Saint Johns On The Lake North Residence in Milwaukee, WI

Pros

• St. John's on the Lake is described as the best, bringing great joy to visitors and residents alike.
• The staff are wonderful, kind, and accommodating, making residents feel safe and cared for.
• There are abundant opportunities for activities and social engagement, so nobody sits around idle.
• The programming and learning opportunities are endless, helping residents try new things and find friendship.
• Taylor's restaurant offers an interesting menu, skilled cooking, and welcoming service with a wonderful lake view.
• The campus and facilities are beautiful and up-to-date, featuring spaces, a pool, and a gym that rival spa standards.

Cons

• They massively overcharge for daily living assistance, and the quality is disappointing.
• They will absolutely kick residents out if they don't want to pay their exorbitant rates.
• It is not a good place to age in place unless you are rich.
• The staff were understaffed and couldn't help the grandmother, leaving her sitting in her feces for hours.
• They are a pricey home for the elderly and do not deserve that kind of treatment.
• The food is not of the quality it should be, and residents are nickel-and-dimed for everything, with no privacy.

Review

Saint John's On The Lake North Residence is best suited for independent seniors and their families who want a vibrant, socially rich environment with a clear path to aging in place through a life-care framework. The community consistently delivers a high-energy calendar of lectures, concerts, and clubs, with ample opportunities to join a wide range of activities or simply enjoy the lakefront ambiance. It serves residents who prize proximity to the city's cultural life, robust programming, and a setting that feels more like a refined club than a traditional retirement facility. For families, the appeal lies in staff accessibility, the sense that residents are known by name, and a willingness to support aging in place within a single campus.

Those who should consider alternatives are the care-sensitive and price-conscious. Several reviews flag the pricing for daily living assistance and memory-care services as excessive relative to the value delivered, with warnings about possible changes in housing as needs evolve. Prospective residents who anticipate requiring substantial help with daily tasks or who want transparent, predictable pricing should scrutinize the cost structure and read the fine print on the life-care contract. Families with tight budgets, or those who prioritize predictable, all-inclusive fees without risk of abrupt increases, will want to compare options that offer clearer fee schedules and less reliance on add-ons for basic care.

The core positives of Saint John's - exceptional staff, a welcoming community, and an abundant slate of programming - often offset the most salient drawbacks when the pricing is understood up front. Family members repeatedly praise staff across the continuum, from reception to nursing, for kindness, consistency, and genuine engagement with residents and families. The programming ecosystem is broad enough to engage a wide spectrum of interests, ensuring residents rarely feel idle. Dining at Taylor's routinely earns praise for variety, quality, and service, with lake views enhancing the experience. For those who value a throughline of education, culture, and social connection, the environment translates into meaningful daily life.

The life-care framework is a particularly powerful offset to later-care concerns, provided the terms are favorable and transparent. When a resident's needs rise into assisted living or memory care, the base rate often remains stable, with support staff readily available on site. This arrangement reduces the disruption and financial shock that typically accompanies a move to another facility. Families report a sense of continuity as parents transition to "the neighborhoods" without a sudden relocation, which can be a major comfort during aging. The caveat is that the contract and pricing must be crystal clear, because the same system that promises stability can become a point of contention if charges escalate or services are perceived as overvalued.

Nevertheless, the most sobering counterpoints center on care quality and financial expectations. One long-standing concern is the perception that daily living tasks and memory-support services can be priced in a way that makes aging in place impractical for many families. There are vivid anecdotes of dissatisfaction with decision-making or communication when care needs intensify, including instances where families felt outcomes did not justify the cost. These voices are not marginal; they underscore the necessity of a thorough, written, facet-by-facet cost analysis, explicit service inclusions, and a clear escalation path within the life-care plan. Prospective residents should demand documented evidence of staffing ratios, response times, and the scope of care included in each tier.

In the end, Saint John's On The Lake North Residence offers one of the richer, more engaging senior-living environments in Milwaukee, with a strong sense of community, abundant programming, and meaningful opportunities to socialize and grow. It is a compelling match for independent seniors who want an active lifestyle, premium dining options, and the reassurance of a life-care structure that preserves continuity as needs evolve. Those who prize privacy and predictable, all-inclusive pricing - or who require robust, demonstrably high-quality memory care with transparent costs - may discover better alignment elsewhere. Perform a disciplined discovery: map the exact price ladder for daily living support, verify the terms of the life-care contract, and speak with current residents about staffing consistency and care decisions. If these boxes are checked, Saint John's stands out as a confident, well-justified choice for aging gracefully in an immersive, Lake Michigan?adjacent community.

This part of Milwaukee, Wisconsin offers a variety of amenities that may be appealing to seniors looking for a convenient and vibrant neighborhood. With several cafes nearby such as Colectivo Lakefront and Hawthorne Coffee Roasters, there are plenty of options for socializing and enjoying a cup of coffee. In terms of healthcare, there are multiple pharmacies in close proximity including CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens, as well as hospitals like Aurora Sinai Medical Center and Wheaton Franciscan - St. Joseph Campus within a short distance. Additionally, there are several parks in the area such as Lakeshore State Park and Red Arrow Park where one can enjoy nature and outdoor activities. Public transportation is easily accessible with the Milwaukee Intermodal Station nearby, making it convenient to explore the city. Overall, this neighborhood offers a mix of amenities that cater to both leisure and practical needs for seniors considering senior living in Milwaukee.

Cafes

• Colectivo Lakefront (0.1 miles)
• Colectivo Coffee (3.6 miles)
• Starbucks (4.4 miles)
• Hawthorne Coffee Roasters (6 miles)
• Starbucks (6 miles)
• Starbucks (6.2 miles)
• Starbucks (6.5 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.2 miles)
• Walgreens (0.2 miles)
• Metro Market Pharmacy (1 miles)
• Walgreens (1.3 miles)
• Walgreens (1.6 miles)
• Walgreens (1.7 miles)
• Walgreens (2.5 miles)

Restaurants

• Jamo's (0.3 miles)
• McDonald's (0.4 miles)
• Glorioso's Italian Market (0.5 miles)
• Champion's Pub (0.5 miles)
• Casablanca (0.7 miles)
• Veggas Pub (0.9 miles)
• Company Brewing (1.1 miles)

Parks

• Lakeshore State Park (1.2 miles)
• Red Arrow Park (1.3 miles)
• Henry Maier Festival Park (1.9 miles)
• Kern Park (2.1 miles)
• Paliafito Park (2.6 miles)
• Atwater Park (2.6 miles)
• Estabrook Park (3.2 miles)

Transportation

• Milwaukee Intermodal Station (2 miles)

Hospitals

• Aurora Sinai Medical Center (2.1 miles)
• Wheaton Franciscan - St. Joseph Campus (4.6 miles)
• Aurora St Luke's Medical Center (5.4 miles)
• Aurora Psychiatric Hospital (6.1 miles)
• Froedtert Pavilion (6.8 miles)

Physicians

• Rheumatic Disease Center (6.4 miles)
• Froedtert Clinical Cancer Center (6.8 miles)

Places of Worship

• Honey Creek Church (6.5 miles)