Oaklawn Health Care Ctr

Pros

• Oaklawn provides a welcoming atmosphere.
• The staff at Oaklawn go out of their way to support residents in every way possible.
• The Oaklawn team works hard and communicates openly and honestly.
• Oaklawn has amazing staff who care deeply for every resident.
• The staff are very caring and professional.
• Oaklawn offers a great atmosphere, a wonderful group of people, and a clean facility.
• Residents receive excellent care at Oaklawn.
• Oaklawn does a great job helping residents recover from falls and hip fractures.
• The staff at Oaklawn were wonderful in caring for residents, making their stays pleasant.
• Oaklawn is a beautiful facility with a homey atmosphere, where staff are caring, friendly, and go the extra mile.

Cons

• The facility was short-staffed on weekends, leaving a resident in soiled diapers and leading to a UTI and fever.
• Residents were left sitting in a chair in the dark on more than one occasion.
• Staff discussed residents' situations in public areas, which is described as a HIPAA violation.
• The staff were understaffed and more invested in their own personal lives than the residents' well-being, with a horrible response rate to nurse calls.
• Nurse calls were rarely answered within the first five minutes.
• A dad was left on the floor for 20 minutes before help arrived.
• The facility was described as the worst, with terrible care and understaffing; the reviewer would not recommend it.

Review

Oaklawn emerges in these reviews as a place that many families and visitors find genuinely welcoming and well cared-for. Visitors describe a warm, inviting atmosphere from the moment you step inside, with a facility that feels fresh and homey rather than clinical. The overarching impression is that Oaklawn strives to create a cheerful, supportive environment where residents and their families can feel at ease. The common sentiment is that the staff and the way the community is run contribute to a sense of comfort and belonging, with open lines of communication noted as a differentiator in many positive comments.

A large portion of the praise centers on the people who work at Oaklawn. Reviewers repeatedly call the staff amazing, caring, and deeply invested in the well-being of residents. They highlight how staff members go out of their way to support residents in every possible way, and how professional and compassionate care is delivered day in and day out. The tone of many comments reflects gratitude for staff who listen, engage, and respond with kindness, whether in daily activities, meals, or more intensive needs. Families also point to the kitchen and activity teams as examples of staff going the extra mile to accommodate preferences and maintain a lively, engaging atmosphere for residents.

The feedback about care is not only warm but concrete in describing outcomes. Several reviewers commend the facility for both short-term rehabilitation and long-term care, noting that the care teams provide attentive, effective support to residents recovering from procedures or injuries, as well as those living with ongoing needs. Specific mentions of recovery and improvement, such as helping a resident regain strength after a fall or hip fracture, underscore a belief that Oaklawn can be a place where recovery is supported and progress is possible. Individual stories convey a sense that residents feel seen and valued, and that families appreciate the level of attention their loved ones receive.

The physical environment and location receive strong positive remarks as well. Reviewers describe Oaklawn as gorgeous and well maintained, with natural light in the rehab unit and a clean, modern feel throughout. The facility's proximity to a hospital is repeatedly noted as a practical plus, particularly for families and residents who value convenient access to medical services. The overall impression is that Oaklawn offers a bright, uplifting setting that contributes to a sense of safety and comfort for residents.

However, the picture is not uniformly favorable. A subset of reviews presents serious concerns about staffing levels, particularly on weekends, with residents and families reporting periods when workers were short-staffed or slow to respond. One account describes a resident being left in soiled conditions and another notes a UTI and fever that were not detected promptly, raising concerns about monitoring and proactive care. The theme of understaffing and delayed assistance appears repeatedly, contrasted against the backdrop of otherwise positive impressions.

Privacy, professionalism, and appropriate conduct also surface as critical issues in some reviews. Several comments describe HIPAA violations and public discussions of private matters in shared spaces, which understandably cause alarm. There are mentions of calls not being answered promptly, and of residents being left in the dark after certain hours. These experiences starkly juxtapose the otherwise favorable notes about teamwork and kindness, highlighting areas where communication, privacy, and consistent monitoring could be improved.

The spectrum of experiences also includes mixed and variable feedback from different families. Some reviewers emphasize that Oaklawn's staff made a difficult situation feel manageable and even turned a scary circumstance into a positive experience. Others express strong reservations, stating outright that they would not - or would not have - recommended the facility based on what they observed. A recurring line is the need for ongoing attention to staffing, responsiveness, and respectful, discreet handling of residents' information and daily care routines.

Taken together, Oaklawn appears to be a community with many strengths that are repeatedly celebrated: a welcoming, home-like atmosphere; genuinely caring and dedicated staff; strong potential for positive rehabilitation and recovery experiences; and a facility that many find aesthetically pleasing and well designed. At the same time, the reviews raise important considerations about staffing consistency, promptness of response, privacy, and on-site practices that can significantly affect residents' day-to-day experience. For families considering Oaklawn, the message is clear: you'll find a staff and environment that can be wonderfully supportive, but it's wise to inquire about weekend staffing levels, monitoring practices, privacy protocols, and how nurse calls are managed to ensure the experience aligns with your expectations for care and dignity. Overall, Oaklawn stands out for its warmth and capability, while inviting ongoing attention to the operational aspects that can influence comfort and safety.

Hospitals

• The Thro Company (0 miles)
• Mankato House Health Care Center (1.7 miles)

Physicians

• Mankato Clinic (0.1 miles)
• Rolf E Storvick (0.1 miles)
• Southeastern Minnesota Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates (0.5 miles)
• Msu-Student Health Services (0.6 miles)
• PrairieCare (0.7 miles)
• Eiselt, Tracye O.D. (0.7 miles)
• Carlson-Tillisch Eye Clinic (0.8 miles)

Places of Worship

• Evangelical Lutheran Synod (0.3 miles)
• St Peter & Paul's Catholic Church-Office, Theresa House (0.5 miles)
• Immanuel Lutheran School (0.8 miles)
• Resurrection Lutheran Church (0.8 miles)
• Two Rivers Vineyard Church (0.8 miles)
• Campus Lutheran Chapel (1 miles)
• New Creation World Outreach Church (1.8 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.5 miles)
• Walgreens (0.6 miles)
• Walgreens (1.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.2 miles)
• Thrifty White Pharmacy (1.3 miles)
• Supervalu (1.5 miles)
• Shopko Pharmacies (1.7 miles)

Restaurants

• Tavern On The Ave (0.5 miles)
• McDonald's (0.8 miles)
• La Terraza (0.8 miles)
• Flask (0.9 miles)
• Loose Moose Saloon-Conference (0.9 miles)
• India Palace (0.9 miles)
• Burrito Wings (1 miles)

Parks

• Highland Park (0.7 miles)
• Seven Mile Creek County Park (0.8 miles)
• Riverfront Park (1.2 miles)
• Lake Dorothy Park (1.5 miles)
• Spring Lake Park (1.9 miles)
• Sibley Park (2.3 miles)
• Land of Memories Park (2.7 miles)

Cafes

• Coffee Hag (0.8 miles)
• Caribou Coffee (1.1 miles)
• Caribou Coffee (1.3 miles)
• Panera Bread (1.9 miles)
• Peet's Coffee and Tea (2.1 miles)

Transportation

• Taxi Pros (1.2 miles)
• U-Save Auto Rental (1.5 miles)
• Mankato Regional Airport (MKT) (5.2 miles)

Theaters

• Cinemark Theaters (1.8 miles)