Wellspring of Milwaukee

Pros

• The staff is really good.
• The nurse technicians are outstanding.
• Ethel, the nurse, is probably the only thing holding the unit together.
• Two CNAs on the second shift were decent.
• The people are super.

Cons

• The facility is described as horrible from the front desk to the food service, with no accountability among staff.
• The "Sky View" Alzheimer's unit is not a proper unit for memory-impaired residents and lacks trained staff.
• Residents' belongings are often missing or stolen and never recovered.
• Staff are rude, unprofessional, and overworked due to chronic short-staffing.
• The rooms reportedly smelled horrible and nurses lacked essential information about incidents.
• Overall, reviewers say not to send loved ones there and even suggest the facility should be shut down.

Review

The collection of experiences from this facility is a rollercoaster of praise and blistering critique, often within the same families and even within the same conversations. On one hand, there are glimmers of satisfaction and gratitude. One reviewer starts by saying it's a "great place" and that their brother is there and doing well, praising the care they've received. That same person later apologizes for an earlier review that didn't reflect the positive side, explaining that their sister was in the nursing department and that the staff, especially a nurse tech, were outstanding. This thread of appreciation - held up against more negative assessments - suggests that the care environment can be capable and attentive, at least in some moments or with particular staff.

But the pendulum swings sharply in many other voices. The overwhelming thread of the reviews is fear, frustration, and anger. "HORRIBLE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE" appears at the start of one account, echoing through multiple paragraphs, with a plea not to send loved ones there. The critic goes on to describe front-desk personnel, food services, and the entire staff as failing to take accountability. A recurring image is a lack of cohesion and communication: staff members seem to pass information around rather than own it, and description of the "Sky View" unit as something it isn't - an Alzheimer's unit that's not really built for memory-impaired residents - frames the place as misrepresented or misaligned with the needs of its residents.

The social and clinical operations come under particular fire. Several reviewers gripe that there's a troubling absence of training and expertise in dementia care, with the claim that many residents in the so-called Alzheimer's unit are bored and miserable rather than engaged and supervised. One name - Ethel the nurse - emerges as a rare positive, described as "the one thing holding the unit together," a beacon of care in a setting many feel lacks consistent staffing or proper support. The sentiment is echoed by references to the few dependable staff members on second shift, contrasted with a broader dissatisfaction about most of the team being unhappy in their work and, as a consequence, not delivering supportive care to residents or proper explanations to families.

There are accounts of concrete, distressing incidents that deepen the sense of risk and mistrust. One review describes a loved one who fell from a bed after only a single day in the facility, with a room that smelled "horrible," and nurses who could not provide complete information and kept asking others what happened. Another reviewer paints a broader atmosphere of neglect: residents are not checked on, belongings go missing or get stolen, and the social workers appear unhelpful. There is a strong sense that the environment fosters a lack of accountability, poor communication, and inconsistent quality of care.

The tone grows even harsher when theft and manipulation are alleged. Several comments accuse the facility of stealing residents' belongings and lying to families. One reviewer accuses staff of manipulation - "they lie, they manipulate" and even suggests the facility fabricates court proceedings to discourage residents from exercising their rights. The cumulative effect of these anecdotes is a fear that families cannot trust the basic integrity of the care being provided, or the assurances given by the administration.

Staff morale and work conditions are highlighted as major drivers of the troubling experiences. The charges are blunt: short-staffed shifts, rude and unprofessional leadership, and a general sense that the place is untenable for both residents and staff. Some reviewers describe the "head charge" as very rude and unprofessional, and one statement calls for the facility to be shut down, reflecting the intensity of dissatisfaction. The complaint about odor and cleanliness is persistent - "the smell is horrible" and "the inside" is described as unappealing - adding a sensory dimension to the strategic and interpersonal failures described.

There are still glimmers of hope and resilience in the mix. In some reviews, people describe personal connections that overcame systemic flaws: the staff that were genuinely kind, the moments when healthcare workers treated a patient with dignity, or when families felt that a particular nurse or aide did their best despite overwhelming challenges. One account emphasizes that the caregivers can be "super" and that the people are nice, even if the equipment and systems around them leave something to be desired. Another patient notes that after a surgical recovery, they hoped for better rehabilitation experiences with physical and occupational therapy, suggesting that rehabilitation services themselves can be capable and empathetic when not overwhelmed by other issues.

Taken together, the collection paints a facility with a highly polarized reputation. There are clear warnings about poor communication, misaligned memory-care expectations, and a culture that some families feel isn't properly accountable or adequately attentive to residents' needs. Yet there are also indications that dedicated staff members, in certain shifts or roles, can deliver compassionate care and meaningful support. The contrast is stark: moments of genuine kindness and competence sit against a backdrop of perceived neglect, mismanagement, and fear of loss of belongings or rights. For anyone considering this place, the message is nuanced and urgent - the care quality seems to hinge on individual staff, shifts, and perhaps unit-specific leadership, while systemic issues around staffing, transparency, and accountability appear to be the most consistently reported sources of dissatisfaction.

This area of Milwaukee, Wisconsin offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities for seniors looking to settle down in a welcoming community. With multiple pharmacies, hospitals, and physicians within a few miles radius, access to healthcare services is readily available. Additionally, there are plenty of dining options including fast-food chains and cafes for those who enjoy dining out. The presence of parks and recreational areas provides opportunities for outdoor activities and relaxation. Places of worship are also nearby for spiritual fulfillment. Overall, this area boasts a mix of essential services and leisure options making it an attractive choice for seniors seeking a comfortable and accessible neighborhood to call home.

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.2 miles)
• Walgreens (1.2 miles)
• Walgreens (1.3 miles)
• Walgreens (3 miles)
• Walgreens (3 miles)
• Walgreens (3.8 miles)
• Walgreens (3.9 miles)

Restaurants

• McDonald's (1.6 miles)
• Shark's Fish & Chicken (2.5 miles)
• Checkers (3.1 miles)
• Wendy's (3.2 miles)
• McDonald's (3.3 miles)
• Taco Bell (3.4 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (3.6 miles)

Hospitals

• Ambulatory EEG Recordings (1.6 miles)
• Wheaton Franciscan - St. Joseph Campus (4.7 miles)
• Rogers Memorial Hospital (4.9 miles)
• Aurora Psychiatric Hospital (6 miles)
• Froedtert Pavilion (6.2 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.7 miles)
• Starbucks (4.8 miles)
• Starbucks (5.7 miles)
• Starbucks (5.8 miles)
• Starbucks (6.7 miles)
• Starbucks (6.8 miles)

Places of Worship

• Redemption Lutheran Church (1.8 miles)
• Northwest Baptist Church (2.4 miles)
• Honey Creek Church (6.6 miles)

Transportation

• U-Haul Moving & Storage (2.5 miles)

Parks

• Algonquin Park (3.4 miles)
• A C Hanson Park (4.1 miles)
• Brown Deer Park (4.4 miles)
• Hoyt Park (5.3 miles)
• Wil-O-Way Underwood Park (5.4 miles)
• Imperial Estate Park (5.9 miles)
• Elm Grove Village Park (6.4 miles)

Physicians

• Aurora Advanced Healthcare (3.8 miles)
• Wheaton Franciscan Medical Group (4 miles)
• Aurora Nephrology (4.2 miles)
• Froedtert Orthopaedic, Sports and Spine Center (5.3 miles)
• Town Hall Health Center (5.7 miles)
• Drs. Roy and Associates (5.9 miles)
• Rheumatic Disease Center (6 miles)

Theaters

• Menomonee Falls Cinema Menomonee Falls, Wi (6.5 miles)