Skaalen Retirement Services sits in Stoughton, Wisconsin, with two campuses-one is about 110 acres in Stoughton and the other is 20 acres in McFarland, both just outside Madison, and they've been around since 1896, so they've seen how care for older adults has changed over the years. Skaalen provides a full range of care, from independent living all the way to skilled nursing and memory care, which means folks don't have to move as their needs change. The big campus includes places like Skaalen Heights, the Heritage Center, Magnolia Gardens for memory care, Skaalen Village, Skaalendal, Vennevoll, and Skaalen Ridge, with each community fitting different levels of need and support, and Magnolia Gardens, in particular, is known and does have a waiting list for their specialized Alzheimer's and dementia care unit, with custom plans and a controlled, safe environment for residents needing higher-level support.
People can choose from independent condos-221 of them, in fact-with two bedrooms and single-level layouts ranging from 1,200 to 1,575 square feet, many of which are ranch-style and made to fit into the natural setting, and these are for adults 62 and up who want maintenance-free living but can get help when they need it because licensed nurses and experienced maintenance staff are available, and there's support for housekeeping and home repair. Assisted living is separate and includes staff called Resident Aids and a licensed nurse to help with daily needs like bathing, dressing, and taking medicine, and if someone needs more care, there's the skilled nursing and rehabilitation center which serves both short-term and long-term stays, plus there's respite care available for up to 28 days at a time, with pricing included in their tour packets. The facilities also follow Wisconsin DHS 83 rules, and for anyone who needs healthcare, they offer medical and clinic services, including annual flu and Covid shots, medication management, therapy like physical, occupational, and speech services, incontinence and non-ambulatory care, and a wellness center with a warm-water therapy pool.
There are bath tubs and wheelchair-accessible showers in the rooms, plus options to bring in favorite things from home to decorate, so it feels more personal. Skaalen doesn't allow pets at this time, even though there were pet-friendly mentions in the past, but they do have shared indoor and outdoor areas for residents to visit and socialize. Transportation's available, sometimes complimentary and sometimes at extra cost, and there's resident parking as well. Meals come family-style, and breakfast is made to order on each unit, which gives a homier start to the day.
Activities, both on-site and off-site, cover social, educational, and devotional options, so people can join in as much or as little as they want, and there's a beautician for hair care. Skaalen's a non-profit, faith-based place, tied to the Lutheran Church, and staff work to give care in a Christian environment, serving more than 500 older adults and their families every year, aiming to support independence but having help on hand and staff available for concerns or questions-families get updates by phone or email whenever they raise something. Skaalen Retirement Services has stood for over a century as one of Dane County's largest and most established senior care organizations, with a range of choices for residents who want to age comfortably, safely, and with options that fit their own needs.
