The Sanctuary of West St. Paul

Pros

• The Sanctuary at West St. Paul is praised for its beautiful and clean building, creating a warm and welcoming environment for residents.
• Many residents enjoy the variety of daily activities, including exercise classes, bingo games, and live entertainment.
• The staff is described as friendly, cheerful, and attentive, contributing to a positive atmosphere within the facility.
• Families appreciate the spacious rooms with plenty of natural light and modern amenities available to residents.
• The facility is recognized for being a good value for middle- and low-income individuals while providing essential services like Medicaid acceptance.
• Visitors have noted that the double-story lobby with a cozy fireplace enhances the overall appeal of the community.
• Residents feel comfortable engaging in social interactions, forming friendships, and enjoying communal dining experiences when possible.

Cons

• The facility is experiencing extreme staff shortages, leading to poor care services and lack of communication between staff and residents.
• Meals served are often cold, undercooked, and of substandard quality, causing residents to send food back to the kitchen frequently.
• The activity director refuses to plan activities outside the building, leading to limited engagement for residents.
• Washers and dryers are poorly maintained, contributing to inadequate laundry services for residents.
• The emergency generator is not connected to apartments, putting residents with mobility issues at risk during power outages.
• High turnover rates among nursing staff lead to inconsistent medication management and care quality.
• Management appears disorganized and focused on profit rather than genuinely caring for senior citizens' needs.
• Some reviews mention mistreatment by dining room staff toward both residents and caregivers in the facility.

Review

The Sanctuary at West St. Paul: A Mixed Bag of Experiences Amid Growing Concerns

The Sanctuary at West St. Paul has garnered a wide variety of reviews, ranging from glowing praise to serious concerns about the quality of care and services. Many families appreciate the beautiful, modern building that houses their loved ones, with its spacious rooms filled with light and stylish common areas like a double-story lobby complete with a cozy fireplace. Visitors often remark on the friendly demeanor of the staff, who are described as engaging and sincere. One review encapsulated this sentiment well, noting that while there may be occasional grumblings among residents—common in any community—the overall atmosphere is described as happy and welcoming.

One standout feature of The Sanctuary is its activity program, which many residents enjoy for keeping them engaged and active. Families have noted that their loved ones participate in various activities daily, including exercise classes, bingo games, craft sessions, and musical entertainment. These activities are seen as integral to enhancing life for seniors in assisted living situations. Reviewers highlighted how these opportunities keep residents socializing and interacting positively with both staff and fellow residents—which undeniably adds value to their living experience.

However, beneath these positive aspects lies a troubling narrative regarding the facility's management and quality of care. Several reviewers express deep concerns over severe staff shortages that lead to unreliable care services, affecting basic needs such as personal hygiene assistance (baths), trash disposal, and laundry services. In some instances, families reported going without essential care due to understaffing problems. This lack of sufficient staffing can create an environment where elderly residents feel neglected or abandoned during critical moments.

Food quality has emerged as another significant issue impacting resident satisfaction at The Sanctuary. Multiple accounts point out that meals served are often cold or undercooked—with reports suggesting that many residents frequently send their food back to the kitchen due to subpar quality. Some reviews suggest that dietary considerations for seniors—like low sodium or diabetic options—are often overlooked in favor of more processed and unhealthy meal choices. This aspect has created anxiety around mealtime for some residents according to family members who expressed disappointment over what they deemed unacceptable standards for a facility catering mainly to older adults.

Management practices also raise red flags among some reviewers who describe a chaotic work environment marked by disorganization and poor communication between staff members and residents alike. There are mentions of high turnover rates among both nursing staff and caregivers leading to inconsistent care delivery—a potentially dangerous situation considering dependence on medication for many seniors living there. As one reviewer succinctly stated: “This place is all about turning a high profit now versus truly caring for senior citizens,” highlighting a growing sentiment that financial motives may outweigh genuine compassion for resident needs.

Ultimately, while The Sanctuary at West St. Paul boasts appealing amenities like an inviting atmosphere and ample activities designed for engagement among seniors, it faces substantial challenges concerning staffing levels, food quality, strategic management practices—and most importantly—the health and safety outcomes for vulnerable residents depending on consistent care services every day. As families continue considering this community as home for their loved ones, prospective occupants would do well to weigh these mixed reviews carefully before making such an important decision regarding assisted living arrangements.

Located in West Saint Paul, Minnesota, this area offers a variety of amenities and services that cater to the needs of seniors. With several family clinics and pharmacies nearby, residents have access to quality healthcare within a short distance. In addition, there are plenty of parks for leisurely strolls and opportunities for outdoor activities. The neighborhood also has a selection of restaurants and cafes for dining options, as well as places of worship for spiritual fulfillment. For entertainment, there is a movie theater nearby and transportation options for easy access to the airport or other destinations. Overall, this area provides a convenient and comfortable setting for senior living.

Physicians

• Entira Family Clinics-West St Paul (0.4 miles)
• Dakota Medical Solutions (1.5 miles)
• West Side Community Health Services (2.6 miles)
• Soundpoint Audiology (2.6 miles)
• Entira Family Clinics - Inver Grove Heights (3 miles)
• Twin Cities Orthopedics Eagan - Viking Lakes (3.4 miles)
• James Winsor DR (3.5 miles)

Restaurants

• Boulevard Bar & Grille (0.6 miles)
• White Castle (0.9 miles)
• Burger Time (1.6 miles)
• McDonald's (2.4 miles)
• Drkula's 32 Bowl (3.1 miles)
• Pool and Yacht Club (3.4 miles)
• Citizen Supper Club (3.7 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.9 miles)
• Walgreens (1.4 miles)
• Walgreens (2.3 miles)
• Walgreens (2.9 miles)
• Prime Therapeutics (3.4 miles)
• Walgreens (4.4 miles)
• Walgreens (4.6 miles)

Parks

• Roosevelt Field (1.6 miles)
• Heritage Village Park (3.2 miles)
• Heritage Village Off Leash Dog Park (3.5 miles)
• Burr Oaks Park (4.6 miles)
• Sleepy Hollow Park (4.7 miles)
• Meadow Grass Park (5.7 miles)
• Hidden Falls Park (5.9 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Inver Grove 16 (1.8 miles)

Transportation

• Union Depot (3.8 miles)
• Concourse A (6.4 miles)
• Concourse C (6.7 miles)
• Delta Sky Club (6.7 miles)
• Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) (6.9 miles)
• Concourse D (7 miles)
• Terminal 1-Lindbergh (7 miles)

Hospitals

• United Hospital Joint Relacement Center (3.9 miles)
• St Joseph's Hospital-St Paul (4.1 miles)
• Regions Hospital Burn Center (4.5 miles)
• Woodwinds Health Campus-Woodbury (4.9 miles)
• VA Medical Center (6.7 miles)

Places of Worship

• Cathedral of St Paul (4.2 miles)
• St George Greek Orthodox Church (5.1 miles)
• WW Studio (5.1 miles)
• Five Oaks Community Church (6 miles)
• Transfiguration Catholic Church (6.8 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (4.9 miles)
• Panera Bread (5.8 miles)
• Groundswell (6.3 miles)
• Starbucks (6.4 miles)
• Dunn Brothers Coffee (7.1 miles)