325 Johnson Street, Alpena, MI 49707
For more information about senior living options: (866) 208-4318
Besser Senior Living Community Costs & Pricing
Besser Senior Living Community offers a range of monthly costs for its accommodations that reflect the community's commitment to providing quality care and services. For a studio apartment, residents can expect to pay $4,007, which is significantly higher than the average cost in Presque Isle County at $2,790 and also above the state average of $3,824. The one-bedroom option is priced at $4,461, again surpassing local and state averages of $3,661 and $3,384 respectively. Notably, the semi-private accommodation is offered at $5,130, aligning with local pricing but markedly higher than Michigan's average of $3,191. These costs highlight Besser Senior Living's focus on delivering an enriching living experience while positioning itself within a competitive market landscape.
| Floor plans | Besser Senior Living Community | Presque Isle County | Michigan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $4,007 | $2,790 | $3,824 |
| 1 Bedroom | $4,461 | $3,661 | $3,384 |
| Semi-Private | $5,130 | $5,130 | $3,189 |
Overall Review of Besser Senior Living Community
Pros
The staff are awesome, caring for residents with compassion and affording them grace and dignity.- The facility is very clean and well maintained.
- The quality of care is as good as could be expected.
- The food is excellent and meals are enjoyed by residents.
- Activities are available and staff make efforts to involve residents.
- The pricing is fair.
- Management is involved, responsive, and devoted to residents' well-being.
Cons
The response time to help calls is excessively slow, sometimes taking up to an hour to an hour and a half, which is unacceptable given the cost.- Some staff are not adequately skilled, and the facility appears understaffed and underqualified.
- The building is nice and rooms are decent, but the staffing and level of care do not match.
- The facility is very unorganized.
- Residents paying nearly $5,000 per month should not have to soil themselves due to delayed assistance.
Review
Besser Senior Living Community in Alpena, MI is best suited for families that prioritize compassionate, dignified care delivered in a warm, well-maintained setting, with strong reassurance for loved ones about end-of-life and ongoing senior support. The community earns high marks for the people who work there, the level of cleanliness, and the overall atmosphere that allows residents to feel safe and cared for. It suits families willing to invest around a premium monthly price for comprehensive attention, good food, and meaningful activities, all under an involved management team that listens to concerns and acts on them. For residents navigating hospice or final-year needs, this is a setting where comfort and respect for dignity consistently rise to the top.
Those who may want to consider alternatives are primarily families who require lightning-fast response times or flawless operational consistency every hour of the day. A few reviews flag slower call-bell responses and pockets of understaffing or variable staff experience, which can be a deal-breaker for families dependent on immediate assistance. Prices approach five thousand dollars a month, and for households hoping to minimize risk of organizational hiccups, the perception of “very unorganized” in some moments is enough to push exploration of other options. In short, if reliability of daily operations and uniformly skilled staffing are non-negotiables, it’s prudent to compare other communities with stronger documented responsiveness.
On the upside, the core strengths of Besser offset most major concerns. The staff is repeatedly described as awesome, caring, respectful, and thorough in tending to residents and supporting families. Residents and families consistently report a level of attentiveness and compassion that provides real peace of mind, especially when a loved one is transitioning to end-of-life care. The facility itself earns praise for cleanliness and a pleasant, homelike environment, and the dining and activities programs receive credible marks, enough engagement to keep residents connected, with staff who make efforts to involve those who are hesitant. When management or front-line leaders engage with families, the communication is noted as reassuring and responsive, which helps families feel their loved ones are valued and watched over.
The documented cons are concrete, but they do not cancel out the larger positives. The most troublesome area remains response time to calls, which can stretch to an hour or more in some observations. Related concerns mention understaffing and uneven staff experience, with a few caregivers performing at a high level while others may not meet the same standard. The shopping list of drawbacks also includes occasional organizational rough edges, particularly as the community continued to stabilize after becoming a newer building with new staff. Yet these issues live in a context where the overall care delivered, especially end-of-life care, has consistently drawn praise, and where residents’ families repeatedly express confidence in the care plan and the administrator’s commitment to the clientele.
To make this decision with confidence, prospective families should probe practical, day-to-day operations before committing. Ask for current call-bell response metrics by shift, and for a transparent staffing plan that covers daytime and evening coverage, including CNA and nursing presence. Inquire about training standards, turnover rates, and how hospice and palliative coordination is managed for residents transitioning toward end of life. Request a clear breakdown of what is included in the monthly rate, and what costs might arise if additional services or higher-level care are required. Visiting at different times can reveal how the building hums on busy days versus quieter periods, and speaking with several staff members, residents, and family members will help calibrate whether the present culture and operational rhythm match expectations.
Bottom line: Besser Senior Living Community is a strong fit for families seeking compassionate, dignity-centered care in a clean, welcoming setting, where the staff’s humanity and the administrator’s engagement are real assets. It excels for those who value peace of mind, good nutrition, meaningful activities, and a supportive approach to serious illness and aging. It may, however, demand patience from families who cannot tolerate delayed responses or uneven day-to-day organization. For households with the flexibility to tolerate occasional operational rough edges in exchange for exceptional, person-centered care and a trustworthy, involved leadership team, Besser stands out as a prudent, well-regarded choice in Alpena. For others prioritizing flawless responsiveness or lower cost, it is wise to compare alternative options that prioritize speed and consistency without sacrificing the warmth and dignity that define this community’s core promise.
52 resident community capacity
1-bedroom apartments
Assisted Living
Memory Care
Cats allowed
Dogs allowed
Activities off-site
Air-conditioning
Bath tubs
Beautician on-site
Cable or satellite TV
Computer center
Devotional services off-site
Dining room
Fitness room
Fully furnished
Gaming room
Garden
Ground floor units
Guest parking
Handicap accessible
Housekeeping services
Indoor common areas
Kitchenette
Laundry
Move-in coordination
Outdoor common areas
Overnight guests
Party space
Private bathrooms
Respite or short term stays offered
Restaurant-style dining
Security gate
Small library
Telephone
Wellness center
Wheelchair accessible showers
Wi-Fi/high-speed internet available
Alpena County Regional (5 miles away)
Community operated transportation
12-16 hour nursing
24-hour call system
Ambulatory care
Assistance with bathing
Assistance with dressing
Assistance with transfers
Diabetes diet
Diabetic care
Hospice care
Incontinence care
Medication management
Mental wellness program
Special dietary restrictions
Art classes
Catholic services
Concierge services
Cooking classes
Day trips and outings
Educational speakers / life long learning
Games
Happy hour
Karaoke
Live musical performances
Wine tasting
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