Golden LivingCenter - La Crescent

Pros

• The facility has a very friendly atmosphere.
• The staff are very professional.
• It is an excellent place to bring a loved one.
• Tours can be scheduled.
• They took very good care of a resident's grandmother in her final months.
• The staff are amazing.
• The management team is easy to work with and accommodating.
• The food was good, and the staff were kind.

Cons

• The facility is understaffed, rude, and dangerous.
• They would not dispense a prescribed muscle-spasm medication because it was too expensive and tried a weekend substitute.
• A staff member yelled at the patient to stop using the call button and to go to the bathroom, effectively implying she should wet herself.
• The nursing home had only one nurse and two aides for 30 patients, indicating severe understaffing and overwork.
• A nurse refused to help pack for discharge, forcing the patient to wheel herself out the front door.
• The facility is outdated and run down, with inadequate equipment, a thin hard mattress causing back pain, and chairs that are too low to get up from easily.
• The patient rooms do not have phones, making communication with family difficult.
• The on-call doctor was not available and would not take action.
• Reviewers warn to keep loved ones away from La Crescent Health Services due to safety and comfort concerns.

Review

This community is best suited for families that prize a welcoming, people-first caregiving culture. The environment leans on friendliness and personal attention, and staff are described as professional and approachable. It serves residents who need modest to moderate assistance and appreciate a hands-on nursing team more than pristine infrastructure. The upside is clear: when care matters, the team can feel responsive and compassionate. Prospective residents who demand private rooms or the most modern rehab amenities should look elsewhere, because this facility leans older and shares rooms, with limited high-end recovery gear.

Key benefits center on the human touch. A very friendly atmosphere and professional staff are repeatedly highlighted, with nursing teams and management described as easy to work with and genuinely caring. For families seeking reassurance that their loved one is treated with dignity, these personal interactions can provide meaningful trust and daily comfort. The overall tone suggests that, when the environment is calm and the caregivers are collaborative, outcomes feel more manageable. Even when difficulties arise, the sense of warmth from frontline staff can soften the daily realities of nursing care, and there are positive notes regarding end-of-life and ongoing support from satisfied families.

However, serious red flags dominate risk assessment. Chronic understaffing and reports of rude or dangerous conduct cannot be ignored, and several accounts point to medication gaps, particularly over weekends, with on-call physicians not stepping in promptly. Incidents where a nurse discouraged the use of the call button or where care tasks were mishandled illuminate real safety concerns for residents with mobility or medical needs. A ratio described as one nurse and two aides for roughly 30 patients signals potential delays in response, monitoring, and escalation of problems. Discharge assistance appearing inconsistent compounds worry about transitions out of facility care. These patterns threaten not only comfort but safety and medical stability.

On the rehab front, the combination of an older building, limited equipment, and slow responsiveness can blunt recovery momentum. Outdated furnishings, shared rooms, and the absence of essential items like a walker or a suitably supportive mattress create friction in what should be a straightforward rehabilitation process. Even basic logistics such as phone access and timely family communication can be hindered, eroding the overall experience during a vulnerable period. Food quality is cited as a positive in some reviews, yet nutrition alone cannot compensate for gaps in clinical oversight and environmental constraints. In short, warmth and kindness are real strengths, but facility limitations undermine reliability for residents with higher rehab or medical needs.

Families should weigh alternatives if private accommodations, consistent 24/7 medical oversight, and robust short-term rehab are non-negotiables. Facilities with updated infrastructure, more comprehensive therapy equipment, and clearer discharge planning may be better suited for longer stays or more complex recovery goals. If this community remains under consideration, demand a concrete plan: confirm staffing levels during peak hours, request a detailed medical and therapy plan, verify medication management policies, and secure a direct contact to escalate concerns. A thorough tour and candid conversations with management and current residents will reveal whether the care culture aligns with expectations and risk tolerance.

Overall, Golden LivingCenter - La Crescent presents a practical option for families prioritizing kindness and accessible, person-centered care, with clear expectations about the limitations of an older facility. It is not a universal fit: for those needing intensive rehab, private rooms, or highly consistent medical oversight, alternatives are advisable. The decisive approach involves a hands-on evaluation of current staffing, therapy availability, and the facility’s readiness to support safe discharges and ongoing comfort. If cautious, well-guided exploration yields a match, this community can deliver meaningful, compassionate care; if not, another option with stronger infrastructure and staffing should be pursued.

This part of La Crescent, Minnesota, offers a peaceful and convenient environment for senior living. With several hospitals and pharmacies within a short distance, residents have easy access to medical care and prescriptions. There are also a variety of restaurants offering diverse dining options, as well as cafes for socializing or enjoying a relaxing cup of coffee. The proximity to parks allows for outdoor activities and leisurely walks in nature. Additionally, there are transportation services nearby for added convenience. Places of worship are also easily accessible for spiritual needs. Overall, this neighborhood provides a well-rounded community with amenities that cater to the needs and interests of seniors.

Hospitals

• La Crescent Health Care Center (0 miles)
• Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center Pharmacy (3.6 miles)
• Franciscan Skemp Healthcare (3.8 miles)
• Mayo Clinic Store (3.9 miles)
• Gundersen Morgue (4 miles)
• Gundersen Health System - Labor & Delivery (4 miles)
• Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center (4 miles)

Pharmacies

• Good Neighbor Pharmacy (0.4 miles)
• Sterling Drug #29 (0.4 miles)
• Sterling La Crescent (0.4 miles)
• Quillins Quality (3.3 miles)
• Quillin's Central Office (3.3 miles)
• Gundersen Pharmacy Cass Street (3.4 miles)
• Gundersen Pharmacy La Crosse East Building (4 miles)

Restaurants

• Schmitty's TimeOut Tavern (0.7 miles)
• Robins Nest (2.7 miles)
• Huck Finn's On the Water (2.7 miles)
• Pettibone Boat Club (2.9 miles)
• The Waterfront Restaurant and Tavern (3 miles)
• 4 Sisters Wine Bar and Tapas (3 miles)
• Uno Venti Pizzeria (3.1 miles)

Parks

• Rotary Park (1.2 miles)
• Veterans Freedom Park (3 miles)
• Riverside Park (3 miles)
• Copeland Park (3.1 miles)
• Houska Park (3.3 miles)
• Weigent Park (4.2 miles)
• Hixon Forest Park (5.1 miles)

Cafes

• Pearl Ice Cream Parlor (3.1 miles)
• Grounded Specialty Coffee (3.2 miles)
• Moka (3.6 miles)
• Moka (3.8 miles)
• Greengrass Cafe (4.3 miles)

Transportation

• Amtrak (3.3 miles)

Physicians

• Breidenbach Wellness Center (3.4 miles)
• Neighborhood Family Clinics (3.4 miles)
• St Clare Health Mission (3.8 miles)
• La Crosse-Mayo Family Medicine Residency (3.9 miles)
• Erik A Gundersen (3.9 miles)
• Gundersen Lutheran Ped's (4 miles)
• Mayo Clinic Health System - Cardiology (4 miles)

Places of Worship

• English Lutheran Church Elca (4.1 miles)
• Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church (4.8 miles)
• St Peter's Hokah (4.9 miles)
• Mary Mother of the Church (5 miles)