MediLodge of Alpena — Local services in Alpena

My mother in law spent a few months at this nursing home and we could not have been more disappointed. PLEASE don't be fooled by the pictures you see on their website. While there are a few rooms that look like the pictures, most are concrete prison cells. I'm talking wires hanging from the ceiling, windows that don't close, beds that are on the concrete floor and that's just the beginning. While my mother in law was there, they "lost" most of her clothes, including her winter coat. When I asked where all of her things had gone, the staff tried to convince me that she didn't come with anything. Lucky for me I had them make a list when she came. They then asked me what I wanted them to do about it?? Really?? I wanted her things!! One of the supervisors informed me that I could go and buy her a new wardrobe and they would reimburse me. Now to be clear we aren't talking a couple of items. I'm talking 6 pairs of pants, 6 sweaters, 3 bras, 2 cardigans and one winter coat. NOW on to the infections she had while there. My mother in law had a UTI so bad and for so long that we had to threaten to take her to the hospital for them to finally treat her. The doctor at this nursing home is Dr. Dargis and to put it nicely, he couldn't care less about your loved one. He is never there and makes his patients wait for very long periods of time before he just orders an antibiotic without actually seeing them. This doctor has tripled my mother in laws heart medication and it almost killed her, she spent 3 days in the hospital because of this, he took her off of her anti-depressant medication cold turkey and she was hallucinating, having panic attacks and was basically freaking out. There was an epidemic of pneumonia, and just plain sickness all around. Maybe this is do to a lack of care by the RUDEST staff I have ever had the displeasure of dealing with. My mother in law went there for therapy after having surgery on her leg and has not walked since. By the time we could get her out of there and into a nursing home that prides themselves on helping and rehabilitating their patients, she was in pretty bad shape. She has been out of that hell hole for about a month and is now up and standing and on the road to recovery!! Thank you for reading this and please take it...

I have had two great grandmothers and one grandpa in tendercare at one point. During there stay the people where nice and great to talk to about information. During one of my visits with my great grandma as the lady walked in I seen her face light up happy as can be. Even though it was her pills she was still very happy to see her. But sadly it came to an end for my grandmother yes I was heart broken. But not just me also the people working there they were with her everyday they loved and cared for her like it was there own grandparent. Then seeing them come to the funeral really shows how much they care. No on forced them but actually cared for her that was a great feeling to know that they cared about her that much. For my other great grandma she was 97 she had mostly lived independently for a while but as she came to teandercare it was a huge change for her. As time went on she started to adapt to her surroundings and the people who worked there. Then she began to like it but after a while she turned 98 and she began to decline in health and she knew it was her time to go but she was happy with the people she was around and the people that were taking care of her and sadly she passed and again at the funeral workers came to the funeral. They where sad just like me but no matter my feelings that day I was glad to see them walk in. Now for my grandpa he is someone I have looked up to my whole life and means the world to me he may have just gone to rehab. But just about everyday I went to visit him and talk with him and play games. Day in and day out I still went there and started to know the workers more and more which were always kind. Through this all I knew he just wanted to go and ride his tractor or go out fishing in his pontoon but he was still happy. Over all I highly recommend tendercare alpena great people...

I don't have a lot of experience with long term care facilities, but I sure hope there are better ones out there than Medilodge in Alpena on Long Rapids Rd.. The picture of the room that they show on their website is quite hilarious, where is that cheerful looking room?? All of the rooms that I've seen are tiny cold cement block rooms with a bed, a chair, and a curtain that separates the two occupants. The rooms are so small that it's very difficult to move around or maneuver a wheel chair. These rooms are pretty much colorless drab prison cells with only the steel bars missing. I am so saddened to think of the poor elderly people that are in this facility for the long haul who have to live out their remaining days and years in this God forsaken environment. HOW HAS THIS PLACE NOT BEEN REMODELED OR UPDATED???! How about expanding or taking less patients?? Something needs to be done to make these rooms livable. Most animals have better living conditions than this.

This facility is definitely under staffed and I'm sure the current staff is over worked. When calling this facility, the phone might ring 15 or 20 times before being picked up or it may not be answered at all. With the onset of COVID, things are even worse. Loved ones that desperately need visitors for emotional support and to keep their minds sharp are left out in the cold for weeks on end. NO VISITORS ALLOWED PERIOD!! Isn't there some way that visitors could be allowed in this facility as long as all parties are vaccinated and are following the screening protocol? Couldn't there be one separated area where patients could visit with their loved ones? Covid or not, this situation is completely unacceptable!

I will say that the food looks decent at Medilodge, but other than that I can't think of anything else...