Birchwood Health Care Center in Forest Lake, MN
Save604 - 1St Street Ne, Forest Lake, MN 55025
For more information about senior living options: (866) 208-4318
Overall Review of Birchwood Health Care Center
Pros
The care at Birchwood Transitional Care is fantastic.- The nurses and aides are wonderful.
- The occupational and physical therapists are excellent in caring for residents.
- Staff members return calls promptly or connect residents with a nurse right away.
- The staff are caring and feel like a big family.
- There is an activities person who checks in on residents and invites them to activities.
- It is a place the reviewer would not mind staying in someday.
- The high quality of care shines despite the aesthetics.
Cons
They are severely understaffed.- The meals were cold.
- Staff did not wash their hands consistently.
- They did not respond when the buzzer was used for help.
- The patient contracted C-diff and it persisted after returning home.
- They did not inform the roommate about the C-diff or about rooms nearby.
- It is described as a horrible place.
Review
Birchwood Health Care Center in Forest Lake is best suited for families seeking strong post-acute rehabilitation and attentive nursing care within a warm, family-like culture. The facility shines when residents need hands-on occupational and physical therapy, supported by responsive nurses’ aides and a nursing team that communicates consistently. In this setting, rehab progress and daily care are the centerpiece, and staff turnover seldom shows up as a barrier to questions or quick updates. Aesthetic polish is not the draw here; the value is in the care ecosystem, a cohesive team that treats recovery as a collaborative process, with activities and check-ins that help residents feel connected.
That emphasis on rehabilitation and personal attention makes Birchwood a sensible choice for transitional care after hospitalization, especially for families prioritizing tangible progress and steady communication. The positive voice emphasizes that calls are returned promptly and questions are addressed directly with the nursing staff. A sense of belonging, described as “like a big family”, paired with an activities coordinator who checks in and invites participation, reinforces the impression that residents are not just accommodated but actively engaged. For families who want a facility where clinicians and aides coordinate closely around rehab goals, Birchwood stands out as a practical, outcomes-focused option.
Yet the decision is not one-note. A second, sharply critical account foregrounds real concerns about staffing levels and basic safety practices. Reported issues include understaffing during rehabilitation admissions, cold meals, and delays in responding to call bells. The reviewer also cites lapses in hand hygiene and a troubling infection outcome, C. difficile, that persisted after discharge, with insufficient transparency about room-sharing notes. The gravity of these claims cannot be dismissed, particularly because they touch on immediate safety and long-tail infection risk. For families with heightened sensitivity to staffing reliability, infection control, and consistent bedside responsiveness, these questions are essential to address before choosing Birchwood.
In weighing the pros against the cons, the center’s strongest assets, expert rehab teams, responsive communication, and a genuine, caring environment, do offer substantial upside for recovery-focused stays. When rehabilitation progress is the primary goal, the benefits of hands-on PT/OT and ongoing nursing support can offset some concerns about comfort amenities or aesthetic polish. However, the efficacy of that offset depends on consistent staffing, reliable hygiene practices, and timely assistance. If those elements are uneven, the risk to safety and the risk of infection rise, potentially eroding the gains made in therapy and undermining trust with family members.
This means families should approach Birchwood with a clear plan. Visit with specific questions about nurse-to-resident ratios on day and evening shifts, how quickly staff respond to call bells, and the center’s infection-control routines. Ask for the latest staffing data and what changes have been implemented since the reported incidents. Inquire about meal service improvements and whether menu options have been adjusted to improve warmth and nutrition. Most importantly, verify whether rehab goals will be coordinated with a documented care plan that family members can review weekly. If the answers align with a priorities-first approach, strong rehab outcomes, visible staff engagement, and rigorous safety practices, Birchwood can be a sound fit.
Overall, Birchwood Health Care Center represents a pragmatic choice for families prioritizing rehabilitation depth and a compassionate care culture, provided diligence is exercised around staffing, hygiene, and safety. For those who cannot compromise on steady staffing and uncompromising infection control, it may be prudent to compare alternatives with a sharper lens on these fundamentals. The facility’s potential is real, but it rests on delivering reliable, consistently high-quality care across the board. In the right circumstances, Birchwood delivers the measurable progress and the humane, hands-on care that families value most; in others, it warrants careful comparison with options that place equal emphasis on safety and operational rigor.
Features
Housing
100 resident community capacity
Types of Care
Skilled Nursing Facility
Amenities
Air-conditioning
Beauty salon
Cable or satellite TV
Computer center
Dining room
Fitness room
Fully furnished
Gaming room
Garden
Housekeeping services
Kitchenette
Move-in coordination
Outdoor space
Private bathrooms
Restaurant-style dining
Small library
Telephone
Wellness center
Wi-Fi/high-speed internet available
Transportation
Community operated transportation- Transportation arrangement
- Transportation arrangement (non-medical)
- Transportation to doctors appointments
Care Services
12-16 hour nursing
24-hour call system- 24-hour supervision
Activities of daily living assistance
Assistance with bathing
Assistance with dressing
Assistance with transfers
Diabetes diet- Meal preparation and service
Medication management
Mental wellness program
Special dietary restrictions
Dining
- Diabetes diet
- Special dietary restrictions
Activities
- Community-sponsored activities
Concierge services- Fitness programs
Planned day trips- Resident-run activities
- Scheduled daily activities
Description
Birchwood Health Care Center is an assisted living community located in Forest Lake, MN. Our facility offers a wide range of amenities to ensure that our residents are comfortable and have access to everything they need. These amenities include a beauty salon, cable or satellite TV, community-operated transportation, a computer center, dining room, fitness room, gaming room, garden, housekeeping services, kitchenette, move-in coordination, outdoor space, private bathrooms, restaurant-style dining, a small library, telephone service, transportation arrangement (non-medical), transportation to doctor's appointments, as well as a wellness center and Wi-Fi/high-speed internet connection.
In addition to our top-notch amenities, we also provide comprehensive care services to meet the individual needs of our residents. This includes 24-hour call system and supervision for their safety and security. Our staff is available to assist with activities of daily living such as bathing and dressing and transfers. We also offer assistance with medication management and provide specialized meal preparation and service for those with special dietary restrictions.
At Birchwood Health Care Center, we understand the importance of social engagement and maintaining an active lifestyle. Therefore, we offer a variety of activities for our residents to enjoy. These include concierge services for personalized assistance and planning day trips for exploration outside the community. We also have resident-run activities as well as scheduled daily activities to keep everyone engaged and entertained.
Additionally, our location provides convenient access to various services in the surrounding area. There are six pharmacies nearby for quick medication refills or other pharmaceutical needs. Ten physicians are within proximity to cater to any medical requirements that may arise. There are also 17 restaurants nearby which gives residents plenty of options when it comes to dining out or trying new cuisines. For transportation needs beyond what is provided by the community-operated transport service there is alternative transportation available nearby. Additionally there are two places of worship nearby for spiritual support if desired.
Overall, Birchwood Health Care Center offers a comfortable and inviting assisted living community where residents can enjoy a range of amenities, personalized care services, engaging activities, and convenient access to essential services in the surrounding area.
Nearby Places of Interest
Restaurants
- Big Apple Bagels (0.1 miles)
- Wing Street (0.3 miles)
- Vannellis By The Lake (0.4 miles)
- Mallards (0.7 miles)
- White Castle (0.8 miles)
- Culver's (0.9 miles)
- VFW Post 4210 (0.9 miles)
Physicians
- Associated Eye Care (0.2 miles)
- Forest Lake Foot Clinic (0.2 miles)
- Da Vita (0.3 miles)
- Adv Dermatology (0.5 miles)
- St Croix Endodontics Pa (0.5 miles)
- Summit Orthopedics (0.6 miles)
- St Croix Orthopaedics (3.5 miles)
Pharmacies
- Thrifty White Pharmacy (0.2 miles)
- Rolseth Drug (0.6 miles)
- Good Neighbor Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
- Walmart Pharmacy (1 miles)
- Walgreens (1 miles)
- Wyoming Drug (4.4 miles)
- Fairview Pharmacy Services (7.8 miles)
Transportation
- Enterprise Rent-A-Car (0.9 miles)
- Lino Air Park (9.3 miles)
Places of Worship
- Real Church Real People (2.5 miles)
- Hosanna Lutheran Church (3.5 miles)
- St John's Lutheran Church (8.6 miles)
- Trinity Lutheran Church (10 miles)
- Chisago Lake Lutheran Church (11.7 miles)
- Open Range Cowboy Church (12.3 miles)
Hospitals
- Fairview Lakes Medical Center (3.5 miles)
- Fairview Lakes Health Services (9.4 miles)
Parks
- Tolzmann Park (5.2 miles)
- Ironhorse Railroad Park (7.1 miles)
- Chuckie Lundquist Park (8.4 miles)
- Surfland Park (8.8 miles)
- Beach Park (10.1 miles)
- Lyman Park (10.2 miles)
- Lexington Athletic Complex (10.4 miles)
Cafes
- Caribou Coffee (8.8 miles)
- Northwoods Roasterie (10.4 miles)
- Marine Cafe (11.5 miles)
Frequently Asked Questions
Birchwood Health Care Center is located at 604 - 1St Street Ne, Forest Lake, MN 55025 in Washington County, Minnesota
Birchwood Health Care Center on seniors.fyi includes 5 photos including images showing interior, landscaping, living room, windows, bedroom, decor, dining, trees, and more.
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Birchwood Health Care Center photos
×Interior
Decor
Living Room
Building
Dining
Interior
Decor
Bedroom
Dining, Lighting, and Table Settings
Living Room
Landscaping, Building, Trees, and Outdoor
Windows
Fireplace
Dining Table