Overall sentiment in the reviews for St Francois Manor is highly mixed and polarized. Multiple reviewers report very positive personal experiences: many single out caring, helpful, and professional staff; praise the facility's private apartments with full bathrooms and walk-in showers; and note that independence is encouraged and that residents often feel at home and safe. A number of family members specifically say they would recommend the facility and highlight staff who listened to needs and provided excellent care (including one account of staff helping a son recover after an accident). There are also mentions of pleasant common living areas and a comfortable apartment area at the back of the home.
Contrasting sharply with those positives are numerous serious negative reports that form consistent themes across several reviews. There are multiple allegations of abusive treatment by staff, unexplained bruising, prisoner-like restrictions, and bullying among residents. Several reviewers describe staff favoritism and widely inconsistent staff quality — from very compassionate employees to immature, rude, or seemingly uncaring staff. Some reviews go further, alleging staff misconduct, unethical billing practices, and inappropriate labeling of resident behaviors. At least one reviewer posted an explicit "DO NOT ATTEND" warning, and others report that state agencies have needed to be involved or that formal complaints were filed.
Facilities and environment are similarly described in mixed terms. On the positive side, the apartment layout and private bathrooms are praised. On the negative side, multiple reviewers report building issues and unpleasant odors (sewer smell or urine odor) on units, and some call the building outdated or poorly maintained. Dining and basic care also raise concerns: there are reports that meals have been refused to clients and that some residents' needs were not taken seriously. Activities and programming receive mixed feedback — a few reviewers say there are nice activities, but others say program opportunities are limited and express concerns about the quality or suitability of online exercise classes.
Management, communication, and policy concerns recur across reviews. Several family members describe poor or rude phone communication, privacy violations such as opening residents' mail, and an impression of staff arrogance. Others state that staff are constrained by what they are allowed to do, suggesting either policy limits or staffing/resource shortages that affect care. Accusations of unethical billing and labeling practices raise administrative red flags for prospective families. At least one reviewer indicated legal action was threatened, and another mentioned that state intervention or complaints were required to address issues.
Patterns and implications: the dominant pattern is extreme variability — some residents and families have very positive experiences with attentive caregivers and comfortable living spaces, while others report serious safety, dignity, and administrative problems. The recurring negative themes (abuse allegations, inconsistent staffing, odors, billing concerns, privacy violations, and poor communication) are serious and would warrant careful investigation by anyone considering this facility. The existence of both strongly positive and strongly negative reports suggests that experiences may depend heavily on specific units, shifts, or individual staff members.
Recommendations for prospective residents and families based on these reviews: tour the specific unit(s) you would occupy, ask about staffing levels and turnover, request the facility's incident and complaint history, inquire about billing practices and how behavior is documented, observe cleanliness and odors during a visit, meet multiple staff members across shifts, ask for recent references from current residents' families, and review state inspection reports. Given the severity of some allegations in the reviews (abuse, bruising, privacy violations, and state complaints), it is prudent to do due diligence and, if possible, speak with both satisfied and dissatisfied families to understand the range of experiences before deciding.
