Lutheran Home of New Orleans

Pros

• The nurses are attentive and do everything they can to make residents comfortable.
• The staff make every effort to care for residents and ensure family satisfaction.
• Administration and office staff have an open-door policy and respond quickly to concerns.
• The facility is clean and free of the typical nursing home odor.
• CNAs care for residents as if they were family.
• The facility hosts family events and engages residents with activities.
• The building is older but well maintained, and the new administration has improved care and the environment.

Cons

• They described Ferncrest Manor as the worst place to place a loved one, citing odors, dirty restrooms, and unsafe, poorly lit conditions at night.
• They stated the facility does not answer phone calls and staff hang up, making updates difficult.
• They claimed the staff are inexperienced and lack compassion, with little accountability for concerns.
• They alleged residents are left in urine-soaked clothing and beds, indicating neglect.
• They alleged staff use vulgar language, wear pajamas at work, and engage in inappropriate conversations.
• They noted that staff would not share the Wi?Fi password for watching TV and were rude.
• They described the facility as dirty and linked to abuse concerns within Beacon Behavioral Health.
• They stated they would not recommend the facility and described it as a horror story or end-of-life mishandling.

Review

Ferncrest Manor comes across here as a place of sharp contrasts, where experiences span from genuinely positive and heartfelt to deeply troubling and alarming. On one end, residents recover and feel cared for, while on the other, families describe smells, neglect, and communication breakdowns that shake their confidence in the facility. Taken together, the collection of reviews paints a complicated picture of a long-term care setting that can be excellent in some moments and severely lacking in others, depending largely on staffing, administration, and the particular day a family member visits.

Several comments center on the potential for excellent, even exceptional, care. A resident recovering from sepsis notes how the nurses do "everything they can" to keep the stay comfortable, with one person even considering a kitchen job at discharge because of the positive atmosphere. A family member recalls a four-month stay for their mother, emphasizing the facility's cleanliness, lack of the typical nursing-home odor, and a staff that "made every effort to take care of my mom" and kept the family satisfied. The sentiment that the administration is accessible and responsive surfaces repeatedly; an open-door policy and quick reactions to complaints are highlighted as important strengths. The facility is described as older in building, yet well maintained, with residents enjoying daily activities and special events - such as a fall festival - that foster family engagement and social interaction. In these threads, staff, including CNAs, nurses, respiratory therapists, and doctors, are portrayed as dedicated professionals who genuinely care about the residents' quality of life and medical well-being.

Engagement with families is frequently cited as a positive hallmark. Several comments stress the importance of visiting and participating in the community life the facility curates - holiday gatherings, games, and other activities that help residents feel connected. A review notes that social workers, the activities department, and medical teams work together in a way that reassures families about their loved ones' welfare. There are explicit acknowledgments that the facility's leadership, including administrators and nursing directors under new oversight, are making a concerted effort to recruit capable staff and to improve care quality, with claims that the environment has "completely changed" for the better during this transition period.

However, a significant portion of the feedback is critical, painting Ferncrest Manor as a place where care can be inconsistent or even harmful. Some reviewers report rude and unresponsive staff who do not answer phones or attend to urgent concerns, with several accounts describing repeated failed attempts to contact nurses or administration. There are strong warnings about staff attitudes - irritability, cursing at residents, and unprofessional behavior observed by visitors. Specific complaints include rooms and common areas that smelled, restrooms that were dirty, and beds that were left with urine or other messes, creating a perception of neglect and insufficient cleanliness. One particularly harsh review condemns the facility as "the worst place you can send a loved one," detailing unsafe hallways with poor lighting, unclean bathrooms, and a disinterested counter staff, culminating in a powerful sense of danger and disappointment.

Financial and end-of-life concerns appear in a troubling subset of reviews. A reviewer describes a situation in which a retirement check was accepted after a patient was no longer a resident, causing stress for the family during end-of-life care, and alleges that the care providers did not act with compassion when their loved one died. Another post raises a blunt, cautionary note about DNR decisions, suggesting that staff may miss critical moments if not vigilant, and urging families to consider directives that protect their loved ones. These stories contribute to a perception that, for some families, the facility's administrative handling and clinical decision-making can be fraught with mismanagement or misalignment with the family's wishes.

The reviews include a spectrum of personal verdicts, from glowing endorsements to explicit denunciations. Some readers describe Ferncrest as a place with "great staff," where physicians, nurses, and support personnel are described as caring, knowledgeable, and deeply committed to both medical care and the residents' daily happiness. Others describe a "death camp" atmosphere or call the facility a "horror story at night," pointing to odor problems, unsafe environments, and a culture of unprofessionalism that undermines trust. A few comments oscillate between praise and critique within the same voice, reflecting nuanced experiences - moments of compassionate care and well-run programs contrasted with days or units where care fell short.

Taken as a whole, the narratives suggest Ferncrest Manor operates with two contradicting realities that coexist in the same building. Positive testimonials emphasize cleanliness, engaging activities, family-friendly events, accessible administration, and a committed clinical team that treats residents with dignity. Negative testimonials highlight poor communication, inadequate cleanliness, staff disrespect, safety concerns, and financial or administrative mishaps that inflicted additional stress on families during already difficult times. The recurring takeaway is that care quality may hinge on individual staff members, leadership at the time of a patient's stay, and the extent to which families are able to advocate for their loved ones.

For families evaluating Ferncrest Manor, the picture calls for careful, on-site observation and direct conversations with both staff and other families. Prospective residents and their loved ones are likely to encounter moments of genuinely compassionate care, professional medical attention, and a community atmosphere that honors family involvement. At the same time, the facility warrants vigilance: ensure a clear line of communication with nurses and administrators, verify cleanliness standards and safety practices on the specific unit you're considering, and ask pointed questions about financial handling and end-of-life planning. In short, Ferncrest Manor appears to be a place of potential and promise, tempered by significant cautions that demand thorough due diligence from any family seeking care for a loved one.

This part of New Orleans, Louisiana offers a diverse range of amenities and services that cater to the needs of seniors. With multiple restaurants nearby such as Deanie's Restaurant and Zimmer's Seafood, there are plenty of dining options to choose from. Additionally, there are several pharmacies in the area including CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens, providing easy access to medications and healthcare supplies. For spiritual well-being, there are places of worship like City Church Of New Orleans within a convenient distance. Parks like Crescent Park and New Orleans City Park offer opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. The presence of physicians' offices such as LCMC Health Cancer Care and Blood Disorders ensures quality medical care is easily accessible. Cafes such as Cafe Envie and Cafe Du Monde provide social spots for meeting with friends or enjoying a cup of coffee. In case medical attention is needed, hospitals like SE Louisiana Veterans Hospital are within reach. Overall, this area provides a comfortable and convenient environment for senior living with a variety of resources available in close proximity.

Restaurants

• Deanie's Restaurant (0.7 miles)
• Zimmer's Seafood (3.2 miles)
• Morrow's (4.9 miles)
• The Elysian Bar (5.1 miles)
• Pagoda Cafe (5.2 miles)
• Buffa's Bar & Restaurant (5.4 miles)
• Port of Call (5.4 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.4 miles)
• Walgreens (2.6 miles)
• Winn-Dixie (3.1 miles)
• Walgreens (3.3 miles)
• Walgreens (3.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.7 miles)

Places of Worship

• City Church Of New Orleans (4.4 miles)
• St Andrew the Apostle School (7.9 miles)

Parks

• Crescent Park (5.4 miles)
• New Orleans City Park (5.6 miles)
• Pig Newton Park (7.7 miles)

Physicians

• LCMC Health Cancer Care and Blood Disorders (5.5 miles)
• O Sullivan, Jennifer Vigour Pediatrics (7.5 miles)
• Heitmeier,Armani&Langhetee Medical &Surgical Eyecare (7.9 miles)
• Southern Orthopaedic Specialists (8 miles)

Cafes

• Cafe Envie (5.6 miles)
• Cafe Du Monde City Park (5.6 miles)
• CC's Community Coffee House (5.7 miles)
• Cafe Du Monde (5.9 miles)
• French Truck Coffee (6.2 miles)
• French Truck Coffee (7.2 miles)
• Starbucks (7.8 miles)

Hospitals

• SE Louisiana Veterans Hospital (6.4 miles)
• LSU Medical - 1400 Poydras (6.7 miles)
• St Charles Surgical Hospital (7.5 miles)