1448 South 96Th Street, West Allis, WI 53214
For more information about senior living options: (866) 208-4318
Overall Review of Next Step Residential Services
Pros
The well-trained, friendly staff provide quality care to their patients.- The staff are very nice for those who need this type of treatment.
- The place is nice.
- The facility is very clean and professional.
Cons
The management is horrible.- The place has gone downhill since last year.
- Floor staff are overworked, stressed, and underpaid.
- The owners care only about money to line their pockets.
- They are extremely short-staffed in both day programs and residential.
- The temp service used is horrible and does not provide adequate care.
- They do the bare minimum.
- Multiple NS-owned residential houses have had bed bugs, with terrible staff and clients that attack each other, and management does nothing.
Review
Next Step Residential Services in West Allis is best suited for adults who require structured, supervised living with a day-program component and for families that prize a clean, professional environment and staff who know how to care for people in transition. When staffing is stable, residents benefit from courteous, well-trained caregivers and a setting that emphasizes order and routine. It works best for individuals who respond to predictable schedules, clear boundaries, and a facility that presents itself as well maintained. In short, the community targets residents needing hands-on supervision within a respectful, clinically minded environment, rather than a highly medicalized or institution-like atmosphere.
Those weighing options should be aware of clear caveats that can tilt the balance. If safety, aggressive behaviors among residents, bed bug concerns, or persistent understaffing are on the table, alternatives deserve strong consideration. Families should probe whether the current staffing levels are sustainable, whether temporary agency staff are routinely relied upon, and whether management is proactive in addressing conflicts and quality issues. When any combination of these red flags exists, the risk to a loved one’s daily well-being grows and the appeal of the positives diminishes markedly.
On the positive side, the strongest all-around impressions center on the staff. Reviews consistently describe well-trained, friendly caregivers who deliver care with a professional demeanor. The environment is repeatedly characterized as clean, organized, and pleasant, with several residents and families noting that the facility feels like a respectful, caring place. For residents who respond well to supportive interactions and a calm, orderly setting, these elements can translate into reliable routines, meaningful engagement, and a sense of dignity in daily life.
Yet the downsides temper those strengths in meaningful ways. Management quality and staffing stability emerge as the decisive fault lines. The most troubling passages describe owners primarily focused on the bottom line, with floor staff overworked, underpaid, and stretched thin; a reliance on temp services that fail to deliver consistent care; and a perception that problems are not met with decisive, constructive action. Added to that are reports of bed bugs across multiple residential houses and residents who may attack one another, with management not stepping in effectively. In practical terms, these issues threaten safety, consistency of care, and the overall experience for both residents and families who expect dependable supervision.
Against that backdrop, families must weigh whether the pros can sufficiently offset the cons. When staffing is steady and management demonstrates clear accountability, the clean environment and courteous caregivers can deliver meaningful daily value. However, the degree of turnover, the perception of indifference from ownership, and the presence of safety incidents are not minor quirks but fundamental risks. For families seeking a worry-free residential option where independence is balanced with predictable support, these systemic concerns are hard to overlook. In contrast, if a resident requires a higher degree of medical oversight, conflict management, or stronger safeguards against pests and aggression, these gaps become decisive.
In evaluating Next Step, the prudent approach is to demand rigorous, current assurances before committing. Prospective families should request specifics on staffing ratios by shift, turnover rates, and how often temp staff fill essential roles. Tours should include candid conversations with frontline staff about workloads and with current residents about daily experiences. Direct inquiries about pest control measures, incident reporting, and resident safety plans are essential. References and recent quality indicators from the owners should be reviewed, alongside a clear, written escalation path for addressing complaints.
The bottom line is practical and clear: Next Step can work well for residents who thrive under steady supervision, clean surroundings, and genuinely friendly caregivers, provided that staffing is reliable and management remains accountable. When the picture includes chronic understaffing, aggressive incidents, and pervasive concerns about pest control or responsiveness, alternatives deserve serious consideration. Families in the market should pursue transparent, firsthand insight, tour, talk to staff, and verify that the current leadership will actively protect safety, maintain quality, and sustain the level of care that aligns with their loved one’s needs.
4 resident community capacity
Assisted Living
Cable or satellite TV
Dining room
Fully furnished
Garden
Housekeeping services
Move-in coordination
Outdoor space
Telephone
Wi-Fi/high-speed internet available
General Mitchell International (8 miles away)
24-hour supervision
Activities of daily living assistance
Assistance with bathing
Assistance with dressing
Assistance with transfers
Diabetes diet
Meal preparation and service
Medication management
Special dietary restrictions
Transportation arrangement (medical)
Transportation to doctors appointments
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