Best Assisted Living in Wisconsin

Overview of Bethany Home

Bethany Home is a 100-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation community in Waupaca, Wisconsin, serving residents across Waupaca County with skilled nursing, memory care, short-term rehabilitation, and respite care. The facility is operated by Bethany Home Inc., a voluntary nonprofit organization with church affiliation. It accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay.

CMS rates Bethany Home at 5 stars overall — 66% above the Wisconsin average — with above-average scores across all three sub-categories. Health inspection performance is 44% above the Wisconsin mean, Quality Measures are 52% above, and Staffing is 10% above. Nurse staffing averages 4 hours and 16 minutes per resident per day, ranking 80th among 172 Wisconsin skilled nursing facilities.

Since 2024, four inspections have produced 10 total citations, at 2.5 per inspection — placing the facility 26th out of 174 Wisconsin SNFs on that metric. No civil money penalties have been assessed in the past three years, and no Immediate Jeopardy findings appear in the record; a single moderate abuse/neglect citation from October 2025 was corrected.

All residents are housed in private rooms, and on-site therapy — physical, occupational, and speech — supports the facility’s active rehabilitation caseload. Worship services and on-site chaplain support reflect the community’s faith-based character. The payer mix skews toward private pay (59% of admissions), with Medicare covering roughly 38%, consistent with a facility oriented toward post-acute and short-stay care.

Bethany Home fits residents seeking short-term Medicare rehabilitation or longer-term skilled nursing care within a nonprofit, faith-affiliated community in Waupaca County, with private accommodations throughout.

Overview of Willow Ridge Healthcare

Willow Ridge Healthcare is an 83-bed skilled nursing facility in Amery, Wisconsin, providing skilled nursing, rehabilitation therapy, and long-term care to residents who are predominantly covered by Medicaid. The privately owned community is operated by Willow Ridge Healthcare Facilities LLC, under the administration of Mason May, and has served Polk County for 25 years.

CMS rates the facility 3 stars overall. The sub-ratings tell a more favorable story: Quality Measures score 21.6% above the Wisconsin average, driven by outcomes that consistently beat the state — zero falls with major injury among long-stay residents, a hospitalization rate of 0.96 per 1,000 resident days (roughly 40% below the Wisconsin mean), and a functional decline composite score 34% better than state peers. One notable outlier is antipsychotic medication use, which is more than twice the Wisconsin average at 32.7%, a figure relevant for families placing residents with behavioral or cognitive needs. Willow Ridge also holds an American Healthcare Association Bronze National Quality Award.

Total nurse staffing averages 4 hours and 15 minutes per resident per day, essentially at the Wisconsin average of 4 hours and 14 minutes. The staffing profile is LPN-heavy: LPN staffing is 71% above the state average, while RN staffing is 31% below — a staffing model that provides consistent hands-on care but with less direct RN clinical oversight than the state norm.

The facility’s occupancy rate is 45%, well below Wisconsin’s average of 70%, reflecting current bed availability. It offers private rooms, an outdoor patio, chef- and dietician-directed dining with alternate menu options, a library, and recreational lounge areas.

Willow Ridge Healthcare suits residents seeking long-term skilled nursing care in a smaller rural Wisconsin community, particularly those whose coverage and care needs align with Medicaid-funded extended stays.

Overview of United Pioneer Home, INC

United Pioneer Home, INC is a 50-bed nonprofit skilled nursing facility in Luck, Wisconsin, offering skilled nursing, memory care, and respite care to residents across Polk County. The community is administered by Jay Andress and accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay.

United Pioneer Home holds a 3-star overall CMS rating, in line with the Wisconsin average. Staffing is the standout dimension: nurse staffing averages 5 hours and 33 minutes per resident per day — 31% above the state average of 4 hours 14 minutes — and ranks 14th out of 172 Wisconsin skilled nursing facilities on that measure. Weekend nurse staffing averages 5 hours and 14 minutes per resident per day, 41% above the state benchmark. Health Inspection performance and Quality Measures both trail the Wisconsin average, each pulling the overall rating down from what staffing levels alone would suggest.

The facility’s occupancy rate is 64.8%, below the state average of 70%, which typically indicates near-term availability. The average length of stay is 158 days, suggesting a resident mix weighted toward longer-term skilled nursing rather than short-stay rehabilitation.
United Pioneer Home fits residents — and families — who prioritize consistent, well-staffed hands-on care in a smaller nonprofit community, particularly for longer-term skilled nursing and memory care placements in the Luck area.

Overview of Twin Ports Health Services

Twin Ports Health Services is a 90-bed skilled nursing facility at 1612 N 37th Street in Superior, Wisconsin, owned by NSh Superior LLC and administered by Viana Johnson. The facility accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, with a current census that runs roughly 73% Medicaid, reflecting a predominantly long-stay population.

CMS rates the facility 4 stars overall — 32.9% above the Wisconsin average — driven by a strong Health Inspection score that ranks 44.4% above state peers. Over the past three years, Twin Ports recorded 7 citations across 3 inspections, a rate of 2.33 per inspection, compared with the Wisconsin average of 4.19 per inspection. All 7 citations were moderate in severity; none were critical or serious, and CMS has issued no fines or payment denials in the past three years.

Staffing presents a mixed picture. Total nurse staffing averages 3 hours and 38 minutes per resident per day, 14% below the Wisconsin average of 4 hours and 14 minutes — with nurse aide and LPN staffing accounting for most of the gap. RN staffing is the exception: averaging 1 hour and 9 minutes per day, it is 19% above the state average, indicating stronger clinical oversight than the overall staffing figure suggests. The facility’s occupancy rate is 80%, above the state average of 70%, pointing to consistent local demand.

One Quality Measure stands out: antipsychotic use among long-stay residents is 26.2%, well above the Wisconsin average of 16.1%. Families placing residents with cognitive decline or behavioral needs should weigh that figure alongside the facility’s otherwise clean compliance record.

Twin Ports Health Services is best suited for long-stay residents in Douglas County who need sustained skilled nursing care, particularly those on Medicaid, in a facility with a strong inspection record and above-average clinical oversight.

Overview of St Croix Health Center

St Croix Health Center is a 50-bed county-operated skilled nursing facility in New Richmond, Wisconsin, administered by Sandra Hackenmueller on behalf of the St Croix County Board. The facility provides skilled care with a payer mix heavily oriented toward short-term rehabilitation — Medicare accounts for 53% of admissions, with a typical stay of 27 days, while private pay accounts for an additional 43%.

Staffing is a defining strength. Total nurse staffing averages 5 hours and 44 minutes per resident per day, ranking 11th among 172 Wisconsin SNFs and roughly 35% above the state average. CNA staffing is particularly robust at 3 hours and 43 minutes per resident per day — 44% above the Wisconsin mean — while weekend nursing staffing averages 5 hours and 4 minutes, also well above state norms. The facility has incurred no federal penalties in the past three years.

The facility’s occupancy rate is 64%, below the Wisconsin average of 70%, suggesting current availability for new admissions.

On-site services include a retail pharmacy, a chapel, and the CroixCares Virtual Health Platform, a proprietary telehealth program that connects residents to a broad range of specialty services, including cardiology, nephrology, oncology, and behavioral health. An active resident council and on-site nurse aide training program round out the care infrastructure.

St Croix Health Center serves residents seeking short-term post-acute rehabilitation in St. Croix County, particularly those with complex medical needs who benefit from high levels of direct care staffing and access to specialty services through an integrated county health system.

Overview of Rennes Health and Rehab Center-appleton

Rennes Health and Rehab Center-appleton is an 88-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation community in Appleton, Wisconsin, providing skilled nursing, memory care, short-term rehabilitation, and respite care to residents in Outagamie County, 2.3 miles from the city center. The facility is privately owned and operated by TDR Inc.

CMS rates the facility 5 stars overall, with all three sub-ratings above the Wisconsin average. The Health Inspection score is 80.5% above the state average — the strongest signal in the profile — while Quality Measures run 52% above, reflecting well-managed clinical outcomes across both long- and short-stay populations. Total nurse staffing averages 4 hours and 18 minutes per resident per day, roughly 10% above the Wisconsin average, with RN and CNA staffing each outpacing state benchmarks.

The facility’s occupancy rate is 84.5%, compared to the Wisconsin average of 70%, indicating consistent local demand. Rennes accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, and holds dual Title 18/19 certification. Outpatient therapy is available for non-residents, extending the facility’s rehabilitation services beyond its licensed beds.

Rennes Health and Rehab Center-appleton suits short-stay rehabilitation patients, post-acute Medicare admissions, and residents requiring ongoing skilled nursing or memory care in the Appleton area.

Overview of Plum City Care Center

Plum City Care Center is a 50-bed skilled nursing facility in Plum City, Wisconsin, providing skilled nursing, memory care, and short-term rehabilitation to Pierce County residents. The community is privately owned and administered by Carla Hutter.

The facility holds a 4-star CMS rating. Since 2022, it has completed 3 Health Inspections, resulting in 9 total citations, ranking 26th out of 174 Wisconsin SNFs — well below the state’s average of 27.3 citations per facility. All citations were of moderate severity; no critical or serious findings. No federal penalties have been imposed in the past three years. CMS Quality Measures rate long-stay performance above average and short-stay performance significantly above average statewide, with hospitalization rates running 35% below the Wisconsin mean.

Nurse staffing averages 3 hours and 44 minutes per resident per day, drawn from a permanent team of 56 licensed and certified nursing staff — RNs, LPNs, and CNAs — all employees rather than contractors. Contractor support covers therapy and social work roles.

Rehabilitation services include physical, occupational, and respiratory therapy aides, with a resident council and an on-site nurse aide training program rounding out the care infrastructure. Amenities include private rooms, an outdoor patio, a recreational lounge, and chef- and dietician-directed menus. The facility’s current occupancy rate is 81% — 11 percentage points above the Wisconsin average.

Payer mix skews toward Medicaid (32%) and Medicare (39%), with a 2023 average length of stay of nearly 205 days — a blend that reflects both post-acute and longer-term residents. The facility’s 58.9% successful return-to-community rate exceeds the Wisconsin average of 50.6%, a meaningful marker of short-stay rehabilitation outcomes.

Plum City Care Center suits older adults in Pierce County seeking skilled nursing or short-term post-acute rehabilitation in a small, privately operated community with a consistent record of compliance.

Overview of Pine View Care Center

Pine View Care Center is a 95-bed skilled nursing facility in Black River Falls, Wisconsin, offering skilled nursing, rehabilitation therapy, memory care, assisted living, and respite care. The center is operated by Kandis Fieber under Jackson Pine View Healthcare, LLC, and accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay.

Pine View holds a 4-star CMS overall rating. Its staffing is the clearest strength: total nurse staffing averages 5 hours 20 minutes per resident per day, ranking 23rd out of 172 Wisconsin skilled nursing facilities and roughly 38% above the state average. No federal penalties have been issued in the past three years, a clean compliance baseline. Quality Measures trail the state slightly — long-stay antipsychotic medication use is at 26.5%, well above Wisconsin’s 16.1% average, a figure worth noting specifically for memory care placements.

The facility’s occupancy rate is 50%, compared to a Wisconsin average of 70%, indicating consistent bed availability. Private pay accounts for 57% of admissions, with a typical private-pay stay of 12 to 13 months, suggesting the facility supports longer-term placements alongside its rehabilitation track. Amenities include several outdoor patio areas, private rooms, chef- and dietician-directed menus, and recreational lounge areas.

Pine View Care Center’s staffing strength and current availability make it best suited for residents seeking post-acute rehabilitation and longer-term skilled nursing care in Jackson County. Families considering memory care placement should weigh the antipsychotic use rate alongside the facility’s staffing depth and clean penalty record.

Overview of Oak Ridge Care Center

Oak Ridge Care Center is a 74-bed skilled nursing and long-term care community in Union Grove, Wisconsin, offering skilled nursing, rehabilitation, memory care, and respite services, with 24-hour staffing throughout. Located in Racine County, the facility is owned and operated by Steven Kuranz.

Oak Ridge carries a 3-star overall CMS rating. Its standout metric is staffing: nurse staffing averages 4 hours and 50 minutes per resident per day, compared with a Wisconsin average of 4 hours and 14 minutes, placing the facility 45th out of 172 skilled nursing facilities statewide. That margin — roughly 36 minutes of additional daily direct care — is meaningful for residents with complex or fluctuating needs.

The facility accepts Medicare and private pay; Medicaid is not accepted, a relevant factor for families planning long-term stays. The facility’s occupancy rate is 73%, in line with the Wisconsin average of 70%, suggesting moderate availability.

The facility’s amenities include common gathering areas, visitation rooms, a patio, religious services, and beautician/barber services.

Oak Ridge is best suited for residents seeking skilled nursing or post-acute rehabilitation in a family-operated setting and fits families prioritizing above-average staffing ratios in Racine County. The absence of Medicaid acceptance orients the community toward Medicare-covered stays and private-pay long-term residents.