Serenity Living Care in Maplewood, MN

Pros

• Encore Maplewood's entire team cares for residents like family, showing respect, patience, and kindness.
• Families say the staff listen, support, and are there for them, making residents feel truly cared for as part of a family.
• The Maplewood location is highly recommended by families.
• The director, head nurse, and aides are valued for exceptional care from day one, with staff affectionately called "Dad's Angels."
• The care at Encore Maplewood enhances residents' quality of life, with engaging activities and live music.
• Bickford Maplewood is described as a hidden gem with a caring, resident-centered team.
• The staff and administration are praised for their passion, professionalism, and family-oriented approach.

Cons

• The facility is constantly understaffed, which is bad for residents and staff.
• The policies are harsh, such as banning outside smoking for long-time residents.
• The move to Encore Maplewood was very stressful for the family.
• The non-smoking campus policy is unfair to residents who have been there for years.
• There is concern that care could be compromised due to staffing shortages.

Review

Serenity Living Care in Maplewood is best suited for seniors who need substantial daily support, especially in memory care, and for families who want to feel that their loved one is treated like family. Across the reviews, the standout is a staff culture that demonstrates respect, patience, and genuine kindness. Caregivers become familiar faces, and administrators are accessible and responsive, creating an environment where residents form meaningful connections. For families, the decisive factor is clear communication, smooth transition support, and daily activities that feel genuine and engaging, rather than perfunctory routines.

Those weighing alternatives should note that some Maplewood campuses prioritize different trade-offs. For families seeking lighter care, more independence, or lower costs, other options in the area may be a better fit. In the broader Maplewood memory-care market, there are facilities praised for atmosphere and beauty yet criticized for staffing pressures or rigid policies that affect daily life. For instance, a well-regarded campus is described as welcoming and caring, but reviewers flag chronic understaffing and a policy restricting outdoor time for long-term residents. These realities mean that families with tight care needs, a strong preference for outdoor freedom, or concerns about staff coverage should compare Serenity with other options to ensure the fit is truly right.

The primary advantages seen in the Serenity-leaning reviews are a profoundly caregiver-driven, family-inclusive culture and robust resident engagement. Families repeatedly highlight staff who remember residents’ names and treat them with unhurried kindness and patience. The care is described as very good, with residents enjoying activities and live music, and with staff who actively support families, listen to concerns, and remain present for big and small moments. Move-in experiences are facilitated by hands-on help with paperwork and logistics, reducing the stress of transitions. Taken together, these strengths translate into a higher quality of life for residents and greater peace of mind for loved ones.

Despite the strengths, prospective residents should acknowledge potential caveats that emerge when comparing Maplewood options. The overall rating mix, most reviews five stars but a subset of low ratings, signals that experiences can vary, and questions about staffing reliability or responsiveness during shifts can arise. Families should probe directly about staff-to-resident ratios, coverage across shifts, and how consistent hands-on caregiving is day to day. It’s also wise to confirm how the campus handles changes in care needs, how transparency is maintained, and what recourse exists if communication gaps appear. These practical checks help separate a genuinely excellent fit from a hope-for-the-best scenario.

The positive drivers, consistent, compassionate caregiving and a welcoming, family-centric atmosphere, often offset concerns about staffing fluctuations or policy rigidity elsewhere. When caregivers view families as partners, communication improves, problems are solved more quickly, and residents benefit from steady routines. The proof lives in stories of residents experiencing improved mood and engagement, families feeling heard through difficult moments, and staff who go the extra mile to preserve quality of life. For memory-care decisions, that level of trust and continuity is not cosmetic; it directly shapes day-to-day well-being and long-term comfort.

For families evaluating Serenity Living Care, practical next steps are clear. Schedule a guided visit and observe caregiving across different shifts to gauge consistency. Request a sample activity calendar and a detailed outline of memory-care programming to understand cognitive-stimulation strategies. Speak with multiple staff members, caregivers, nurses, and the administrator, to assess responsiveness and transparency. If memory support is the priority, ask how activities and therapies are tailored to different cognitive stages. Finally, compare Serenity with other Maplewood options, weighing setting and policies against cost and clinical acuity, to determine which campus will best match the resident’s needs, family expectations, and the desired daily rhythm.

Physicians

• Eric Thomas Becken (1.6 miles)
• Aris Clinic (1.8 miles)
• Dakota Medical Solutions (2.4 miles)
• Twin Cities Orthopedics Woodbury (2.9 miles)
• Entira Family Clinics-West St Paul (3.5 miles)
• Soundpoint Audiology (3.6 miles)
• Entira Family Clinics - Inver Grove Heights (3.9 miles)

Hospitals

• Woodwinds Health Campus-Woodbury (1.9 miles)
• St Joseph's Hospital-St Paul (5.8 miles)
• Regions Hospital Burn Center (5.9 miles)
• United Hospital Joint Relacement Center (5.9 miles)

Parks

• Roosevelt Field (2.2 miles)
• Heritage Village Park (2.7 miles)
• Ojibway Park (2.8 miles)
• Heritage Village Off Leash Dog Park (3.2 miles)
• Meadow Grass Park (3.9 miles)
• Kargel Park (4.8 miles)
• Sleepy Hollow Park (5 miles)

Restaurants

• Chick-Fil-A (2.4 miles)
• McDonald's (3.1 miles)
• Boulevard Bar & Grille (3.3 miles)
• The Tavern Grill (3.4 miles)
• Punch Neapolitan Pizza (3.5 miles)
• Drkula's 32 Bowl (3.9 miles)
• Burger Time (4 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (2.7 miles)
• Walgreens (3.2 miles)
• Walgreens (3.7 miles)
• Walgreens (3.9 miles)
• Walgreens (4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.2 miles)
• Walgreens (4.4 miles)

Places of Worship

• Five Oaks Community Church (3 miles)
• Transfiguration Catholic Church (4.9 miles)
• Cathedral of St Paul (6.1 miles)
• Eagle Brook Church - Woodbury Campus (6.5 miles)
• Cottage Grove United Church of Christ (7 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Inver Grove 16 (3.6 miles)
• Alamo Drafthouse Woodbury (4.9 miles)

Transportation

• Union Depot (5.2 miles)

Cafes

• Caribou Coffee (5.3 miles)
• Starbucks (5.5 miles)
• Starbucks (7.4 miles)