Good Samaritan Society Bethany in Brainerd, MN

Good Samaritan Society Bethany is an assisted living community in Brainerd, MN.

Information last verified:

1953 7Th Street South, Brainerd, MN 56401

For more information about senior living options: (866) 208-4318

3.3 from 9 reviews
5 stars
3
4 stars
3
3 stars
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1 stars
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Overall Review of Good Samaritan Society Bethany

Pros

  • pro There are some nice employees who care here.
  • pro They took such good care of my father in law.
  • pro Dorinda was so wonderful and such a caring person.
  • pro Grandma was very happy.
  • pro Nice place.

Cons

  • pro The facility itself is dated and there’s no structure to the TCU.
  • pro Immobile or fall-risk patients aren’t moved for most of the day, with no therapy on weekends.
  • pro There’s a risk for bed sores and infections due to the lack of movement.
  • pro There’s no routine for rounds; the staff only visually check in as they walk by, leaving nonverbal residents overlooked.
  • pro The staff are rude and some make demeaning comments about patients.
  • pro The care is terrible, rooms are dirty, staff are lazy, and the place is not something they would recommend.
  • pro 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.

Features

Housing

  • 21 resident community capacity 21 resident community capacity

Types of Care

  • Assisted Living Assisted Living

Amenities

  • Beauty salon Beauty salon
  • Cable or satellite TV Cable or satellite TV
  • Dining room Dining room
  • Fully furnished Fully furnished
  • Garden Garden
  • Housekeeping services Housekeeping services
  • Kitchenette Kitchenette
  • Move-in coordination Move-in coordination
  • Outdoor space Outdoor space
  • Telephone Telephone
  • Wi-Fi/high-speed internet available Wi-Fi/high-speed internet available

Transportation

  • Brainerd-Crow Wing County Regional (5 miles away) Brainerd-Crow Wing County Regional (5 miles away)

Care Services

  • 24-hour call system 24-hour call system
  • 24-hour supervision 24-hour supervision
  • Activities of daily living assistance Activities of daily living assistance
  • Assistance with bathing Assistance with bathing
  • Assistance with dressing Assistance with dressing
  • Assistance with transfers Assistance with transfers
  • Coordination with health care providers Coordination with health care providers
  • Diabetes diet Diabetes diet
  • Meal preparation and service Meal preparation and service
  • Medication management Medication management
  • Mental wellness program Mental wellness program
  • Special dietary restrictions Special dietary restrictions
  • Transportation arrangement (medical) Transportation arrangement (medical)
  • Transportation to doctors appointments Transportation to doctors appointments

Dining

  • Diabetes diet Diabetes diet
  • Special dietary restrictions Special dietary restrictions

Activities

  • Community-sponsored activities Community-sponsored activities
  • Resident-run activities Resident-run activities
  • Scheduled daily activities Scheduled daily activities

Description

Good Samaritan Society Bethany, located in Brainerd, MN, is an assisted living community that offers a range of amenities and care services to ensure the comfort and well-being of its residents. The fully furnished apartments feature cable or satellite TV, Wi-Fi/high-speed internet, and telephone services for entertainment and communication purposes. The community also provides housekeeping services to maintain a clean and organized living environment.

Residents can enjoy delicious meals in the dining room, with special dietary restrictions taken into consideration. For those who prefer cooking their own meals, each apartment is equipped with a kitchenette. Outdoor spaces and gardens are available for residents to relax and enjoy nature.

The care services at Good Samaritan Society Bethany include 24-hour supervision by trained staff members who provide assistance with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, and transfers. Medication management ensures that residents receive their prescribed medications on time. Coordination with health care providers is also provided to ensure seamless medical care.

The community prioritizes mental wellness through its mental wellness program, which fosters emotional well-being among residents. Additionally, diabetes diets are available for those who require them. Transportation arrangements can be made for medical appointments as well.

Residents have the opportunity to engage in resident-run activities as well as scheduled daily activities organized by the community. Nearby cafes, parks, pharmacies, physicians' offices, restaurants, transportation options, places of worship, and hospitals provide convenience and accessibility to essential services.

Overall, Good Samaritan Society Bethany offers a comfortable and supportive environment where residents can receive personalized care while enjoying a variety of amenities and opportunities for social engagement in the vibrant city of Brainerd, MN.

Nearby Places of Interest

Places of Worship

  • Evangelical Good Samaritan (0.1 miles)
  • St Andrews Church (0.8 miles)
  • Oak Street Chapel (1.3 miles)
  • First Presbyterian Church (1.3 miles)
  • Heritage Assembly of God (1.7 miles)
  • Pointway Church (1.8 miles)
  • Brainerd 7th Day (2 miles)

Physicians

  • Lakes Urology Clinic (0.1 miles)
  • Northern Orthopedics (0.1 miles)
  • Northern Eye Center PA (0.2 miles)
  • David I Sabir (0.2 miles)
  • Saint Joseph's Medical Center (0.2 miles)
  • MRO Brainerd Radiation Therapy Center (1.9 miles)
  • Essentia Health-Lakeland Psychiatry Clinic (1.9 miles)

Hospitals

  • Brainerd Lakes Integrated Health System (0.2 miles)
  • Brainerd Medical Center (0.2 miles)
  • Essentia Health-St. Joseph's Medical Center (1.9 miles)
  • Allina Health (2.6 miles)
  • Community Behavioral Health (3.3 miles)

Pharmacies

  • Good Neighbor Pharmacy (0.2 miles)
  • Thrifty White Drug (1.5 miles)
  • Thrifty Nystrom Drug (1.5 miles)
  • Thrifty White Pharmacy (1.5 miles)
  • Guidepoint Pharmacy (1.6 miles)
  • Walgreens (1.8 miles)
  • Service Drug (1.8 miles)

Transportation

  • Lakes Express (0.3 miles)
  • Executive Express (2 miles)
  • Enterprise Rent-A-Car (3.1 miles)
  • Anderson's Taxidermy (10.7 miles)

Parks

  • Kiwanis Park (1 miles)
  • Berrywood Park (1.7 miles)
  • Northland Arboretum (2.2 miles)
  • Baxter Park (4.1 miles)
  • Kart Kountry (6.4 miles)
  • St Mathias Park (8.2 miles)
  • Brainerd Region Geological Marker (8.9 miles)

Restaurants

  • Chocolate International Etc (1.5 miles)
  • Yesterday's Gone (1.5 miles)
  • Jr's No. 19 BBQ (1.6 miles)
  • Hardee's (1.7 miles)
  • McDonald's (1.8 miles)
  • Sakura Express (1.8 miles)
  • Wendy's (1.8 miles)

Cafes

  • Coco Moon (1.5 miles)
  • Knotty Pine Bakery (1.5 miles)
  • Stonehouse Coffee (2.9 miles)
  • Caribou Coffee (3.4 miles)
  • Wings Airport Cafe (4.9 miles)

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Good Samaritan Society Bethany?

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