Missoula Manor Retirement Home

Pros

• The staff, facilities, and management are fantastic, and the location is wonderful.
• The Manor offers a fully stocked room for families to rent when visiting loved ones.
• There are many services and activities for residents, including dining, salon, laundry, beautiful gardens, an on-site farmers market, events, a library, and a recreation room.
• It is a well-maintained and lovely building with helpful and kind staff.
• Residents are pretty wonderful.
• The Manor is praised for doing an amazing job for families and the elderly.
• The on-site hairdresser is amazing.

Cons

• The place is unpleasant.
• The founders hired the worst people to manage the place and let it fall to ruin.
• The 2023/24 management was so bad that Adult Protective Services had to be called.
• There are unfiltered men who touch women inappropriately, and management tells residents it's up to them to stay away.
• Gang bullying is a serious problem, and administrators treat encounters as private matters.
• The mandatory meal program does not meet USDA standards and costs residents an extra $200 per month for at least one meal.
• The staff showed no empathy during the move-in process and blamed the family when they learned the resident was under the required age; they were told to come back in 7 years.

Review

Missoula Manor evokes a wide spectrum of experiences from those who have lived, visited, or worked there. On the one hand, several reviewers rave about the place: they describe fantastic staff, excellent facilities, and a location that is convenient and appealing. They highlight a strong sense of community among residents and note that the staff are helpful and kind. There are numerous services and activities that make life there feel livelier and more comfortable: dining options, a salon, laundry facilities, beautifully kept gardens, an on-site farmers market, events, a library, and a recreation room. Some reviews even point to practical perks like a fully stocked room for families to use when visiting loved ones, which adds a layer of convenience for families trying to stay connected. In short, when people speak positively about Missoula Manor, they emphasize quality care, a welcoming atmosphere, and well-maintained spaces that contribute to a pleasant living environment.

Yet the picture is far from uniform. Several reviewers recall a shift over time from "the best place for seniors to live" to something much less favorable. They attribute this change to management and governance issues, naming the founding group, The Fraternity of Eagles, as having left the facility in less capable hands. The sentiment is that, in the past decade, the operation has declined, with references to mismanagement and neglect that have ultimately led to serious concerns. One reviewer even mentions adult protective services being called in 2023/24, painting a troubling picture of safety and oversight. For these voices, the current state of Missoula Manor depends heavily on who is managing it and when, with a warning to consider other options in the same housing category.

The day-to-day living environment is described in mixed terms as well. Some reviewers describe the buildings as clean and well-kept, with a nice library and pleasant dining areas, and note that staff are friendly to visitors and residents alike. The physical plant is repeatedly praised for its cleanliness and upkeep, and the surrounding grounds are depicted as attractive with well-maintained landscaping. There are mentions of high-rise design and secure entrances, which some residents appreciate for safety and privacy, while others comment on a sense of being "stuffy" or less welcoming than in the best moments of the facility's history. The social scene also receives varied treatment: some say that residents are wonderful and that the building is full of life, while others warn about bullying, privacy concerns, and uncomfortable interactions that aren't adequately addressed by management.

There are also practical, sometimes controversial, concerns that weigh on the overall impression. A recurring thread is the meal program, described by some as mandatory and not aligned with USDA guidelines for sugar, salt, fat, cholesterol, and protein. Reviewers note that meals often rely on processed meats, breaded or fried foods, and limited fruits and vegetables, with a reliance on canned produce and simple salads. The financial burden of the meals is another point of contention: in some cases, residents or their families report paying significantly more than rent unless a medical exemption is obtained. One anecdote details a pediatric-like administrative mishap - an age eligibility issue - that caused a great deal of distress when a prospective resident was told she was too young to qualify, despite the paperwork and processes already completed. The emotional impact of this miscommunication - followed by an unsympathetic reminder that the resident would have to wait years to be eligible - adds a layer of disappointment that colors the overall assessment of the facility.

Safety and resident privacy rise as critical themes in the negative reviews. Several accounts describe encounters with men who behave inappropriately toward women, with management placing responsibility on women to avoid or handle problematic behavior. Allegations of gang bullying and a tendency for administrators to treat such incidents as private matters rather than safety concerns contribute to a climate of unease for some residents and families. These voices emphasize that a secure and respectful environment should be non-negotiable, and when policy seems to downplay safety, it understandably prompts caution from potential residents and their loved ones.

There are also human-interest notes that temper the more critical takes. Personal stories speak to warmth and care: an aunt or mom who is enjoying her time there, staff members like a front-desk aide who is especially kind, a hairdresser who earns high praise, and friends who visit and bring life to the building. Some reviewers highlight the accessibility and supportive culture of the place - people who know residents by name, a sense of community among elderly residents, and staff who appear genuinely invested in residents' well-being. There are even references to good value for certain rent ranges and to the building's attractive landscaping and proximity to community resources.

Taken together, the reviews present a complex portrait of Missoula Manor. For some, it remains a strong option with robust amenities, engaging programs, and approachable staff, especially when current leadership aligns with their expectations. For others, past and present governance, safety concerns, a contentious meal program, and difficult experiences with miscommunication or mismanagement cast a long shadow over the experience. The facility's appeal seems highly contingent on individual circumstances - whose management is in charge at the time, what safety and dietary policies are enforced, and how responsive the administration is to concerns. Prospective residents and their families would do well to visit, ask pointed questions about meal standards, safety protocols, and age-eligibility policies, and gauge whether the current environment and leadership feel trustworthy and attentive to residents' needs.

This part of Missoula, Montana offers a convenient and accessible location for senior living. With a variety of cafes, restaurants, and pharmacies within close proximity, residents have easy access to essential services and amenities. The presence of physicians' offices and hospitals nearby ensures that medical care is readily available. The abundance of parks in the area also provides opportunities for outdoor recreation and social engagement. Additionally, there are places of worship for spiritual fulfillment. Overall, this neighborhood offers a well-rounded and vibrant community for seniors looking to settle down in Missoula.

Cafes

• Starbucks (0.2 miles)
• Florence Coffee (0.2 miles)
• Cambie Taphouse + Coffee (0.7 miles)
• Le Petit Outre Breads (1.2 miles)
• Liquid Planet Grille (1.3 miles)
• Market on Front (1.6 miles)
• Ducrey Chocolate Maker (1.6 miles)

Restaurants

• Ruby's Cafe (0.2 miles)
• Paul's Pancake Parlor (0.3 miles)
• Denny's (0.8 miles)
• Tagliare Delicatessen (0.8 miles)
• McDonald's (1.1 miles)
• Taco Bell (1.2 miles)
• Big Dipper Ice Cream (1.2 miles)

Physicians

• Dr. Jennifer Kessler (0.7 miles)
• Now Care Western Montana Clinic (0.8 miles)
• Thompson, Steven, Md - Now Care Western Montana Clinic (0.8 miles)
• NowCare (0.8 miles)
• Dragonfly Rose Naturopathic Clinic (0.9 miles)
• First Choice Medical Walk-In Clinic (0.9 miles)
• Wiswell, Grant M, DDS (1.4 miles)

Parks

• Bonner Park (0.9 miles)
• Evelyn Borg Johnson Park (1.3 miles)
• Bess Reed Park (1.5 miles)
• McCormick Park (1.6 miles)
• Kiwanis Park (1.6 miles)
• Jacob's Island Bark Park (1.8 miles)
• Fort Missoula Recreation Area (2 miles)

Pharmacies

• Albertsons Pharmacy (1 miles)
• Shopko Missoula Pharmacy (1.2 miles)
• Missoula Pharmacy (1.5 miles)
• Missoula Fresh Market (1.7 miles)
• Broadway Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
• Albertsons Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (2.1 miles)

Places of Worship

• Meadow View Church (1 miles)
• St Francis Xavier Church (1.8 miles)

Hospitals

• Village Health Care Center (1.5 miles)
• CMC Missoula (1.6 miles)
• Big Sky Surgery Center (1.7 miles)
• Cancer Center-St Patrick Hospital and Health Sciences Cen (1.8 miles)
• Providence Surgery Center (2.1 miles)