Orchard Path Senior Living Community

Pros

• The family was pleased with the facility and staff at Orchard Path.
• The memory care unit provided amazing care and support, with Jeffery and Nday going above and beyond to keep the family updated and reassure them their loved one was well cared for.
• The mother moved in when it first opened and has been very happy with the staff and the facility.
• The building is cool and magnificent.
• The staff are friendly, and residents can enjoy activities like a woodshop for crafts.
• The parents love it at Orchard Path.
• The community is beautiful and new.
• It is a great place.

Cons

• They criticized the ongoing price increases, noting prices rose each year.
• They complained about a $1,500 charge for weekly shower assistance.
• They described the building's white dust as awful and ruining their belongings.
• They moved relatives out due to cost and lockdown.
• They were charged December rent by mistake and waited a month for a refund after threatening a congressional complaint.
• They warned others to keep their loved ones away from the place.

Review

Orchard Path has shown itself to be a place with deep affection from families and a strong sense of community, at least for several residents and their loved ones. One reviewer describes a 93-year-old mother-in-law moving into the assisted living apartment nearly three years ago and notes that they have been quite pleased with the facility and the staff. The sentiment is reinforced by others who recall that their own relatives moved in when the community first opened, sharing a general glow about the environment and the people who work there. Across multiple notes, the building is framed as a welcoming, well-run place that families grow to trust and value, especially for ongoing care and daily living.

Yet the same set of memories includes persistent concerns about cost and billing that cast a shadow over the experience. The grandparents' experience is described in harsher terms: price increases started even before they moved in and continued every year thereafter. There was a significant added cost to move to assisted living within the building - a $1,500 increase tied to help with showers once a week. Complicating matters, the reviewers recount a messy incident involving white dust in the building that caused a tangible disruption to their relatives' belongings. The decision to relocate was driven by cost and the lockdown, and it was followed by a billing error in December when rent was charged after the move. It took a pointed, threat-assisted effort - ultimately including a congressional complaint - to secure the refund, and the family conveys a blunt warning to others: "keep your loved ones away from this place!" The tone here is not about the quality of care in the moment, but about a belief that financial practices did not align with the families' needs and expectations.

In the memory care unit, however, the narrative shifts to high praise for the care and communication that were part of a resident's experience. A reviewer who mentions their papa's time in memory care emphasizes that he received amazing care and support. Specific gratitude is directed at Jeffery and Nday, who provided frequent updates and demonstrated genuine concern for him. The sentiment is that these two staff members went above and beyond to ensure the family felt confident that he was well cared for, and the family expresses heartfelt appreciation for their attentiveness and compassion during his residency. This thread of appreciation highlights that, within the same community, the quality of care can be very strong in certain units and with particular staff members.

Several reviews focus on the positive reception of family members and the warmth of the community from the moment of move-in. One mother moved in as soon as the community opened and has been described as very happy with both the staff and the facility - framed as a "Great Place." Another listener calls the place "cool and magnificent," a concise but ardent endorsement. A different note mentions that the family's parents joined a new community where friendly staff pass in the halls, and the residents themselves have found value in a woodshop that allows for small projects - an accessibility to hobbies and crafts that many retirees fear losing after a move. The idea that residents can still engage in hands-on activities speaks to a sense of preserved independence and ongoing personal fulfillment within the community.

Additional voices reinforce the sense of a thriving, welcoming environment. Comments such as "My parents moved into this new community. Friendly staff, those I've passed in the halls," and "This is a new community ? beautiful" underscore widespread satisfaction with the atmosphere and the people who populate it. One reviewer even notes a personal contribution to the building's appearance with, "I'm the one who gave the color on that building," hinting at a community that feels personal and collaborative. The recurrence of phrases like "beautiful new community," "great place," and "parents love it" affirms a generally positive perception across several perspectives, suggesting a community with strong interpersonal ties and an appealing physical setting.

Taken together, these reflections paint Orchard Path as a facility that shines in care quality within its memory care unit and excels at building relationships between staff and families. There is widespread admiration for individual caregivers, especially those who maintain open lines of communication and demonstrate genuine concern for residents' well-being. The broader community vibe - friendly staff, opportunities for woodshop projects, a sense of novelty and freshness in the new building, and aesthetic touches - contributes to a welcoming atmosphere that many families praise. At the same time, the recurring concerns about cost, billing practices, and administrative decisions remind prospective residents and their families to examine the financial aspects closely and to seek clarity on how updates, charges, and refunds are handled.

In the end, Orchard Path emerges as a place of strong human connection and care, particularly in the memory care sphere, paired with a complex financial narrative that some families find troubling. For those considering this community, the stories suggest a dual reality: a vibrant, caring environment that can deliver meaningful, attentive support in daily living and specialized units, alongside cost questions and administrative hiccups that warrant careful scrutiny and proactive communication. The balance of experiences indicates that while many families are deeply grateful for the staff and the living environment, financial management and clear billing practices are essential considerations for any future move.

This area of Apple Valley, Minnesota offers a range of amenities that cater to seniors looking for convenient access to healthcare, dining options, entertainment venues, and outdoor recreational spaces. With multiple physicians' offices nearby such as Dr. Anthony Battaglia and Rosemount Family Physicians, as well as pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS Pharmacy within close proximity, residents can easily address their medical needs. The presence of cafes like Caribou Coffee and Panera Bread provide opportunities for socializing and enjoying a cup of coffee with friends. For entertainment, Jj’s Theatre & Draft House is just a short distance away, while Emagine Eagan offers a larger movie theater experience. Additionally, the diverse selection of restaurants in the area caters to various culinary preferences. Accessibility to parks like Lebanon Hills Regional Park and Greenhaven Park allows for outdoor activities and leisurely walks in nature. Places of worship like Woodcrest Church are also available for spiritual fulfillment. Overall, this part of Apple Valley provides a well-rounded living environment with all necessary conveniences within reach for seniors looking to settle in the area.

Physicians

• Dr Anthony Battaglia (0.2 miles)
• Rosemount Family Physicians (1.9 miles)
• Nystrom & Associates (2.2 miles)
• Southdale Pediatrics (5.2 miles)
• Fairview Ridges Specialty Care Center (5.3 miles)
• Fairview Ridges Specialty Care Center Park Nicollet Obgyn (5.4 miles)
• Park Nicollet Clinic and Specialty Center Burnsville (5.4 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.5 miles)
• Walgreens (1.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
• Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute – Apple Valley (2.1 miles)
• Walgreens (2.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.7 miles)

Cafes

• Caribou Coffee (1.6 miles)
• Panera Bread (2.2 miles)
• Starbucks (2.4 miles)
• Starbucks (2.5 miles)
• Starbucks (5.2 miles)
• Panera Bread (5.9 miles)
• Dunn Brothers Coffee (6 miles)

Theaters

• Jj’s Theatre & Draft House (1.7 miles)
• Emagine Eagan (5.2 miles)

Restaurants

• Jj’s Kitchen & Grill (1.7 miles)
• Wendy's (1.7 miles)
• Culver's (1.8 miles)
• Taco John's (2.1 miles)
• Jersey Mike's (2.1 miles)
• McDonald's (2.1 miles)
• Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers (2.4 miles)

Hospitals

• Apple Valley Medical Clinic (2.1 miles)
• Fairview Ridges Hospital (5.3 miles)

Parks

• Foxborough Park (2.7 miles)
• Keller Park (3.7 miles)
• Lac Lavon Park (3.9 miles)
• Bloomfield Park (4.1 miles)
• Pine Knoll Park (4.6 miles)
• Lebanon Hills Regional Park (5 miles)
• Greenhaven Park (5.8 miles)

Places of Worship

• Woodcrest Church (5.9 miles)
• Watt Munisotaram (8.7 miles)

Transportation

• Airlake Airport LVN (6.8 miles)