Medilodge Care Of Claire in Clare, MI

Pros

• The staff are really great to work with and treat the residents very well.
• Medilodge takes very good care of residents and their families.
• The staff are absolutely wonderful, informative, and kind, and residents love them.
• The hospice admission process went smoothly and was comforting.
• The staff are kind and courteous.
• Residents in respite care are happy with the care.
• The staff are always pleasant and helpful.
• The facility is clean and smells pleasant.
• The Whispering Willow staff are wonderful, patient, and kind caregivers.
• The building is clean and the food served is excellent.
• The therapists are phenomenal and progress has been amazing.
• The facility is highly recommended for high-quality care by a wonderful team.

Cons

• They would not recommend MediLodge of Clare, describing the staff as horrible and showing no respect for patients.
• They reported that their mother was left in a wheelchair for hours after ambulance drop-off, later finding she was in respiratory distress.
• They described the rehab facility as criminal and resembling a prison.
• They said the staff were slow to respond and failed to address their concerns, including poor handling of an ankle splint.
• They warned others not to bring their loved ones there.
• They alleged the administration lies and fails to document, making the place seem sneaky.
• They criticized the facility as dirty and poorly maintained, with outdated equipment and bugs.
• They claimed not to be happy with the care and that the facility did not provide the care they expected.

Review

Medilodge Care of Clare in Clare, MI is best suited for families seeking a warm, person-centered post-acute or long-term residence where caregiving is the core value. The community earns praise for the staff - nurses, CNAs, and therapists - who consistently come across as genuinely caring, patient, and responsive. The rehab team, especially physical therapy, is repeatedly highlighted for meaningful progress and kindness. The environment is clean, well-kept, and approachable, with a welcoming feel that many families describe as like a second home. Visitors note respectful treatment of residents, good meals, and visible effort to keep residents engaged, including meaningful activities and outdoor views that enhance the day-to-day experience.

However, families with strong expectations for safety, flawless communication, and consistent staffing will want to vet more carefully. Among the reviews are serious concerns about responsiveness and staffing gaps, particularly at night, and about the consistency of care. A few families report alarming incidents - delays in recognizing distress, miscommunications about medical events, and even mismanagement of insurance or transfers - that cannot be dismissed. While many reports praise administration and front-desk help, others describe a lack of transparency and follow-through from leadership. This mixed track record makes alternatives worth considering for those who cannot tolerate uneven care or reputational inconsistencies.

On balance, the community's core strengths - compassionate staff, a strong therapy program, and a clean, pleasant campus - offer real value that often translates into improved function and improved mood for residents. The caregiving team is frequently described as professional and attentive; therapy teams are praised for progress and insistence on safety. The downside is not trivial: the same set of reviews that extol care also documents variability in staff responsiveness, occasional medication-management hiccups, and dated infrastructure in places. Those gaps can erode confidence for families during a difficult transition. When the pros align - clear communication, trustworthy caregivers, and visible care plans - the positives can outweigh the negatives; when they don't, concerns surface quickly.

Prospective families should insist on concrete, measurable information before committing. Request a tour that includes direct conversations with the director of nursing, the rehab supervisor, and several front-line caregivers. Seek specifics on call-light response times, medication reconciliation processes, and how transfers or hospice care are coordinated. Ask to review recent incident or error logs and to meet with a discharge planner to understand how care plans are communicated with families. Given the mixed feedback, obtaining a clear picture of night staffing, activity programming, and any recent renovations or equipment updates is essential to avoid disappointments.

Rehabilitation and daily living at Medilodge Clare are otherwise strong bets for many residents. The facility's emphasis on rehabilitation shows in patient outcomes and the evident dedication of therapists, while long-term residents often speak of a "family" atmosphere among caregivers. Cleanliness, inviting common areas, and reliable companionship during meals contribute to a comforting respite from illness. Yet some reviews point to outdated equipment, occasional cold meals, and instances where responsiveness did not meet expectations. The combination of compassionate care with occasional operational faults means that families should plan to be hands-on advocates, ready to intervene when needs are not promptly met or when care plans require adjustment.

Bottom line: Medilodge Clare is a capable, caring environment that can deliver excellent rehab and steady, respectful care for many residents. It is best for families who value a warm, person-centered approach and are prepared to monitor service consistency, verify medical management, and engage actively with staff. Those who cannot tolerate irregular staffing, delayed responses, or serious questions about safety should consider alternatives with a more consistently documented track record. A targeted placement plan - care conference, ongoing family communication, and clear expectations - will help ensure the choice aligns with the resident's priorities and the family's comfort with oversight.

Restaurants

• Subway (0.5 miles)
• Ruckle's Pier (0.5 miles)
• Traffic Stop Diner (0.5 miles)
• Timeout Tavern (0.5 miles)
• Whitehouse Restaurant (0.5 miles)
• Culver's (1.5 miles)
• Taco Bell (1.6 miles)

Cafes

• Cops & Doughnuts (0.5 miles)
• Bean Me Up (9.6 miles)

Places of Worship

• Clare Congregational UCC (0.5 miles)
• Our Lady of Hope Parish (0.7 miles)
• Great Lakes Mennonite Church (1.5 miles)
• Prince of Peace Lutheran Church (1.6 miles)
• Clare Assembly of God (2.1 miles)
• Clare Christ Fellowship (2.2 miles)
• New Hope Fellowship Missionary Church (5 miles)

Hospitals

• Midmichigan Medical Center-Clare (0.6 miles)
• North Woods Nursing Center (7.7 miles)
• Weidman Area Health Clinic (13.6 miles)
• Central Michigan Community Hospital (13.8 miles)

Physicians

• Mid Michigan Physicians Group (0.6 miles)
• Delgado Reden MD (0.6 miles)
• Dr Bremer's Office (0.7 miles)
• Miracle-Ear Hearing Aid Center (0.9 miles)
• Mid Michigan Urgent Care (1.5 miles)
• Central Michigan Family Practice (5.2 miles)
• Coleman Family Medicine Center (10 miles)

Pharmacies

• Gateway Pharmacy (0.8 miles)
• Walgreens (0.8 miles)
• Glen's Markets (1.6 miles)
• Eagle Pharmacy (5.5 miles)
• Rite Aid (5.7 miles)
• Coleman Family Pharmacy (9.5 miles)
• Glen's Markets Pharmacy (13.4 miles)

Parks

• Shamrock Park (1 miles)
• Pettit Park (1 miles)
• Rocks and Valleys Off-Road Park (9.9 miles)
• Shingle Lake (14 miles)
• Coldwater Lake Family Park (14.1 miles)

Transportation

• A Trophy Room (3 miles)
• U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer (4.9 miles)
• Mt Pleasant Cab Company (13 miles)
• U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer (13.1 miles)

Theaters

• Celebration Cinema (14 miles)