Bethel Care Ctr

Pros

• A reviewer called Bethel Care Center excellent and felt at home due to the supportive staff and the therapy team's dedication.
• They would recommend Bethel to family and friends.
• The therapy team was described as highly motivated and effective in helping patients reach their goals.

Cons

• The facility is described as disorganized, unprofessional, and routinely understaffed, with delays in answering call lights.
• Residents are said to suffer bedsores due to inadequate turning and attention from staff.
• There have been multiple deaths on the floor, with ambulances called for simple medical issues.
• The environment is characterized as dirty and unsanitary, with strong odors and unclean rooms and bathrooms.
• Residents reportedly go days without medications and do not receive care aligned with doctors' orders.
• Some staff are described as sleeping on shift, being disrespectful, or ignoring residents.
• Families report loss of important files and poor communication with staff and administration.
• There are accusations that staff steal treats meant for residents.
• Financial concerns are raised, including delays or failures to deliver trust funds or other documents.
• Dietary needs, such as for diabetics, are ignored, with residents receiving high-sugar foods.
• The facility is regarded by some as a "death trap," with a perception that staff do not care about residents' well-being.

Review

The collection of accounts from families and residents paints a troubling picture of Bethel Care Center, with some references to its transition to Emeril. Across multiple testimonies, the dominant themes are chronic understaffing, inattentiveness to residents' basic needs, and a pervasive sense of disorganization that seems to put patient safety at risk. Several reviewers describe long waits for help when call buttons are pressed, with nurses arriving only after 10 to 20 minutes, and sometimes not at all for extended periods. The result, according to these voices, is a routine where residents are left waiting while staff members cluster around desks, chatting instead of attending to patients. In one recurring thread, families say caregivers seem overwhelmed or disengaged, and this behavior appears to contribute to serious consequences for those in their care.

Medical neglect and safety lapses are repeatedly highlighted. Bed sores are described as a direct consequence of infrequent turning and insufficient repositioning, a failure to respond promptly to alarms, and a general neglect of light or call alerts. The deterioration is not limited to skin issues; reviewers recount infections including urinary tract infections and kidney infections, sometimes progressing to sepsis during short stays on the facility floor or in the unit. There are reports of residents being left on the floor for extended periods after a fall, and of situations where hospital transfers and ambulance calls were frequent, sometimes for what families perceive as preventable conditions. A number of accounts emphasize that staff shortages and lack of timely attention appear to contribute to a cycle of preventable complications.

Communication and administrative inconsistencies emerge as another major concern. Several families describe disorganization and lost or misplaced files, missed notifications about hospital transfers or discharge timelines, and delayed communications with loved ones. One especially troubling thread concerns a family's trust fund or financial documents: a request to forward remaining funds after a resident's passing or a move to another facility was not fulfilled, leaving relatives frustrated and feeling ignored. The facility's history of changing names - from Bethel Care Center to Emeril - adds to the confusion, with families recounting a lack of proactive updates about what was changing and how it would affect their loved ones' care or paperwork. There are also complaints about a lack of heads-up when a resident's "days are up" or when belongings must be retrieved, all of which contribute to a sense that families are left in the dark during incredibly vulnerable moments.

Attitudes and behavior among staff are another focal point. Reviewers describe supervisors and caregivers who are "short on staff," who are quick to argue or dismiss concerns, and who appear to lack consistent accountability. Claims include staff who ignore doctor's orders, fail to provide essential care like brushing teeth or dressing residents, and show little respect to residents - especially those who are elderly or physically frail. There are reports of medication delays, missed meals or dietary neglect for residents with diabetes, and rooms or bathrooms that are left dirty. In some narratives, aides reportedly walk away while a resident remains in distress, and even when family members raise concerns, responses are described as unhelpful or disrespectful. A recurring point is the perception that staff do not have a "voice," with residents feeling they are not listened to or taken seriously when reporting issues.

Not all voices are uniformly negative, however. One account stands out as a contrasting perspective: a person who says their experience at Bethel was excellent, describing the facility as a "second home" thanks to motivated therapy teams, attentive aides, and encouraging nurses. This lone positive review underscores the heterogeneity of experiences within the same facility and hints at possible inconsistencies in care practices across units or shifts. It suggests that the quality of care may vary significantly depending on who is on duty, when, and where residents are located within the building, rather than reflecting a uniform standard across the organization.

A particularly vivid and alarming portion of the narratives centers on a specific nursing staff member and a broader culture around reporting and accountability. A resident on a third-floor unit provides a detailed account of a nurse described as frequently sleeping on the job, delaying medications, and failing to respond to call bells. The account portrays a pattern of neglect that persisted across several hours and days, including the nurse allegedly collapsing at a nurse's station, delays in delivering feeding or medication, and a perceived tolerance or complicity from other staff who did not report the behavior. The narrative escalates to concerns about medical orders being ignored, the administrator's involvement or lack of intervention, and even questions about whether cameras on the floor were actively monitored. This level of detail suggests a serious breakdown in safety culture, where substandard practice is not only occurring but is also going unaddressed by leadership.

Taken together, the reviews present a landscape in which residents and families feel unsafe and undervalued. The recurring themes of delayed care, inadequate turning and turning schedules, untreated infections, disorganization around records and transfers, and personnel who seem either overwhelmed or unconcerned create a sense of systemic risk rather than isolated incidents. The breadth of complaints - from skin integrity and infection control to medication administration and respectful communication - paints a picture of an institution in which patient safety and family trust may be at serious risk. In light of these reports, families may reasonably seek second opinions, regulatory oversight, or a formal review to evaluate care standards, staffing, and accountability processes to ensure that residents receive timely, compassionate, and professional care.

This part of St. Paul, Minnesota is a vibrant and diverse neighborhood with a variety of amenities within close proximity. The area boasts several places of worship, hospitals, pharmacies, cafes, transportation options, physicians' offices, parks, and theaters. There are also a variety of restaurants offering different cuisines for residents to enjoy. The presence of renowned healthcare facilities such as United Hospital Joint Replacement Center and St. Joseph's Hospital-St Paul ensures easy access to quality medical care. In addition, the neighborhood is well-connected with public transportation options like Union Depot and Minnesota State Fair Transit Hub nearby. Overall, this area offers a convenient and lively environment for senior living with ample opportunities for recreation and healthcare services.

Places of Worship

• Cathedral of St Paul (0.4 miles)
• St George Greek Orthodox Church (1.5 miles)
• WW Studio (3.1 miles)
• St Jerome Elementary School (3.8 miles)
• Transfiguration Catholic Church (6.8 miles)

Hospitals

• United Hospital Joint Relacement Center (0.6 miles)
• St Joseph's Hospital-St Paul (0.9 miles)
• Regions Hospital Burn Center (1.3 miles)
• VA Medical Center (5.3 miles)
• University of Minnesota Medical Center - East Bank Campus (5.7 miles)

Restaurants

• Cossetta's Italian Market & Pizzeria (0.7 miles)
• Citizen Supper Club (1.3 miles)
• The Bulldog Lowertown (1.5 miles)
• Brew Hall (2.3 miles)
• Taco Bell (2.5 miles)
• Burger Time (2.9 miles)
• Pool and Yacht Club (3.1 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.9 miles)
• Walgreens (3.1 miles)
• Walgreens (3.3 miles)
• Walgreens (4.1 miles)
• Walgreens (4.6 miles)
• Walgreens (4.6 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.4 miles)
• Groundswell (2.1 miles)
• Roundtable Cof (4.1 miles)

Transportation

• Union Depot (1.5 miles)
• Minnesota State Fair Transit Hub (3.7 miles)
• Concourse A (6.2 miles)
• Delta Sky Club (6.2 miles)
• Concourse C (6.2 miles)
• Concourse D (6.3 miles)
• Escape Lounge (6.4 miles)

Physicians

• West Side Community Health Services (2.3 miles)
• Dermatology Consultants P.A. (2.4 miles)
• Parkway Family Physicians (3.1 miles)
• Entira Family Clinics-West St Paul (4.1 miles)
• Dakota Medical Solutions (4.2 miles)
• HealthPartners Health Center for Women Clinic St Paul (4.5 miles)
• HealthPartners Clinic (5.5 miles)

Parks

• Como Park (2.7 miles)
• Flicek Park (4.7 miles)
• Hidden Falls Park (4.7 miles)
• Wabun Picnic Area (4.8 miles)
• Minnehaha Falls Dog Park (5 miles)
• Central Park Playground (5 miles)
• Longfellow Park (5 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Rosedale 14 (5.1 miles)
• AMC Inver Grove 16 (6.2 miles)