St Johns Manor in South Milwaukee, WI

Pros

• It is a great place for his father, with an awesome staff.
• The caring staff and administrator Kristen are praised.
• The landlord is described as nice.
• Relatives appreciate the caring staff.

Cons

• Bed bugs never go away.
• Residents are sleeping with bed bugs all over mattresses.
• This place is absolutely horrible.
• Do not bring your family, friends, or worst enemy here.
• Very sad how this place went downhill since the prior owner sold it.
• This place should be closed.
• Horrible; don’t let your loved ones live here.
• Doesn’t even deserve a star.
• The place is overpriced for what is offered.

Review

St Johns Manor in South Milwaukee is best suited for families that place a high premium on genuine, attentive caregiving and personal connection between staff and residents. The strongest thread across the feedback is a caring, involved team, administrators and frontline caregivers who know residents by name and deliver hands-on support. When the staff are described as awesome and the administrator as attentive, this facility can feel like a compassionate, hands-on option for a loved one who thrives on consistent, personal attention and a smaller, more intimate care environment.

Those who should consider alternatives are families that cannot tolerate persistent hygiene and reliability concerns or who are budgeting with tight margins. A recurring thread in the reviews is a serious pest and cleanliness issue, bed bugs embedded in mattresses and rooms, that undermines safety, comfort, and sleep. Additionally, several notes point to staff turnover and lull between leaders, with references to nurses leaving and caregivers “sleeping” on the job. When hygiene and consistent staffing are fundamental to a loved one’s wellbeing, these signals suggest risk beyond what can be offset by kind words or a friendly face at the front desk.

The core positives, caring staff, a visible administrator, and a sense that residents are known and looked after, do not fully offset the most troubling cons. A facility can be warm and responsive, yet bed bug infestations and the implication of shifting or fatigued staffing erode trust and daily quality of life. When residents are sharing beds with pests or when housekeeping and maintenance appear inconsistent, the practical benefits of thoughtful care can be overshadowed by health and comfort concerns. Similarly, while some reviewers highlight value in a caregiver-driven approach, the perception that the space is overpriced for what is delivered compounds dissatisfaction, especially if ongoing pest management and maintenance are not reliably addressed.

Ownership and management transitions appear to have influenced the current trajectory. Comments suggesting the place “went downhill since the prior owner sold it” imply that changes at the top have trickled down into everyday operations. A nice landlord may offer a friendly administrative posture, but palpably higher prices paired with questions about what is included in that price leave families questioning long-term value. In a market where caregivers drive day-to-day experience, leadership stability, transparent maintenance standards, and predictable cost structures become the non-negotiables, and those signals matter as much as compassionate care.

For families evaluating options today, a practical screening approach is essential. Start with a candid discussion about pest control history and recent remediation efforts, request documentation of pest management results and maintenance schedules. Observe cleanliness during a visit: are rooms, mattresses, and common areas free of pests and odors? Ask about staffing stability, such as average tenure of nurses and aides, what shifts look like, and how supervision is handled on evenings and weekends. Finally, demand a clear, itemized rate structure and a sense of what services are included or billable, pricing that feels inflated for the current level of care or upkeep should trigger cautious comparison with other facilities.

The bottom line is clear: St Johns Manor can work for families prioritizing a warm, caregiver-first environment where staff know residents well. It is less well suited for those who require a pest-free, meticulously clean setting and consistently reliable, transparent operations at a fair price. If the priority is steady, professional care with strong housekeeping and pest control, exploring alternatives is prudent. For families willing to scrutinize maintenance records, meet the caregiving team, and weigh value against risk, a visit can still reveal a viable fit, but proceed with pointed questions, concrete assurances, and a realistic read on long-term stability.

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.2 miles)
• Meijer Pharmacy (3 miles)
• Pick 'n Save Pharmacy (3.1 miles)
• Walgreens (3.5 miles)
• Walgreens (3.7 miles)
• Walgreens (4.8 miles)

Restaurants

• Subway (1.4 miles)
• Culver's (2.8 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (2.9 miles)
• McDonald's (3.2 miles)
• Papa Luigi's (3.5 miles)
• The Landing (3.7 miles)
• McDonald's (4.5 miles)

Hospitals

• Aurora St Luke's South Shore (2 miles)
• Froedert Drexel Square Clinic (3.2 miles)
• Aurora St Luke's Medical Center (7.3 miles)

Parks

• Runway Dog Exercise Area (2.4 miles)
• South Shore Park (6 miles)
• Humboldt Park (6.1 miles)
• Paliafito Park (8.3 miles)
• Henry Maier Festival Park (8.5 miles)
• Lakeshore State Park (9.1 miles)
• West Allis West Milwaukee Recr (9.5 miles)

Transportation

• MKE Runway (3.2 miles)
• Concourse D (3.4 miles)
• Delta Ticket Counter (3.5 miles)
• Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) (3.6 miles)
• Security Checkpoint (3.6 miles)
• Concourse C (3.6 miles)
• Milwaukee Intermodal Station (9.2 miles)

Physicians

• Aurora Health Care (3.6 miles)
• Innovative Pain Care (4.9 miles)
• Layton Avenue Dermatolgy Clinic (5.9 miles)
• Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Center (6 miles)
• Rheumatology & Immunotherapy (6.3 miles)
• Greendale Health Center (7.1 miles)
• Aurora Health Care (8.5 miles)

Theaters

• South Shore Cinema Oak Creek, Wi (3.9 miles)

Cafes

• Hawthorne Coffee Roasters (4.9 miles)
• Starbucks (6.3 miles)
• Colectivo Coffee (6.9 miles)
• Starbucks (8.4 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Stephen's Catholic Church (5.3 miles)