Friendship Village of Bloomington a CCRC

Pros

• The residents and staff at Friendship Village of Bloomington are friendly and welcoming, creating a pleasant community atmosphere.
• The facilities are top-notch, providing a luxurious living experience for the residents.
• There is an abundance of activities available, allowing residents to engage socially and stay active.
• The food quality is excellent, with a variety of entrees offered daily, all included with rent.
• The health care services provided on-site are very convenient for residents' needs.
• Friendship Village staff show great care and compassion towards the well-being of their residents.
• Many residents feel that moving to Friendship Village was one of the best decisions they ever made.
• The camaraderie among long-term team members contributes positively to the work environment and resident care.
• Residents appreciate the creative solutions implemented during challenging times, ensuring safety while keeping them engaged and active.
• Housekeeping and culinary teams are praised for their diligent work in maintaining cleanliness and delivering quality meals to residents’ apartments.

Cons

• The nursing staff communications at first were frustrating, but improvements were noted only after staff changes.
• Memory care was a poor experience due to the understaffing and undertraining of Friendship Village staff.
• A family member felt it was necessary to micro-manage the facility, which they found unacceptable.
• During the last 48 hours of a resident's life, the handling by staff did not align with family instructions or wishes.
• There were significant frustrations with the training and support of memory care staff.
• Some residents expressed concerns about limited activities during social distancing, indicating a desire for more engagement options.
• Even though the environment is generally pleasant, the high cost of living at Friendship Village remains a concern for some potential residents.
• Staffing shortages led to instances where residents felt their needs weren't adequately met in memory care settings.
• The pandemic has caused restrictions on activities, leaving residents longing for pre-pandemic engagement levels.

Review

Friendship Village of Bloomington has gathered diverse feedback from its residents and family members, offering valuable insights into the experience it provides. Many have expressed satisfaction with different aspects of the community, from its upscale facilities to the quality of life and social engagement opportunities available for residents. The reviews reflect a mixture of positive experiences, challenges faced, and overall sentiments regarding care standards within various living arrangements.

Many residents appreciate the layout and amenities at Friendship Village, describing it as a top-notch community that resembles an all-inclusive resort. The independent living experience is often highlighted positively; reviewers mention excellent food options, a vibrant range of resident interactions, and personal training services that promote physical health. Those who transitioned to assisted living found their experiences acceptable but mentioned some areas needing improvement compared to independent living.

However, not all experiences were seamless. A recurring theme in several reviews is the dissatisfaction with memory care services at Friendship Village. A particular review detailed a resident's family member becoming deeply concerned about the perceived understaffing and inadequate training among staff in memory care units. Such issues led one family member to create a comprehensive spreadsheet to track care concerns actively—an approach they felt was necessary due to the lack of proactive communication from staff. Tragically, this reviewer recounted how their father's final hours did not align with his wishes due to mismanagement by facility staff, which left them heartbroken.

Despite these criticisms regarding memory care operations, other aspects of Friendship Village receive commendations. Residents frequently note exceptional individual staff members who provide remarkable services—such as trainers and chaplains—and express gratitude for having hired outside help to supplement care when needed. This indicates that while systems in place might fall short at times, dedicated individuals make significant contributions to enhancing resident wellbeing.

From an operational perspective, many have praised Friendship Village's leadership team for demonstrating genuine concern for residents' well-being during transitions or crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. Several reviews highlight how staff went above and beyond in maintaining safety protocols while ensuring residents remained engaged by adapting activities—like moving exercise classes online or delivering meals directly to apartments—to suit current circumstances. Feedback indicates that clear communication from management also played a vital role in keeping morale high among residents during challenging times.

The sense of community at Friendship Village shines through multiple accounts—the welcoming atmosphere encourages socializing among residents through various activities such as book clubs and cocktail hours. Many long-term residents affirm that they have made lifelong friendships within this vibrant community and describe how it offers not just a home but also meaningful engagement opportunities that keep motivation alive in their retirement years.

In conclusion, while there are undeniable challenges concerning staffing levels and training within specific programs like memory care at Friendship Village of Bloomington, many residents still find great value in the overall environment cultivated here. Reviews consistently highlight outstanding facilities, engaging activities, excellent dining options—all bundled with friendly staff dedicated to serving seniors’ needs. The mixed feedback serves as both valuable insight into potential areas for improvement as well as affirmation that with proper attention and commitment from management and personnel alike, Friendship Village can continue being viewed favorably as an option for senior living across varying levels of assistance needed.

This part of Bloomington, Minnesota offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities for senior living. With multiple hospitals nearby such as Abbott Northwestern Center For Outpatient Care and Fairview Southdale Hospital, access to healthcare is easily accessible. Additionally, there are various dining options including Wooden Hill Brewing and Shake Shack, as well as pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS Pharmacy for medication needs. Numerous parks such as McGuire Park and Centennial Lakes Park provide opportunities for outdoor activities and relaxation. The area also boasts reputable physicians' offices like Park Nicollet Clinic and CCRM Fertility of Minneapolis for medical care. Public transportation is accessible with the Mall of America LRT Station located within 7.4 miles. Overall, this part of Bloomington offers a convenient and well-rounded environment for seniors looking to live in a vibrant community with easy access to essential services.

Hospitals

• Abbott Northwestern Center For Outpatient Care (0.3 miles)
• Fairview Southdale Hospital (3.7 miles)
• Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital (5.3 miles)

Restaurants

• Wooden Hill Brewing (1.7 miles)
• McDonald's (1.9 miles)
• Old Chicago (2 miles)
• Pinstripes (3.3 miles)
• Shake Shack (3.6 miles)
• Taco Bell (3.9 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (4 miles)

Parks

• McGuire Park (1.8 miles)
• Hyland Lake Park Reserve (2.4 miles)
• Centennial Lakes Park (3.2 miles)
• Aquila Park (6.2 miles)
• Dakota Dog Park (7 miles)
• Bandimere Heights Park (7.3 miles)
• Taft Park (7.3 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.2 miles)
• Minnesota Medical Solutions (2.2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.6 miles)
• Geritom Medical (3.3 miles)
• Walgreens (3.7 miles)
• Walgreens (4 miles)

Physicians

• Park Nicollet Clinic (2.1 miles)
• Southdale Pediatrics (3 miles)
• Endocrinology Clinic of Minneapolis (3.5 miles)
• Twin Cities Orthopedics Edina - Crosstown (3.6 miles)
• CCRM Fertility of Minneapolis (3.6 miles)
• Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota's Ear, Nose and Throat (3.6 miles)
• University of Minnesota Physicians Heart at Fairview Southdale Hospital (3.7 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (3.1 miles)
• Panera Bread (4.9 miles)
• Jinx Tea (5.4 miles)
• Angel Food Bakery & Coffee Bar (6.4 miles)
• Panera Bread (7 miles)
• Starbucks (7.3 miles)
• Caribou Coffee (7.7 miles)

Theaters

• 0705 Amc Southdale 16 (3.6 miles)

Places of Worship

• Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church (4.1 miles)
• Grace Church (4.5 miles)

Transportation

• Mall of America LRT Station (7.4 miles)
• Delta Employee Bus Stop #1 (8 miles)