Lutheran Homes of Oshkosh Inc

Pros

• They are pleased with their decision to live at Carmel.
• The residents and staff are what make Carmel great.
• The Bethel Home staff are an amazing team and very knowledgeable.
• They truly care about residents' health and do a phenomenal job.
• A resident has lived at Carmel for over 10 years and loves it.
• The resident can be sociable or quiet, and the staff are prompt to help.
• A resident received a nice new tile floor and is getting a new stove, and is content there.
• They have been at Bethel Home for two months; the staff are fantastic and the residents are the best, with many activities.
• Bethel Home is a beautiful and amazing place.
• They have an excellent team of open-minded leaders willing to listen, assist, and provide continuing education for everyone's welfare.

Cons

• The reviewer claimed the facility cared only about money from patients.
• They reported a mother's rings went missing while in the facility and that she was left in bed wearing only a sweater, with no pants or blanket, lacking dignity.
• The reviewer said they should have been informed about health care decisions even though they did not have POA.
• The facility was described as the worst nursing home ever.
• An agency worker said the staff didn't care about workers or residents and refused to help with a ride, vowing not to return.
• Another reviewer stated the staff had zero empathy when the mother worsened and spent days in the ER, only asking about the room.

Review

Across the reviews, a broad range of experiences unfolds, painting a portrait of both frustration and genuine appreciation for different senior-care settings. One account is stark and emotionally charged: a family describes a nursing facility where their mother was admitted, and precious items went missing while she lay in bed in a sweater and adult diaper, with no pants or blanket to offer dignity. They express a deep sense of being left out of important health care discussions, noting that they did not have power-of-attorney for health care but should have been kept informed. The reviewer emphasizes the misery of the stay, stating that their mother was miserable, repeatedly saying she wanted to be home, and concluding with a harsh verdict: "Worst nursing home ever." The extremity of this experience highlights the fear that families have when communication breaks down and resident dignity feels compromised.

In contrast, there are warm, affirming testimonies about Carmel, where residents and staff are repeatedly credited with creating a positive, people-centered environment. One couple, Greg and Kathy Reischl, writes of being "so pleased with our decision to live at Carmel," praising the very people - the residents and the staff - who make the place feel like home. The tone here is familial and appreciative, suggesting that the community life and the interactions with caregivers are a core strength. Another review highlights the ability to choose social engagement or quiet time, noting that a beloved family member has lived at Carmel for over ten years, loves the warmth of the community, and enjoys practical improvements like a new tile floor, a new stove, and ongoing support when issues arise. The sentiment is one of stability, dignity, and affordability, with a resident who is content and views Carmel as her home.

There are also perspectives from the service side, where Bethel Home is praised by agency workers for having an "amazing team" of staff who are knowledgeable and genuinely care about residents' health. A heartfelt expression thanks those who contribute to residents' well-being, accompanied by a nod to the agency workers who appreciate being acknowledged. Yet there is also a sobering counterpoint from the same facility: a driver or agency worker recounts a negative experience when trying to obtain transportation assistance to get to a shift. The staff member describes being stranded on the roadside the night before Christmas after a no-help response from a charge nurse, highlighting how a lack of consideration for staff can mirror a broader perception of neglect - whether for workers or residents. This duality captures how facilities can be seen as supportive and compassionate in some moments while falling short in others.

Other narratives focus on personal experiences within Carmel's complex: one mother's long residence across more than a decade, during which she felt well cared for and socially supported. Positive mentions include that staff respond promptly to issues, and the resident speaks of enjoying both sociability and quieter moments as she desires. The facilities' responsiveness during renovations and updates - such as a new floor in the entryway and kitchen improvements - are presented as practical evidence of ongoing care and investment. The overall tone is that Carmel offers not just a place to live but a home where a person can feel content, valued, and financially comfortable enough to stay long-term.

Additional reviews celebrate the liveliness and community life available at Carmel and similar settings. A recent entrant describes being there for two months and finding the staff "fantastic" and the residents the best part of the experience, with plentiful activities available to prevent boredom. Another resident praises the staff for their care during the Covid era, emphasizing that resident well-being was prioritized. There is a sense that the best aspects of these facilities lie in everyday kindness, consistent care, and opportunities for connection - whether through board games, church services, or more specialized programming such as Namaste Care and live music therapy.

Beyond Carmel, the narratives call out an overarching commitment to patient-centered care and meaningful engagement. A broader description extols Bethel Home as a beautiful and amazing place with a leadership philosophy that values open-mindedness, listening, and continuing education for staff welfare. The reviewing voices emphasize a dedicated, hardworking team that strives to provide patient-centered skilled care to both short- and long-term residents. Phrases highlighting daily engagement - coffee for smiles, helping residents with makeup, and programs designed to ignite meaningful relationships - underscore a culture that aims to enrich daily life. The mention of Miravida as a place that fosters "moments of connection and joy" reinforces the theme that aging should be a life-filled, dignified experience rather than a process of withdrawal.

Finally, a glimpse into the everyday ambience of these communities brings in practical notes: some reviewers describe residents living in their own apartments, with clean facilities, good food, and a strong sense of cleanliness. The sentiment across these accounts is that, when communities focus on people - the residents as individuals, the staff as partners, and activities as opportunities for joy - the experience tends to elevate above mere care to something more akin to a shared, vibrant home. Yet, the threads of concern - communication gaps, the potential for neglect of staff when help is needed, and the emotional toll of serious illness or institutional missteps - remind readers that no care setting is perfect and that vigilance, dignity, and open dialogue are essential to ensuring truly compassionate care.

Pharmacies

• Lutheran Homes of Oshkosh (0.1 miles)
• Oshkosh- Sawyer Street Hometown Pharmacy (0.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.7 miles)
• Walgreens (0.8 miles)
• Aurora Pharmacy (1.2 miles)
• Walgreens (1.2 miles)
• Pick 'n Save Pharmacy (1.5 miles)

Physicians

• InSight Eye Care (0.3 miles)
• Winnebago Oral Surgery Sc (0.3 miles)
• Govindaraju Subramani (0.4 miles)
• Klinkhammer Thomas A Md Fox Valley Hematology Oncology Oshkosh (0.6 miles)
• Kagen Allergy Clinic Sc (0.7 miles)
• Fox Valley Dermatology, SC (0.7 miles)
• Fox Valley Plastic Surgery (0.9 miles)

Restaurants

• Taco John's (0.4 miles)
• China King (0.4 miles)
• Delta Restaurant (0.5 miles)
• HuHot Mongolian Grill (0.6 miles)
• The Bar (0.7 miles)
• Dublin's Irish Pub (0.8 miles)
• Potbelly Sandwich Shop (0.9 miles)

Theaters

• Oshkosh Cinema Oshkosh, Wi (0.5 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (0.9 miles)
• Panera Bread (0.9 miles)
• Pilora's Cafe (1.9 miles)

Hospitals

• Theda Clark Surgery Center (0.9 miles)
• Aurora Medical Center (1.1 miles)
• Ascension NE Wisconsin - Mercy Campus Sleep Medicine (1.4 miles)
• Affinity Nurse Direct (1.4 miles)
• Affinity Health System (1.5 miles)
• True Value- Local PPC (1.8 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Raphael Catholic Church (1.1 miles)

Parks

• South Park (1.3 miles)
• Westhaven Circle Park (1.8 miles)

Transportation

• Wittman Regional Airport (OSH) (2.2 miles)