Country Villa

Pros

• The staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and communicative with families.
• The campus is beautiful, spacious, and well-appointed with many amenities.
• The facility provides multiple levels of care under one roof, from independent living to memory care.
• Drakes restaurant and a full-service on-site pharmacy provide convenient options.
• The on-site chapel adds a meaningful, comforting element to life at the community.
• Rehabilitation services (physical and occupational therapy) are readily available on-site.
• The community offers a wide range of activities and robust programs for residents.
• The transition between care levels is seamlessly managed to meet changing needs.
• The facility is regarded by families as a premier senior living campus in Minnesota and the region.

Cons

• The Waterford is not designed for people who need more and more immediate services, as its long hallways and dispersed residents slow aides.
• Aides aren't able to get to people as quickly because of this design.
• The Villa's meals are not very healthy and largely the same, with little variation.
• There were a few staff members who were downright rude and disrespectful.
• Turnover means staff have to be retrained repeatedly, hindering consistent care.
• An aide put the grandmother's Depends on backwards and did not investigate when she complained.
• The facility's for-profit status leads to many charges (e.g., extra fees for packages).
• Pain management in rehab was severely inadequate, with a call button ignored for hours and pain meds not timely ordered.

Review

This collection of experiences paints a picture of a large senior living campus that aims to offer a full continuum of care under one roof, with independent living, assisted living, memory care, rehab services, and on-site amenities like a country store, a restaurant, a chapel, and a full-service pharmacy. Across the different parts of the campus - The Waterford, The Villa, and the Country Manor - families consistently note clean, welcoming surroundings and a strong emphasis on making residents feel at home. The environment is described as bright and well-appointed, with numerous activities and opportunities to stay engaged, which several families see as a major asset when planning the next chapter of a loved one's life.

A recurring thread in the reviews is the quality and character of the staff. Many reviews praise the staff as friendly, caring, patient, and knowledgeable, with a genuine effort to communicate with families and to adapt to residents' changing needs. Families repeatedly mention that the campus staff are approachable, responsive, and capable of coordinating different services as a resident's care needs evolve. In several accounts, relatives highlight particular staff members or departments - such asCertainly the rehab and nursing teams or social workers - as standout, compassionate professionals who help residents feel secure and supported. There are also stories of seamless transitions within the campus's levels of care, with residents moving from independent living to assisted living or memory care as health needs change, while maintaining a familiar environment and ongoing relationships with the staff.

However, the experiences are not uniformly flawless, and a number of critics point to significant challenges. One major concern is related to the physical layout of The Waterford, which some reviewers say makes it harder for aides to reach residents quickly as needs escalate. This has led to the perception that certain residents require a move to The Villa to get more immediate assistance and a broader set of services. Related to staffing is the reality of turnover: when staff come and go, families feel the need for ongoing training and reorientation, which can affect consistency of care and communications in the short term. There are a few specific incidents that have left families frustrated, including occasional rude or disrespectful behavior by some staff, and a notable lapse in attention to a resident's comfort or safety in at least one account. While most praise the overall care team, these anecdotes highlight the human side of running a large, multi-service campus.

Food and meal service emerge as another mixed note. Several reviewers describe the meals at The Villa as not particularly healthy or varied, with breakfasts cited as being similar from day to day. This contrasts with positive memories about other aspects of daily life on campus, such as the availability of Drakes, a restaurant on site, which many residents and families enjoy. The overall impression is that while there are strong points in dining, the food program could benefit from more variety and nutritional balance to meet evolving dietary needs across different levels of care.

Finances and practical logistics also surface in the commentary. The campus is described as a for-profit facility with a host of charges and optional add-ons, which means families should carefully review what is included in care packages and what incurs extra fees - such as charges for laundry or delivery of packages. Some reviewers mention the convenience of on-site amenities like the chapel or the rehab center, while others note that certain services or facilities (for example, a common laundry room or the way some packages are handled) could use updates. A few positive notes point to benefits like discounts at nearby services (for example, a mention of Americinn discounts when visiting) and the presence of a full-service pharmacy and a pharmacy-friendly, on-site store that makes routine errands easier for families.

Care experiences in specific departments vary widely. There are heartfelt testimonials from families who describe excellent care in the rehab and nursing components, with some staff singled out for going above and beyond, particularly in moments of caregiving, clinical coordination, and social work support. In contrast, other reviews recount troubling experiences in rehab or long-term care, including delayed pain management, gaps in communication about a resident's condition, and concerns about a resident's safety or comfort during transitions or medical procedures. One account describes an extremely distressing period around pain control, alleging delayed administration of analgesics and inadequate communication about a patient's pain management plan. Other stories recount pressure sores or lack of timely updates for families during hospital-to-rehab transitions, which understandably generate anger and a search for accountability.

Despite the varied feedback, a common takeaway is that this campus offers a compelling ecosystem for seniors seeking multiple levels of care in one place, with an established network of services designed to support aging in place. Families frequently note the presence of helpful resources alongside a sense of community: on-site dining options, a chapel, access to physical and occupational therapy through rehab, regular activities, and the ability for loved ones to stay close and involved. The ability to switch levels of care - moving from independent living to assisted living or memory care as needed - appears to be a valued feature, along with the opportunity for family members to stay connected with the care team through ongoing communication.

For potential residents and their families, the campus presents a clear value proposition: a cohesive environment where care, social engagement, and practical conveniences intersect, within reach of family support and familiar routines. But this coming together of multiple services under one roof also requires careful due diligence. Prospective residents should inquire about meal planning and nutrition, clarify all potential charges and care-package inclusions, and talk directly with the rehab and nursing leadership about pain management, response times, and communication protocols. Tours, conversations with current residents and families, and a clear picture of how the campus handles staffing turnover and care coordination can help align expectations with the realities described by reviewers. Overall, the campus emerges as a well-equipped, genuinely people-centered place that can be an excellent match for many families - while also presenting specific areas where improvements can make a meaningful difference in daily life and peace of mind.

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)