Madonna Towers Nursing Care in Rochester, MN

Pros

• Benedictine Madonna Towers is a wonderful place for loved ones.
• The staff are kind, attentive, and truly care about the residents.
• The facility is well-maintained, welcoming, and provides a warm, community atmosphere.
• Communication is excellent.
• The staff at Madonna Towers are excellent and dedicated to high-quality care.
• The wellness area supports mind, body, and soul with activities like yoga and fitness.
• The residents and staff are friendly and make residents feel cared for.
• The campus is beautiful, with great care and engaging activities.

Cons

• The facility is chronically short-staffed and unable to meet resident needs in assisted living and memory care, with food described as awful and rooms in poor condition lacking functioning medical equipment.
• Some staff appear not properly trained, and residents must constantly remind them for basic needs while call lights take a long time to be answered.
• A doctor's order to obtain a stool sample was never carried out, leaving issues unresolved.
• Residents are left on a stool for 20 minutes at a time, and call lights go unanswered for extended periods.
• Communication between staff and residents' loved ones is very disappointing, with answers hard to obtain and calls not returned or checked.
• There is a lack of activities for residents, and the environment is boring and stale.
• Rehab care is described as horrible, including leaving a resident in the bathroom for hours and delays in pain medication and meals.
• A reviewer called Madonna Towers a horribly terrible place and would not recommend it.
• A reviewer expressed concern that the facility would not take pets.

Review

Madonna Towers Nursing Care in Rochester is best suited for seniors who want a single-campus experience with a full continuum of care, a warm, active community, and a faith-informed atmosphere. It works particularly well for independent-living residents who anticipate the option to move into assisted living or memory care without leaving the familiar campus. Families that prize strong staff empathy, open communication, resident involvement, and a robust calendar of events will find the environment inviting and comforting. The non-profit governance and the sense of belonging that comes from resident and family councils help anchor expectations and create accountability. Those who prioritize a pristine, high-acuity medical environment with always-on, specialized nursing coverage should look elsewhere, as staffing consistency and equipment readiness can vary.

The standout positives are undeniable: staff warmth and attentiveness, genuine kindness, and a palpable sense of community permeate the halls. Residents report feeling welcomed, respected, and truly cared for, with communication that supports families through ongoing updates and town-hall-style forums. The campus is well-maintained, with thoughtful amenities that families frequently cite as meaningful - an on-site chapel, a small store, and ample social programming that ranges from bingo to concerts, pet therapy, and monthly celebrations. Independent living apartments with separate bedrooms, enclosed balconies, and flexible dining options give residents autonomy while preserving convenient access to on-site services. The wellness area and exercise room add a practical, proactive dimension to everyday aging in place, reinforcing a lifestyle that many families view as nurturing rather than restrictive.

Yet several substantial drawbacks temper the otherwise sunny picture. Nursing and memory-care staffing issues recur in multiple accounts, including frequent turnover and gaps in supervision, which can translate into delayed responses, missed tasks, and uneven care. Some residents report a gap between expectations and execution in higher-acuity scenarios, with calls for timely assistance and properly equipped rooms not always met. Food quality is described by critics as inconsistent, and some physical spaces and equipment required for medical needs have been flagged as aging or insufficient. Communication failures in memory care and occasional difficulty reaching the right staff members - whether for urgent needs or routine questions - create anxiety for families monitoring a loved one's status. These factors collectively raise legitimate concerns for families weighing a high level of clinical need on site.

The essential question becomes whether the strengths offset the gaps. For families prioritizing a warm, engaging community and the convenience of a campus that offers independent living through skilled care, Madonna Towers can deliver a sense of home, stability, and connection that's hard to match. The alignment of faith-based programming, resident councils, and a wide array of social activities helps residents stay engaged, which is especially valuable for those who fear isolation or a rapid, disruptive transition between living arrangements. However, for residents with complex medical needs, frequent skilled-nursing interventions, or a requirement for consistently strong staffing across shifts, the reported inconsistencies may erode confidence in seamless care. The care experience may hinge on current staffing stability and the specific care team assigned at any given time.

Practical next steps provide clarity. Prospective residents should request current staffing ratios by unit, observe a shift-change period, and ask for examples of how call lights are managed on busy evenings. Tours should include a bite-size experience in the rehab or memory-care areas to gauge responsiveness and the availability of proper medical equipment. Inquire about the pet policy if a beloved animal companion plays a role in daily life, and verify what comforts and restrictions exist around pet ownership. Engage with current residents or family councils to understand how concerns are addressed and whether families feel heard. Finally, compare Madonna Towers with other non-profit campuses or private facilities that emphasize consistent 24/7 clinical coverage, premium dining, and more tightly regulated memory-care environments.

In the end, Madonna Towers stands out as a practical, people-first option for seniors seeking a comprehensive, community-centered living experience on a single campus. It is particularly compelling for those who value social engagement, faith-based programming, and a supportive, non-profit environment that emphasizes resident input. Families must weigh the reality of staffing variability and the mixed reviews on higher-acuity care against the warmth, continuity, and abundance of activities that make aging with dignity and companionship feasible. For carefully screened applicants who conduct thorough on-site assessments, this community can be a meaningful, almost-home choice; for others with unwavering needs for rapid clinical response or flawless day-to-day medical reliability, exploring alternatives with stronger, more consistent nursing coverage may be the prudent move.

This area of Rochester, Minnesota, offers a variety of convenient amenities for seniors looking to settle down in a bustling yet accessible neighborhood. With a range of dining options such as Arby's, Applebee's, and Pho Tai within walking distance, residents can enjoy delicious meals without straying far from home. Additionally, cafes like Panera Bread and St James Coffee provide cozy spots to relax and socialize with friends. For healthcare needs, there are several pharmacies nearby including Target Pharmacy and CVS Pharmacy. The proximity to renowned medical facilities like Olmsted Medical Center and Saint Marys Hospital ensures easy access to quality healthcare services. Nearby parks like Essex Park and Silver Lake Park offer opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation, while places of worship such as St Luke's Episcopal Church and Gloria Dei Lutheran Church cater to spiritual needs. The area also features entertainment options like CineMagic Hollywood Luxury Stadium 12 for movie enthusiasts. Overall, this neighborhood provides a well-rounded community ideal for seniors seeking comfort, convenience, and active living.

Restaurants

• Arby's (0.2 miles)
• Applebee's (0.3 miles)
• Taco Bell (0.4 miles)
• Pho Tai (0.4 miles)
• Leeann Chin (0.4 miles)
• Broadway Bar & Pizza (0.4 miles)
• Erbert & Gerbert's (0.5 miles)

Cafes

• Panera Bread (0.3 miles)
• Caribou Coffee (0.3 miles)
• St James Coffee (0.4 miles)
• Caribou Coffee (2.4 miles)
• Starbucks (2.4 miles)
• Caribou Coffee (2.5 miles)
• Caribou Coffee (3 miles)

Pharmacies

• Target Pharmacy (0.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.5 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (1.4 miles)
• Hy-Vee Pharmacy (1.6 miles)
• Pharmaceutical Specialties (1.8 miles)
• Mc Be Co. (1.9 miles)
• Hunt Silver Lake Drug (2.5 miles)

Physicians

• Rochester Family Eye Clinic (0.8 miles)
• Huber Eyecare (1.6 miles)
• Clear Wave Hearing Instruments (2.1 miles)
• Rochester Metro (2.2 miles)
• Reliable Medical Supply (2.3 miles)
• Psimos Oral Surgery (2.6 miles)
• Hanger Clinic: Prosthetics & Orthotics (2.9 miles)

Parks

• Essex Park (1.2 miles)
• Silver Lake Park (3 miles)
• Mayo Park (3.5 miles)
• Quarry Hill Park (3.6 miles)
• Field of Fun (3.7 miles)
• Quarry Hill Nature Center (4 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Luke's Episcopal Church (1.3 miles)
• Hosanna Lutheran Church (1.4 miles)
• Christ Community Church (2 miles)
• Gloria Dei Lutheran Church (2.2 miles)
• People Of Hope (3.3 miles)
• Bethel Lutheran Church (3.9 miles)

Theaters

• CineMagic Hollywood Luxury Stadium 12 (2 miles)
• CMX Cinemas Chateau 14 (2.2 miles)

Hospitals

• Olmsted Medical Center (2.1 miles)
• Southeastern Minnesota Emergency Medical Service (2.4 miles)
• Olmsted Medical Center (2.5 miles)
• Saint Marys Hospital (3.1 miles)
• Francis Building - Saint Marys Hospital (3.1 miles)
• Domitilla Building - Saint Marys Hospital (3.1 miles)
• Joseph Building - Saint Marys Hospital (3.1 miles)

Transportation

• U-Haul Moving & Storage (2.5 miles)