Overall sentiment across the reviews is strongly positive, with frequent and detailed praise for the staff, physical environment, and the person-centered nature of care at Notre Dame Health Care. Many reviewers emphasize that staff are attentive, professional, respectful and form the backbone of the resident experience—long-tenured CNAs are cited repeatedly as contributing to continuity of care. Families describe staff as engaging, compassionate, and willing to go above and beyond, and many give the facility five-star endorsements and explicit recommendations.
Facility and campus amenities are repeatedly highlighted as major strengths. Reviewers praise the beautiful, tranquil grounds, shaded courtyards with flowers, comfortable private rooms (large rooms with big queen beds), well-maintained furnishings and renovations—particularly in Assisted Living—and an overall clean, quiet, and organized environment. The presence of a chapel, daily church services, and a faith-inclusive community with Sisters involved is important to many families, and reviewers frequently note the positive spiritual and communal aspects of life there. Rehabilitation services (physical and occupational therapy) receive strong positive mentions as well.
Programming and activities are another common plus. Many reviewers note a broad range of activities, frequent entertainment, arts and crafts, and special programs such as the Charming Chimers Choir. The dementia unit (Harmony floor) is singled out for secure design and strong hospice and activity programming that helped residents thrive for as long as their health allowed. That said, several reviews qualify this praise by pointing out that some long-term dementia areas have limited activities due to staffing ratios, meaning activity levels may vary by unit and by staffing levels.
Dining and amenities are generally well-regarded: reviewers mention impressive meals, a wide variety of food and drink options, ice cream offerings, and comfortable linens and up-to-date equipment. However, there are also concerns from some families about menu content—reports describe fatty meals contributing to weight gain in at least one case—so dietary management for residents with specific needs may need active oversight.
Despite the many positives, a small but important cluster of safety, communication, and operational concerns appears in multiple reviews and merits attention. A few serious incidents are described: an oxygen tank that ran empty, a stressful forced room swap, a dining-area incident while a resident was ill, and a failure to inform family members about a roommate's illness. One review states that staff scolded a family member for not following protocol, and there are related complaints about infection-control communication failures. These incidents culminated in at least one poor outcome and prompted distress among those families. While such events seem to be the exception rather than the rule, they are significant because they touch on clinical safety and communication—areas families prioritize highly.
Operational issues beyond clinical care were also raised: transportation problems that led to canceled medical appointments, concerns about insufficient nighttime staffing and nighttime care (medication and pad management), and at least one report of a physical injury. Several reviewers recommend clearer communication and stronger night staffing. Cost is mentioned as higher than some alternatives, and a few reviewers felt the facility could be a bit "stuffy" or provided limited information about activities during admissions/tours.
In summary, Notre Dame Health Care earns strong commendations for compassionate, consistent caregiving, a peaceful and well-maintained campus, robust spiritual programming, and good clinical and rehabilitative services for most residents. The memory-care/hospice programming and engaged CNAs are standout strengths. However, families should balance those positives with targeted questions about staffing levels (especially at night), infection control and roommate-illness notification protocols, transportation services, and dietary management for residents with special nutritional needs. The reviews indicate that while the majority of experiences are excellent and many would highly recommend the facility, a minority of serious operational or communication lapses have occurred — prospective families should tour the unit, ask for specifics on the points above, and clarify policies around emergencies, transfers, and family notification to ensure the best possible match for their loved one.
