St Mary's Nursing Home

Pros

• The staff were compassionate and provided good care.
• Aides gave residents friendly nicknames and brought smiles.
• Social workers truly cared and kept the family updated.
• The physical therapy team was wonderful.
• The CNAs and nurses were largely wonderful.

Cons

• The facility smells like urine and is described as unprofessional, despite promises of a makeover.
• A patient with liver disease remained asleep on a breathing tube for two weeks with no walking or physical therapy assistance.
• Hydration and diet were mishandled, with thick liquids kept despite the patient being able to handle thin drinks and long periods without water.
• Family members had to help with toileting and handwashing because the nurses did not respond quickly.
• Staff treated residents with disrespect, including telling a 57-year-old patient that he was an old fart.
• A patient was left alone after spilling a drink and nearly fell because no one came to assist.
• Refunds owed to families were not paid and the process showed no urgency.
• A patient was admitted to the basement, bed broke, medications were not administered promptly, and nurses did not answer the call button.

Review

Residents and family members share a range of experiences at St. Mary's, painting a picture of a facility that is at once capable of compassionate care and plagued by serious inconsistencies. On one hand, there are heartfelt reflections about staff who listened, offered updates, and treated residents with kindness; on the other hand, there are repeated warnings about neglect, poor communication, cleanliness issues, and safety concerns that leave families frustrated and worried. Taken together, the comments reveal a facility that is not uniformly terrible for every resident, but where many encounters fall well short of what families expect and deserve.

Several voices acknowledge moments of genuine care. One reviewer describes a father's experience that contrasted with other nursing homes they had been at, noting that the staff could be caring and that social workers were attentive, providing updates on the patient's status. They mention the building's age and a plan to move to a new facility, but emphasize that, at least in their observation, the staff showed compassion and the social workers kept families informed about what was happening with their loved ones. The positive elements here center on empathy, communication, and a sense of being supported by people who seem to care.

Yet those positives are offset by a series of troubling, repeated concerns. A recurring theme is the difficulty of speaking with nurses or getting timely assistance. Several reviewers describe struggles to contact staff or to receive help when needed, including urgent tasks like walking a patient, assisting with meals or liquids, or getting to the toilet. Some accounts describe medication or dietary protocols not being followed properly - such as a patient who was supposed to be on a thick liquid diet but was not advanced to thinner liquids when able, or a patient who could not get water for long stretches during the day unless a visitor intervened. The frustration often centers on a feeling that quick action and responsiveness were inconsistent, even when a family member was present and trying to advocate for a loved one.

Caregiver burnout and perceived lack of respect also appear in multiple accounts. One family describes their 57-year-old father as being treated like "an old fart" instead of a patient whose needs should be taken seriously. They recount being told that nurses did not have time to respond because of medication routines, and they describe instances where the patient's call button went unanswered after a spill, forcing him and his family to manage problems themselves to avoid a fall. The sense of being dismissed or devalued by staff - especially when families stepped in to help - left the reviewers with the impression that patience and dignity were not consistently prioritized.

Cleanliness and the physical environment emerge as another major concern. Several reviewers point to odors - most notably urine - one calling the facility a "third-world medical institution" and another noting that the place smelled of urine as soon as they entered. Complaints about unclean rooms, and hallways with unpleasant smells, recur across multiple visits or observations. The physical state of the building - an older facility with plans for a makeover - amplifies fears about whether proper upkeep and infection control are reliably maintained. These environmental factors contribute to a broader sense of unease about the overall quality of care.

Safety concerns extend beyond odor and cleanliness. There are explicit warnings about patient safety and emergency responsiveness. One reviewer described an incident where a bed broke during admission, medications were not delivered promptly, and the nurses' page was not answered, prompting a stark admonition: "DO NOT PUT YOUR LOVED ONE IN THIS FACILITY." Another family shared a story of a stroke patient who was left in a facility without timely ER transfer when a medical emergency occurred, and they fought for a refund that remains unpaid - a situation that underscores anxieties about oversight, decision-making in crises, and financial accountability after a loved one's hospitalization.

Financial interactions add another layer of tension. At least one reviewer emphasizes that there was "NO urgency when they owe you money," stating that a refund owed after a medical emergency was never received despite acknowledgment of the debt for more than a year. This lack of resolution compounds the emotional strain of a difficult caregiving period and raises questions about administrative processes and accountability within the facility.

There are also accounts with more nuanced or mixed experiences. One reviewer who had a second stay describes a different balance of care: the therapy team is described as wonderful, and the CNAs and nurses are generally good "for the most part," acknowledging that no facility is perfect and that even within a tough system there are many staff members who do solid work. However, even in this more tempered view, there are conflicts with management - specifically around a policy related to smoking, limitations on staff assistance for a wheelchair user, and the sense that rules were enforced in ways that felt punitive. The reviewer notes forming friendships with other residents and staff and recognizes that some days were more bearable because of family support and personal connections, but the overall sense remains that improvements are needed.

The most cautionary entries come from accounts of extreme or prolonged lapses in care. One mother reports that after placement, her elderly relative's bed broke nearly immediately and medications were not given for hours, with nurses unresponsive to the call system. The blunt warning - "DO NOT PUT YOUR LOVED ONE IN THIS FACILITY!!!!!!!!" - reflects a level of alarm that cannot be ignored by families weighing care options. Another story tells of a 95-year-old mother who was moved to St. Mary's after a prior facility, only to encounter "theft and negligence" and an absence of basic care tasks - hair washed incompletely, dirty pajamas, a TV never hooked up, and a lack of assistance with dining room activities. The reviewer ultimately removes their mother from St. Mary's and suggests others avoid the facility, citing concerns about overall care quality and a lack of oversight.

Taken together, these accounts sketch a complex, uneven landscape. The facility is described by some as having compassionate staff, engaged social workers, and improvements in some therapy and nursing care, alongside persistent, systemic issues: inconsistent responsiveness to patient needs, environmental and cleanliness problems, safety concerns about emergency handling and daily routines, and friction surrounding rules and management decisions. The experiences vary widely - from praise for particular caregivers and moments of genuine kindness to harsh, urgent warnings about neglect, maltreatment, and basic neglect of dignity and comfort.

For families considering St. Mary's or monitoring a loved one there, the overarching message is nuanced. A capable team can exist within the same building that has serious gaps in care and administrative accountability. The important takeaway is to observe and document care moments carefully: how quickly staff respond to a call button, whether a loved one receives timely hydration and appropriate dietary progression, whether the environment remains clean and safe, and whether there are clear, consistent channels for communication and escalation when concerns arise. The reviews collectively call for improved responsiveness, better communication, stronger adherence to care standards, and closer attention to safety and patient dignity - elements that would help transform a facility with evident strengths into a consistently reliable place for vulnerable individuals.

Located in St. Clair Shores, Michigan, this area offers a variety of amenities and services that cater to the needs of seniors looking for a comfortable and convenient lifestyle. Within close proximity, you will find popular restaurants such as McDonald's, Shores Inn Food & Spirits, and Mike's on the Water, providing easy dining options. Additionally, there are several pharmacies nearby including CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens for any medical needs. Places of worship such as St Joan Of Arc Church and Grosse Pointe United Methodist Church offer spiritual support within the community. Parks like Lac St Claire Park and McKinley Park provide opportunities for leisurely walks or outdoor activities. For healthcare services, hospitals like St John Hospital & Medical Center and select specialty hospitals are readily accessible. Overall, this area in St. Clair Shores provides a well-rounded environment for seniors seeking a comfortable and convenient living experience.

Restaurants

• McDonald's (0.1 miles)
• Shores Inn Food & Spirits (0.2 miles)
• Mike's on the Water (0.6 miles)
• Little Caesars Pizza (0.8 miles)
• Wally's Frozen Custard (0.9 miles)
• Gilbert's Lodge (1 miles)
• National Coney Island (1.5 miles)

Physicians

• Pointes Allergy And As (0.5 miles)
• Beaumont East Area Family Physicians (3.8 miles)
• Henry Ford Macomb Family Medicine & Gynecology (6 miles)
• McLaren Building (7 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• Rite Aid (0.7 miles)
• Rite Aid (1 miles)
• Walgreens (1.2 miles)
• Walgreens (1.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Joan Of Arc Church (1.1 miles)
• Grosse Pointe United Methodist Church (3.9 miles)
• Lakeside Community Church (4.9 miles)
• Trinity Lutheran Church (8.1 miles)
• St Peter Catholic Church (9.3 miles)
• St Charles Church (9.5 miles)

Parks

• Lac St Claire Park (2.1 miles)
• McKinley Park (5.5 miles)
• Matthew C Patterson Park (7.1 miles)
• Center Line Memorial Park (7.2 miles)
• Windmill Pointe Park (7.6 miles)
• Wilson Park (8.9 miles)
• Lake St Clair Metropark (8.9 miles)

Cafes

• Tim Hortons (2.3 miles)
• Panera Bread (4.6 miles)
• Biggby Coffee (7.4 miles)
• Starbucks (8.3 miles)
• Starbucks (8.9 miles)

Hospitals

• St John Hospital & Medical Center (3.4 miles)
• Select Specialty Hospital (3.4 miles)
• Henry Ford Medical Center (4.9 miles)
• St John Macomb Hospital (6.3 miles)
• St John Macomb-Oakland Hospital Warren Emergency Care (6.3 miles)
• McLaren Macomb - Emergency Department (8.3 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Star Gratiot 15 (6.4 miles)