Lafon Home OF United Methodist in New Orleans, LA

Pros

• The staff at St. Bernard Nursing & Rehab are amazing - eager to assist, friendly, and on task.
• Stephanie Bruno is helpful and supportive, answering questions and ensuring family needs are met.
• The activities director, Miss Bruno, goes above and beyond for residents and treats them like family.
• Kiana Johnson, the charge nurse, is very attentive and always greets people with a smile.
• Nicole Love, the wound care nurse, goes above and beyond and is an asset to the facility.
• The nursing staff are excellent, caring, and responsive to all matters.
• The facility is new and beautiful, with residents looking happy and content.
• The administration has given a facelift and created a positive, energized environment; it is recognized as a five-star facility in Louisiana.

Cons

• The staff are described as rude, unprofessional, and lacking empathy, seemingly there only for a paycheck.
• They steal residents' belongings and medications.
• Residents are not checked on, not bathed regularly, and rooms are not cleaned properly, with medications not given as scheduled.
• There are bugs everywhere, the bedding is badly stained, and residents' clothes are washed together.
• Fresh water is not provided at the bedside; only ice is offered.
• Front desk staff are rude, lazy, and unwilling to work.

Review

Lafon Home of United Methodist in New Orleans is best suited for families seeking hands-on nursing and short- to mid-term rehabilitation where the clinical staff can be relied upon to deliver attentive, capable care. The facility shows strength in rehabilitative and medical oversight when the team is present - especially for post-acute recovery after surgeries or injuries - while benefiting from a newer, more polished look and a public sense of renewed leadership. For families who value compassionate, responsive clinicians and are willing to stay actively involved in daily care planning, this community can be a solid choice.

Yet, several realities demand careful consideration. Families that cannot tolerate persistent questions about consistency and safety should look elsewhere. Reports ranging from dehydration and lapses in daily hygiene to medication handling concerns and vague bedside accountability create a risk profile that may be unacceptable for residents with high needs or cognitive impairment. Instances of rude or disengaged front-desk service and unclear differentiation between staff roles further amplify the sense that oversight and continuity of care can be uneven. In short, this is a facility where the right staffing and leadership can produce strong outcomes, but systemic gaps make thorough due diligence nonnegotiable.

The strongest positives lie with high-caliber individual caregivers and clinical staff. Notable names in the reviews - well-regarded nurses and wound-care specialists - are repeatedly described as attentive, capable, and genuinely involved in patient outcomes. When the wound-care nurse demonstrates initiative and the charge nurse maintains a steady, problem-solving presence, residents benefit from timely interventions and better recovery trajectories. The activities team also earns praise for elevating residents' daily experience, contributing to a sense of household normalcy. A refreshed administration and a facility that looks well-maintained reinforce the impression that leadership intends and sometimes delivers on higher standards.

However, the cons carry real force. Families report specific failures that affect daily life and safety, including intermittent nourishment and hydration, infrequent repositioning or bathing, missed medications, and inconsistent bed-side care. Several reviews describe poor cleanliness, stained bedding, and even infestations or pest concerns. The absence of distinct staff identifiers and frequent backstage handoffs can blur accountability, leaving families unsure who is in charge at any given moment. The most alarming testimonials describe neglectful moments - omissions in basic care, delayed responses to needs, and a perceived prioritization of workflow over resident comfort. In aggregate, these red flags cannot be dismissed or minimized.

In weighing pros against cons, the care strengths are real but dependent on dependable leadership and constant family oversight. The presence of engaged clinicians, strong wound-care capability, and a proactive activities director can translate into meaningful gains for rehab patients and long-stay residents who have active family involvement. Yet the frequency and severity of the adverse experiences cited by multiple families suggest that risk is not abstract. Pros can offset some risk if teams are consistently well-supervised, staffing ratios are reliably adequate, and care plans are rigorously followed. Until such consistency is proven over time, this facility should be approached with a mindset of vigilant monitoring and proactive intervention.

For families considering this community, a pragmatic approach is essential. Conduct a thorough on-site tour with a focused checklist: observe daytime staffing levels, speak with frontline aides and the charge nurse, request to review recent care plans and med administration logs, and meet the wound-care team in person. Ask for transparency about turnover, the exact process for positioning and hygiene, and how complaints are tracked and resolved. If those conversations reveal sustained, reliable answers and visible commitment to accountability, Lafon Home can deliver solid rehab and nursing care. If not, alternatives with demonstrably steadier bedside care and more consistent interactions with families may be the safer path for a loved one who requires ongoing, meticulous attention.

This part of New Orleans, Louisiana, offers a diverse range of amenities that are convenient for senior living. With several cafes like Cafe Du Monde and CC's Community Coffee House nearby, residents can enjoy leisurely outings or meet up with friends over a cup of coffee. The proximity to parks such as New Orleans City Park and Crescent Park provides opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. Additionally, the presence of multiple pharmacies ensures easy access to medications and healthcare supplies. A variety of restaurants offering different cuisines cater to different tastes, while nearby physicians and hospitals like LCMC Health Cancer Care and Blood Disorders and SE Louisiana Veterans Hospital provide accessible medical care options for seniors. Overall, this area combines convenience, recreational opportunities, and essential services that make it a desirable location for senior living in New Orleans.

Cafes

• Cafe Du Monde City Park (1.2 miles)
• CC's Community Coffee House (2.8 miles)
• Cafe Envie (2.9 miles)
• Cafe Du Monde (3 miles)
• French Truck Coffee (3.2 miles)
• Starbucks (3.9 miles)
• French Truck Coffee (4.1 miles)

Parks

• New Orleans City Park (1.2 miles)
• Crescent Park (3 miles)
• Pig Newton Park (3.6 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.2 miles)
• Walgreens (1.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.7 miles)
• Winn-Dixie (1.7 miles)
• Walgreens (2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.2 miles)

Restaurants

• Zimmer's Seafood (1.2 miles)
• Pagoda Cafe (1.6 miles)
• Cafe Navarre (1.7 miles)
• Felipe's Mexican Taqueria (1.8 miles)
• French Truck Coffee (1.8 miles)
• Katie's Restaurant & Bar (1.9 miles)
• Piece Of Meat (1.9 miles)

Physicians

• LCMC Health Cancer Care and Blood Disorders (2.3 miles)
• Southern Orthopaedic Specialists (3.7 miles)
• Napoleon Pediatrics (4.3 miles)
• The Face & Body Clinic (4.7 miles)

Hospitals

• SE Louisiana Veterans Hospital (2.5 miles)
• LSU Medical - 1400 Poydras (3.3 miles)
• St Charles Surgical Hospital (4.2 miles)
• The Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center (4.5 miles)