Cherrywood Of Big Lake

Pros

• The patients are treated like family.
• It is a small place that runs well.
• The location is in the middle of a regular neighborhood.
• The rooms are spacious.
• Her mom's room is large enough to be comfortable.
• It has a great room for larger gatherings.
• The facility is friendly and full of smiles.
• It offers all the regular extras.

Cons

• The facility restricted admissions to older adults, which felt discriminatory.
• The meals were minimal and not particularly nutritious.
• There was no full-time nursing manager as promised.
• Management was difficult to work with.
• There were no activities most of the time.
• The staff appeared to be overworked.
• Ownership was profit-driven.
• Visiting hours were poorly communicated and restrictive, making it hard to see loved ones.
• They would not recommend any Cherrywood locations.

Review

Cherrywood Of Big Lake is best suited for families seeking a small, memory-care–focused community where residents are treated like family and care feels personal rather than institutional. With roughly 20 rooms arranged on two sides, the layout supports intimate supervision and easy observation, while shared dining areas, a dedicated memory-care kitchen, and a snack lounge create a home-like rhythm rather than a hospital cadence. The neighborhood setting adds to the sense of normalcy, and for residents who can still enjoy a few steps outside, the outdoor area provides a gentle sense of freedom. This option works particularly well for loved ones who stabilize in a calm, predictable routine, appreciate direct interaction with caregivers, and value quiet days with accessible spaces for reading, small gatherings, and routine self-care.

However, families needing robust nursing oversight, a fully active daily calendar, or flexible visiting will want to exercise caution and consider alternatives. Several reviews flag the absence of a full-time nursing manager as promised, and point to staffing strains that leave caregivers juggling multiple tasks. The facility's profitability orientation and difficult management further erode confidence in reliability and responsiveness. For residents who require frequent medical attention, or for families who rely on clear, consistent communication and predictable policies, these issues can outweigh the benefits of the small, intimate setting. The visiting policy, described as restrictive in practice, also matters when travel time for family and the ability to drop in without advance notice is high on the priority list.

On the upside, the pros are coherent and tangible. The tiny footprint supports a genuinely home-like atmosphere where caregivers know residents by name, monitor changes quickly, and adapt routines with less red tape. The memory-care design emphasizes familiar routines and private spaces, rooms are described as generous, and the shared areas include two dining rooms, a kitchen-equipped snack area, and a common room suitable for small gatherings. Outdoor accessibility is a real benefit; residents who can walk or sit outside can enjoy fresh air and a view without feeling isolated. Laundry, lift assistance, and bathrooms with showers in each bedroom contribute to day-to-day practicality, reducing friction for families managing ongoing care needs. For families prioritizing consistent, close contact with a smaller team, these operational realities translate into real peace of mind.

Yet the negatives cannot be ignored, and they often swing the decision toward alternatives. Nutritional quality is questioned, with meals described as minimal and not particularly nutritious, a condition frustrating for families looking for steady, balanced diets. Communication gaps routinely surface, stories of misaligned visiting hours, conflicting messages about who can visit, and staff who seem overwhelmed by competing demands. The impression that ownership prioritizes profit over residents' experience colors many interactions and could undermine trust during critical moments. Activity programming appears sparse, leaving residents with limited engagement beyond basic care tasks. Taken together, these factors raise legitimate doubts about whether daily life at Cherrywood will feel stimulating or energetic enough for a resident who thrives on structured activity, meaningful interaction, and a responsive nursing presence.

From a decision-making standpoint, prospective residents should verify several practical points during a visit. Ask whether a nurse manager is on site full-time and how staffing levels vary by shift; request to see a typical day in memory care, including routines, activities, and safety checks. Inquire about the actual visiting policy and how strictly it is enforced, and observe whether staff communicate clearly about exceptions. Review the menu and ask for a sample week to judge nutritional quality, portion sizes, and individualized dietary accommodations. Clarify pricing: what is included in the base rate versus add-ons, and what happens if a resident requires higher levels of care or medication administration beyond the standard plan. Finally, ask about staff turnover, training, and ways families can stay engaged in care planning, these indicators often predict how smoothly daily life will run once the initial tour ends.

When the goal is intimate, memory-focused care in a home-like setting, Cherrywood Of Big Lake can be a compelling option, provided expectations align with the realities of staffing, programming, and policy. For families prioritizing a rich activity calendar, steady nursing oversight, and highly transparent communication, alternatives with larger scale operations or facilities known for robust programming may deliver better overall alignment. The key is a candid tour guided by concrete questions, a review of care plans, and a realistic read of how often staff are available to address concerns. In the right match, the small scale translates into flexibility, warmth, and practical daily support that makes a tangible difference in quality of life for a resident who values comfort and familiar routines.

Restaurants

• McPete's Sports Bar & Lanes (0.1 miles)
• Trails Grill & Sports Bar (0.3 miles)
• McDonald's (0.5 miles)
• The Third Rail Bar and Grill (0.5 miles)
• Hawk's Sports Bar & Grill (3 miles)
• Rustech Brewing (3.3 miles)
• Beef O'Brady's (3.4 miles)

Pharmacies

• Coborn's Pharmacy (0.3 miles)
• Coborn's Superstore (0.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3 miles)
• Walgreens (3.2 miles)
• Cub Pharmacy 691 (3.7 miles)
• Allied Pharmacy Products (3.8 miles)
• Centracare Pharmacy Becker (7.2 miles)

Cafes

• Caribou Coffee (0.3 miles)
• The Lake Cafe (0.4 miles)
• Caribou Coffee (3.1 miles)
• Caribou Coffee (8.4 miles)
• Starbucks (8.5 miles)
• Starbucks (9.1 miles)
• Panera Bread (9.1 miles)

Physicians

• Kooiker Ann Nystrom And Associates Limited Big Lake (0.6 miles)
• Big Lake Clinic Family Practice (1.9 miles)
• Big Lake Clinic (1.9 miles)
• Olson Timothy MD (2.9 miles)
• Monticello Cancer Center (2.9 miles)
• Stellis Health (2.9 miles)
• CentraCare (2.9 miles)

Parks

• Lakeside Park (1.1 miles)
• Pioneer Park (4 miles)
• Orono Park Playground (6.7 miles)
• Villas Park (7.8 miles)
• Gutzwiller Park (8.2 miles)
• Swamp Lake Park (8.3 miles)
• Snuffy's Landing (9.5 miles)

Hospitals

• Nursing Home Monticello-Big Lake (2.9 miles)
• Monticello Big Lake Hospital (2.9 miles)
• New River Medical Center (2.9 miles)
• Riverplace Clinic (3.3 miles)
• Monticello-Big Lake Pet Hosp (4.4 miles)
• Mercy Hospital (5.6 miles)

Places of Worship

• Cornerstone Baptist Church (3.8 miles)
• Quarry Community Church (4.1 miles)
• Kelly Dykstra (8.2 miles)
• Westbridge Community Church (8.2 miles)
• Rev Steve Seiffert Reverand (8.5 miles)
• Faith Lutheran Church (9.6 miles)

Theaters

• Monticello 15 Theatre (4.6 miles)