The reviews of River Falls Post-Acute are sharply polarized, producing a mixed overall picture that highlights strong rehabilitation services and compassionate individual caregivers on one hand, and significant systemic problems with care consistency, facility condition, communication, and safety on the other. A consistent positive theme across many reviews is the quality of therapy: physical and occupational therapy staff receive repeated praise and are described as excellent or 'superb,' with multiple reviewers explicitly stating they were glad they chose the facility because of rehab outcomes. Complementing therapy strengths, many families report individual nurses, CNAs, and staff members who are friendly, caring, and who sometimes go above and beyond (even providing personal assistance or resources). Dining and activities also receive favorable mention: meals are often described as home-style or well-balanced, activities are regular (bingo, birthday parties, activity carts), and amenities such as a beauty salon and outdoor patio add to a welcoming, down-to-earth atmosphere.
However, these positives sit alongside numerous serious concerns. Several reviewers allege failures in clinical care — notably unresolved pressure wounds, instances where clinicians refused or delayed necessary medication, missed dialysis appointments due to scheduling mishaps, and premature discharges before wounds were healed. These accounts point to potential lapses in clinical judgment, care planning, and continuity of care. Communication and documentation problems are frequently raised: information does not always transfer between staff or shifts, call lights go unanswered for long periods, showers and other basic care are delivered inconsistently, and phone/monitoring equipment is sometimes missing or nonfunctional. Understaffing and overwork are cited as root causes for many of these issues, producing both long waits for assistance and what some reviewers describe as careless or inattentive behavior from certain CNAs and nurses.
Facility condition and safety are recurring themes of concern. Multiple reviewers describe the building as old, outdated, and in need of renovation; rooms are often small and some accounts call them dirty or comparable to 'prison cells.' There are specific safety and infection-control allegations: reports of a COVID-positive employee continuing to work, unsafe food-handling practices in the kitchen, and alarm systems that are broken or improvised (for example, using a cow bell). Such reports, together with an ombudsman investigation and warnings from several reviewers, raise red flags about regulatory compliance and effective management oversight. Compounding these issues are reviews that describe management as unresponsive, ignorant about healthcare operations, or acting out of financial motives, which undermines confidence in organizational accountability.
The experience at River Falls appears highly dependent on timing, staff on duty, and individual caregiver behavior. While some families emphasize quick clinical attention, strong leadership, cleanliness, and a warm community feel, others report awful, disorganized, and unsafe conditions. This variability suggests inconsistent staffing levels, uneven training or supervision, and gaps in operational systems (communication, documentation, infection control, alarm maintenance). Food and activities are generally a relative strength, providing residents with social engagement and acceptable meals; therapy services are a standout strength that several reviewers consider the primary reason for recommending the facility.
For prospective families and referral sources, the reviews suggest caution and a targeted evaluation approach. Focused questions and observations during tours should include: current staffing ratios and turnover, wound care protocols and recent outcomes, medication management and physician responsiveness, infection control practices (including staff screening and kitchen safety), the functionality of call systems and emergency response procedures, and actual therapy plans and expected discharge criteria. Reviewing recent state inspection reports, ombudsman findings, and speaking with current/past families about consistency of care will help clarify whether the positive reports (excellent therapy, compassionate staff) are typical or whether the serious negative reports reflect persistent systemic problems. In short, River Falls may offer strong rehabilitation and some very dedicated staff, but the facility also has multiple recurring operational, safety, and communication concerns that warrant careful vetting.
