Top 10 Worst Nursing Homes in Wisconsin

Compare the Worst Nursing Homes in Wisconsin

Every year, thousands of seniors, their families and friends have to make a decision involving a skilled nursing facility, either because someone is recupering after a hospital visit or for end-of-life care. This is usually an issue that arises suddenly, and the decision makers are not equipped with the right knowledge and information to make a good decision. Not knowing how to decide, they turn to others for recommendations. Word of mouth, along with geography, are constantly cited as the single most important factors in choosing a skilled nursing facility. This lack of understanding and lack of information can lead to significant problems because not all skilled nursing facilities are the same and the people that you trust to recommend a facility may not know enough about the facility and the alternatives to be a competent guide.

Providing the type of care that residents of skilled nursing facilities require is very difficult. The range of issues that are being treated is vast and the needs cover both people recuperating and recovering as well as those facing end-of-life issues. Residents require significant help with basic daily activities as well as supplemental needs like oxygen and 24/7 monitoring.

To help people who are facing this difficult situation, we have compiled a list of the both the best and the worst skilled nursing facilities in Wisconsin. Additionally we have compiled the best and worst nursing homes by city for most cities in the United States. The lists are based on data compiled by The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (“CMS”) and include information gathered from detailed annual inspections, monthly reporting, complaint histories, deficiency reports and much more.

The list below calls out the worst skilled nursing facilities in Wisconsin. For the most part these facilities should be avoided. All of the facilities have issues with cleanliness and safety and a large number of the facilities have been flagged by CMS as locations where abuse has either occurred or is highly likely.

Avoiding these facilities may not always be an option either because of geographic, monetary, or occupancy constraints. However, being in a bad nursing home does not mean that the resident will not improve. If you have a loved one in one of these facilities, we encourage you to visit often and to ask that friends and other family visit too. It is well documented that positive outcomes for skilled nursing residents is highly correlated with the number and diversity of people visiting the resident. Being there, getting to know the staff, showing the staff that the resident has people that care about him or her is critical. There may not always be a better option, but your direct involvement can make a difference.

Nursing Home	Rating
Waterfall Health of Brown Deer 7500 W DEAN RD MILWAUKEE, WI	991.83
Bay at Belmont Health and Rehabilitation Center 110 BELMONT RD MADISON, WI	889.83
Minocqua Health and Rehab 9969 OLD HWY 70 RD MINOCQUA, WI	840.83
Ignite Medical Resort Oak Creek 2700 WEST HONADEL BOULEVARD OAK CREEK, WI	598.20
The Bay at Sheridan Health and Rehabilitation 8400 SHERIDAN RD KENOSHA, WI	499.17
Southpointe Care and Rehab Center LLC 4500 W LOOMIS RD GREENFIELD, WI	482.00
The Bay at Waters Edge Health and Rehabilitation 3415 N SHERIDAN RD KENOSHA, WI	414.83
Waunakee Valley Senior Living 801 KLEIN DR WAUNAKEE, WI	403.17
The Bay at Burlington Health and Rehabilitation 677 E STATE ST BURLINGTON, WI	392.33
Middleton Village Nursing and Rehab LLC 6201 ELMWOOD AVE MIDDLETON, WI	380.33

Nursing Homes with the warning icon () have been flagged by CMS for abuse.

How We Compile Nursing Home Ratings in Wisconsin

Every month, we rank all of the skilled nursing facilities in Wisconsin. These rankings are based on data provided by The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid measures ("CMS"), including the CMS 5-Star Rating System and the Health Inspection Scores. The list of the Worst Skilled Nursing Facilities in Wisconsin is based on the weighted overall health inspection score which is a composite of CMS's three most recent skilled nursing home inspection scores weighted to give the most recent inspection more importance.

The CMS 5-Star Rating System rates skilled nursing facilities from one to five stars, with one star being the lowest and five stars being the highest. The rating system also rates Wisconsin nursing homes across five different dimensions including overall rating, health inspection rating, quality measures rating, overall staffing rating, and RN staffing rating (RN is an acronym for Registered Nurse).

In addition to the 5-Star Rating System, CMS provides numerical metrics that summarize:

Health Inspection Domain. The health inspection rating is based on the three most recent standard surveys for each nursing home, results from any complaint investigations during the most recent three-year period, and any repeat revisits needed to verify that required corrections have brought the facility back into compliance. CMS calculates a weighted deficiency score based on points assigned to health deficiencies identified in each active provider’s current health inspection survey and the two prior surveys (including revisits), as well as deficiency findings from the most recent three years of complaint investigations. More recent surveys are weighted more heavily than older surveys: the most recent period (cycle 1) is assigned a weighting factor of 1/2, the previous period (cycle 2) has a weighting factor of 1/3, and the second prior survey (cycle 3) has a weighting factor of 1/6. The weighted time period scores are then summed to create the survey score for each facility.
Staffing Domain. Using multiple reporting methods, CMS calculates the amount of time that the nursing staff spends with residents. This is measured across multiple dimensions, one each for three different levels of nursing, including Registered Nurses (“RNs”), Licensed Practical Nurses (“LPNs”), and Certified Nursing Assistants (“CNAs”), plus one metric that totals all contributions. These metrics are expressed in hours per resident per day. CMS also provides state-level and national averages for the metrics to allow for additional comparisons.
Quality Measures Domain. A set of quality measures (QMs) has been developed from MDS-based indicators to describe the quality of care provided in nursing homes. These measures address a broad range of functioning and health status in multiple care areas. The facility rating for the QM domain is based on performance on a subset of 11 (out of 18) of the QMs. Ratings for the QM domain are calculated using the three most recent quarters for which data are available. This time period specification was selected to increase the number of assessments available for calculating the QM rating, increasing the stability of estimates and reducing the number of facilities that do not have enough data to report QM ratings.
Abuse Flag. Abuse is always a concern in skilled nursing facilities. To highlight the issue, CMS has extracted this feature as its own flag. Facilities with an actual abuse event or where the potential for abuse has been shown for the past two years are flagged. The Health Inspection Score is capped at 2-stars for nursing homes that have been flagged for abuse.

Skilled nursing facilities that are new and do not have at least two surveys completed are not rated by CMS. These facilities may have health inspection scores that can be used to evaluate the facility.

One complication in Wisconsin nursing home inspections is the COVID-19 pandemic. Although inspections should be performed every 12 months, COVID has decreased this frequency. While CMS admits that only in “rare cases” do these inspections increase to 15 months, our analysis suggests that this time frame may be even longer. This report shows that the time between inspections is now just under 500 days (more than sixteen months). There are now hundreds of skilled nursing homes in the United States that have not been inspected in more than 24 months. This list shows the skilled nursing homes with the longest period since being inspected. According to the CMS data, these homes have not been inspected since 2018!

Skilled Nursing Home Abuse in Wisconsin

Abuse is always going to be an issue with skilled nursing facilities. Skilled nursing facility residents need help with so many basic things and they are suffering, confused, and frustrated. If you are the friend or relative of a nursing home resident, we guarantee that you will be constantly fretting about whether your loved one is receiving proper and timely care. Abuse feels like a violation of your trust, but it happens. CMS actively monitors nursing homes not just for actual abuse but also for indicators that suggest that abuse might be occurring. Homes where abuse has either occurred or might be occurring are flagged. A very high percentage of the worst skilled nursing facilities in Wisconsin have been flagged for abuse. We have marked these facilities both on the list of the worst skilled nursing facilities and on the detailed page for each of the facilities.

Skilled Nursing Homes in Wisconsin Compared to Nationwide

We have compared Wisconsin nursing homes to the nationwide average on several metrics. Wisconsin performed better than the national average on several metrics and worse on other metrics.

Cycle 1 Total Number Of Health Deficiencies	8.20	Lower
Cycle 1 Total Number Of Fire Safety Deficiencies	6.00	Higher
Cycle 2 Total Number Of Health Deficiencies	7.30	Lower
Cycle 2 Total Number Of Fire Safety Deficiencies	5.10	Higher
Cycle 3 Total Number Of Health Deficiencies	7.50	Lower
Cycle 3 Total Number Of Fire Safety Deficiencies	4.20	Lower
Average Number Of Residents Per Day	51.80	Lower
Reported Nurse Aide Staffing Hours Per Resident Per Day	2.29	Higher
Reported Lpn Staffing Hours Per Resident Per Day	0.60	Lower
Reported Rn Staffing Hours Per Resident Per Day	0.97	Higher
Reported Licensed Staffing Hours Per Resident Per Day	1.56	Higher
Reported Total Nurse Staffing Hours Per Resident Per Day	3.85	Higher
Total Number Of Nurse Staff Hours Per Resident Per Day On The Weekend	3.38	Higher
Registered Nurse Hours Per Resident Per Day On The Weekend	0.66	Higher
Reported Physical Therapist Staffing Hours Per Resident Per Day	0.07	Lower
Total Nursing Staff Turnover	54.00	Higher
Registered Nurse Turnover	48.40	Lower
Number Of Administrators Who Have Left The Nursing Home	0.60	Lower
Case-mix Rn Staffing Hours Per Resident Per Day	0.37	Lower
Case-mix Total Nurse Staffing Hours Per Resident Per Day	3.16	Lower
Number Of Fines	2.30	Lower
Fine Amount In Dollars	47,590.00	Higher
Percentage Of Long Stay Residents Whose Need For Help With Daily Activities Has Increased	13.89	Lower
Percentage Of Long Stay Residents Who Lose Too Much Weight	5.55	Lower
Percentage Of Low Risk Long Stay Residents Who Lose Control Of Their Bowels Or Bladder	49.90	Higher
Percentage Of Long Stay Residents With A Catheter Inserted And Left In Their Bladder	3.16	Higher
Percentage Of Long Stay Residents With A Urinary Tract Infection	3.18	Higher
Percentage Of Long Stay Residents Who Have Depressive Symptoms	6.18	Lower
Percentage Of Long Stay Residents Who Were Physically Restrained	0.07	Lower
Percentage Of Long Stay Residents Experiencing One Or More Falls With Major Injury	3.27	Lower
Percentage Of Long Stay Residents Assessed And Appropriately Given The Pneumococcal Vaccine	95.33	Higher
Percentage Of Long Stay Residents Who Received An Antipsychotic Medication	14.20	Lower
Percentage Of Short Stay Residents Assessed And Appropriately Given The Pneumococcal Vaccine	87.28	Higher
Percentage Of Short Stay Residents Who Newly Received An Antipsychotic Medication	1.12	Lower
Percentage Of Long Stay Residents Whose Ability To Move Independently Worsened	17.23	Higher
Percentage Of Long Stay Residents Who Received An Antianxiety Or Hypnotic Medication	15.52	Lower
Percentage Of High Risk Long Stay Residents With Pressure Ulcers	7.58	Lower
Percentage Of Long Stay Residents Assessed And Appropriately Given The Seasonal Influenza Vaccine	95.09	Higher
Percentage Of Short Stay Residents Who Made Improvements In Function	76.40	Higher
Percentage Of Short Stay Residents Who Were Assessed And Appropriately Given The Seasonal Influenza Vaccine	78.87	Higher
Percentage Of Short Stay Residents Who Were Rehospitalized After A Nursing Home Admission	20.23	Lower
Percentage Of Short Stay Residents Who Had An Outpatient Emergency Department Visit	13.93	Higher
Number Of Hospitalizations Per 1000 Long-stay Resident Days	1.30	Lower
Number Of Outpatient Emergency Department Visits Per 1000 Long-stay Resident Days	1.36	Higher

FAQs About Nursing Homes in Wisconsin

How Many Nursing Homes in Wisconsin

There are 334 skilled nursing facilities registered with CMS in Wisconsin with a total of 26,075 beds. Average occupancy was 66.40% in May 2023.

Wisconsin has 75 homes that are rated as having one star on the CMS 5-Star Rating System. Approximately 26.07 percent of the total number of available skilled nursing beds in Wisconsin are in one-star facilities. In Wisconsin, occupancy is higher in skilled nursing facilities where the CMS 5-Star Raing is higher than one-star.

There are 2 skilled nursing facilities in Wisconsin that are not rated.

How to Report a Nursing Homes in Wisconsin

If you run into an issue at a Wisconsin nursing home, there are a few steps you can take to make sure the issue is reported. First, speak with the immediate staff. If the problem is not solved, speak with a director or administrator, doctor, or any other employee of a high level.

As required by Medicare and Medicaid, reports and complaints must go through a grievance procedure. Per the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services, a grievance is “an expression of dissatisfaction (other than an organization determination) with any aspect of the operations, activities, or behavior of a Medicare health plan, or its providers, regardless of whether remedial action is requested”. All grievances must be filed in writing or verbally within 60 days of the event prompting the grievance.

To report a Wisconsin nursing home for quality of care, go through a grievance procedure through your Medicare or Medicaid plan. You can also go through the Beneficiary and Family Centered Care-Quality Improvement Organizations (BFCC-QIO). These groups serve to help with complaints made regarding the quality of care by Medicare providers. You can also choose to go through both Medicare and a BFCC-QIO.

Worst Nursing Homes in the Largest Wisconsin Cities

All of the following nursing homes have been given a Weighted Health Inspection Score by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Every year, nursing homes in Wisconsin go through an unannounced inspection performed by independent state examiners. These examiners look at factors such as cleanliness, hazards, and safety to perform the inspection. Points are given to nursing homes based on their deficiency in a certain category. Thus, a higher Weighted All Cycles Score means more problems and lower quality of care.

The list below ranks the homes with the highest (worst) weighted scores. The score is shown next to the facility name. The list also shows the two most recent deficiencies for each of the nursing homes.

Worst Nursing Homes in Milwaukee

Waterfall Health of Brown Deer (991.833)

Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident. (2022-10-21)
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program. (2022-10-21)

Crossroads Care Center of Milwaukee (375.5)

Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident. (2023-02-07)
Provide basic life support, including CPR, prior to the arrival of emergency medical personnel , subject to physician orders and the resident?s advance directives. (2023-02-07)

Bradley Estates Nursing and Rehab LLC (350.333)

Honor the resident's right to and the facility must promote and facilitate resident self-determination through support of resident choice. (2023-03-07)
Honor the resident's right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and make prompt efforts to resolve grievances. (2023-03-07)

Edenbrook Lakeside (253)

Provide timely notification to the resident, and if applicable to the resident representative and ombudsman, before transfer or discharge, including appeal rights. (2022-06-24)
Notify the resident or the resident?s representative in writing how long the nursing home will hold the resident?s bed in cases of transfer to a hospital or therapeutic leave. (2022-06-24)

Mercy Health Services (236)

Conduct and document a facility-wide assessment to determine what resources are necessary to care for residents competently during both day-to-day operations and emergencies. (2023-03-29)
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program. (2023-03-29)

Autumn Lake Healthcare at Greenfield (203.333)

Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents. (2022-09-26)
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident?s preferences and goals. (2022-09-26)

Maple Ridge Health Services (158.167)

Honor the resident's right to be treated with respect and dignity and to retain and use personal possessions. (2022-11-01)
Ensure that each resident is free from the use of physical restraints, unless needed for medical treatment. (2022-11-01)

Sunrise Health Services (141.167)

Have a battery powered remote alarm panel in a location accessible by operating personnel. (2023-02-23)
Install properly constructed and protected linen or trash chutes. (2023-02-23)

Bay at St Ann Health and Rehabilitation Center (106)

Keep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential. (2022-09-29)
Provide activities to meet all resident's needs. (2022-09-29)

Alexian Village of Milwaukee (93.5)

Provide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services. (2022-05-13)
Designate a qualified infection preventionist to be responsible for the infection prevent and control program in the nursing home. (2022-05-13)

Worst Nursing Homes in Madison

Bay at Belmont Health and Rehabilitation Center (889.833)

Allow resident to participate in the development and implementation of his or her person-centered plan of care. (2023-04-17)
Provide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable. (2023-04-17)

Cardinal Woods Skilled Nursing and Rehab Ctr (273.167)

Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents. (2023-03-07)
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards. (2023-03-07)

Jacob's Creek Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (126)

Keep aisles, corridors, and exits free of obstruction in case of emergency. (2022-03-10)
Allow residents to self-administer drugs if determined clinically appropriate. (2022-02-11)

Madison Healthcare Services (88.667)

Coordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed. (2023-04-11)
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured. (2023-04-11)

The Waters of Clifty Falls (78.667)

Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public. (2022-10-18)
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program. (2022-10-11)

Maplecrest Rehab and Living Center (73.667)

Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely. (2022-12-02)
Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights. (2022-12-02)

Oakwood Village East Health and Rehab Center (72.333)

Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems. (2023-04-02)
Install a fire alarm system that can be heard throughout the facility. (2023-04-02)

The Madison Health and Rehab (72)

PASARR screening for Mental disorders or Intellectual Disabilities (2022-05-31)
Notify the appropriate authorities when residents with MD or ID services has a significant change in condition. (2022-05-31)

Madison House (67.333)

Protect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody. (2023-03-10)
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident?s preferences and goals. (2022-11-22)

Valley View Health and Rehabilitation, LLC (52)

Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident. (2023-02-10)
Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing. (2023-02-10)

Worst Nursing Homes in Appleton

Meadowbrook at Appleton (232.333)

Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist. (2023-02-09)
Ensure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater. (2023-02-09)

Appleton Area Health (64.333)

Have approved installation, maintenance and testing program for fire alarm systems. (2023-03-10)
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities. (2023-03-03)

Peabody Manor (36.667)

Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections. (2022-12-31)
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents. (2022-12-31)

Edenbrook of Appleton North (19.333)

Ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors. (2023-03-16)
Notify each resident of certain balances and convey resident funds upon discharge, eviction, or death. (2023-01-06)

Brewster Village (15.333)

Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured. (2022-11-30)
Educate residents and staff on COVID-19 vaccination, offer the COVID-19 vaccine to eligible residents and staff after education, and properly document each resident and staff member's vaccination status. (2022-11-30)

Rennes Health and Rehab Center- Appleton (14)

PASARR screening for Mental disorders or Intellectual Disabilities (2022-05-23)
Arrange for the provision of hospice services or assist the resident in transferring to a facility that will arrange for the provision of hospice services. (2022-05-23)

Worst Nursing Homes in Green Bay

Ccc of West Green Bay (134.667)

Honor the resident's right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and make prompt efforts to resolve grievances. (2023-02-28)
Develop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft. (2023-02-28)

Woodside Lutheran Home (69)

Provide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist. (2022-11-22)
Implement gradual dose reductions(GDR) and non-pharmacological interventions, unless contraindicated, prior to initiating or instead of continuing psychotropic medication; and PRN orders for psychotropic medications are only used when the medication is necessary and PRN use is limited. (2022-08-25)

Odd Fellow Home (60)

Inspect, test, and maintain automatic sprinkler systems. (2023-04-14)
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents. (2023-04-03)

Green Bay Health Services (48.667)

Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing. (2022-10-25)
Give the resident's representative the ability to exercise the resident's rights. (2022-04-01)

Grancare Nursing Center (26)

Develop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft. (2022-10-27)
Give the resident's representative the ability to exercise the resident's rights. (2022-10-11)

Brown Cty Comm Treatment Ctr-Bayshore Village (25.333)

Honor the resident's right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and make prompt efforts to resolve grievances. (2022-10-03)
Develop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect, and theft. (2022-10-03)

Edenbrook of Green Bay (6)

Provide timely notification to the resident, and if applicable to the resident representative and ombudsman, before transfer or discharge, including appeal rights. (2022-09-06)
Notify the resident or the resident?s representative in writing how long the nursing home will hold the resident?s bed in cases of transfer to a hospital or therapeutic leave. (2022-09-06)

Worst Nursing Homes in Racine

Lincoln Park Nursing and Rehab LLC (136.667)

Reasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident. (2023-02-22)
Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely. (2023-02-22)

Ridgewood Care Ctr (73.333)

Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely. (2023-02-24)
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured. (2022-11-22)

Ascension Living - Lakeshore at Siena (16.667)

Ensure smoke barriers are constructed to a 1 hour fire resistance rating. (2022-05-20)
Ensure that corridors are separated from use areas by walls constructed to limit the passage of smoke. (2022-05-20)

Worst Skilled Nursing Homes in Other States

See the worst skilled nursing homes in other states:

Top 10 Worst Nursing Homes in Wisconsin

Compare the Worst Nursing Homes in Wisconsin

How We Compile Nursing Home Ratings in Wisconsin

Skilled Nursing Home Abuse in Wisconsin

Skilled Nursing Homes in Wisconsin Compared to Nationwide

FAQs About Nursing Homes in Wisconsin

How Many Nursing Homes in Wisconsin

How to Report a Nursing Homes in Wisconsin

Worst Nursing Homes in the Largest Wisconsin Cities

Worst Nursing Homes in Milwaukee

Worst Nursing Homes in Madison

Worst Nursing Homes in Appleton

Worst Nursing Homes in Green Bay

Worst Nursing Homes in Racine

Worst Skilled Nursing Homes in Other States

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