Renaissance Assisted Living-Appleton

Pros

• The staff showed care and compassion toward her and all of the residents.
• Nicole Riesterer was extremely professional and honored the grandmother's wishes.
• The facility is highly recommended for loved ones.
• The facility is a place she could call home.
• The facility is modern.
• The staff is friendly.

Cons

• The facility is understaffed, compromising resident safety and quality of care.
• The lack of care here is saddening and not very safe for residents.
• The staff appear overworked, underpaid, and not properly trained.
• Nicole Riesterer, the RN Administrator, is unprofessional and unresponsive, failing to return calls and inform the family about a relative's stroke.
• She released a resident's possessions to another family member she knew and has not communicated with the family for many years.
• A front desk staff member was unhelpful and ignored a visiting CNA, illustrating poor follow-up care and service.

Review

In the midst of a continuing pandemic and widespread staffing challenges, the facility in question looms as a place that can feel both stabilizing and frayed, depending on who you are and when you visit. Several voices express legitimate concern about safety and quality of care, pointing to a system that is stretched thin by necessary demands and limited resources. There is a clear sense that while the need for compassion remains constant, the behind-the-scenes realities - short-staffing, underpayment, and uneven training - color every interaction. The overarching message is sobering: if a loved one relies on this place, it would be wise to insist on a high degree of independence, or to push for a substantial boost in staffing and training before making a decision.

Yet within the same set of experiences, there are unmistakable traces of genuine care and professional spirit. One account recounts how a wife's grandmother spent several years at the facility and was "well taken care of." The staff there are described as exhibiting kindness and compassion toward her and the other residents. In this narrative, the RN Administrator, Nicole Riesterer, stands out as exceptionally professional, reportedly honoring the grandmother's wishes to the fullest. The reviewer even expresses a strong willingness to recommend the facility to others, attributing the warm memory of her grandmother's time there to the personnel's dedication and to the administrator's respectful approach. It is a portrait of a home-like atmosphere where the staff's steadiness and attentiveness made a meaningful difference.

Conversely, another strong account casts a long shadow over the same administrator. This reviewer details a very different experience surrounding their mother's death, reporting that Nicole Riesterer did not respond to calls for an extended period. The family member, who lived out of state, says they were not informed about a stroke their mother suffered at the facility two weeks before her passing. Even more troubling to this account is the release of all of the mother's possessions - keepsakes included - to another family member who was known to Riesterer, followed by a stubborn lack of communication for more than a decade. The writer characterizes these actions as unprofessional in the extreme, underscoring how critical timely and transparent communication is in end-of-life circumstances and how its absence can leave a family feeling abandoned during an unbearably painful time.

Beyond the administration's handling of communication and family contact, other voices illuminate day-to-day care dynamics inside the facility. A Home Care CNA recounts a firsthand, on-site frustration: entering to assist a client, the caregiver finds no staff nearby and an older woman behind the counter who is preoccupied with tasks and unresponsive even after the CNA taps on the counter. When a couple arrives and is attended to immediately by a staff member from across the hall, the CNA expresses disappointment - feeling neglected herself and unable to retrieve a call button or the client's belongings, and receiving no apology for the lack of courtesy. This account emphasizes the ripple effects of perceived inattentiveness at the point of contact, suggesting that even when care occurs, the experience of receiving it can feel inconsistent and disheartening for visiting professionals and residents alike.

Amid these more strained accounts, there are still glimpses of positivity that cannot be entirely overlooked. One brief appraisal simply describes the facility as modern, with friendly staff. This strand offers a reminder that the setting has tangible strengths and that there are moments of warmth and efficiency that stand in contrast to the more troubling stories. It paints a picture of a place capable of presentable, up-to-date facilities and courteous interactions, suggesting that the potential for excellent care exists within the system when conditions align.

Taken together, these perspectives sketch a facility at a crossroads. On one hand, there are deeply reassuring memories of dignified care, respectful communication, and professional leadership that honors residents' wishes and creates a sense of home. On the other hand, there are urgent warnings about miscommunication, delayed responses, and a disconnect between some staff and the families who rely on them. The recurring themes point to systemic pressures - pandemic-driven strain, staffing shortages, and gaps in training - that can undermine care quality if not addressed. It becomes clear that real improvement hinges on increasing staffing levels, investing in training, and ensuring reliable, timely communication between administration, staff, residents, and families.

For families weighing placement decisions, the message is nuanced. The facility clearly possesses the capacity to provide compassionate, high-quality care under strong leadership, just as some families have experienced. Yet the risks highlighted by other residents and visitors cannot be ignored. Prospective residents and their loved ones should assess the independence level of the person being cared for, demand robust staffing and training plans, and insist on open, consistent communication with the administration - particularly when there are health events or changes in a resident's status. In the best light, the facility can be a rewarding home where care shines; in the worst light, it reveals the real dangers of understaffing and miscommunication. The path forward rests on reaffirming commitment to residents' safety, dignity, and reliable, transparent care at every level.

This part of Appleton, Wisconsin offers a variety of healthcare options including physicians specializing in allergy and asthma, radiology, cosmetic surgery, and fertility services. There are several pharmacies nearby for convenience. Restaurants in the area provide a range of dining choices from sports pubs to cafes. Parks such as Erb Park and Jones Park offer opportunities for outdoor recreation. The proximity to Appleton Medical Center and other hospitals ensures access to quality healthcare services. Additionally, there are places of worship like the First United Methodist Church and St Bernadette for spiritual support and community involvement. This area presents a well-rounded environment for senior living with convenient amenities and services readily available.

Physicians

• Allergy And Asthma Associates, S.C. (0.3 miles)
• RAYUS Radiology (0.4 miles)
• Hotchandani Laser, Vein and Cosmetic Surgery (0.6 miles)
• Thedacare At Work (0.7 miles)
• Fox Valley Surgical Associates (0.9 miles)
• Family Fertility Center (0.9 miles)
• Thedacare Cancer Institute (1 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.4 miles)
• Walgreens (0.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.4 miles)
• Pick 'n Save Pharmacy (1.5 miles)
• Walgreens (2.1 miles)
• Omnicare (2.1 miles)
• Home Town Pharmacy (2.3 miles)

Restaurants

• Northland Neighborhood Sports Pub (0.4 miles)
• Culver's (1.1 miles)
• Richmond Street Pub (1.2 miles)
• Taco John's (1.3 miles)
• The 10th Frame (1.3 miles)
• Dairyland Brew Pub (1.4 miles)
• Scuba's Pourhouse (1.5 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (0.6 miles)
• Copper Rock Coffee (2 miles)

Parks

• Erb Park (0.8 miles)
• Jones Park (2.1 miles)
• Plamann Park (2.5 miles)
• Pierce Park (2.8 miles)
• Alicia Park (3.3 miles)

Hospitals

• Appleton Medical Center (0.9 miles)
• Icu (1 miles)
• Martha Siekman Cancer Center (1 miles)
• Valley Thermography (2.5 miles)
• St Elizabeth Hospital Auxiliary (2.9 miles)
• St Elizabeth Hospital (2.9 miles)

Places of Worship

• First United Methodist Church (1.8 miles)
• St Bernadette (3.1 miles)