Hillview Health Care & Assisted Living in La Crosse, WI

Pros

• Hillview has done everything they could to improve their nursing home over the past year and is considered the best nursing home in the area.
• Hillview is a very nice facility with proximity to the bluffs and spectacular views.
• The facility is clean, with good food and a wide range of activities available.
• Hillview offers amenities such as a beauty parlor and private spaces with TVs, and residents can bring in items from home to personalize their rooms.
• The staff at Hillview is really good and attentive.
• Residents have access to daily therapy and counselors as needed for support.
• Hillview provides transportation to medical appointments via a van.

Cons

• The reviewer notes that the care at Hillview Health Care Center is totally unsatisfactory.
• The reviewer observes that the staff appears to be severely short-staffed.
• The reviewer states that the resident spends all day in bed with little opportunity to sit in a chair.
• The reviewer notes there is not much interaction aimed at keeping the patient mobile and progressing.
• The reviewer points out that the Medicare room is currently a single room, but in 90 days it will require a roommate, reducing privacy and space.
• The reviewer mentions that the administration is not as good as the staff and needs improvement in interacting with patients.
• The reviewer states that one shower per week is insufficient for a human and that basic daily care could be improved.

Review

Hillview Health Care & Assisted Living in La Crosse is best suited for families seeking a large, amenity-rich campus where strong therapy services, daily activities, and reliable transportation to appointments are routinely available. The setting appeals to residents who enjoy scenic surroundings, value a well-maintained building, and want the option to personalize a living space with their own touches. Right now, a Medicare-certified single room is available, but there is an upcoming transition to shared accommodation in about three months, which can influence long-term privacy and roommate dynamics. For seniors who prioritize engaged programming and easy caregiver access, Hillview delivers a compelling environment - provided safety nets are in place to manage ongoing staffing and care consistency.

Those who may want to consider alternatives are seniors who require consistently high-touch daily care and a steady, highly responsive bedside routine. The reviews flag ongoing staffing challenges and administrative gaps that can translate into limited interaction with residents and slower responses to daily needs. Families that insist on regular personal care - such as more frequent showering or more proactive mobility support - may find Hillview's current staffing realities not a guaranteed match. Likewise, anyone who needs guaranteed private rooms long-term or who wants to avoid upcoming changes in room configuration should weigh options elsewhere. Hospice-specific expectations and the need for tightly coordinated end-of-life care are also areas where alternatives could offer more predictable experiences.

On the positive side, Hillview earns strong marks for environment and livability. The campus is described as clean, well maintained, and visually appealing, with spectacular views near the bluffs. The food is noted as good, and there is a broad slate of activities plus in-house conveniences like a beauty parlor. The facility's size supports a range of services, and residents can bring in personal belongings to create a familiar, home-like space. Therapy services are highlighted as a frequent and active component of daily life, with regular sessions that emphasize exercise, rehabilitation, and counseling. Transportation to medical appointments is provided, which reduces the burden on families and supports continuity of care.

The main drawbacks center on staffing and administrative responsiveness. The perception of being short-staffed leads to less daily interaction and fewer opportunities to keep residents engaged and mobile. Even when staff are capable and caring, administrative gaps can hinder communication, slow decision-making, and complicate care coordination. The current note about the 90-day shift from a private Medicare room to a roommate-capable space creates a practical concern about privacy and personal space, especially for someone in hospice or a comfort-focused phase of care. The one-shower-per-week critique underlines a basic care deficiency that can erode daily comfort and dignity if left unaddressed. Taken together, these cons do not erase Hillview's strengths, but they do demand active family involvement and careful monitoring.

The key to making Hillview work lies in balancing its strengths with vigilant oversight of care delivery. The strong therapy program, mobility-focused activities, and social opportunities help offset some of the daily-care gaps by providing meaningful engagement and functions that preserve independence where possible. The appealing physical setting and the ability to personalize spaces contribute to overall well-being and morale, which matters for longer-term stays. Families should plan for proactive communication with administration, verify current staffing levels and shift coverage, and confirm daily care expectations - especially around mobility support and showering schedules. It is also prudent to tour with questions about the planned room transition, and to confirm how hospice or end-of-life care is coordinated within the campus structure.

In practical terms, Hillview should be on the short list for families who value campus living with robust rehab and activity options, and who are prepared to advocate for consistent daily care and clear administrative accountability. Before deciding, visit the campus with a checklist: current nurse-to-resident ratios, frequency of direct daily care tasks (bathing, dressing, mobility support), showering schedules, and the exact plan for the 90-day room change. Ask how therapy is scheduled across the week and how transportation is arranged for urgent appointments. Clarify hospice coordination standards and how the team integrates social work and counseling into comfort-focused care. If these elements align and the family is ready to stay engaged, Hillview can offer a solid, practical living solution with meaningful quality-of-life gains.

This part of La Crosse, Wisconsin, offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities for senior living. With multiple pharmacies, physicians' offices, and hospitals within a short distance, residents have easy access to healthcare services. Additionally, there are several restaurants and cafes nearby for dining options. For entertainment, there is a movie theater and several parks for outdoor recreation. Places of worship are also easily accessible for spiritual needs. The area is well-connected with transportation options such as Amtrak for traveling further distances. Overall, this part of La Crosse provides a comfortable and convenient environment for seniors looking to settle in the area.

Restaurants

• McDonald's (0.7 miles)
• Schmidty's (0.8 miles)
• Wendy's (0.9 miles)
• Hungry Peddler (1 miles)
• JavaVino (1.3 miles)
• Fiesta Mexicana (1.7 miles)
• The Barrel Inn Bar & Grill (1.8 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.8 miles)
• Uvanta Pharmacy (1 miles)
• Degen Berglund Medical Equipment (1.1 miles)
• Gundersen Pharmacy La Crosse (Degen Berglund) (1.1 miles)
• Prescription Center (1.8 miles)
• Walgreens (2.3 miles)
• Gundersen Pharmacy La Crosse East Building (2.3 miles)

Physicians

• Vandyke David Mdsc (1 miles)
• Mayo Clinic (1.1 miles)
• Gundersen Lutheran - Gordon L Johnson MD (2.2 miles)
• Gundersen Health System: Plastic Surgery Center (2.2 miles)
• Gundersen Health System- Department of Nephrology (2.2 miles)
• Gundersen Pharmacy La Crosse Clinic (2.2 miles)
• Gundersen Lutheran Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation La Crosse (2.2 miles)

Theaters

• Marcus La Crosse Cinema (1 miles)

Parks

• Pammel Creek Park (1.1 miles)
• Grandad Bluff (2.2 miles)
• Weigent Park (2.3 miles)
• Hixon Forest Park (2.7 miles)
• Houska Park (3 miles)
• Riverside Park (3.4 miles)
• Copeland Park (4.4 miles)

Places of Worship

• Mary Mother of the Church (1.2 miles)
• Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church (2.2 miles)
• English Lutheran Church Elca (2.4 miles)

Hospitals

• Gundersen Lutheran Hospital (2.1 miles)
• Gundersen Health System- Dental Specialties (2.2 miles)
• Gundersen Health System- Hospice (2.2 miles)
• Gundersen Health System Eye Care (2.2 miles)
• Lutheran Hospital-La Crosse (2.2 miles)
• Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center (2.3 miles)
• Gundersen Health System - Labor & Delivery (2.3 miles)

Cafes

• Greengrass Cafe (2.4 miles)
• Moka (2.6 miles)
• Moka (2.7 miles)
• Grounded Specialty Coffee (3.2 miles)
• Pearl Ice Cream Parlor (3.2 miles)

Transportation

• Amtrak (4.1 miles)