Extended Care Of Southwest LA

Pros

• The staff were described as second to none, taking real good care of patients and treating them like people.
• Therapy groups were helpful, and the reviewer felt grateful for the care received.
• The staff were very loving and caring, with the lunch staff adding warmth through hot, smile-filled meals.
• The facility was praised for a protective, caring staff and a great, relaxed atmosphere.
• One reviewer credited the facility with restoring his wife and returning her to him.
• The treatment was described as restful and life-saving, with amazing employees and quality service.
• A patient left the facility feeling grateful and willing to recommend it.

Cons

• The facility is described as garbage and unsafe for loved ones.
• The staff are accused of abusing patients and mocking them for not completing daily activities.
• The place allegedly tormented a family member and left him worse, feeling like a prison run by incompetent staff.
• Phone lines are reportedly always down, preventing families from checking on their loved ones.
• A former patient claims they were unfairly accused of drug-seeking and faced coercive treatment.
• A parent says a nurse spoke to their child badly and that their child ended up with bruises, doubting the facility's integrity.
• The staff are alleged to include cocaine users, with no proper investigation into the misconduct.
• The facility allegedly provides little to no psychological treatment, focusing mainly on medication with minimal therapy.
• The staff are described as undertrained or not trained as psychiatric technicians, creating a depressing environment that hinders recovery.
• One reviewer says Chevalier does not care and would turn away patients.

Review

The collection of experiences surrounding this mental health facility is a tapestry of wildly divergent stories. On one end of the spectrum are accounts of warmth, professionalism, and genuinely life-affirming care; on the opposite end are deeply troubling claims of abuse, neglect, and a system that seems more punitive than therapeutic. Read together, the reviews depict a place where the quality of care appears to swing dramatically from one patient to another, sometimes within the same ward or program. The recurring themes include whether staff are compassionate and attentive, whether patients are treated with dignity, and whether the facility offers real therapeutic progress or simply custodial care.

A number of reviews paint a starkly negative picture. Some reviewers allege physical or emotional mistreatment, describing staff as abusive or laughable at patients who struggle with daily living tasks. There are explicit claims that staff talk about patients behind their backs, publicly demeaning them, and failing to take concerns about safety seriously. Complaints extend to administrative and logistical shortcomings - phones allegedly being "down" so families cannot check in, and a sense that the environment resembles a prison more than a therapeutic setting. The tone in these accounts is urgent and cautionary, with several reviewers vowing to alert state authorities, insurers, or fraud-isolation units if they perceive ongoing risk or malpractice. The severity of these complaints is amplified by stories of family members who believe their loved ones left worse off, including a father who, according to one review, returned from treatment in a worse mental state.

Several reviews center on the treatment of eating disorders, detox, and other complex medical needs. Critics argue that the facility has little to offer beyond medication and a few activities, with insufficient attention to psychological therapies or evidence-based strategies for eating disorders or dual diagnoses. One reviewer recounts that their child endured bruising, and another describes an experience where a caregiver claimed an internal investigation would follow but nothing meaningful happened. There are also accusations that medical staff either refused or delayed medications, or failed to coordinate with outside psychiatrists, leaving patients without essential continuity of care. Taken together, these comments suggest a perception that the facility is not equipped to handle high-acuity cases or multi-medical needs, and that patients risk being surveilled and medicated without receiving robust therapeutic interventions.

Conversely, a substantial portion of the feedback is glowing, highlighting care teams that went above and beyond. Several reviewers recall being treated like real people rather than numbers, praising staff for genuine empathy, patience, and personal attention. Some describe sessions and therapy groups as meaningful and transformative, crediting the facility with providing a path toward stability and better mental health. In these accounts, the environment can feel welcoming, even resort-like, with outdoor time, group activities, and a sense that patients are supported as they navigate crises. One reviewer even speaks of the experience as life-changing, praising the way staff helped their spouse or family member regain a sense of self and hope. These stories emphasize a collaborative, respectful dynamic between patients and caregivers, and they frequently mention concrete acts of kindness - from large gestures to small daily routines - that made the stay bearable or healing.

Within the positive experiences, there are personal tributes to individual staff members who left a memorable impression. For example, reviewers recount interactions with caregivers who offered consistent encouragement, hygiene, and emotional support, and even name specific individuals by how they were described as loving, caring, and thorough. In some cases, reviewers recount being praised for progress, being included in treatment planning, and being offered meaningful therapy groups. The warmth of the kitchen staff and the lunch crew also surfaces in these narratives, with some reviewers stressing that meals were prepared with care and served with a smile, contributing to an overall sense of being cared for. Such anecdotes illustrate how a supportive, person-centered approach can color a patient's entire experience, even if other parts of the facility's operation may be criticized.

A notable thread across the mixed reviews is the degree of perceived staffing and organizational efficiency. Some patients describe excellent, attentive care from techs and nurses and point to the importance of continuity - having the same caregivers who know their names and histories. Others point to chronic under-staffing, indifferent or overwhelmed nurses, and a management stance that prioritizes cost containment over patient welfare. One review contrasts a shift in care quality with time, indicating that a short stay can feel almost like a glimpse of a well-run program, while longer stays reveal deeper systemic issues. Several accounts mention undertrained staff or staff who seemed unprepared for the complexities of psychiatric care, including responses to crises or the management of patients with multiple medical issues. In short, the operational atmosphere - ranging from efficiently run to frustratingly chaotic - appears to strongly influence patient perceptions of care quality.

In the end, the narratives coalesce into a nuanced portrait: for some, this facility is a beacon of relief and recovery, a place where people find help, safety, and renewed hope. For others, it is a place of fear, frustration, and harm, where abuse allegations, mismanagement, and inadequate therapeutic engagement overshadow any potential benefits. The stark contrast between experiences underscores the reality that mental health care is deeply personal and highly variable in practice. Families and individuals considering this facility would be well served to listen to the full spectrum of experiences, seek independent verification where possible, and prepare to advocate vigorously for their loved ones' safety, dignity, and access to comprehensive, evidence-based treatment.

Physicians

• Wayne A McClure, Od (0.1 miles)
• Interventional Pain Management Clinic (0.4 miles)
• Open Air Mri of Lake Charles (0.7 miles)
• Radiology Specialist (0.7 miles)
• Ochsner Health Center - Urology (0.8 miles)
• Qureshi Nauman Dr (0.8 miles)
• Lake Charles Medical & Surgical Clinic (0.9 miles)

Hospitals

• Extended Care of Southwest Louisiana (0.1 miles)
• Nami (0.7 miles)
• Lake Charles Memorial Hospital (1.4 miles)
• Lake Charles Memorial Hospital Wound Care Center (1.5 miles)
• Avail Health Lake Charles Hospital (1.9 miles)
• Women & Children's Hosp Med (2.3 miles)
• Lake Charles Urgent Care (3 miles)

Restaurants

• Beauxdines (0.3 miles)
• Shwarmas (0.4 miles)
• Tony's Pizza (0.5 miles)
• Fiery Crab (0.5 miles)
• Darrell's (0.6 miles)
• Cousin's Lebanese Cuisine (0.7 miles)
• Cinnamon's Bakery Eatery (0.7 miles)

Transportation

• Hertz Rent A Car (0.4 miles)

Parks

• Prien Lake Mall Playground (0.5 miles)
• Lake Charles Historic District (1.5 miles)
• Lake Charles Veteran's Memorial Park (1.6 miles)
• Prien Lake Park (3 miles)

Cafes

• Zeus Cafe (0.5 miles)
• Starbucks (1.4 miles)
• The Charleston Bistro (1.6 miles)
• Sassy Oil & Vinegar (1.7 miles)
• Panera Bread (1.8 miles)
• Starbucks (2.9 miles)

Pharmacies

• Gordon's Pharmacy And Fine Gifts (0.7 miles)
• Gordons Drug Store (0.7 miles)
• Kroger Family Center (0.8 miles)
• Albertsons Pharmacy (1.3 miles)
• Walgreens (1.4 miles)
• Southwest La Hospital Association (1.5 miles)
• Kroger Pharmacy (2.9 miles)

Places of Worship

• Word Of Hope Family Worship (1.2 miles)
• Sacred Heart Catholic Church (2.1 miles)
• Trinity Baptist Church (2.8 miles)
• Redemption Tabernacle (3.3 miles)