The Emeralds Faribault Asst Li

Pros

• The staff are caring and attentive, and residents feel well cared for.
• OT and PT care is excellent, with noticeable improvements.
• Families describe the staff as friendly, respectful, and easy to communicate with.
• Justina David and the social workers are helpful and communicative.
• Families often feel blessed by the care their loved ones receive, and some residents pass with comfort.
• The facility has a history of being an incredible organization with caring and loving staff.

Cons

• The staff are understaffed, especially with nurses, leading to wounds not being checked for days.
• The facility is poorly run and deteriorating due to management/investor decisions.
• Call bells go unanswered for long periods, sometimes 30 minutes.
• Residents lie in soiled garments for extended times before being cleaned.
• Some staff are disrespectful and appear incompetent, with crabby attitudes.
• The facility is described as elder abuse and unsafe for loved ones.
• Transfers are delayed with poor communication, often due to insurance.
• Hydration and nutrition neglect: residents lack water and timely meals.

Review

The Emeralds appears to be a place that evokes a broad spectrum of experiences. For some families, it was a place of solace and care at critical moments, while for others it has become a source of deep disappointment and frustration. Across the reflections, gratitude sits alongside grievances, and the common thread is a longing for consistent, compassionate, well-coordinated care that respects both residents and their families.

Several reviewers center their message on compassion and gratitude. One family recalls that their daughter received attentive, loving care and ultimately passed away there with "no distress." They express sincere thanks to the entire staff, underscoring how meaningful those final moments were. Another account recounts that their mother experienced good care during her stays, with regular family contact and attentive staff who felt respectful and supportive. In this vein, a particular staff member, along with the social workers - named Justina David by the reviewer - were highlighted as helpful and communicative. Such testimonials emphasize the parts of the experience that were positive: meaningful human connection, dependable care, and a sense that, at times, the team did everything possible to keep loved ones comfortable and engaged.

Yet the overall picture is not uniformly rosy. A number of reviews paint a starkly different reality, emphasizing understaffing, delays, and inconsistent communication. One reviewer described a visit where staff were sitting on the floor, which made the environment feel unsanitary and contributed to a sense that the facility wasn't as clean or efficient as families would hope. The same post describes a planned transfer to another facility that was delayed for a week, with little communication in the interim; the decision to transfer appeared to hinge on financial or insurance considerations rather than the patient's needs, leaving family members puzzled about why money mattered in the process and what the costs of such a transfer might be. The concern extended to questions about whether management priorities align with patient welfare, given that the same management structure appeared to govern both facilities.

Complaints about care quality and the day-to-day experience recur across multiple posts. Several reviewers describe being deeply disappointed by what they saw as chronic understaffing, especially among nurses, and by problems with wound care, cleanliness, and timely assistance. One account notes wounds going unchecked for days, a patient left in soiled clothing for days, and dehydration that seemed to go unaddressed for lengthy periods. Another post focuses on a patient who waited far too long for help after pressing a call button, and who faced limited opportunities for comfortable care routines like baths, with additional criticism directed at handling for patients with specific medical needs (diabetes, heart conditions). The theme is clear: when staffing is thin or morale is low, basic dignity and cleanliness risk slipping away, and that can have real consequences for residents' health and comfort.

The emotional tone in some reviews is raw and accusatory, with words like "elder abuse" and "terrible" appearing in responses. Some commenters express feeling disrespected by staff, or describe personal experiences where care fell apart quickly. A particular complaint mentions a negative interaction with an employee, prompting a decision to leave, and another bluntly labels the place as poorly run with zero stars being an honest assessment. A handful of commenters draw sharp contrasts with other facilities, noting that another place (referred to as Blooming in one post) is perceived as better, particularly in therapy and overall atmosphere.

Despite the negative experiences, there are also stories of resilience and improvement. One post recounts a family member who moved to "the Emeralds" for long-term care and found that the rehab team - occupational and physical therapy - had helped her improve, with other staff continuing to provide friendly and respectful communication. In that narrative, social workers were praised for clear communication and accessibility, suggesting that with the right people and processes, positive outcomes are still possible. Another account highlights a long-term relative who found the staff to be approachable and supportive, emphasizing that consistent contact with the care team helped sustain a sense of trust and cooperation between family and facility.

Looking across all these points, the overarching tale is not one of a single narrative outcome but a patchwork of experiences that vary by time, department, and personnel. Families who were able to establish steady lines of communication and who received frequent, compassionate involvement from staff tended to describe care that met their expectations, with particular appreciation for the dedication of certain workers and social workers. By contrast, those who encountered delays, understaffing, or perceived misalignment between management decisions and resident welfare reported frustration and heartbreak, feeling that the facility's structure and priorities did not serve the residents as well as they deserved.

In sum, The Emeralds is remembered by many families as a place of genuine care and warmth during some of life's most difficult moments, while others point to a pattern of systemic issues - understaffing, communication gaps, inconsistent routines, and administrative decisions - that undermined daily comfort and safety. The contrast between these experiences underscores the critical need for reliable staffing, proactive communication, and a patient-centered approach that prioritizes dignity, timely care, and transparent decision-making. When those elements align, reviewers acknowledge the potential for meaningful, compassionate care; when they do not, the resulting dissatisfaction can be profound, leaving long-lasting impressions on families already navigating difficult times.

This part of Faribault, Minnesota offers a variety of amenities and services that may be appealing to seniors looking for a convenient and comfortable place to live. With several hospitals, pharmacies, and physicians located within close proximity, residents have access to essential healthcare facilities. Additionally, there are cafes and restaurants in the area for dining options, as well as places of worship for spiritual needs. For recreation and leisure, there are parks nearby where seniors can enjoy outdoor activities and socialize with others in the community. Transportation services are also available for easy access to different parts of the city. Overall, this part of Faribault provides a well-rounded living environment with essential services tailored to the needs of seniors.

Hospitals

• District One Donations (0.2 miles)
• Melissa Appel, MD - Appel Melissa MD (0.2 miles)
• Northfield Hospital (11.8 miles)
• Owatonna Hospital Sleep Center (12.3 miles)
• Allina Health Laboratory - Owatonna Hospital (12.3 miles)
• Owatonna Clinic (12.3 miles)
• Richardson (12.5 miles)

Pharmacies

• Pharmacy One (0.2 miles)
• Fareway Foods (0.7 miles)
• Sterling Pharmacy (0.7 miles)
• Walgreens (1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (10.6 miles)
• Village Drug (12.2 miles)
• Sterling Pharmacy (12.2 miles)

Physicians

• Cruz Eugene Dela Dpm (0.2 miles)
• Ganeshan Vathsala MD (0.2 miles)
• Orthopaedic & Fracture Clinic Pa (0.2 miles)
• Cannon Valley Clinic (0.3 miles)
• Health Finders (0.5 miles)
• Associates in Psychiatry (0.5 miles)
• Southern Cities Community Health Clinic (0.8 miles)

Cafes

• Crooked Pint Ale House (0.4 miles)
• Martha's Eats & Treats (10.1 miles)
• Caribou Coffee (12.3 miles)
• The Cage (12.5 miles)

Restaurants

• Depot Bar and Grill (0.4 miles)
• Monte's Restaurant (0.4 miles)
• Signature Bar & Grill (0.4 miles)
• Mizuki Fusion (1 miles)
• Taco John's (1.5 miles)
• KFC (1.5 miles)
• Broaster (1.5 miles)

Places of Worship

• River Valley Church (0.4 miles)
• Dominican Sisters (0.6 miles)
• Religious Education & Youth (0.6 miles)
• Faribault Evangelical Free Church (1.1 miles)
• Islamic Center (1.3 miles)
• Hope United Methodist Church (1.4 miles)
• First Baptist Church (1.8 miles)

Parks

• Central Park (0.8 miles)
• Jefferson School (1.4 miles)
• Alexander Park Softball (1.6 miles)
• Alexander Park (1.6 miles)
• Tyler Park (11.2 miles)
• Riverside Lions Park (12.1 miles)
• Odd Fellows Park (12.2 miles)

Transportation

• First Choice Shuttle (1.4 miles)
• Budget Truck Rental (3 miles)

Theaters

• Cannon Valley Cinema (10.1 miles)