatre (8.3 miles)
• Plaza Theater (16.8 miles)
• Hollywood Theatre (16.8 miles)

Physicians

• Lac Qui Parle Clinic of Madison (8.5 miles)
• Midwest Vision Centers - Montevideo Eye Doctor (16.8 miles)
• Clarkfield Medical Clinic (17.3 miles)