Augustana Residential Care in Minneapolis, MN

Pros

• The Pines is an outstanding, intimate facility, providing an incredible level of personal attention and care.
• The facility is peaceful and happy, with beauty inside and outside.
• It is a beautiful place that is worth seeing.
• The facility appears to be in very good condition, with shared spaces and units in good repair.
• Dining services are top of the line with numerous high-quality choices.
• Residents seem to be in mostly good spirits.
• Staff are friendly and helpful to residents and guests.
• Amenities such as a barbershop and a convenience store are nearby.
• Augustana's accommodation is well arranged to accommodate limited mobility.

Cons

• The facility is closed and no longer in operation.
• It lacks weekend staff and wifi/basic cable for residents, forcing families to buy and install them.
• There were no staff available on weekends.
• One reviewer warned never to use the facility if possible.
• The laundry arrangement requires going downstairs, with no on-floor laundry and potential extra charges for laundry services.
• The long hallways may pose problems for residents who are not very mobile.
• It is not a brand-new, modern apartment.

Review

Augustana Residential Care in Minneapolis is best suited for seniors who want an established, amenity-rich setting with reliable on-site services and a peaceful campus feel, and who are comfortable navigating an older building with longer hallways. It’s a good fit for residents who prize friendly staff, engaging activities, and abundant conveniences close to home, such as dining options, a barbershop, a small shop, and even on-site supports like a chaplain and bank. The overall atmosphere tends to be welcoming and well-kept, and families often note that residents appear comfortable and engaged. Still, that warmth must be weighed against operational realities that can vary by day and shift.

Those considering alternatives should pay particular attention to staffing stability, access to basic connectivity, and modern-day conveniences that consistently meet daily needs. If weekend coverage or reliable in-room wifi and cable are non-negotiable, this community may fall short. Prospective residents who rely on on-site laundry, or who expect straightforward, front-loaded services without extra coordination by family members, should also compare other options. In short, Augustana works for families prioritizing a hospitable community and robust on-site programming, but it may not be the best match for those seeking a consistently hands-off, highly modernized experience.

On the plus side, the facility earns credibility through its tangible, resident-centered offerings. The building and grounds generally present well, with a sense of warmth evident in common areas and landscaped spaces. Dining is frequently highlighted as a standout feature, with a range of high-quality choices that keep meals enjoyable rather than rote. Additional conveniences, such as an on-site bank, hairdresser, small store, and resident chaplain, add to a self-contained living environment that minimizes the need for frequent outings. Activities are plentiful, and staff are widely described as friendly and helpful to residents and guests, contributing to an atmosphere that feels personal and attentive.

Yet, several significant drawbacks temper those strengths. A recurring concern is inconsistent weekend staffing, which can leave families feeling uneasy about supervision and resident assistance when visitors are least able to step in. Communication and access gaps are underscored by reports of no staff on weekends and the need for families to provide or install basic services like wifi or cable, a logistical hurdle that undermines resident independence. Laundry arrangements can also be cumbersome, requiring trips downstairs or additional arrangements that may incur extra costs. The facility’s age and layout, long hallways and an older design, can pose mobility challenges for less mobile residents, even as walkable spaces exist and the landscape supports outdoor activity.

The core balance comes down to value versus practicality. For families prioritizing a warm, activity-rich environment with meaningful on-site services, the positives can offset the inconveniences, especially when family involvement can supplement gaps in staffing or amenities. The sense of community, the quality dining, and the breadth of on-site supports can translate into a livable, contented daily experience. However, the scale of those advantages diminishes if reliability becomes the overriding concern, namely, if weekend coverage, in-room connectivity, or straightforward laundry services are critical to daily life and peace of mind. In such cases, the considerable positives risk being outweighed by practical friction.

A clear call to action for decision-makers is to verify current operational status and service levels before any commitment. The most pressing questions are: is the community currently open and actively operating on weekends, and are wifi and cable included or easily arranged? Confirm the availability and cost of on-site laundry, the staff-to-resident ratio across different shifts, and the consistency of dining quality over time. If these factors align with family needs, Augustana offers a compelling, nurturing option in a well-appointed setting. If not, the prudent path is to compare other Minneapolis options that guarantee continuous staffing, modern conveniences, and straightforward daily logistics, so the transition for a loved one remains predictable and low-stress, not contingent on intermittent support or last-minute accommodations.

Hospitals

• Csc Gi Lab (0.3 miles)
• Hennepin County Medical Center (0.3 miles)
• University of Minnesota Medical Center - East Bank Campus (1.4 miles)
• Regency Hospital (4 miles)
• VA Medical Center (5.3 miles)
• Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital (5.7 miles)

Restaurants

• Maxwell's American Cafe (0.5 miles)
• Sawatdee Thai Restaurant - Minneapolis (0.7 miles)
• Hell's Kitchen (0.8 miles)
• Owamni (0.9 miles)
• 19 Bar (1 miles)
• Gluek's Restaurant & Bar (1.1 miles)
• Aster Cafe (1.1 miles)

Parks

• Gateway Dog Park - Off-Leash Play Area (0.5 miles)
• Mill Ruins Park (0.8 miles)
• Loring Park (1.2 miles)
• Franklin Terrace Off-Leash Dog Park (1.6 miles)
• North Loop Dog Park (1.7 miles)
• Boom Island Park (1.8 miles)
• Longfellow Park (2.7 miles)

Places of Worship

• Westminster Presbyterian Church (0.8 miles)
• Elim Church Center (5.5 miles)
• WW Studio (5.6 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1 miles)
• Target Pharmacy (1.5 miles)
• Walgreens (1.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.1 miles)
• Walgreens (2.2 miles)
• Walgreens (3.1 miles)

Cafes

• Dunn Brothers Coffee (1.2 miles)
• Spyhouse Coffee (1.9 miles)
• Roundtable Cof (3 miles)
• Jinx Tea (4.7 miles)
• Groundswell (5 miles)
• Starbucks (5.1 miles)

Physicians

• Whittier Clinic (1.5 miles)
• HealthPartners Health Center for Women Clinic St Paul (2.6 miles)
• Dermatology Consultants P.A. (4.7 miles)
• Parkway Family Physicians (5.6 miles)

Transportation

• Minnesota State Fair Transit Hub (4.1 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Rosedale 14 (5.4 miles)