Lakehaven Nursing Home

Pros

• The staff are described as awesome with excellent care, and reviewers would definitely recommend the facility.
• Pruitt Health Lake Haven is described as a clean, friendly environment where residents' needs come first, with staff who are friendly and interactive.
• Pruitt Health Lakehaven is amazing, with staff who are very sweet and take good care of loved ones.
• The staff at Pruitt Health Lakehaven on Northside Dr are very patient and kind.
• The staff are very polite and go out of their way to keep residents comfortable and to help with appointments.
• The facility is very clean and the staff are happy to help.
• Nurses, doctors and staff are appreciated for their professional and compassionate care, including during Covid.
• The facility is friendly, caring and compassionate with a positive environment.
• Therapists at PruittHealth-Lakehaven are professional and help patients recover to walk and return home.
• Residents are seen enjoying outdoor time and fresh air, which is meaningful to families.

Cons

• The bed was broken and the patient was left naked in bed with blankets on the floor.
• The dietary manager is unprofessional and shows favoritism among employees.
• Communication is poor, and phone lines are frequently unanswered, making it hard to reach anyone.
• The facility has a strong stench of stale urine and is not clean.
• Gowns are unavailable and residents are sometimes dressed in makeshift sheets.
• The food is mediocre, CNAs are poor, and hygiene rules are lax.
• A nurse was rude to a family member seeking an update on a loved one's status.
• The facility should be investigated by city, state, and federal authorities due to safety concerns.

Review

PruittHealth Lakehaven, a nursing and rehabilitation facility in Georgia, elicits a broad spectrum of experiences from families, residents, and observers. On one hand, several reviewers rave about clean facilities, friendly staff, and genuine acts of care that make them feel their loved ones are in good hands. A number of comments emphasize that the site is clean, the environment is pleasant, and the staff can be very kind, attentive, and professional. Some residents themselves speak highly of therapists who helped them recover and of staff who went out of their way to ensure comfort and keep them informed, even noting that care continued to be compassionate during challenging times such as the Covid period. In these voices, the facility shines as a place where teamwork and supportive interactions make a real difference, with families expressing heartfelt gratitude for the patience and dedication shown by nurses, aides, and therapists.

Yet a loud, persistent chorus of reviews centers on severe concerns about safety, hygiene, and overall quality of care. Several accounts describe harrowing conditions: a bed described as broken, a side table broken, and a resident laid sideways in bed naked, with blankets scattered on the floor until family members arrived. One reviewer recounts deeply distressing scenes of neglect and inadequate attention, underscored by references to a sharp odor and an environment where essential items like gowns were scarce. The imagery is stark - the kind of description that leaves families worried about basic dignity and comfort being maintained in a facility entrusted with vulnerable individuals. Such reports suggest moments where basic safety and decency appeared compromised, prompting strong emotional responses and urgent calls for accountability.

Management and staff dynamics emerge as another major thread. Several reviews target the Dietary Manager, labeling the person unprofessional, uncommunicative, and prone to favoritism that allegedly favored some employees over others. The sentiment is that supervision is uneven and that leadership quality directly impacts the morale and performance of the whole dietary team. Other complaints highlight friction with leadership more broadly, including a director of nursing who reportedly had difficult conversations and a sense that communication with families could be improved. The recurring theme is that under-staffing and uneven supervisory practices undermined both patient care and staff cohesion, leaving some family members and residents frustrated, anxious, and looking for more reliable channels of communication and consistent, respectful follow-through.

Communication with families and how information is relayed also receive ample critique. Reviewers describe phone lines that are hard to reach, staff who do not answer calls promptly, and a general sense that families are not kept adequately informed about changes in a loved one's condition. Suggestions to improve include monthly family conferences with head staff, more proactive updates from doctors and nurses, and better coordination among departments so families aren't left piecing together partial stories. One notable account recounts a nurse's rude response when a family member asked for a straightforward update on vitals, followed by a heartbreaking note that their aunt died shortly after the conversation - an experience that underscores the importance of respectful, clear communication in end-of-life or decline scenarios.

The reviews also don't shy away from the more alarming, action-oriented warnings that potential residents and families should consider. Several people urge investigators or regulatory review, citing instances of a patient being found on the floor during the night and other safety concerns that led to removing a loved one from the facility. There are calls to document problems meticulously, file grievances with insurers, and even involve authorities if necessary when a patient's care and safety seem compromised. The recurring messages here are vigilance, documentation, and a readiness to pursue formal remediation if a facility fails to meet expected standards of safety, cleanliness, and respect.

Amid the mosaic of experiences, there are clearly expressed hopes that the facility can improve. Some reviews acknowledge current strengths in cleanliness and the compassionate behavior of many staff members, while simultaneously urging concrete steps - specifically addressing staffing levels, consistent supervision, more reliable phone communication, and better transparency with families. There is a sense from these voices that PruittHealth Lakehaven has the potential to be a place where excellent clinical care and genuine interpersonal warmth coexist, but that realization depends on addressing the most serious concerns about safety, dignity, and consistent communication. For families evaluating care options, the narrative here suggests weighing positive daily interactions, environment and cleanliness, against the risk signals of understaffing, inconsistent leadership, and reported incidents that have left loved ones feeling vulnerable or neglected.

In closing, this collection presents a facility with notable strengths and equally notable vulnerabilities. The positive testimonies paint a picture of a clean, well-intentioned environment where many staff members strive to provide compassionate care and meaningful rehabilitation. At the same time, the negative experiences raise red flags about safety lapses, disruptive management practices, insufficient staffing, and poor communication with families. The recurring advice is to thoroughly assess personal risk and to advocate vigorously for transparent, consistent care - keeping a meticulous record of events, ensuring timely updates from the care team, and, if necessary, pursuing external review or grievance processes to protect the well-being and dignity of loved ones. The overall message is clear: there are individuals who feel genuinely grateful for the care they received at Lakehaven, and there are others who believe the facility fails to meet basic standards, sometimes with serious consequences. For anyone considering this facility, the decision likely hinges on the balance between observed strengths in kindness and cleanliness and the critical concerns around safety, staffing, and communication expressed by many reviewers.

This area of Valdosta, Georgia offers a convenient and accessible location with a range of amenities that cater to the needs of seniors. With several medical facilities in close proximity, including physicians' offices and pharmacies, residents can easily access healthcare services. Additionally, there are various dining options such as Sonic Drive-In and Waffle House, providing convenience for those looking to dine out. The presence of hospitals like South Georgia Medical Center ensures quick access to emergency medical care if needed. For recreational activities, McKey Park is located nearby for leisurely walks or picnics. Places of worship like Northside Baptist Church offer spiritual fulfillment for those seeking a religious community. Overall, this neighborhood provides a comfortable and well-rounded environment for seniors looking to settle in Valdosta.

Physicians

• Blache Charlene Dr Blanche Charlene Office Valdosta (0.1 miles)
• Florida Institute for Reproductive Medicine (0.2 miles)
• Comprehensive Women's Health (0.3 miles)
• South Georgia Medical Associates PC (0.3 miles)
• Valdosta Gastroenterology Associates (0.3 miles)
• Valdosta Gastroenterology Associates and Endoscopy Center (0.3 miles)
• Constant Care (0.4 miles)

Restaurants

• Sonic Drive-In (0.2 miles)
• Wharf (0.5 miles)
• Arby's (0.5 miles)
• Andy's Wings and Things (0.5 miles)
• Waffle House (0.7 miles)
• Wooden Nickel Pub (0.7 miles)
• El Toreo Mexican Restaurant (0.8 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.4 miles)
• Chancy Drugs Of Valdosta (0.7 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (0.7 miles)
• Winn-Dixie (0.7 miles)
• Medicine Shoppe (0.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.8 miles)
• Hogan's Pharmacy (0.8 miles)

Hospitals

• Hospital Authority of Valdosta and Lowndes County (0.7 miles)
• Dasher Heart Center At South Georgia Medical Center (0.8 miles)
• Hospital Authority-Valdosta (0.8 miles)
• South Georgia Medical Center (0.9 miles)
• Greenleaf Center (1.5 miles)
• Greenleaf Center (1.6 miles)

Parks

• McKey Park (0.8 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1 miles)

Places of Worship

• Northside Baptist Church (1.1 miles)
• District Valdosta (1.4 miles)
• The Gathering United Methodist Church Valdosta (1.7 miles)
• Vision Deliverance Tabernacle of Jesus C (1.7 miles)
• Baptist Collegiate Ministries (1.8 miles)
• Nazarene Church (1.8 miles)

Transportation

• U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer (1.7 miles)
• Azalea City Cab Co. (2.4 miles)