Galtier Health Ctr

Pros

• The facility is clean and does not have the usual strong odors associated with nursing homes.
• Crystal, the administrator since December 2024, addressed negative reviews and is actively reforming the facility; staff were kind and helpful.
• Visitors felt welcome and perceived staff as caring and attentive.
• The OT team was good, housekeeping staff were kind, and nurse practitioners were knowledgeable.
• Leadership is believed to care about patients, with regular updates to families about care.
• A family member noted that after the transition to new ownership, care improved, with friendly staff, timely medical issue responses, and inclusion in care conversations.

Cons

• The staff do not care for residents and neglect is common.
• The facility smells of urine and feces, and cleanliness is poor.
• Residents are not properly washed or cared for, leaving them in filth.
• Nurses are not knowledgeable and unhelpful; care is inconsistent.
• Call buttons go unanswered for long periods, compromising safety.
• The meals lack nutritional value, portions are small, and dietary needs are ignored.
• The facility is understaffed with low morale among staff.
• There have been reports of elder abuse and a lack of empathy from staff and management.
• Transfers have resulted in multiple falls, indicating unsafe handling.

Review

The Villas at St. Paul inspires a strikingly split set of experiences, with some visitors and family members expressing cautious optimism about recent leadership while many others recount troubling instances of neglect, poor communication, and a lack of basic care. The contrast is stark: for every note of clean surroundings or a compassionate staff member, there are tales of residents left in their own filth, meals that seem out of touch with medical needs, and a day-to-day rhythm that feels more like a struggle than a steady rhythm of support.

On the more hopeful side, several accounts highlight positive first impressions of leadership and a sense that reform is underway. A family member recently visiting their mother found the building clean and well-kept, even if aged, and appreciated the presence of a new administrator, Crystal, who took over in December 2024. According to that reviewer, Crystal directly addressed prior negative reviews and appeared sincere in her efforts to reform the facility. This person described interactions with staff as pleasant and helpful, and expressed optimism about their mom's stay under Crystal's management. Another visit on January 21, 2025, praised a staff member named Daminen for his knowledge and apparent concern for residents, and noted that both staff and other residents spoke positively about the care environment. That visit even felt welcoming during mealtimes, suggesting that the social atmosphere and patient engagement moments may be improving under current leadership.

Yet these positive notes are interwoven with numerous, louder concerns that recur across many reviews. Several residents and family members allege neglect, poor hygiene, and inadequate responsiveness. One account describes a situation where a grandmother had to be moved out after finding welts on her body and reports of being left unwashed and sitting in filth. Other threads echo a fearsome pattern: a strong stench of urine and feces in some areas, irregular or insufficient help with daily tasks, and a sense that call buttons go unanswered for long stretches of time. Language barriers, varying levels of staff attentiveness, and inconsistent follow-through on care plans are repeatedly mentioned as contributing factors to residents not receiving timely or appropriate assistance.

The quality and appropriateness of food are recurring points of frustration, with some reviewers noting poor nutritional value and even misalignment with dietary restrictions. One reviewer described a diabetic resident being fed poor-quality food and criticized the kitchen staff's handling of dietary needs. Another reviewer recounted a more specific failure - being told a loved one was on a soft-food diet when that designation did not match the patient's actual needs, highlighting miscommunications and potential gaps in record-keeping. In contrast, a different account praised the meals as tasting good, albeit at times with small portion sizes, illustrating how perceptions of food quality can vary even within the same facility.

Safety and clinical care are central to several more grave claims. A recurring theme across reviews is the perception of understaffing leading to delays in essential tasks and limited ability to provide basic safety support - such as assistance with transfers, timely response to call buttons, and consistent monitoring to prevent falls. Some relatives report witnessed instances of impatient or loud behavior from staff or a lack of translation services when needed, raising concerns about equity and clear communication for non-English-speaking residents. There are also distressing anecdotes of falls or near-misses during transfers, and a few stories of residents not receiving adequate pain management or timely medical attention, especially on weekends or during staff shortages.

Despite the breadth of criticism, there are two threads of narrative that offer a slightly different lens. A family member who previously placed a loved one at the Villas before the transition to new ownership describes a markedly improved experience post-transition. In this view, care conversations are more frequent, medical issues are addressed more promptly, and families feel more included in decisions about care. This contrast suggests that the new ownership and leadership may be moving the facility in a more patient-centered direction, even if not everyone is convinced that the changes are consistently in place across all shifts and units.

Overall, the collective voice surrounding The Villas at St. Paul reads as a cautionary tale about the reality of elder care in a facility that sits on the fault lines between aging infrastructure, staffing challenges, and evolving leadership. Some visitors leave with genuine hope that Crystal's reform efforts will bear fruit, while others remain deeply troubled by reports of neglect, poor hygiene, miscommunication, and insufficient attention to residents' day-to-day needs. The common thread is a call for greater transparency, more reliable staffing, and a sustained commitment to dignity, safety, and personalized care for every resident. For families considering this community, the experiences shared here underscore the importance of assessing current conditions in person - talking with the administration, observing staff interactions, and speaking with residents and families about day-to-day care - and weighing them against any ongoing reform efforts.

Located in St. Paul, Minnesota, this area offers a variety of amenities and services that cater to the needs of seniors. With several places of worship nearby, including the Cathedral of St Paul and St George Greek Orthodox Church, residents have access to spiritual support and community engagement. Close proximity to hospitals such as St Joseph's Hospital-St Paul and Regions Hospital Burn Center ensures quality healthcare services are readily available. Additionally, a selection of pharmacies, cafes, and restaurants like Cossetta's Italian Market & Pizzeria offer convenience for daily needs. For recreation, parks such as Como Park and Hidden Falls Park provide opportunities for outdoor activities and relaxation. The proximity to theaters like AMC Rosedale 14 also offers entertainment options for seniors looking to enjoy a night out. Overall, this part of St. Paul provides a well-rounded living environment with ample resources for senior residents to thrive in.

Places of Worship

• Cathedral of St Paul (0.6 miles)
• St George Greek Orthodox Church (2 miles)
• St Jerome Elementary School (3.2 miles)
• WW Studio (3.6 miles)
• Transfiguration Catholic Church (6.4 miles)

Hospitals

• St Joseph's Hospital-St Paul (0.7 miles)
• Regions Hospital Burn Center (0.8 miles)
• United Hospital Joint Relacement Center (0.9 miles)
• VA Medical Center (5.8 miles)
• University of Minnesota Medical Center - East Bank Campus (5.9 miles)
• St John's Hospital-Maplewood (6.4 miles)

Restaurants

• Cossetta's Italian Market & Pizzeria (0.8 miles)
• Citizen Supper Club (1.2 miles)
• The Bulldog Lowertown (1.2 miles)
• Brew Hall (2.6 miles)
• Taco Bell (2.7 miles)
• Karen Thai food (2.8 miles)
• Burger Time (3.1 miles)

Transportation

• Union Depot (1.3 miles)
• Minnesota State Fair Transit Hub (3.7 miles)
• Concourse A (6.7 miles)
• Delta Sky Club (6.8 miles)
• Concourse C (6.8 miles)
• Concourse D (6.8 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.4 miles)
• Walgreens (3.1 miles)
• Walgreens (3.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.3 miles)
• Walgreens (4.3 miles)
• Walgreens (4.5 miles)
• Walgreens (4.6 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.9 miles)
• Groundswell (2.3 miles)
• Roundtable Cof (4.3 miles)

Physicians

• West Side Community Health Services (2.4 miles)
• Dermatology Consultants P.A. (2.7 miles)
• Parkway Family Physicians (3.7 miles)
• Dakota Medical Solutions (4.3 miles)
• Entira Family Clinics-West St Paul (4.3 miles)
• HealthPartners Health Center for Women Clinic St Paul (4.7 miles)
• HealthPartners Clinic (5 miles)

Parks

• Como Park (2.6 miles)
• Flicek Park (4.2 miles)
• Central Park Playground (4.7 miles)
• Owasso Park (5 miles)
• Acorn Park (5.1 miles)
• Hidden Falls Park (5.2 miles)
• Wabun Picnic Area (5.3 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Rosedale 14 (4.9 miles)
• AMC Inver Grove 16 (6.5 miles)