Best Assisted Living in Wisconsin

Overview of Serenity Spring Senior Living at Scandia Village

Serenity Spring Senior Living at Scandia Village is a 50-bed skilled nursing facility at 10560 Applewood Road in Sister Bay, Door County, Wisconsin. Part of the Scandia Village Continuing Care Retirement Community campus, the facility is administered by Katherine Casey and operated by Sister Bay SNF Opco LLC as a for-profit limited liability company. It accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, with 70 percent of the current residents funded privately.

CMS rates Serenity Spring Senior Living at Scandia Village 2 stars overall, reflecting a health inspection score 27.8 percent below Wisconsin average despite staffing running 10.5 percent above average. Staffing’s headline figure, 4 hours 55 minutes of total adjusted nursing per resident per day, ranks 41st of 172 Wisconsin SNFs and exceeds the state average by 16 percent. Physical therapist hours at 8 minutes per day are double the Wisconsin average. However, the Q4 2025 payroll data reveals a major operational concern: 58.1 percent of all staff hours are delivered by contractors, including 18 contract CNAs alongside just 13 employed CNAs, 6 contract LPNs against 3 employed, and 3 contract RNs against 4 employed. This level of contractor dependency, the highest in this review batch, raises meaningful questions about care continuity and institutional knowledge. Weekend RN coverage at 21 minutes per day is 48 percent below the 40-minute Wisconsin average. The inspection record since 2022 shows 42 total citations, ranked 129th of 174 Wisconsin SNFs, at 6.0 per inspection against a state average of 4.19. Eleven of 42 citations arose from complaint investigations. The leading deficiency categories are Quality of Life and Care (10 deficiencies, 24 percent) and Resident Rights (8 deficiencies, 19 percent), with Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation accounting for 4 deficiencies. 1 serious citation is on record. No critical citations have been issued, and no penalties have been imposed in the past three years. Quality measure outcomes present a striking split. For long-stay residents, hospitalizations at 0.58 per 1,000 resident days are 64 percent below Wisconsin average, an exceptional result, while ED visits at 4.07 per 1,000 days are 86 percent above average, indicating that medical situations avoiding inpatient hospitalization are frequently resolved via emergency department visits instead. Pressure ulcer rates and antipsychotic use are also above average for long-stay residents. Short-stay re-hospitalization at 15.4 percent is 32 percent better than the Wisconsin average, and falls with major injury are zero for short-stay residents. Financially, the facility recorded a net loss of $2.5 million in 2024 on a total payroll of $5.1 million, with occupancy declining by 11 percent from 2022. The financial trajectory warrants close attention by prospective families as an indicator of operational stability.

The community provides rehabilitation services with a doctor on staff and 24-hour staffing across its skilled nursing, assisted living, memory care, and independent living continuum.

In the scenic Door County peninsula, Serenity Spring Senior Living at Scandia Village fits families seeking a continuum-of-care campus setting in rural Wisconsin. The 2-star CMS rating, high contractor dependency, above-average citations, and ongoing financial losses are crucial considerations families should address with facility leadership before proceeding.

Riverside is a 123-bed skilled nursing and long-term care facility administered by Patrick Senzig at 2575 S 7th Street in La Crosse, La Crosse County, Wisconsin. Owned and operated by a voluntary non-profit and church-run organization Bethany Lutheran Homes Inc., the facility accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay. Occupancy at 77.6 percent is above the 70 percent Wisconsin average, with private pay comprising 65 percent of new admissions and a typical stay of four to five months.

CMS rates Riverside at 2 stars overall, with staffing at 10.5 percent above Wisconsin average and both health inspection and quality measures below average. Staffing is Riverside’s strongest dimension, ranking 34th of 172 Wisconsin SNFs at 5 hours 2 minutes per resident per day, 19 percent above the Wisconsin average. RN hours at 1 hour 13 minutes are 26 percent above average and the facility’s standout metric. CNA hours of 3 hours 12 minutes are 24 percent above average, and weekend total nursing at 4 hours 10 minutes is 12 percent above the state benchmark. Physical therapist hours at 2 minutes per day are 50 percent below average. Q4 2025 data show 189 total staff (143 employees, 46 contractors, 22.4 percent contractor hours), with an Active Resident Council, nurse aide training on-site, mental health service workers, a dietitian, a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialists, and contractor-covered therapy services across physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and respiratory therapy. The inspection record is relatively favorable. Across 4 surveys since 2022 (June 2022, August 2023, August 2024, and January 2025), Riverside totaled 9 citations against a 27.3 Wisconsin average, ranked 26th of 174 Wisconsin SNFs at 2.25 citations per inspection. One critical citation was issued in January 2025 in the Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation category, corrected, and tied to a $22,000 civil money penalty (77 percent below the $95K Wisconsin average fine). No payment denials have been issued. Quality measure performance is the biggest concern. Long-stay ED visits at 0.30 per 1,000 resident days are 86 percent better than the Wisconsin average, and hospitalizations are 27 percent better, reflecting genuine clinical management strengths. However, falls with major injury at 6.3 percent are 97 percent above the 3.2 percent Wisconsin average, antipsychotic use at 28.8 percent is 79 percent above average, and ADL decline runs 76 percent above the state benchmark. Short-stay self-care ability at discharge of 35.3 percent is 34 percent below average.

Riverside suits La Crosse County families needing a non-profit, church-operated skilled nursing facility with above-average RN and CNA staffing, a clean overall inspection record, and strong long-stay ED and hospitalization avoidance. The quality measure data on falls and their prevention protocols, antipsychotic medication review practices, and functional decline warrant inquiry with the care team.

Overview of Randolph Health Services

Randolph Health Services is an 84-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility at 502 S High Street in Randolph, Wisconsin, in Dodge County. It’s operated by NSH Randolph LLC as a privately owned limited liability company and administered by Juleanna Johnson. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted. New admissions skew heavily toward short-stay rehabilitation, with Medicare encompassing 51 percent of new residents and typical stays of 29 days.

CMS rates Randolph Health Services 2 stars, with health inspection and staffing below Wisconsin average and quality measures 21.6 percent above state benchmark. Short-stay quality measure performance is the facility’s clearest strength, rated significantly above average. Re-hospitalization at 17.5 percent is 23 percent better than the Wisconsin average, emergency department visits at 9.1 percent are 39 percent better, and falls with major injury during SNF stays are zero. These are strong post-acute rehabilitation outcomes for a rural Wisconsin community. Self-care ability at discharge at 43.5 percent is 19 percent below Wisconsin average, a gap families should discuss with clinical leadership. Long-stay outcomes are below average on hospitalization and ED visit rates, while falls (51 percent better), UTI (51 percent better), and depressive symptoms (55 percent better) are genuine long-stay strengths. The staffing profile shows RN hours at 1 hour 3 minutes per day, 9 percent above Wisconsin average, and weekend RN coverage at 46 minutes per day, 15 percent above average, both meaningful for a facility with a primarily employed direct nursing workforce at just 6.9 percent contractor hours. LPN hours at 14 minutes daily are 63 percent below the Wisconsin average, with RNs and CNAs carrying the bulk of clinical and personal care coverage. Total nursing hours of 3 hours 43 minutes per day rank 110th of 172 Wisconsin SNFs. The inspection record shows 12 total citations across 4 surveys since 2022, ranked 44th of 174 Wisconsin SNFs, well below the 27.3 state average. One critical and one serious citation are on record, both corrected. 3 Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation citations and 3 Quality of Life and Care citations are dominant deficiency categories. A $76,000 civil money penalty was assessed in December 2024, the only penalty in the past three years. No payment denials have been issued.

The facility offers rehabilitation services as its primary confirmed care offering. On-site contractor therapy staff cover physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and respiratory therapy. Nurse aide training and social work services exist.

Dodge County families needing a rehabilitation-focused SNF with above-average RN coverage, strong short-stay outcomes, and a predominantly employed nursing workforce in small-town central Wisconsin will find Randolph Health Services suitable. The 2-star rating, the December 2024 penalty, and the Abuse/Neglect citation pattern should be raised with leadership before continuing.

Pine Valley Community Village is an 80-bed skilled nursing, rehabilitation, and assisted living facility administered by Brittany Paulus at 25951 Circle View Lane in Richland Center, Wisconsin, in Richland County. Owned by Richland County as a governmental entity, the facility accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay. Occupancy at 81 percent exceeds the 70 percent Wisconsin average, with 61.8 percent of current residents funded by Medicaid.

CMS scores Pine Valley Community Village 2 stars, driven primarily by a health inspection score 63.9 percent below the Wisconsin average. Staffing is rated 38.1 percent above average and quality measures 21.6 percent above average. Staffing is the facility’s clearest strength. Total adjusted nursing hours reach 4 hours 53 minutes per resident per day, ranked 41st of 172 Wisconsin SNFs. CNA hours at 3 hours 3 minutes are 18 percent above the Wisconsin average, and weekend total nursing at 4 hours 10 minutes is 12 percent above average, including weekend RN hours modestly above the state benchmark. LPN hours at 25 minutes per day are 34 percent below average. Physical therapist hours are minimal. Meanwhile, the inspection record holds significant weight in the 2-star rating. Across 6 inspections since 2023, the community totaled 20 citations at 3.33 per inspection, both below the Wisconsin state averages of 27.3 and 4.19, respectively. However, 2 of those citations reached critical severity, 122 percent above the Wisconsin average, and 11 of 20 citations arose from complaint investigations, indicating recurring state-escalated resident or family concerns. 2 civil money penalties were assessed in the past three years: $114,000 in March 2025 and $23,000 in July 2025, totaling $137,000. Deficiency categories are evenly distributed across Infection Control, Administration, Abuse/Neglect/Exploitation, and Pharmacy Services. Falls with major injury are the biggest quality measure concern for both long-stay residents (5.6 percent vs. Wisconsin average of 3.2 percent, 74 percent worse) and short-stay residents (1.3 percent vs. 0.8 percent, 69 percent worse). ED visits for long-stay residents run 60 percent above average. The strengths: depressive symptoms and pressure ulcers are well below average, and short-stay re-hospitalization at 18.6 percent is 18 percent better than the Wisconsin benchmark.

Features include a Music and Memory program alongside skilled nursing and dietary services.

Pine Valley Community Village carries an operating loss of $1.6 million annually, covered by Richland County. This matches its historical financial pattern and doesn’t reflect on the county’s commitment to the facility’s operation. Families should ask about fall prevention protocols before placement.

Overview of Pine Crest Nursing Home

Pine Crest Nursing Home is a 120-bed skilled nursing, memory care, and rehabilitation facility at 2100 E Sixth Street in Merrill, Wisconsin, in Lincoln County. Owned by Lincoln County as a governmental entity and managed by Ensign Services, with Ryan Hanson as administrator, the facility accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay.

CMS rates Pine Crest Nursing Home the highest tier 5 stars, with all 3 regulatory dimensions above the Wisconsin average: health inspection by 44.4 percent, staffing by 38.1 percent, and overall by 66.1 percent. Quality measures run modestly below the Wisconsin average at 8.8 percent. The inspection record is strong. Across 7 surveys since 2023, Pine Crest Nursing Home totaled just 16 citations against a 27.3 Wisconsin average at 2.29 per inspection, ranking 18th of 174 Wisconsin SNFs. No critical or serious citations have been issued. All 16 citations are moderate or minor and corrected. Pharmacy Services is the leading deficiency category at 5 deficiencies (31 percent). No civil money penalties have been imposed in the past three years. Staffing ranks 55th of 172 Wisconsin SNFs at 4 hours 34 minutes per resident per day, 8 percent above Wisconsin average. Q4 2025 data shows 154 total staff with just 4.3 percent contractor hours, among the lowest contractor shares in this batch, and all 64 CNAs are directly employed. Quality measure performance for long-stay residents warrants attention on three metrics: depressive symptoms at 8.1 percent are 60 percent above Wisconsin average, walking decline at 28.9 percent is 27 percent above average, and UTI rate at 4.5 percent is 42 percent above average. Antipsychotic use, weight loss, ADL decline, and incontinence are at or below the Wisconsin benchmark. The current census of 73 residents across 120 beds reflects a 69 percent occupancy rate, consistent with Wisconsin average, with 76.7 percent of current residents funded by Medicaid and an average length of stay of 401 days, indicating a predominantly long-term care population.

In-house therapy covers physical, occupational, and speech services, alongside dental services staff and on-site hospice care. The Stay Active program structures the monthly activity calendar for resident engagement.

Pine Crest Nursing Home suits Lincoln County families seeking a 5-star CMS-rated skilled nursing facility. Those placing long-stay residents must inquire first regarding mental health programming and infection prevention protocols before deciding.

Newcare INC is a 43-bed skilled nursing, rehabilitation, and assisted living facility at 903 Main Avenue in Crivitz, Wisconsin, in Marinette County. Occupancy at 90.5 percent ranks 12th of 175 Wisconsin SNFs, with limited availability at any moment. Privately owned and operated by Newcare INC, led by Deb Wieting, and administered by Sherri Benjamin, the facility has served Crivitz and the surrounding area since 1965, ranking 4th of 36 Wisconsin SNFs in years of operation. It accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, carries an A+ BBB rating, and also operates Adult Group Homes as an additional service line. Pricing ranges from around $2,250 to $6,789 monthly. Hospice and respite care exist. No pets allowed.

CMS rates Newcare INC 4 stars, with quality measures 52 percent above Wisconsin’s average. Quality measure outcomes are the facility’s defining strength. For long-stay residents, hospitalizations run at 1.06 per 1,000 resident days (34 percent better than Wisconsin’s average), emergency department visits are 48 percent below average, pressure ulcers are 54 percent better, depressive symptoms 66 percent better, antipsychotic use 57 percent better, and weight loss 45 percent better. Walking ability decline at 10.3 percent is 55 percent better than the state benchmark. ADL decline at 26.1 percent and UTI at 4.1 percent are the two long-stay metrics above average. Short-stay outcomes are equally strong: re-hospitalization at 11.4 percent is 50 percent better than Wisconsin’s average, and self-care ability at discharge of 74.5 percent is 39 percent above average. Short-stay falls with major injury at 1.8 percent runs above the state benchmark and warrants a direct conversation with the care team. The inspection record shows 17 total citations since 2023, below the Wisconsin average of 27.3, at 3.4 per inspection against a state average of 4.19. One critical citation is on record, corrected, with Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation as the leading deficiency category at 4 deficiencies. A $10,000 civil money penalty was assessed in May 2023, 89 percent below the Wisconsin average fine amount. All CNAs and RNs are direct employees, with contractor hours at just 4.1 percent of the total.

The facility’s 43-bed scale is a deliberate care model choice. A physician specializing in family medicine and geriatrics serves as in-house Medical Director, and the smaller census allows staff to know and engage with every resident personally. Activities are planned with residents’ health in mind to help them live life with purpose. Physical, occupational, and speech therapies exist on-site alongside dental services. Residents have access to a community dining hall, a shared living room, a convenience market, in-suite kitchenettes, regular maid service, and emergency call systems per room. A large atrium provides communal space for activities, visiting, and family gatherings. The programs Rehabilitation Center and Resident Daily Life and Well-Being structure care and daily programming around each resident’s goals.

Newcare INC suits Marinette County families seeking a long-established, high-performing skilled nursing and rehabilitation community with outstanding clinical outcomes and a strong track record in rural Wisconsin.

Overview of Markesan Resident Home, INC.

Markesan Resident Home, Inc., is a 50-bed skilled nursing, memory care, and assisted living facility at 1130 N Margaret in Markesan, Green Lake County, Wisconsin. Owned and operated as a non-profit by Markesan Resident Home Inc and administered by Jennifer Sauer, the facility accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay.

CMS scores Markesan Resident Home, Inc., 5 stars, with all four rating dimensions above Wisconsin’s average: overall by 66.1 percent, health inspection by 44.4 percent, staffing by 38.1 percent, and quality measures by 21.6 percent. Staffing ranks 12th of 172 Wisconsin SNFs at 5 hours 35 minutes of total adjusted nursing per resident per day, 32 percent above state average. CNA hours of 3 hours 9 minutes are 22 percent above average, weekend total nursing of 4 hours 32 minutes is 22 percent above average, and weekend RN coverage of 45 minutes is 12 percent above average. Q4 2025 data shows 87 total staff with 10.3 percent contractor hours, and 10 nurse aides currently in training. The inspection record is equally strong. Just 5 total citations have been recorded across 2 surveys since 2022, ranked 11th of 174 Wisconsin SNFs, at 2.5 per inspection against a state average of 4.19. Zero critical or serious citations with no penalties. All 5 citations are moderate and corrected, all from standard inspections. Quality measure highlights include pressure ulcers at 1.0 percent (81 percent better than Wisconsin’s average), depressive symptoms at 0.9 percent (82 percent better), and short-stay ED visits at 4.3 percent (71 percent better). Weight loss at 9.8 percent (101 percent above state average) and self-care ability at discharge at 37.0 percent (31 percent below average) are the two metrics families should discuss with the clinical team.

Amenities are the most distinctive in this review. Meals are prepared by a Le Cordon Bleu chef and served in an elegant dining room. On-site clinical resources include a doctor, podiatry, and optometry services, an on-site lab, and X-ray, which are uncommon at a 50-bed community. Residents have access to a beauty and barber shop, chapel services and worship center, libraries, a game room, and manicured gardens with inviting terraces. Programs include music therapy, sensory stimulation programs, community outings, day trips, and an extensive activities schedule. Paid utilities cover everything like HD cable television and wireless internet, except phone service. Physical, occupational, and speech therapy are provided on-site. The program Always There Home Care extends services beyond the residential campus. An Active Resident Council and on-site Nurse Aide Training program complete the community infrastructure.

Located in a small-town Wisconsin setting, Markesan Resident Home, Inc., suits Green Lake County families seeking a non-profit, consistently 5-star rated community with exceptional amenities, staffing, and inspection and quality record.

Lasata Care Center is a 106-bed skilled nursing, rehabilitation, and memory care facility at W76 N677 Wauwatosa Road in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, in Ozaukee County. Owned by the Ozaukee County Board as a governmental entity and administered by Barton Smith, the facility is part of a Continuing Care Retirement Community campus. It accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay. Minimum age 62 required.

CMS grades Lasata Care Center 5 stars, with all four rating dimensions above Wisconsin’s average: health inspection by 80.5 percent, staffing by 38.1 percent, quality measures by 52.0 percent, and overall by 66.1 percent. The facility carries an A+ BBB rating and holds one of the highest walk scores in this review at 84, ranked 31st of 581 Wisconsin SNFs. Staffing ranks 30th of 172 Wisconsin SNFs at 5 hours 7 minutes per resident per day, 21 percent above Wisconsin’s average. LPN hours at 1 hour 6 minutes are 74 percent above the state average, CNA hours at 3 hours 30 minutes are 35 percent above average, and weekend total nursing at 4 hours 55 minutes is 32 percent above average. One vital staffing context: Q4 2025 data shows 205 of 332 total staff are contractors (15.3 percent of hours), with 141 of 217 CNAs and 27 of 36 RNs supplied by agency, a mix that’s common in county-governed facilities but worth raising in a family conversation about workforce continuity. Quality measures are outstanding for long-stay residents. ED visits at 0.68 per 1,000 resident days are 69 percent below the Wisconsin average, hospitalizations 43 percent below average, falls with major injury 60 percent better, and depressive symptoms 72 percent better. The UTI rate at 7.7 percent is 141 percent above the Wisconsin average of 3.2 percent, the most significant long-stay concern. For short-stay residents, return to home or community at 70.7 percent is 40 percent better than Wisconsin’s average, the standout metric. Short-stay falls with major injury at 1.7 percent run above the state benchmark. The inspection record shows just 11 total citations across 4 surveys since 2022, ranked 38th of 174 Wisconsin SNFs, with zero critical or serious citations and penalties. All citations corrected.

Programs feature Short-Term Rehab, Long-Term Skilled Nursing, and Therapy Services. Amenities include private rehabilitation suites, cable TV and Wi-Fi, private and public lounges, walking trails, a fitness center, salon services, a library and media room, religious services, and diverse social, recreational, educational, and spiritual programming. Three meals per day, housekeeping, linen service, and utilities are included.

Situated in a highly walkable Cedarburg area, Lasata Care Center suits Ozaukee County and greater Milwaukee-area families seeking a 5-star county-governed CCRC-affiliated SNF with exceptional long-stay clinical outcomes, above-average staffing, and robust amenities.

Overview of Fairhaven Corporation

Fairhaven Corporation is a 49-bed Life Plan nursing community in Whitewater, Wisconsin, offering independent living, assisted living, memory care, respite care, and rehabilitation services to residents in Walworth County. The facility is privately owned and operated by Fairhaven Corporation, with its current licensed capacity in place since January 2025.

The facility’s compliance record to date is clean. With only one inspection on record — a January 2025 monitoring survey tied to a licensed capacity increase from 26 to 49 beds — Fairhaven has accumulated zero deficiencies and no complaint investigations or enforcement actions.

Fairhaven operates with 24-hour staffing. Therapy services are available as a named program. Admissions are predominantly Medicare (60%) and private pay (38%), with an average length of stay of 89 days — consistent with a short-term post-acute model. The facility’s current occupancy rate is 53%, well below the Wisconsin average of 70%, which means immediate availability is likely.

Fairhaven Corporation fits residents seeking short-term rehabilitation or post-acute recovery in Whitewater. It also serves residents transitioning into memory care or longer assisted living arrangements through its Life Plan model.