Jackson Center Nursing Home

Pros

• The family is described as regular and very nice.
• The family is described as patient.

Cons

• They discharged her after 10 days despite authorization for 20.
• The discharge decision was described as subjective and not credible by family.
• The staff were unavailable and unresponsive, with voicemails left unanswered.
• They did not arrange medical transport and suggested Uber instead.
• She fell there one night while attempting to go to the bathroom alone.
• They screened their calls and did not say goodbye to her upon discharge.
• Getting medications and discharge papers was extremely difficult due to poor communication.
• The facility is described as a "black hole," rude and dangerous, with inequitable treatment for non-millionaire patients.

Review

An elderly aunt of mine spent time at St. John's as a rehab stay after hip fracture surgery at Froedert. She was there for ten days, but she was authorized to stay for twenty. The reason given for the shorter stay was that she had "met all the criteria," a judgment my family found exceedingly subjective and not supported by even a quick look at her condition. The situation felt more like a rushed exit than a cautious transition from hospital to home, and it left us with serious questions about her safety and the quality of care she was receiving.

Her case highlighted what we perceived as a very subjective standard for discharge. We watched as the decision unfolded on a Saturday, with the formal plan to discharge said to be on Monday morning. In the interim, my family scrambled to reach anyone on her care team for paperwork, assessments, or even basic information about what to do next. There was no one available to answer questions, and voicemails went unanswered. It felt impossible to pin down even the simplest logistics, such as arranging a wheelchair for the trip home, which is essential for an elderly patient stepping down from rehab.

The lack of communication extended into the critical moments when we needed transport. On Monday morning, I phoned to ask whether their medical transport service would be available to take her from St. John's to her home near Brady Street. The response I received was abrupt and dismissive: "no," followed by a suggestion to try Uber, and then the line was cut. After that, they began screening their calls. When I finally arranged my own medical transport, no one at the facility even bothered to say the words "Good Bye" to her as we pushed her out the door. It felt as if the transition away from the facility was handled without any courtesy or acknowledgment.

The frustrations didn't end with transport. Trying to obtain her medications and discharge papers was a battle in itself. It was extremely difficult to get anyone to pick up the phone or return a call. The entire process felt chaotic, disorganized, and opaque, with the impression that the patient's needs and the family's time were not prioritized. In that sense, the place earned the reputation among us as a "black hole" - a place where information vanishes and where accountability seems scant.

We are just a regular, very nice, patient Milwaukee family, attempting to navigate a system that should be designed to support someone in a vulnerable state. What we encountered at St. John's led us to view the facility as not only rude but, in our estimation, dangerous. The combination of a premature discharge, minimal communication, and the absence of practical help for basic needs like mobility and transportation created a sense of insecurity about leaving an elderly loved one there in the first place. The experience left us worried about her well-being during and after the transition home.

There is also a troubling sense of inequity embedded in the experience. The impression we walked away with was that those who are financially better off might receive different treatment or faster access to assistance than those who are not as well-positioned. The stark contrast between the perceived treatment of wealthier patients and our own experience suggested to us a broader, systemic issue: that the level of care and the ease of navigating post-acute needs may depend as much on resources as on medical necessity. That kind of disparity, whether real or perceived, adds another layer of anxiety for families already coping with the stress of a relative's health challenges.

If there is a lesson in our experience, it is the importance of clear, proactive communication and patient-centered planning during discharge. Families deserve transparent criteria, timely updates, and practical support - such as arranging transportation, ensuring medications are ready, and providing written discharge instructions - especially when dealing with elderly relatives who are recovering from surgery. Leaving someone in a transition phase without adequate planning or verified arrangements is not merely inconvenient; it can pose real safety risks.

Ultimately, this experience has left us with a lasting sense of caution about how discharge decisions are made and how families are kept informed. We hope that by sharing our perspective, others might be more vigilant and advocate more assertively for their loved ones. It is reasonable to expect empathy, accountability, and a coordinated plan when a patient moves from rehab to home, and those expectations were not met in our aunt's case.

This part of Milwaukee, Wisconsin offers a diverse range of amenities for seniors looking to live in the area. With a variety of restaurants such as Casablanca and Glorioso's Italian Market, there are plenty of dining options to explore. In terms of outdoor recreation, residents have access to parks like Red Arrow Park and Lakeshore State Park for leisurely strolls and relaxation. Additionally, there are several pharmacies nearby for convenient access to medication refills and healthcare needs. For medical care, hospitals like Aurora Sinai Medical Center and Wheaton Franciscan - St. Joseph Campus are easily accessible. Public transportation from the Milwaukee Intermodal Station provides convenient travel options, while cafes like Colectivo Lakefront offer a relaxed setting for socializing with friends. Places of worship such as Honey Creek Church are also available for spiritual enrichment. Overall, this area offers a vibrant community with plenty of resources for seniors looking to settle down in Milwaukee.

Restaurants

• Casablanca (0.8 miles)
• Glorioso's Italian Market (1 miles)
• Veggas Pub (1 miles)
• Elsa's On the Park (1.1 miles)
• Jamo's (1.2 miles)
• Shah Jee's Restaurant (1.2 miles)
• Company Brewing (1.2 miles)

Parks

• Red Arrow Park (0.9 miles)
• Lakeshore State Park (1.7 miles)
• Henry Maier Festival Park (2.2 miles)
• Kern Park (2.3 miles)
• Paliafito Park (2.3 miles)
• Estabrook Park (3.1 miles)
• Atwater Park (3.3 miles)

Pharmacies

• Metro Market Pharmacy (1 miles)
• Walgreens (1.1 miles)
• Walgreens (1.1 miles)
• Walgreens (1.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.3 miles)
• Walgreens (1.9 miles)
• Walgreens (2.3 miles)

Hospitals

• Aurora Sinai Medical Center (1 miles)
• Wheaton Franciscan - St. Joseph Campus (3.2 miles)
• Aurora Psychiatric Hospital (4.6 miles)
• Aurora St Luke's Medical Center (4.8 miles)
• Froedtert Pavilion (5.3 miles)

Transportation

• Milwaukee Intermodal Station (1.4 miles)

Cafes

• Colectivo Lakefront (1.6 miles)
• Colectivo Coffee (3.7 miles)
• Starbucks (4.4 miles)
• Starbucks (4.5 miles)
• Starbucks (5.1 miles)
• Hawthorne Coffee Roasters (6 miles)
• Starbucks (6 miles)

Places of Worship

• Honey Creek Church (5.1 miles)

Physicians

• Froedtert Clinical Cancer Center (5.4 miles)
• Froedtert Hospital (5.5 miles)