Overall sentiment in these reviews is strongly positive with recurrent praise centered on staff quality, individualized care, and the activity program. A large number of reviewers describe the employees as kind, compassionate, cheerful, and attentive — frequently noting that staff ‘‘go above and beyond.’' Several reviews single out named employees (e.g., Liza, Ashley) and leadership for being engaging and responsive. Families repeatedly express confidence in care: fast responses to needs, reliable medication support (in most reports), thorough communication, and visible involvement of staff with residents. Many reviewers explicitly state they would recommend the community and express high satisfaction with both short-term and long-term stays.
Activities, social engagement, and communication are clear strengths. Multiple reviewers praise a robust activity schedule with wide participation and meaningful programs that keep residents engaged. Social-media updates and Facebook posts are appreciated by families as a way to stay connected and informed. Families describe activities as inclusive and note that the program gives residents ‘‘lots to look forward to’’ and helps relieve caregiver stress — in one case reviewers said it ‘‘saved my sanity.’' Community and family involvement in activities is mentioned positively, reinforcing that engagement extends beyond day-to-day care.
Care quality is consistently reported as strong, especially in terms of individualized attention and emotional support. Many accounts emphasize patient, understanding staff who personalize care and maintain informative communication with families. Rehab support that encourages independence is mentioned as a helpful element. Several reviews call out exceptional kindness during shorter stays and highlight situations where staff went beyond typical duties to assist residents and families.
However, there are recurring concerns and a few consistent negative themes. Multiple reviewers note that the resident population includes many people with advanced dementia, which can limit peer-to-peer social interaction and contribute to a more withdrawn or ‘‘depressing’’ atmosphere for some residents. A few reviews explicitly describe the place as having a nursing-home feel rather than an assisted-living, home-like experience. Small room sizes are mentioned repeatedly and may impact perceived comfort.
Cleanliness and odor are mixed impressions: while several reviewers say the facility is very clean, others report isolated cleanliness issues including a urine odor in rooms. Dining receives mixed feedback — some reviewers praise a healthy cooking orientation and menu plans, while others say the food falls short of the advertised ‘‘homemade’’ standard. There are specific operational concerns as well: a small number of reviewers describe inexperienced or poor representation during tours and consultations, and one reviewer reported medications being denied. A few comments reference rude or insensitive interactions with staff, though these appear to be exceptions amid many positive staff reports. Lockdown restrictions (likely referring to pandemic-related limits) are mentioned as a stressor in some accounts.
Cost is raised by at least one reviewer as being high. Management and leadership receive both praise and critique: many reviews commend leadership and team devotion, but some point to the need for better front-line representation and training for tour staff. Taken together, the dominant pattern across the reviews is strong, compassionate caregiving and an active, communicative community that families trust, tempered by a smaller but important set of concerns around resident mix (advanced dementia), room size, occasional cleanliness/odor issues, inconsistent dining expectations, and variability in tour/consultation interactions.
Recommendations for prospective families based on these patterns: prioritize meeting direct care staff and activity coordinators during a tour, ask for examples of menus and sample meals, request to see several resident rooms to evaluate size and odor, inquire about the resident mix and socialization opportunities for someone without advanced dementia, and clarify medication and clinical policies. Overall, if compassionate staff, strong activities, and engaged leadership are primary decision factors, these reviews suggest Our House Assisted Living - Baraboo Assisted Care is a strong candidate; if room size, absolute consistency in food or tour experience, or the presence of more independent peers are top priorities, those areas merit careful review in person.
