Overall sentiment: The reviews for Maplewood of Sauk Prairie are predominantly positive, with a strong emphasis on the quality and effectiveness of the rehabilitation program and the compassion and professionalism of clinical staff. Many reviewers credit Maplewood’s therapy teams (OT/PT) with enabling patients to reach functional goals and return home independently, often citing twice-daily therapy sessions, use of equipment such as bikes and parallel bars, and measurable therapy hours (e.g., 38 hours) as evidence of an organized, effective rehab department. Multiple reviewers specifically recommended Maplewood and its physical therapy services based on clear, positive rehabilitation outcomes.
Care quality and staff: The most frequent praise centers on the staff — nurses, CNAs, therapists, and administration — described by many as knowledgeable, kind, patient, encouraging and emotionally supportive. Reviewers commonly report personalized, timely care and consistent communication (weekly updates, prompt responses to questions), which contributed to family trust and satisfaction. Several accounts use strong positive language ("king-like treatment," "guardian angel roommate," "loving care"), and multiple reviewers singled out particular departments (therapy, kitchen, activity) and personnel as exceptional. Dementia care training and supportive environments for residents with memory care needs were also noted positively.
Facility and infection control: The facility’s physical environment is frequently described as clean, recently renovated, and welcoming. Multiple reviewers mentioned an immaculate facility and lack of unpleasant odors. COVID-related safety measures (strict protocols, 14-day isolation on admission, limited visitation during isolation, and high vaccination rates among staff) were highlighted by several reviewers who felt reassured by these policies. Private rooms and smooth orientation experiences were additional amenities praised by families.
Dining and activities: Dining and activities elicited mixed but largely positive comments. Many reviewers praised hot meals with multiple entree choices, twice-daily snacks, and kitchen staff. The activities program was consistently noted as robust, offering bunco, Wii bowling, bingo, music, happy hour and dementia support groups — contributing to a cheerful atmosphere and engaged residents. However, the reviews contain contradictory opinions about food quality; while many praised meals, a minority described the food as mediocre.
Management, communication, and administrative issues: Several reviewers reported positive experiences with administration — citing ease of coordination (transportation, updates) and responsive leadership. At the same time, a notable minority raised concerns about communication breakdowns, particularly between social services and billing, misinformation, and bureaucratic delays. There are reports that some stays were extended unexpectedly or that discharge timing was mishandled, which caused frustration for families. These administrative inconsistencies appear less common than the positive reports but are significant when they occur.
Safety, staffing, and negative incidents: Although most reviews emphasize compassionate and professional care, there are concerning negative reports that warrant attention. A small subset of reviewers alleged understaffing, staff turnover (high CNA turnover), ignored patients, and incidents where residents were not adequately fed or were handled inappropriately (yelling, condescending behavior, or inappropriate physical handling by a nurse). One reviewer reported theft or missing personal items and said facility signage discouraged leaving valuables, with little subsequent action from staff. These serious accusations are not the majority view but represent important risk patterns cited by multiple reviewers and should be investigated further by prospective residents and families.
Patterns and recommendations: The dominant pattern is of a facility with strong clinical capability — especially in rehabilitation and therapy — supported by a compassionate team that many families and residents praise warmly. The environment is generally clean, activity-rich, and well organized. Key strengths are therapy effectiveness, staff demeanor, communication for many families, and COVID safety. Areas to probe further when evaluating Maplewood include consistency of meal quality, staffing levels and turnover (particularly CNAs), administrative transparency around discharge and billing, and safeguards for resident belongings and dignity. Prospective residents should ask specific questions about staffing ratios, turnover, procedures for reporting and investigating incidents, and meal menus during tours, and should request references from recent families to confirm consistency of the positive experiences described in many reviews.
