Dementia, and specifically Alzheimers, is a serious, growing problem. In fact, 1 out of every 10 adults over the age of 65 has Alzheimer’s dementia. As Saint Cloud’s senior population continues to grow (24% growth between 2015 and 2020), so does the concern about aging and the risk of cognitive impairment.
In Saint Cloud, the number of deaths for those 65 and older caused or partly caused by Alzheimer’s disease rose 50% between 2015 and 2020. To put that in perspective, the number of deaths from all causes for that same age group only increased by 37%, showing that Alzheimer’s is a growing concern in the region. Overall, the percentage of seniors’ deaths related to Alzheimer’s is higher than the rest of the nation (10% in Saint Cloud vs. 6.46% in the U.S.).
To help families and caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s or other forms of cognitive impairment find the support and care their loved ones need, we applied our unique methodology and spent dozens of hours researching senior living communities in Saint Cloud. In addition to an overview of the communities’ best features, this guide highlights the best memory care facilities in the city, and gives information about pricing, types of care provided, residents’ reviews, and more.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 83% of all caregivers are unpaid family members, relatives, or other friends, and nearly half of all care is for older adults with some form of dementia. Caregiving, especially when it involves Alzheimer’s or dementia, is extremely exhausting and time consuming, leading many caregivers to feel isolated and overwhelmed.
As a loved one continues to progress through the stages of dementia and his or her cognitive abilities continue to decline, behavioral problems, safety, and general care often become more than one caregiver can handle. This is when it’s important to find extra help, and residential facilities that have specialized memory care programs are often the best solution.
In addition to providing a safe environment, memory care programs seek to delay or halt cognitive decline while providing the opportunity for a social, independent lifestyle.
To choose the best memory care facilities in Saint Cloud, our team of researchers started by using our unique methodology to develop a list of contenders. We further refined the list in the next phase of our process by completing hands-on research for each one of the companies that we developed. Finally, we compiled online reviews from residents and families and wrote summaries of each facility that made it through our selection process.
Overall, our team:
Conveniently located in a charming residential neighborhood off Highway 15, Talamore Senior Living St. Cloud is less than 10 minutes from St. Cloud VA Health Care System and Internal Medicine River Campus. This community's memory care program helps seniors with cognitive impairment live purposeful lives and make social connections. The staff thoroughly evaluates the abilities and preferences of each resident and works closely with their doctors to develop an individualized care plan catering to their needs. The highly trained caregivers are on duty 24/7 to respond to emergency requests, provide nursing support and help with activities of daily living, such as dressing and bathing. Housekeeping, laundry services, daily safety checks, monthly vital signs monitoring and pharmacy consulting are also available. Seniors can enjoy daily enrichment activities, including crafts, seated exercises and ice cream socials. A chef serves three meals daily.
Family members rave about the devoted staff, diverse activities and tasty food. A reviewer writes, "Beautiful, clean and inviting building. Friendly and helpful employees. Meals are delicious and dietary service is the best! They have a nice variety of activities multiple times per day. The exercise program is a big hit with my family member."
The Sanctuary at St. Cloud is nestled in a quiet corner of St. Cloud, Minnesota, less than 10 minutes from U.S. Route 10 and the St. Cloud Regional Airport. This community uses the Dimensions memory care program, which combines a personalized care plan with a warm, inviting environment. Care plans are designed with input from staff and loved ones to provide the level of care each resident needs. There is a full-time memory care activity director who organizes directed activities developed to support cognitive function and encourage socialization. The memory care neighborhood is filled with warm, inviting indoor spaces and secured outdoor areas meant to inspire engagement.
The Sanctuary at St. Cloud earns accolades for having helpful staff members. One reviewer says, "I'm extremely pleased. They only have assisted living and memory care, and I'm amazed that a memory care place can be as lovely as that. The people really know their business and give you the information that you need. The service provided is wonderful."
CentraCare -- Benedict Homes is a small memory care community that offers a homelike setting. Each resident lives in a private suite with a private bath. Family members are encouraged to furnish suites with personal items that can help residents find comfort and familiarity. Staff members provide 24/7 supervision and guidance as well as help with daily living activities, medication management, housekeeping and laundry. The community offers a large outdoor patio that is fully secure where residents can enjoy gardening or relaxing. A meditation chapel is available as well. Staff members gear daily activities toward residents' needs and interests. Exercise, movies, music, games and crafts are popular, but cooking and baking also find a place on the calendar. The community's open kitchen allows for resident participation and enjoyment of familiar aromas.
Residents and their families appreciate the personalized care seniors receive at CentraCare -- Benedict Homes. Staff members treat residents as individuals and strive to build them up physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Independence is maintained as much as possible in a fully secure environment through comfortable common areas, private rooms and enjoyable activities.
Summit Ridge Place is a memory care and assisted living community located in the wooded suburbs of Sauk Rapids, Minnesota, less than a mile north of the Bob Cross Nature Preserve. Staff members provide specialized memory care services designed to encourage residents to maintain a sense of independence at every level. Caregivers provide seniors with reminders and support in completing daily tasks while also offering access to 24-hour care as needed. There are secure outdoor spaces for memory care residents to enjoy and a gated patio entrance to help keep them safe from wandering. Seniors can even stimulate their senses and relax by visiting the spa room, which is fitted with luxury bathtubs.
Reviewers give Summit Ridge Place high praise for cultivating a homelike atmosphere and having accommodating staff members. One remarks, ". very much like a home, it was smaller, and the staff was very warm and caring. They bend over backwards to make it home for these people. Their rooms were very nice."
The Good Shepherd Community -- Sauk Rapids offers memory care in four separate cottages: Benton Acres, Mississippi Shores, Timbers and Vineyard. Each cottage contains only nine private bedrooms to offer a cozy, homelike atmosphere. Caregivers are awake 24/7 to provide security and supervision. Staff members also help with daily living activities, medication management, housekeeping, laundry services, reminders and cueing and health monitoring. The community provides three meals per day and two scheduled snacks with food available 24/7 and breakfast made to order to accommodate residents' sleep patterns. Activities include music, exercise, games, coffee and chat sessions and devotional services. An on-site beauty shop provides added convenience, and the community works with Bluestone Physician Services for easy health care.
Residents and their families appreciate the compassionate staff at the Good Shepherd Community -- Sauk Rapids. One reviewer notes that staff members specialize in the needs of their residents and that interaction between staff and residents is "compassionate human-to-human interaction." Other reviewers note the cleanliness of the community and the fun activities available.
Edgewood Sartell is a senior living community that helps memory care residents live independently while accessing quality care from highly trained staff and nurses. It's designed to simulate the sounds, smells, comfort and feeling of home to help ignite residents' memories and cognitive abilities. Staff is available 24/7 to offer personalized care, including assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing and medication administration. Residents can bring their furniture and pictures to make their rooms comfortable. Seniors can enjoy three nutritious home-cooked meals plus snacks every day. The community ensures the environment is safe for memory care residents with a fenced courtyard and secured doors. Residents are encouraged to participate in group and personalized activities to help them socialize and improve their physical and mental health. Beauty salon services are also available.
Family members love Edgewood Sartell for its personalized care and compassionate staff, with one reviewer saying, "Edgewood Sartell is amazing! The staff are so friendly and caring, and it feels like home the second you walk through the doors. The care is personalized to my mother, and my mom loves it here. I would recommend this assisted living and memory care to everyone."
CentraCare Monticello St. Benedict's Community provides compassionate care in a community located a short distance from the Mississippi River. With several hospitals conveniently located less than an hour away, residents will have any urgent or routine medical needs taken care of. The community's memory care apartments are designed specifically for seniors living with Alzheimer's and dementia and include a personal pendant call system. Upon entering the memory care program, residents receive a comprehensive assessment. Staff is available 24 hours a day to assist memory care residents with daily tasks and to perform routine safety checks. Services provided include medication management, bathing assistance, laundry assistance and staff escorts to meals. Each day is filled with engaging activities that help seniors stay stimulated by using programming that utilizes music and offers freedom of movement.
Residents and their families appreciate the compassionate care provided by the staff at CentraCare Monticello St. Benedict's Community. One reviewer says, "This is a good community for my mom. I like that she is getting good care at a friendly and clean community. We would highly recommend this community for a loved one."
Willows Landing offers memory care, assisted living and independent living in Monticello, Minnesota, nestled just one block from the tree-lined bank of the Mississippi River. Input from family members helps caregivers to learn about residents' unique history and personal preferences so they can design a care plan tailored to their specific needs. Staff members help residents maintain their daily living skills and foster a sense of independence. Music therapists offer evidence-based music inventions to support cognitive and physical health goals through the Music Speaks program. The memory care neighborhood has an enclosed, private courtyard where residents can participate in regular outdoor activities. Residents also have access to the amenities available in assisted living, including the whirlpool spa room.
Willows Landing earns high marks for cultivating a calm, warm atmosphere and for being a well-designed community. One resident's loved one writes, "It's a very caring and relaxed atmosphere nicely decorated and the Alzheimer's unit is very nice and well done, makes it inviting to guests."
Located in the heart of Buffalo, Minnesota, The Glenn Buffalo is a community with an accommodating environment for memory care residents. It has a 24-hour staff that provides personalized care to help residents manage their memory challenges. Caregivers schedule programs for recreational enjoyment and leisure each day. The Catholic-based community hosts spiritual-oriented activities and grief support for residents. The seniors can visit nearby life-enrichment destinations such as Buffalo Lake to unwind. The staff also arranges transportation for outings to luncheons and shopping centers as well as community events, including concerts, Christmas light tours and theaters. The culinary team serves home-cooked meals in a restaurant-style setting, and residents can enjoy monthly manicure services.
Residents' family members praise the staff for delivering quality services and are happy with the available amenities. One says, "The Glenn has been an amazing place for my mother, first at Assisted Living, and now at Memory Care. Stellar, exceptional staff that makes sure all residents have personal care. Delicious & nutritious meals and many fun activities."
Havenwood of Buffalo is located in the heart of Buffalo, Minnesota, less than a mile from Sturges Park and Buffalo Lake. The memory care neighborhood is designed to help residents avoid excessive stimulation by placing landmarks and sensory cues throughout living spaces. This community uses The Village Program, which incorporates evidence-based dementia care recommendations to provide life enrichment programming to help memory care residents feel safe and appreciated. Residents can participate in one-on-one and group activities that may reflect familiar routines and interests, such as live piano recitals, outdoor walks and cooking classes. They can also enjoy being out on the water by attending scheduled pontoon rides.
Loved ones are impressed by Havenwood of Buffalo's accommodating staff members and well-maintained living spaces. One resident's family member writes, "It's very nice and very clean. There are very helpful people there. They have beautiful rooms. It's clean and quiet. The hallways were great. The elevators are awesome."
Guardian Angels By The Lake Senior Living has provided person-centered care plans to address the unique needs of seniors with Alzheimer's or dementia for over 50 years. Its well-maintained memory care suites accommodate residents requiring regular one-on-one attention, and a spacious community room promotes socialization. The JOURNEY dementia program features trained, qualified personnel who provide dementia education to community members and their families. They also coordinate arts, music and nature programs to help relationships thrive. The community's dining room serves daily meals, and wide hallways allow hassle-free movement and access.
Residents and their loved ones often compliment how caring the staff is at Guardian Angels. A pleased family member says, "He really enjoyed having his own place, people to talk to and three great meals a day! I would highly recommend them to family and friends!! Thanks for caring so much!"
Engel Haus Senior Living has a professional team that creates person-centered memory care plans for each resident. Its therapeutic horticulture program features a mobile indoor sensory garden to help promote wellness by reducing agitation, improving self-esteem, enhancing sleep habits and reducing falls. Additionally, the community is home to an on-site beauty salon and barbershop as well as an equipped fitness room. The residential units have individually controlled heating and cooling systems. Book lovers can visit the on-site library, and the community offers a satellite TV package and Wi-Fi access. It also hosts a dementia support group to deliver educational, emotional and social support to caregivers, family and friends of memory care residents.
Individuals commend the facility for its high-quality activities and amenities, including food. They also applaud the staff. A reviewer says, "A beautiful facility with a wonderful staff and a lot of great activities. The food is wonderful."
Shepherd of Grace -- Becker Campus is a senior living community providing round-the-clock supervision, personalized daily care and assistance with medical needs to seniors aged 55 and older. The Pine Cone Cottage and Prairie Cottage are designed for seniors living with memory loss due to Alzheimer's or another form of dementia. Memory care residents undergo an assessment prior to admittance to ensure their needs can be met, what level of care they require and what types of activities will increase their quality of life. The Cottages provide a warm and secure home setting with only nine bedroom suites per home, including a kitchen, dining room, living room and a great room for visiting and activities. In addition to assistance with bathing/showering and medication administration, residents receive cueing and reminders for dressing, toileting, meals and daily social and recreational activities.
Family members praise the top-notch care and family-oriented atmosphere Shepherd of Grace provides. One relative writes, "The quality of services at Shepherd of Grace is great. My dad enjoys everything about the community. They make him feel like family, and everyone just enjoys having him. I would recommend Shepherd of Grace to anyone."