New Challenges Inc Afton

Pros

• The company is outstanding and provides more care and options in a short time than before.
• Mohammed has gotten to know the resident's quirks and is already making progress.
• The owner goes beyond basic needs to help residents thrive.
• The staff are considerate, gentle, and respectful.
• The program is good and offers enriching activities and opportunities for residents.
• The owner is available by phone, text, and email at any time.
• The company provides a 24-hour emergency cell number for immediate help.
• Issues and concerns are addressed in a timely manner.

Cons

• A reviewer alleges ongoing abuse by staff toward clients and says staff refuse to believe them, silencing them when issues are raised.
• Another reviewer cites chronic staffing shortages, with residents often needing to seek outside help for basic needs.
• A former resident describes horrible maintenance, staff who don't meet clients' needs, no clear communication, and a perception that the company is money-driven.
• There is a claim of horrible communication, poor services, and unsanitary conditions, with a warning not to trust a loved one to this institution and mention of ongoing litigation.
• A former resident reports being treated very badly, including unfounded accusations, retaliation, lack of privacy, and a negative experience that contributed to PTSD; advises others not to place loved ones there.
• A reviewer cautions others not to move loved ones into the group homes run by the company.
• A past account describes a group home experience from 2010?2011 involving neglect, lack of one-on-one time, and other hardships that severely affected the resident's well-being.

Review

The collection of reviews paints a picture of a care company operating multiple group homes, including several in Apple Valley, where experiences range from life-changing positivity to troubling accusations. One account centers on a brother who has been a resident for about six weeks in an Apple Valley home. The writer describes a striking contrast to what their family endured previously, noting that the company has provided more care and more options in the last 50 days than in the prior year and a half. The care provider assigned to the brother, Mohammed, has taken the time to understand his quirks, and the writer expresses clear progress and satisfaction with the relationship that has developed. The owner, though not someone the writer has personally met, appears to be deeply invested in more than merely meeting basic needs, instead striving to help residents thrive.

Other entries echo this theme of meaningful impact, albeit in somewhat softer terms. A different voice notes that the program is still fairly new, but the overall experience has been good, with challenges described as part of the process. The staff are portrayed as considerate, gentle, respectful, and even inspirational to those around them. The writer emphasizes the sense of community - friends and staff alike - who are perceived as good people. There is a particular request embedded in one entry about evacuation rules, suggesting concerns about how safety procedures are implemented, but the gratitude for the care and the improvements remains evident. In another positive reflection, the writer highlights how the owner is genuinely attentive to residents' activities and enrichment, suggesting that the leadership's energy translates into a lively and engaging daily life for clients.

Yet the narrative is not without its darker notes. A portion of the collection documents long-standing concerns about abuse and a culture of disbelief. One reviewer claims they witnessed abuse by staff toward clients for many years and describes a pattern in which staff do not believe clients and actively attempt to silence them. Related comments point to chronic staffing shortages, with residents often needing to seek external help to meet basic needs. In these voices, the care environment is fragile, and the lack of adequate staffing appears to undermine trust and safety.

Against this backdrop of concern, other reviewers return to more positive ground, focusing on the people and the program's strengths. A frequent theme is the sense that the clients themselves are remarkable - positive, resilient, and appreciative of the efforts made by staff and the owner. The owner is repeatedly praised for her willingness to be reachable - by phone, text, or email - and for creating structures that support timely responses to issues. There is also explicit recognition of a 24-hour emergency cell number available to individuals, families, and staff, which is described as delivering immediate responses. When problems do arise, several reviewers state that they are addressed promptly, reinforcing a perception of a responsive and proactive leadership style.

There are specific, sharper negative voices as well. One reviewer recounts living at the Mc Clish Maynor facility for two decades and describes maintenance as horrible, with staff who fail to meet residents' needs and a complete breakdown in communication. This person characterizes the company as money-hungry and expresses relief at moving out, offering a stark warning not to engage with the ILS service because they feel nothing meaningful is done for clients. A separate commenter echoes the sentiment that the company is not reliable or responsive, voicing skepticism and disappointment about the care provided to a close friend and suggesting that the organization is ineffective for loved ones who rely on it.

To balance the perspective, another reviewer offers a simpler, more measured appreciation for the company's mission. They acknowledge the challenges of working with limited resources but emphasize the genuine effort to help those in need. This sentiment underscores a broader recognition that the organization, while imperfect, is driven by a commitment to care and improvement - a theme that recurs across multiple entries as a tempered but sincere commendation of the owner's energy and dedication.

Perhaps the starkest portion of the testimony comes from a personal, highly charged retrospective account from 2010?2011. This review details severe negative experiences in a group home run by New Changes, including accusations of theft, forcing unhealthy meals, lack of privacy, retaliation, and inappropriate activities that violated the resident's dignity. The writer describes persistent neglect and the staff's disregard for the resident's dietary needs and special regimen, culminating in a troubling psychological impact that has contributed to ongoing counseling and PTSD. The message is unequivocal and cautions readers not to trust these group homes with a loved one, reflecting a deeply lasting hurt and a clear sense of warning.

Taken together, these reviews reveal a broad spectrum of experiences within the company's network. On the hopeful side, families and residents describe tangible improvements in care, meaningful engagement, and a leadership presence that is responsive and hands-on. The story of Mohammed's growing rapport with a resident and the owner's visible commitment to enriching activities suggests a caregiving environment capable of elevating quality of life in real, observable ways. On the critical side, substantial concerns about abuse, chronic understaffing, poor communication, and unsanitary conditions appear in multiple voices, including references to ongoing litigation and explicit warnings against certain facilities. Some facilities are singled out by name as having persistent problems, while others are praised for the warmth and attentiveness of their staff and leadership.

In the end, the reviews convey a real and meaningful tension within the organization. For some families, the company represents a bright improvement over previous caregiving arrangements, characterized by compassionate staff, proactive leadership, and opportunities for residents to thrive. For others, the experience is marred by serious allegations, inconsistent care, and a sense that safety and dignity have at times been compromised. Prospective families and residents may find value in looking closely at individual homes, visiting in person, and asking pointed questions about staffing, safety procedures, cleanliness, and the availability of responsive leadership. The overarching theme remains clear: when care teams are well-staffed, well-supervised, and genuinely engaged, residents can experience meaningful progress and a notably higher quality of life; when such structures are lacking, risks to well-being and trust quickly come to the fore.

Located in Hastings, Minnesota, this area offers a variety of amenities suited for senior living. With multiple parks nearby such as Afton State Park and Kinnickinnic State Park, residents can enjoy outdoor activities and nature walks. There are also several restaurants and cafes within a short distance for dining options. For healthcare needs, there are pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens, as well as medical facilities such as Twin Cities Orthopedics Woodbury and Hudson Hospital. Places of worship such as Cottage Grove United Church of Christ provide spiritual support, while the proximity to major highways allows for easy access to surrounding areas. Overall, this area provides a mix of recreational opportunities, dining options, healthcare services, and spiritual support for seniors looking to settle down in a peaceful neighborhood.

Parks

• Afton State Park (0.8 miles)
• Kinnickinnic State Park (2.7 miles)
• Woodbury Dog Park (4.1 miles)
• Kingston Park (5.8 miles)
• Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park (6.1 miles)
• Woodridge Park (6.4 miles)
• Fairway Meadows Park (6.5 miles)

Restaurants

• Selma's Ice Cream Parlor (3.5 miles)
• Muddy Waters Bar & Grill (6.9 miles)
• The Kitchen Table (6.9 miles)
• Point St Croix Marina (7.1 miles)
• Junction 70 Grill (7.4 miles)
• Lock and Dam Eatery (7.7 miles)
• Muddy Cow - Cottage Gr (7.9 miles)

Pharmacies

• Micklesen Drug (3.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (7 miles)
• Most Pharmacy (7 miles)
• Hy-Vee Pharmacy (7.9 miles)
• Walgreens (7.9 miles)
• Thrifty White Drug (8.3 miles)
• Crossroads County Market (8.5 miles)

Places of Worship

• Cottage Grove United Church of Christ (4 miles)
• Eagle Brook Church - Woodbury Campus (7.2 miles)
• Five Oaks Community Church (7.6 miles)
• United Methodist Church of River Falls (8.5 miles)
• United Methodist Church (8.7 miles)

Cafes

• Caribou Coffee (7.5 miles)
• Starbucks (8.1 miles)
• Joe To Go (8.5 miles)
• Starbucks (8.5 miles)

Physicians

• Twin Cities Orthopedics Woodbury (7.7 miles)
• Periodontal Specialists P.A. (7.7 miles)
• Pediatric Surgical Associates (8.1 miles)
• Forefront Dermatology Hudson, WI (8.2 miles)
• Van Tyn Marlieke MD (8.2 miles)
• Pediatric & Young Adult Medicine (8.2 miles)
• Plotnik, Tammi Pediatric and Young Adult Medicine (8.2 miles)

Hospitals

• Regina Hospital Emergency Room (8 miles)
• Hudson Hospital (8.2 miles)
• Physicians Neck and Back Clinic of Western Wisconsin (8.2 miles)
• Regions Hospital New Connections Program (8.5 miles)
• Rejuvenate Medi-Spa (8.6 miles)
• Hudson Hospital & Clinic (8.7 miles)
• Hudson Hospital (8.7 miles)