1953 7Th Street South, Brainerd, MN 56401
For more information about senior living options: (866) 208-4318
Overall Review of Good Samaritan Society Bethany
Pros
There are some nice employees who care here.- They took such good care of my father in law.
- Dorinda was so wonderful and such a caring person.
- Grandma was very happy.
- Nice place.
Cons
The facility itself is dated and there’s no structure to the TCU.- Immobile or fall-risk patients aren’t moved for most of the day, with no therapy on weekends.
- There’s a risk for bed sores and infections due to the lack of movement.
- There’s no routine for rounds; the staff only visually check in as they walk by, leaving nonverbal residents overlooked.
- The staff are rude and some make demeaning comments about patients.
- The care is terrible, rooms are dirty, staff are lazy, and the place is not something they would recommend.
- A reviewer pulled a relative from Bethany after less than a week, indicating a very poor experience.
Review
Good Samaritan Society Bethany in Brainerd is best suited for relatively independent seniors who only need modest daily assistance and for families prepared to supervise care closely. It is not ideal for residents with substantial mobility limits or for those who require intensive, structured rehab and vigilant, proactive rounds. Those prioritizing a calm, affordable SNF option with straightforward tasks can find value here, but must enter with a plan for oversight and a plan to transition if medical or rehab needs rise.
Among the positives, a handful of staff members show genuine care and engagement, and some residents report pleasant experiences. The facility can feel welcoming when attentive caregivers are present, and there are moments when interactions are meaningful. Yet these favorable notes are not part of a consistent program; they fail to offset pervasive process gaps that affect safety and day-to-day dignity.
Major red flags center on the care program's structure. The TCU lacks a clear routine, and therapy appears limited to roughly 45 minutes per day, with no weekend coverage. For anyone unable to move independently, this translates into days of bed-bound time and a real risk of complications from immobility. Without regular, purposeful movement and a visible rounds protocol, residents can drift out of sight and out of accountability.
Safety and cleanliness concerns compound the risk. Reports include patients found in soiled clothing or urine, infrequent changes, and staff who seem inattentive or distracted. Rude remarks toward family visitors and a pattern of low staffing levels are repeatedly cited, and some rooms are described as dirty. These issues erode trust and directly impact comfort, dignity, and the ability to receive timely assistance.
For families weighing options, alternatives like Crosby, Edgewood, and Crosslake typically offer stronger rehab programs, more consistent staffing, and cleaner environments. If choosing Bethany anyway, prepare to engage actively: request explicit daily rounds for every resident, insist on a structured mobility or rehab schedule, and verify the assignment of a primary caregiver who will be accountable. In-depth tours should probe cleaning protocols, incident reporting, and how weekends are staffed. Without concrete assurances in these areas, the risks outweigh the benefits.
Bottom line: this community can be acceptable only for a narrowly defined group, those who can tolerate variable staffing, limited rehab, and a watchful oversight approach. If care quality, cleanliness, and proactive mobility support matter, pursue other options first. When Bethany is the chosen path, enter with a concrete care plan, insist on transparent staffing schedules, and keep a close cadence of visits and notes to ensure needs are met.
21 resident community capacity
Assisted Living
Beauty salon
Cable or satellite TV
Dining room
Fully furnished
Garden
Housekeeping services
Kitchenette
Move-in coordination
Outdoor space
Telephone
Wi-Fi/high-speed internet available
Brainerd-Crow Wing County Regional (5 miles away)
24-hour call system
Activities of daily living assistance
Assistance with bathing
Assistance with dressing
Assistance with transfers
Diabetes diet
Meal preparation and service
Medication management
Mental wellness program
Special dietary restrictions
Transportation arrangement (medical)
Transportation to doctors appointments
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