Mirador estimate
    $3,850/month

    Anchor Communities

    209 Forest St, Fox Lake, WI, 53933
    2.3 · 7 reviews
    • Assisted living
    • Memory care
    AnonymousStaff member
    1.0

    Chronic neglect, unsafe, unprofessional care

    I lived/worked here and experienced chronic neglect: management and an owner focused on rent while repairs never happened (broken toilets/lights, insect infestation, no trash bags/tissues), tiny meals with no snacks or activities, residents going months without showers and left in soiled undergarments, poor medication handling, uncertified staff with incomplete background checks (staff bringing relatives), late/bounced paychecks so workers quit, and DHHS involvement. Joy was a godsend - caring and professional - but overall the place felt unsafe and I cannot recommend it.

    Pricing

    $3,850+/moSuiteAssisted Living

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    Amenities

    Healthcare services

    • Activities of daily living assistance
    • Assistance with bathing
    • Assistance with dressing
    • Assistance with transfers
    • Coordination with health care providers
    • Hospice waiver
    • Medication management
    • Mental wellness program

    Healthcare staffing

    • 24-hour supervision

    Meals and dining

    • Diabetes diet
    • Meal preparation and service
    • Special dietary restrictions

    Room

    • Cable
    • Fully furnished
    • Housekeeping and linen services
    • Telephone
    • Wifi

    Memory care community services

    • Dementia waiver
    • Mild cognitive impairment
    • Specialized memory care programming

    Transportation

    • Transportation arrangement (medical)
    • Transportation to doctors appointments

    Community services

    • Move-in coordination

    Activities

    • Community-sponsored activities
    • Scheduled daily activities

    2.29 · 7 reviews

    Overall rating

    1. 5
    2. 4
    3. 3
    4. 2
    5. 1
    • Care

      2.3
    • Staff

      2.0
    • Meals

      1.0
    • Amenities

      1.0
    • Value

      2.3

    Pros

    • Some individual staff described as caring and friendly
    • Specific staff member (Joy) repeatedly praised for excellent, attentive care
    • When present, some employees explain care thoroughly

    Cons

    • False advertising about activities and programing
    • Broken toilets and toilet seats
    • Lights and other fixtures left unrepaired
    • Residents neglected and left in soiled undergarments
    • Residents reportedly go months without showers
    • Kitchen staff not using gloves or hairnets
    • Tiny meal portions; very low food quantity
    • No snack hour or regular snacks provided
    • Insect infestation reported
    • No garbage bags or tissues in resident bathrooms
    • Staff failing to empty resident trash
    • Unprofessional management rarely on-site
    • Management and owner focused on rent collection rather than maintenance
    • Owner/management never fixes reported issues
    • Staff lacking required CBRF certifications or training
    • Incomplete background checks on staff
    • Uncertified staff administering meds/care or involved in narcotics count irregularities
    • Narcotic count discrepancies reported
    • Lack of medications or care supplies
    • Late or bounced paychecks for staff
    • High staff turnover and quick resignations
    • Staff bringing relatives to work (potential policy violation)
    • DHHS investigations referenced
    • No employee benefits reported
    • Patio and amenities neglected
    • No trash bags or tissues available facility-wide
    • Coffee grounds/poor kitchen procedures from ill-fitting filters
    • Scary or unsafe environment to work or live

    Summary review

    Overall sentiment across these review summaries is predominantly negative with a small but notable counterpoint of individual staff praise. Multiple reviewers describe systemic problems affecting care quality, staffing, facility maintenance, dining, and management practices. The most consistent and alarming themes relate to neglect of residents, inadequate staffing qualifications and conduct, and chronic management failures that impact both resident safety and employee welfare.

    Care quality and resident hygiene are frequent areas of concern. Several reviews allege residents were left in soiled undergarments, were not showered regularly (with some claims of going months without showers), and experienced general neglect. These reports suggest inconsistent or insufficient personal care routines. There are also claims of missing medications and care supplies and a reported narcotic count discrepancy, which raise serious safety and regulatory concerns. At the same time, a small number of reviews call out individual caregivers—most prominently a staff member named Joy—who provided caring, friendly, and well-explained care; these comments indicate that some staff do make a positive difference despite broader operational problems.

    Staffing, training, and employment practices are another major theme. Multiple summaries report staff lacking required CBRF certifications or working with incomplete background checks. Reviewers also describe late or bounced paychecks, lack of employee benefits, and rapid staff turnover, which are consistent with reports of staff resigning quickly. These workforce issues likely contribute to inconsistent care, gaps in services, and potential regulatory noncompliance. Additional concerns include unprofessional behaviors such as staff bringing relatives to work and kitchen workers not following basic food-safety practices (no gloves or hairnets).

    Facility maintenance and cleanliness problems are repeatedly mentioned. Reported issues include broken toilets and toilet seats, broken lights, insect infestations, neglected patio amenities, and the absence of basic supplies like garbage bags and tissues in resident bathrooms. Reviewers report staff failing to empty resident trash and a generally neglected physical environment. There are also multiple complaints about kitchen operations producing very small meal portions, no snack hours, and sloppy coffee preparation (coffee grounds due to ill-fitting filters). Together, these items describe a facility that is not maintaining cleanliness, comfort, or adequate nutrition for residents.

    Management and regulatory concerns form a clear pattern. Reviewers portray management and the owner as rarely on-site, focused on rent collection rather than responding to maintenance or care issues, and slow to fix problems. Several summaries reference DHHS investigations, which suggests regulators have become involved. The combination of alleged certification lapses, incomplete background checks, medication/count irregularities, and regulatory scrutiny indicates high compliance risk. Staff morale appears low due to late paychecks and perceived lack of management support, which exacerbates turnover and undermines continuity of care.

    In summary, these reviews paint a picture of a facility with systemic operational deficiencies: lapses in personal care, sanitation problems, inadequate dining and activities, staffing and certification shortfalls, and problematic management practices. While there are isolated reports of compassionate individual caregivers who deliver good care (notably Joy), the dominant themes are neglect, neglectful maintenance, and mismanagement that negatively affect both residents and staff. The volume and severity of the reported issues—especially those impacting hygiene, medications, certifications, and regulatory involvement—warrant careful scrutiny by prospective residents, families, or oversight bodies before considering placement or employment.

    Location

    Map showing location of Anchor Communities

    About Anchor Communities

    Anchor Communities is a licensed Community Based Residential Facility with 14 beds located at 209 Forest St. in Fox Lake, Wisconsin, about 8.5 miles from Beaver Dam. The community's small size lets staff know each resident well and provide care that fits their needs, and you'll find services for assisted living, memory care, respite care, and hospice waiver support all under one roof, which can be a comfort for families. The facility doesn't accept Medicare because it's not certified by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, but long-term care here is often more affordable than moving into a full-time nursing home, and the place gets its license from state agencies like the Department of Aging or Veteran's Services. Residents live in studio, one-bedroom, or semi-private rooms that can be furnished, and some living spaces include kitchenettes for those who want more independence, and there are also emergency alert systems in the rooms for safety-which families appreciate. Anchor Communities gives 24-hour supervision and help with daily activities like dressing, bathing, taking medicine, and getting around, and you'll notice that help with wheelchair transfers and non-ambulatory support is always available, so anyone who needs extra mobility help can get it quickly. The organization focuses on making the setting feel comfortable, warm, and safe, with staff who provide dementia care for memory loss in secure areas meant to prevent wandering, and there are exit alerts, secured outdoor spaces, and team members with special training in Alzheimer's and dementia support. Meals are a social event every day, with chef-prepared food served in the dining room on a regular schedule, and the staff offer all-day dining plus meal accommodations for allergies and diabetes, making sure everyone's restrictions are respected. Residents can use laundry and dry cleaning services, and there's regular housekeeping, so daily chores don't pile up. Social engagement is important here, so folks will see movie nights, community-sponsored events, walking paths and gardens, recreational activities, and transportation for those who need to get to appointments in town. Staff also help new residents settle in and adjust, so families feel supported. The community's small size encourages strong social connections, and there's a five-point-six out of ten community rating, which makes Anchor Communities the highest-rated option around town even if it's not perfect. The facility connects with people in other places as well, having ties to locations across Wisconsin including Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, and more. There's a focus on board and care home services, dementia programs, and a range of help for everything from home care to skilled nursing referrals, so seniors can age in place with familiar staff and surroundings. While Anchor Communities won't suit everyone, especially those who need Medicare coverage, it offers a comfortable and more personal environment for assisted living and memory care where seniors can make new friends, families can feel at ease, and staff work hard to take care of daily needs.

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