Loretto Heights

Pros

• The Gardens is a great asset to the community.
• It has nice views of the lake.
• It is a nice place to live.
• The facility is a very nicely run assisted living facility.
• It is a beautiful setting with friendly personnel and clients.
• The facility is clean, with ample space and fresh flowers.
• The staff take good care of residents.
• The location is excellent and passes quality control standards.

Cons

• The Gardens is no longer a good place to live.
• They are letting smokers, drunks, bad food and vulgar language take over.
• There are back stabbers throughout the place.
• The reviewer does not recommend the Gardens to anyone.
• Families should think hard about putting a loved one there to live.
• The food is awful.
• Admission staff are terrible.
• They allow residents to steal from other residents without doing anything about it.
• The facility will not perform CPR if a loved one needs it.
• The management treats their clients like they are in jail with so many ridiculous rules.

Review

The Gardens presents itself as a place with real charm and a strong sense of community, set against a pleasant backdrop that includes lake views and generous spaces. Across the spectrum of experiences shared by residents and their families, the setting is repeatedly described as beautiful and peaceful. Several reviews highlight a friendly atmosphere and a facility that feels, on the surface, welcoming and well-kept. People note clean surroundings, fresh flowers, and a location that offers convenience and a certain pride in the building. In many comments, you sense that the initial impression is positive: decent nursing care, a family-oriented approach, and a community that can feel like a good home away from home.

Yet that initial warmth is tempered by a substantial chorus of concerns. A number of reviewers describe staffing as inadequate or unreliable at times, painting a picture of short staffing or inconsistent attention that leaves some residents underserved. The phrase "always short on staff" appears in one harsh assessment, while others refer to "back stabbers" among staff and acknowledge that not all employees share the same integrity or dedication. The sense of mixed reliability is reinforced by comments about the management and administrative culture, including accusations that staff are overly controlling or that rules feel punitive and unnecessary. One reviewer even states they took a relative out of the facility and pursued a legal case, claiming the administration's approach was excessively restrictive.

Safety and medical care are another focal point of the feedback, with several reviews urging caution and thorough inquiry. A particularly troubling claim is that the facility will not perform CPR if it is needed, described as a policy that is not widely publicized but has real consequences for families trying to protect their loved ones. A story about a grandmother who suffered cardiac arrest and did not receive timely revival because of the facility's approach to emergency response is shared to illustrate the potential risk. These anecdotes underscore a broader concern about how life-sustaining interventions are handled within the community, prompting potential residents and families to ask pointed questions about advance directives, policy transparency, and staff training.

There are also criticisms related to daily life and the social environment inside The Gardens. Some reviews allege that smokers, alcohol use, and even vulgar language have become more prevalent, contributing to a sense that certain standards or culture within the community have shifted in ways some families find unacceptable. Food quality is another frequent point of contention, with complaints that meals are not up to expectations. In contrast, other voices acknowledge that the staff and residents can be friendly, considerate, and engaged, and they point to the facility's pleasant physical setting as a counterbalance to the downsides. This tension between perceived warmth and practical shortcomings creates a nuanced picture of daily life there.

Ultimately, the narrative surrounding The Gardens is a blend of praise and critique. On one hand, reviewers commend the location, the aesthetic appeal, the clean and spacious environment, and the sense that many staff members and residents are genuinely kind. On the other hand, there are serious red flags raised about safety practices, governance, and everyday quality of care. Some families describe positive, happy experiences and the feeling that the facility has much to offer when things run smoothly, while others strongly caution against it, citing poor management decisions, incidents of theft without resolution, and a lack of responsiveness to residents' needs. This mix of experiences suggests that The Gardens can be a viable option for some families while requiring careful, in-depth due diligence for others.

If you are considering The Gardens for yourself or a loved one, the overarching takeaway is to approach the decision with a careful, balanced lens. Visit multiple times, talk openly with administration about emergency policies and staffing levels, and seek out current residents and families to hear firsthand accounts beyond the marketing materials. Ask concrete questions about CPR and life-saving procedures, the handling of disputes or theft between residents, and the kinds of activities and daily routines that keep the community engaged and safe. The Gardens clearly has appeal for many, but it also demands thorough scrutiny to ensure it aligns with your expectations, values, and the level of care you deem appropriate for a loved one.

Places of Worship

• St Stephen's Roman Catholic Church (0.3 miles)
• Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church (0.9 miles)
• St Paul's Roman Catholic Church (1 miles)
• Oswego Alliance Church (1.6 miles)
• River Of Life Church (2.2 miles)
• Minetto United Methodist Church (3.9 miles)
• Holy Family Rectory (9.5 miles)

Restaurants

• Domino's Pizza (0.5 miles)
• Vona's Restaurant (0.5 miles)
• Canale's Restaurant (0.6 miles)
• Bridie Manor (0.6 miles)
• Amiga On The Lake Oswego (0.7 miles)
• Oswego Sub Shop (0.8 miles)
• The Red Sun Fire Roasting Co. (0.9 miles)

Physicians

• Oswego Family Physicians, PC (0.5 miles)
• Oviatt Hearing & Balance (0.5 miles)
• Endocrine Associates Of Oswego (0.5 miles)
• Young Hee Kim (0.5 miles)
• Advanced Orthopedic Group (0.7 miles)
• Oswego Podiatry (0.9 miles)
• Port City Family Medicine (1.4 miles)

Transportation

• U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer (0.6 miles)
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car (1.4 miles)
• Lakeside Taxidermy (10 miles)

Hospitals

• Oswego Hospital Lakeside Heart Center (0.6 miles)
• Oswego Hospital (0.7 miles)
• Oswego Health (0.8 miles)
• Oswego Hospital Laboratories (2.1 miles)
• Oswego Hospital (10.3 miles)
• Oswego Health (10.3 miles)

Parks

• Linear Park (0.7 miles)
• Franklin Park (1 miles)
• Veterans Park (1 miles)
• Breitbeck Park (1.2 miles)
• Foster Park (9.3 miles)
• Fair Haven Beach State Park (11.7 miles)

Theaters

• Oswego Cinema 7 (0.8 miles)
• Midway Drive In Theatre (5.1 miles)

Pharmacies

• Health Mart Pharmacy (0.9 miles)
• Harbor Pharmacy (0.9 miles)
• Wayne Drug Stores (0.9 miles)
• Walgreens (1.9 miles)
• Kinney Drugs (9.5 miles)
• Hargraves Pharmacy (10 miles)
• Medicine Shoppe (10.1 miles)

Cafes

• Cupcakers (0.9 miles)