Pleasant Manor Nursing Home in Faribault, MN

Pros

• The food at the community was good.
• The community is well maintained.
• The husband loved living there.
• The staff went above and beyond to ensure he was cared for.
• Some of the staff have worked there for many years.

Cons

• The facilities are not clean; junk and garbage are everywhere, and it smells horrible.
• The staff are extremely understaffed, causing 20–40 minute waits for a nurse or aide.
• Privacy is minimal: rooms are cramped, shared bathrooms with a curtain divider, and there are no phones in the rooms.
• A resident in a wheelchair was left stuck in a doorway with no help.
• Her dentures were thrown away by a staff member, with no timely notification to the family and no proper payment for replacements.
• There were two hospitalizations, and the family was not informed about these events or about treatment decisions.
• Procedures and medications were not properly communicated, causing delays or inability to perform scheduled medical steps.
• Pain management was insufficient, and hospice later indicated there was more that could have been done.
• On the day of her passing, staff used the term expiring in a way that felt dehumanizing.
• Overall, the reviewer believes the facility contributed to her decline and would not recommend it.

Review

Pleasant Manor Nursing Home in Faribault, MN is best suited for older adults who are relatively independent, prize a clean, well-kept environment, and value solid meal quality. For families that can stay actively involved and monitor care, the facility can deliver a stable, pleasant-feeling setting on some days. It is not, however, a strong choice for residents who require consistent, proactive nursing oversight, rapid response to needs, or highly reliable medical coordination. Those with significant medical or mobility challenges should not assume this community will meet their care standard without aggressive oversight and family involvement.

Alternatives should be strongly considered for anyone whose loved one depends on dependable, round-the-clock nursing attention, predictable pain management, or transparent, timely communication about health events. Veterans and their families, in particular, may need facilities that explicitly accept Veterans Benefits and weave VA-reimbursed care into daily operations. Prospective residents who anticipate frequent hospitalizations, complex medication schedules, or urgent transfers will likely find these gaps problematic here. In short, PM is not the right fit for demanding clinical needs or for families seeking minimal administrative friction and maximum contingency planning.

On the positive side, the dining experience and general upkeep of the building stand out amid the concerns. Reviewers consistently note that the food is good and the facility is well maintained, with some staff members who have decades of tenure creating a sense of continuity. Those who prize a pleasant dining environment and a clean, orderly common space will find value in these elements. However, these advantages are not a substitute for reliable nursing care, decisive communication, or personal privacy, and they do not erase the risk factors tied to staffing gaps and procedural missteps.

The core deal-breakers, by contrast, are substantial enough to redefine the decision. The reported cleanliness issues, junk and odors, cramped two-bed rooms with curtained partitions, and shared bathrooms, shape a uncomfortable baseline living condition. Understaffing translates into alarmingly long call-bell response times and inconsistent help with basic needs. Communication failures compound the risk, from missed procedures to delayed notifications about hospital trips or pain management adjustments. Instances like dentures mistakenly discarded, delayed dental replacements, and calls that treated a hospice patient’s expiring as a routine administrative moment reveal a pattern that undermines trust and family peace of mind. These factors directly affect safety, dignity, and the overall trajectory of a resident’s health.

If this community remains in consideration, approach with disciplined diligence. Request exact staffing ratios by shift and department, and solicit recent data on call-light response times. Demand a thorough tour that prioritizes privacy and room conditions, single-occupancy options, private bathrooms, and current sanitation standards. Insist on a documented care plan that includes pain management protocols, medication reconciliation practices, and explicit family communication expectations for hospitalizations or emergencies. Verify denture handling policies and ensure a reliable process for timely replacement when needed. Finally, insist on meeting the nurse manager or director of nursing to review incident history and corrective actions, so confidence rests on concrete, verifiable improvements rather than assurances.

In the end, Pleasant Manor is a conditional choice. It can serve as a reasonable option for a relatively autonomous senior who values meals and cleanliness and for families prepared to supervise and intervene when gaps arise. For most families seeking robust clinical care, transparent communication, and consistent, proactive nursing attention, this facility requires significant caution and proactive oversight. A prudent path is to compare PM with several nearby options, prioritizing those with higher staffing levels, stronger incident reporting, and explicit alignment with any VA benefits or other funding streams. If PM is pursued, treat it as a monitored placement with formal check-ins and a clear escalation plan to protect safety and dignity at every step.