Northland Lutheran Retirement

Pros

• The facility is clean, odor-free, and staffed by friendly personnel, with residents appearing well cared for.
• The staff are kind and very helpful.
• The staff are amazing, and the family is grateful to have found this place; they would recommend it 100%.
• The atmosphere is great for elderly patients needing round-the-clock care.
• The staff are excellent and the facility offers live music, games, and various activities for residents, and is well kept and clean.

Cons

• A grumpy nurse insisted she couldn't come to Appleton and demanded the patient be brought in with less than 24 hours' notice.
• The administrator failed to follow through on the promised interview, leaving the patient waiting for weeks.
• Lakeland Care's attempts to arrange a virtual interview were dismissed as technical issues with no timely update.
• The administrator did not return calls and staff were described as rude and incompetent.
• The reviewer felt they were treated badly and that the delays prevented them from moving their mother closer.

Review

Luther Manor presents itself as a place that many families and visitors find welcoming and well kept. The first impression many notice is the cleanliness and the absence of unpleasant odors, paired with staff who appear friendly and attentive. Those early moments paint a picture of a home where residents seem to be well cared for, and the atmosphere feels calm and orderly. Several readers note that this impression of cleanliness and courtesy carries through their visits, creating a sense of trust and reassurance about the level of daily care provided.

Yet, not every experience aligns with that initial warmth. One family recounts a troubling sequence around arranging a visit and interview for their mother. They were told by Daryl, the administrator, that someone would come down to Appleton to interview her, but weeks stretched into months without action. In that same period, they encountered what they describe as a grumpy nurse who insisted on a very tight schedule and asked them to transport their relative for an 8 a.m. interview with less than 24 hours' notice. The family explains that travel from their location - about two hours away - was not feasible, especially since their mother needed a medical van. Attempts to set up a virtual interview through Lakeland Care were reportedly thwarted by what Daryl attributed to "technical issues." After two and a half months, no one followed up or returned calls, leaving the family feeling ignored and disrespected. The account depicts a breakdown in communication and a perception of rude and incompetent behavior, with the family expressing deep frustration at the lack of responsiveness during a time when they needed guidance and support.

The downstream impact of that experience weighed heavily on the narrator. They emphasize the desire to relocate their mother to be closer to home because they are themselves dealing with disability and limited travel capacity. The emotional toll is compounded by the feeling that they were not being treated with the care and courtesy one might expect from a facility of this kind. The narrative concludes with a heartrending reflection: the mother died unexpectedly, and the author wished to warn others about the negative encounter, pointing to the nurse's demeanor and the overall sense of incompetence as defining elements of that period.

Amid these tougher experiences, other voices offer a contrasting, warmly positive view of the team at Luther Manor. One reviewer simply calls it "a nice group of people all around," highlighting that the staff are kind and very helpful. This person's sentiment echoes through other endorsements, where families describe the staff as amazing and express sincere gratitude for the sense of relief and support the facility provides. The message from Irene B. is emphatic: the mom is in the assisted living facility, the staff are amazing, and the family is grateful and would recommend the place 100 percent, thanking the staff for all they do. These testimonials underscore a common thread of appreciation for the people who work there and the reassurance they provide to families.

Another visitor emphasizes the environment and daily life inside the home. The grandmother's visit is framed by a sense of a positive atmosphere for elderly residents who require round-the-clock care. The staff are described as excellent, and the offerings extend beyond basic care to include live music performances, games, and a variety of activities that engage residents. The facility is depicted as well kept and very clean, with a clinical level of sterility that many families associate with a safe, comfortable living space. For those who value structured routines, social engagement, and a well-maintained setting, this account reinforces the view that Luther Manor can be a vibrant, supportive place to live.

Taken together, the stories present a facility that can deliver high-quality care and create meaningful, positive experiences for residents and their families. The overwhelmingly favorable comments about cleanliness, atmosphere, attentive staff, and engaging activities speak to a robust core of strengths. At the same time, the negative experience shared by one family highlights real challenges in communication, responsiveness, and scheduling - areas that can significantly affect a family's confidence and decision-making during a difficult time. The contrast suggests that while Luther Manor has much to commend it, there can be notable variability in how well it aligns with every family's needs and expectations, particularly when navigating the process of arranging care from a distance and coordinating interviews or transitions. Overall, those who have engaged with the staff and residents often leave with a strong sense of appreciation for the people who work there and the supportive environment they help create.

Hospitals

• Bay Area Medical Center (0.2 miles)
• Bellin Health NorthReach OB/GYN (0.3 miles)
• Bay Area Orthopaedic Consultants (0.4 miles)
• Bay Area Cancer Care Center (1.5 miles)
• Menominee Medical Clinic (2.3 miles)
• US Veterans Medical Center (2.3 miles)

Physicians

• Aurora Bay Area Medical Group (0.3 miles)
• Karawicz Adam MD (0.3 miles)
• Mridani Choudhury (0.3 miles)
• NorthReach Family Care (0.3 miles)
• MacArthur Sandy MD (0.4 miles)
• Bay Area Mobility Center (0.4 miles)
• Bayview Ophthalmology (0.6 miles)

Places of Worship

• Our Savior's Lutheran Church Elca (0.7 miles)
• Twin City Baptist Church (1 miles)
• Livingword Ministries (1.1 miles)
• St Thomas Aquinas Academy - Holy Family Campus (1.3 miles)
• Trinity Ev Lutheran Church-Wis Synod (1.4 miles)
• Wels (1.4 miles)
• First Trinity Lutheran Church (1.5 miles)

Restaurants

• Alibi Bar & Grill (1.2 miles)
• Roger And Tec's Final Tap (1.2 miles)
• Aloha Inn (1.3 miles)
• Applejacks Bar & Grill (1.3 miles)
• Helen's Edgewater Inn (1.3 miles)
• Ironworks (1.4 miles)
• Dodge Inn (1.4 miles)

Parks

• Red Arrow Park (1.3 miles)
• Higley Field (1.4 miles)
• Seagull Bar State Natural Area (1.6 miles)
• Stephenson Island (1.9 miles)
• Veterans' Memorial Park (2.4 miles)

Transportation

• Taxi (1.7 miles)
• M & M Taxi Service (2.6 miles)
• U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer (2.8 miles)
• Enstrom Helicopter (3.1 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.3 miles)

Cafes

• Zinger Coffee & Tea (2 miles)