Lakewood Care Ctr

Pros

• The staff is very friendly and caring, with Dawanna singled out for praise.
• It's described as a nice place to put a relative for rehabilitation.
• David B was fantastic, providing needed information and showing respect, which helped put the family at ease.
• Edenbrook Lakeside is praised for top-tier care and service, with some reviewers saying they would choose it again.
• The facility offers single rooms with TVs, terrific staff, 24-hour call capability, and meals that are great.
• If they needed a medical rehabilitation facility again, they would select Edenbrook Lakeside every time.

Cons

• The staff had no knowledge of what they were doing and could not answer basic questions about patients' care.
• The facility was described as neglectful, with a patient weakening and dying after being transferred there.
• Families reported that their loved ones were neglected, not dressed, bathed, or prepared for discharge on time.
• There were significant communication failures, including staff not knowing a patient was in the system and failing to respond to questions.
• The care was described as subpar, with some staff being rude and incompetent.
• Visitors observed long delays (over 45 minutes) before a patient received needed attention or breathing treatments.
• Patients were left unattended, with delays in care leading to deterioration.
• A patient was found unresponsive on the day he was supposed to come home, not even dressed.
• Security concerns: visitors could walk in and staff at desks were not monitoring entrances.
• The facility was deemed unsafe for critically ill elderly patients and not a suitable rehab option.

Review

A broad range of experiences emerges from accounts of care at Edenbrook Lakeside, painting a complex picture of a facility that some families view as a place of genuine warmth and effective rehabilitation, while others contend it falls short in basic patient care and safety. Across the reviews, the people who staff the center - nurses, aides, therapists, and front-desk personnel - are described with both admiration and critique. A common thread among the more positive recollections is the presence of caring, attentive staff, with several individuals singled out by name. In particular, one reviewer repeatedly highlights a staff member named Dawanna as exceptionally friendly and compassionate, suggesting that personal warmth can make a tangible difference in the rehabilitation environment. Another account praises the facility as a good option for a loved one who is recovering, noting especially the care provider's demeanor and the sense that the staff are trying to help, even when the situation is challenging. There are mentions of smooth transitions for some residents, the availability of single rooms with televisions, and the ability to reach staff around the clock, all of which contribute to a perception of solid quality for certain patients and families.

Yet the positive notes sit alongside deeply troubling reflections that point to serious gaps in care and systemic issues that have left families shaken and heartbroken. Several reviews describe neglect in very concrete terms: patients not being cleaned or dressed, missing or delayed breathing treatments, and a lack of timely intervention when someone is in distress. One family recounts a father who, shortly before his discharge date, appeared to be deteriorating rather than recovering, with repeated questions about care left unanswered and a sense from the family that staff spent more time at their desks than actively tending to the patient. The emotional impact is unmistakable: conversations that turn to concern about whether a patient is receiving necessary treatments, and the distress of witnessing lapses in basic care during a time when family members hoped their loved ones would regain strength and return home.

More disturbing still are the allegations surrounding the moments leading up to a loved one's death. A grandfather's family describes a chain of failures - being found unresponsive on the day he was supposed to come home, not being dressed, and staff reportedly focused on other tasks at the front of the building while his condition worsened. They recount delays in recognizing urgent needs, questions about why he wasn't receiving routine treatments, and a lack of communication that prevented the family from understanding what was happening. The account is painful and vivid: phrases like "left unresponsive with no pulse," "not dressed," and "no telephoned update" dominate the narrative, underscoring a perception that critical care was not being provided consistently or with appropriate urgency. These experiences have led some families to call for fundamental changes or even advocate against placing loved ones in care at Edenbrook Lakeside.

Complicating the picture further are concerns about communication, coordination, and accountability. Several families note that care plans, orders, and tracking of treatments were not readily visible or easily accessible, with a staff member indicating that a patient wasn't in the system or that records were missing or difficult to locate. Questions about whether breathing treatments or feeding assistance were being administered were met with uncertainty or vague answers, contributing to a broader sense that information flow between the care team and families was unreliable. In some reviews, this lack of clarity spilled over into meetings with hospital staff and discharge planners, leaving families anxious about whether their loved ones would receive the support they needed during and after rehabilitation.

There are also episodes that highlight safety and security concerns that go beyond individual care lapses. One reviewer points to an unattended sign-in desk, and another mentions a visitor who was able to arrive without proper screening or questioning, raising fears about who could access a patient and how visits are monitored. These anecdotes contribute to a perception that, for some families, the overall environment may not always feel as safe as a hospital or a trusted rehabilitation facility should be. The emotional weight of these concerns is evident in the language used - descriptions of fear, frustration, and anger, accompanied by a call for accountability and stronger safeguarding measures.

Amid the turbulence, there are still voices that emphasize positive change and resilience. A reference to a staff member named David B suggests that compassionate, informative, and respectful engagement from a facility liaison can offer real reassurance to families navigating difficult decisions about rehab placement. A later update acknowledges a shift in experience, noting that, after some friction and a tense phase, care quality improved in a particular case, with a clear contrast between earlier critiques and later praise. This juxtaposition reinforces the sense that Edenbrook Lakeside contains both strong, capable teams and areas where operations could be tightened to prevent lapses in care and communication.

Taken together, these reviews present a facility that inspires strong loyalties and confidence in some families, while provoking deep concern in others. The praise centers on personal connections with staff, moments of clear competence, and the ability to deliver meaningful rehabilitation experiences for certain residents. The criticisms, by contrast, emphasize missed treatments, delays in care, insufficient supervision, and troubling gaps in communication that left families feeling unprepared and helpless at critical moments. For anyone considering Edenbrook Lakeside, these accounts underscore the importance of a thorough, up-to-date assessment: visiting the facility, meeting the caregiving team, reviewing daily care plans and treatment logs, and asking pointed questions about staffing levels, response times, and the facility's processes for communication and discharge planning. In a landscape where experiences can vary from hopeful to heartbreaking, diligence, direct conversation with care teams, and ongoing oversight become essential for families seeking the best possible care for their loved ones.

This part of Milwaukee, Wisconsin offers a variety of amenities that may appeal to seniors looking for a convenient and comfortable living environment. There are several cafes within close proximity, providing opportunities for socialization and relaxation. In terms of dining options, there is a mix of casual venues like McDonald's and Champion's Pub, as well as more upscale choices such as Casablanca and Glorioso's Italian Market. Additionally, the area boasts several pharmacies for easy access to medical supplies and prescriptions. For outdoor recreation, residents can enjoy nearby parks like Lakeshore State Park and Red Arrow Park. Transportation is easily accessible with the Milwaukee Intermodal Station located within a short distance. There are also reputable hospitals in the vicinity including Aurora Sinai Medical Center and Wheaton Franciscan - St. Joseph Campus. Overall, this neighborhood offers a blend of conveniences and services that may make it an attractive option for seniors seeking a vibrant community to call home.

Cafes

• Colectivo Lakefront (0.3 miles)
• Colectivo Coffee (3.9 miles)
• Starbucks (4.7 miles)
• Starbucks (6 miles)
• Hawthorne Coffee Roasters (6.2 miles)
• Starbucks (6.2 miles)
• Starbucks (6.8 miles)

Restaurants

• McDonald's (0.4 miles)
• Champion's Pub (0.4 miles)
• Jamo's (0.5 miles)
• Glorioso's Italian Market (0.8 miles)
• Casablanca (1 miles)
• Veggas Pub (1 miles)
• Company Brewing (1.1 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.5 miles)
• Walgreens (0.5 miles)
• Walgreens (1.1 miles)
• Metro Market Pharmacy (1.3 miles)
• Walgreens (1.7 miles)
• Walgreens (2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.3 miles)

Parks

• Lakeshore State Park (1.5 miles)
• Red Arrow Park (1.6 miles)
• Kern Park (1.9 miles)
• Henry Maier Festival Park (2.1 miles)
• Atwater Park (2.4 miles)
• Paliafito Park (2.9 miles)
• Estabrook Park (3.1 miles)

Transportation

• Milwaukee Intermodal Station (2.3 miles)

Hospitals

• Aurora Sinai Medical Center (2.4 miles)
• Wheaton Franciscan - St. Joseph Campus (4.8 miles)
• Aurora St Luke's Medical Center (5.7 miles)
• Aurora Psychiatric Hospital (6.3 miles)
• Froedtert Pavilion (7 miles)

Physicians

• Rheumatic Disease Center (6.3 miles)
• Aurora Nephrology (7.1 miles)

Places of Worship

• Honey Creek Church (6.8 miles)