Country Manor Senior Apts

Pros

• They found it easy to find and praised the customer service as great.
• The facility is always clean, with friendly and knowledgeable staff.
• It is described as a nice assisted living campus offering all levels of care under one roof.
• The Villa provides flexible levels of care as residents' needs change.
• Having the chapel on site is wonderful, and rehab services on site are helpful.
• Country Manor is a beautiful place with spacious, well-appointed facilities and a positive atmosphere.
• Drakes is a good restaurant and there is a full pharmacy on site.
• The staff are caring, supportive, and strive to enrich the lives of residents.
• There are lots of activities for residents.
• The campus is considered premier in Minnesota and the region.
• Families have been very happy with the care.

Cons

• The staff are horrible and absolutely no help at all.
• The place is very unorganized and a complete disgrace.
• The meals at the Villa are not very healthy and mostly the same.
• Aides aren't able to get to people quickly because of the long hallways.
• Pain meds were ignored for hours during the first night.
• Communication with families was horrible and updates were not timely.
• A few staff were downright rude and disrespectful.

Review

The campus community described in these accounts is clearly a multifaceted senior living ecosystem, with spaces that cover independent living, assisted living, memory care, and rehabilitation under one umbrella. Across reviews, the facility is repeatedly praised for being clean, well maintained, and welcoming, with a strong emphasis on friendly, approachable staff who seem to know many residents by name. The on-site conveniences - country store, Drakes restaurant, a full-time pharmacy, and even a chapel - help create a sense of ease and normalcy for residents and visiting family members. The ability to access a rehab center, physical or occupational therapy, and other services without leaving the campus is also highlighted as a real plus, especially for families juggling multiple care needs.

In several reviews, the Waterford building is portrayed as attractive and convenient but not ideal for residents who increasingly require immediate, around-the-clock assistance. Long hallways and a spread-out layout can slow aides, which some families feel is a limitation when care needs rise. This reality is often paired with a practical, almost matter-of-fact tone: as a loved one's health declines and more services become necessary, it can be prudent to consider a move to a space that is designed to accommodate higher levels of care more quickly. The transition to the Villa is described as a thoughtful, supportive move that preserves a sense of home while expanding services to meet evolving needs.

The Villa, as depicted, offers a broader spectrum of care within a single campus footprint, and several reviewers commend the staff for being caring, attentive, and communicative. Yet there is also a recurring note about meals at the Villa: while service is characteristically friendly, some reviewers feel the meals, particularly breakfasts, lack variety and healthful options. This tension between warmth of service and the perceived nutritional values of the meals becomes a theme in some households, with families occasionally wishing for improved menu planning or more consistent healthy choices. Even so, the environment at the Villa is generally described as supportive, with many residents enjoying the chance to access different levels of care without changing campuses.

Staff dynamics emerge as a central thread across multiple narratives. On the positive side, many reviewers emphasize that the staff are "extremely nice," "very friendly," and consistently engaged with residents through activities and meaningful interaction. There is also praise for the way staff communicate with families, share updates when needed, and help residents participate in a full slate of activities. However, finger-pointing about turnover is inevitable in any large care setting, and several accounts note that frequent staff turnover means families must continually train new aides in the specifics of their loved one's routines and preferences. There are a few hard-edged criticisms as well - isolated incidents of rude or disrespectful behavior by a small number of staff, which some families feel have been resolved over time, and a couple of anecdotes about missteps, such as a caregiver placing a Depends incorrectly or other lapses that underscore the ongoing need for thorough training and accountability.

From a financial perspective, the campus is consistently described as a for-profit operation with a complex pricing structure. Families are encouraged to ask about packages, especially for services like laundry, and to be mindful of ancillary charges such as delivery fees for packages. Several reviewers acknowledge that the cost of care and the way packages are bundled or charged can be confusing or surprising, reinforcing the importance of transparent discussions about what is included in each rate and what constitutes additional expenses. A few reviewers even note the value of discounts or conveniences, like receiving a discount at a local AmericInn for visitors, which can help offset some travel or lodging costs for families.

The practical benefits of the campus's integrated model are strongly affirmed by several reviewers. The on-site chapel is highlighted as a meaningful feature for families seeking spiritual support as part of the care plan. The rehab center's accessibility is praised, as is the presence of a fully equipped pharmacy and the convenience of a restaurant-style dining option (Drakes) that contributes to a comfortable, normalized daily routine. The ability to stay in a familiar place while transitioning between levels of care - independent living, assisted living, and memory care - appears to be a major selling point for many families who want continuity and ease for their loved ones as needs change. For some families, these logistics translate into less stress and more time to focus on quality of life and meaningful engagement.

Individual narratives illustrate a spectrum of experiences within the same campus. Some reviews celebrate the kindness and competence of particular staff members, naming nurses, supervisors, and social workers who have gone above and beyond. A few specific staff members receive gratitude for their compassionate care and for walking families through difficult moments during rehab or after hospital stays. In contrast, there are strongly negative experiences that center on perceived neglect, poor communication, or inadequate pain management in the rehab setting. One account describes a painful ordeal after hip replacement where pain medications were delayed for hours, leaving the resident in distress. Another recounts a broader sense of dissatisfaction with care quality in the rehab unit, including a perception of insufficient attention to pressure injuries and a lack of timely updates to family members. These contrasting reviews remind us that, while many families find genuine value and warmth on campus, others encounter serious gaps that demand diligence, advocacy, and clear, ongoing dialogue with leadership.

Several families recount mixed-to-positive experiences with the broader care continuum, including independent living residents, loved ones in assisted living, and relatives who have required more intensive nursing support. There is appreciation for the ability to move across levels of care as needed without uprooting the resident, which is especially important for those managing chronic conditions or recovering from surgery. In some cases, families note that the communication lines between the facility and family members are open and responsive, with staff acknowledging concerns, coordinating with outside providers, and ensuring that residents receive the necessary therapies and services. At the same time, a few reviewers express frustration about inconsistent communications, a lack of timely updates, or delayed responses from leadership when important issues arise.

Overall, the collection of experiences paints a campus that is widely valued for its cleanliness, amenities, accessibility of diverse services, and the consistent warmth of many staff members. Families frequently describe the environment as a place with purpose-built pathways to different care levels, meaningful social opportunities, and accessible health-related resources - all of which contribute to an enhanced sense of security and belonging for residents. Yet the same pool of experiences makes clear that execution can vary by department, shift, and individual staff, and that the realities of aging and illness - together with the operational demands of a large, for-profit campus - can lead to situations where care gaps appear. The stories encourage prospective residents and their families to ask pointed questions about care ratios, meal quality, staff training and retention, pain management protocols, and the specifics of pricing so they can make informed choices that align with their loved one's needs and values.

Pharmacies

• Country Store & Pharmacy (0.2 miles)
• The Apothecary (1.4 miles)
• W & C Apothecary (1.4 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (1.5 miles)
• Walgreens (1.9 miles)
• Walgreens (2 miles)
• Coborn's Marketplace (2.1 miles)

Parks

• Oakwood Village Park (0.7 miles)
• Sauk Rapids Municipal Park (1.3 miles)
• Island View Park (1.4 miles)
• Creekview Park (2.7 miles)
• Hester Park (3.2 miles)
• Knights of Columbus Park (3.8 miles)

Physicians

• Sartell Pediatrics (0.8 miles)
• Center For Pain Management (1.4 miles)
• Central Minnesota Neuroscience (1.4 miles)
• Skin Care Doctors (1.4 miles)
• Hanger Clinic: Prosthetics & Orthotics (1.4 miles)
• The Vein Center (1.6 miles)
• Karrar, Yusuf The Vein Center Laser Treatment and Medspa (1.6 miles)

Restaurants

• Great River Bowl (0.8 miles)
• Subway (1.3 miles)
• McDonald's (1.3 miles)
• Taco John's (1.6 miles)
• Blimpie (1.7 miles)
• Subway (1.8 miles)
• Benton Station Bar (1.8 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Francis Xavier Church (1.1 miles)
• Harvest Fellowship (1.7 miles)
• Sacred Heart Church (2.2 miles)
• Grace Baptist Fellowship (2.3 miles)
• Living Way Church (2.3 miles)
• Trinity Lutheran Church (2.9 miles)

Hospitals

• CentaCare (2.5 miles)

Transportation

• St Cloud Station (3.8 miles)

Cafes

• Caribou Coffee (4.1 miles)