Pricing ranges from
    $3,412 – 4,435/month

    Northern Star Assisted Living

    461 Munson Ave, Traverse City, MI 49686
    • Assisted Living

    Pretty Victorian exterior, poor care

    I liked the pretty Victorian exterior, plants and friendly office manager, and the food looked OK. But the old hotel layout shows - tiny, musty rooms, a dirty office, no activities or extra common rooms (just the dining room), and only one picnic table outside. Staff are pleasant but seem medically inexperienced and sometimes overbearing; fine for fairly independent residents who want charm, but I wouldn't send a loved one who needs real care.

    Loved one of resident
    Jul 2026

    Pricing

    Prices shown are estimates and subject to change. Contact your senior living advisor for current pricing.

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    Amenities

    Healthcare services

    • Activities of daily living assistance
    • Assistance with bathing
    • Assistance with dressing
    • Assistance with transfers
    • Medication management
    • Mental wellness program

    Healthcare staffing

    • 12-16 hour nursing
    • 24-hour call system
    • 24-hour supervision

    Meals and dining

    • Diabetes diet
    • Meal preparation and service
    • Restaurant-style dining
    • Special dietary restrictions

    Room

    • Air-conditioning
    • Cable
    • Fully furnished
    • Housekeeping and linen services
    • Kitchenettes
    • Private bathrooms
    • Telephone
    • Wifi

    Transportation

    • Community operated transportation
    • Transportation arrangement
    • Transportation arrangement (non-medical)

    Common areas

    • Beauty salon
    • Computer center
    • Dining room
    • Fitness room
    • Gaming room
    • Garden
    • Outdoor space
    • Small library
    • Wellness center

    Community services

    • Concierge services
    • Fitness programs
    • Move-in coordination

    Activities

    • Community-sponsored activities
    • Planned day trips
    • Resident-run activities
    • Scheduled daily activities

    Reviews

    1.33·(3)

    Overall rating

    1. 5
    2. 4
    3. 3
    4. 2
    5. 1
    • Care

      1.0
    • Staff

      2.3
    • Meals

      3.0
    • Amenities

      1.5
    • Value

      1.3

    Pros

    • friendly office manager
    • staff-friendly interactions
    • attractive exterior landscaping
    • Victorian-style exterior architecture
    • well-maintained outdoor plants
    • acceptable-looking meals

    Cons

    • cleanliness issues in resident rooms and administrative areas
    • limited clinical training and medical oversight
    • limited activity programming and communal spaces
    • small resident units and constrained personal space
    • outdated facility layout from hotel conversion
    • mismatch between exterior appearance and interior condition
    • limited outdoor seating and amenities
    • Staff professionalism and responsiveness
    • odor concerns in interior areas

    Summary of reviews

    Reviewer comments describe a facility with a visually appealing exterior and some welcoming staff, but a number of operational shortcomings that families should evaluate closely. The property’s curb appeal—Victorian-style architecture, maintained landscaping and planted areas—was consistently noted and the office manager and many staff were described as friendly and approachable. Dining was not highlighted as a major strength or weakness; meals were generally characterized as acceptable in appearance, though reviewers did not elaborate on menu variety or nutritional content.

    Care quality and staff competence raise concerns that intersect with both clinical oversight and day-to-day responsiveness. Several reviewers expressed doubts about staff medical knowledge and the facility’s capacity to manage residents with clinical needs; these comments suggest gaps in clinical training and medical oversight. At the same time, interpersonal interactions were reported as personable by some visitors, while others described problems with staff conduct and responsiveness. This pattern indicates a mixed picture: staff may be friendly in routine interactions, but operational protocols for clinical care, communication tone, and timely responses may be inconsistent.

    Programing and communal spaces appear limited. Reviewers observed an absence of organized activities and noted that the primary large interior space functions as the dining room, with few or no dedicated activity rooms. Outdoor amenities are minimal—one picnic table was mentioned—so opportunities for structured social and recreational programming are likely constrained by both staffing and space. Prospective residents who prioritize active programming or varied communal spaces should verify the current activity schedule and availability of common rooms.

    Facility condition and maintenance are additional areas of concern. Multiple comments point to small resident rooms, an outdated interior consistent with a hotel conversion, and sanitation-related issues in private and administrative areas. Reviewers also noted a musty odor in some interior spaces, and one framed observation emphasized a contrast between the attractive exterior and less well-maintained interior. These descriptions suggest ongoing maintenance and cleanliness challenges that management would need to address.

    Management impressions are mixed: visitors encountered a pleasant office manager and some friendly staff, yet the facility-level issues—cleanliness, limited programming, space constraints, and concerns about clinical preparedness—point to operational gaps. Notable patterns across the comments are the exterior/interior mismatch, constrained resident living space, and variability in staff conduct and clinical capability. Families considering this community should arrange an on-site visit focused on current infection-control and sanitation practices, staffing qualifications and clinical oversight, activity schedules, and a tour of typical resident rooms and common areas to confirm whether the operational conditions meet their needs.

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    Location

    Map showing location of Northern Star Assisted Living

    Northern Star Assisted Living is located at 461 Munson Ave, Traverse City, MI, 49686.

    About Northern Star Assisted Living

    Northern Star Assisted Living sits on Munson Avenue in Traverse City, MI, and has been serving seniors for 29 years under the care of Mr. Rob Rodenroth and Traverse Victorian Assisted Living, LLC. The place aims to feel homelike, putting comfort and safety first while letting folks bring their own things to make their space feel personal. Residents can enjoy restaurant-style dining with home-cooked meals, special diets like diabetic meals, and help with meal preparation and service. Rooms come fully furnished with private bathrooms, air conditioning, cable TV, telephone, and wifi, so folks have the things they need, and there are heated sidewalks to make winters safer. Staff help with daily things like bathing, dressing, and medication, and healthcare staff, including a nurse on staff part-time, are there for up to 16 hours a day, with a 24-hour call system and supervision in place.

    Northern Star offers a variety of activities, both on-site and out in the community, including community-sponsored programs, day trips, things run by residents, devotional activities, and a regular daily schedule to keep people busy if they want to be. Common areas include a dining room, fitness room, small library, wellness center, gaming room, garden with outdoor space, and a safe fenced courtyard with exterior door alarms. Residents can get around using the community's own transportation, or staff can help arrange rides for non-medical needs. There's move-in support, housekeeping, laundry, linen services, fitness programs, concierge service, and foot and nail care available.

    The community takes care of seniors who need help with many types of care, including Alzheimer's, Dementia, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Lou Gehrig's Disease, Diabetes, hospice care, respite care, non-ambulatory care, and incontinence care. There's a secure call system with GPS, and staff have specific training to respond to special needs. Northern Star tries to create a steady and welcoming place where people can feel safe and accepted and keep their independence as much as they can. They also have religious services right onsite.

    The facility welcomes Medicaid, has all-inclusive rent options, and charges a one-time $1000 community fee. Hospitality and personal care come as part of the main package. Folks and their families can get help from the Caring Family Advisor when choosing senior living, and there's a tour available to see daily life at Northern Star. The website has a form where families can ask for free help. The focus always stays on providing not just the basics, but enough support and kindness to let each person feel as at home and well cared for as possible.

    People often ask...

    Northern Star Assisted Living offers competitive pricing, with rates starting at a cost of $3,412 per month.

    Northern Star Assisted Living offers assisted living.

    There are 2 photos of Northern Star Assisted Living on Mirador.

    The full address for this community is 461 Munson Ave, Traverse City, MI 49686.

    No, Northern Star Assisted Living does not offer respite care. Respite care in assisted living communities provides temporary, short-term relief for primary caregivers by offering professional care for their loved ones. It allows individuals to stay in an assisted living community for a limited time, giving caregivers a break while ensuring residents receive necessary support and assistance with daily activities.

    Safety & Compliance

    In Michigan, the Department of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs (LARA) licenses adult foster care homes and homes for the aged, conducting renewal inspections and complaint investigations and publishing the resulting reports.

    License numberXH280396000
    StatusExempt
    Facility typeHomes for the Aged - Exempt
    License classExempt
    Capacity64 residents
    LicenseeTraverse Victorian Assisted Living, LLC
    View the official license record

    Disclaimer

    Mirador Living is not affiliated with the owner or operator(s) of Northern Star Assisted Living. The information above has not been verified or approved by the owner or operator. For exact information, please contact Northern Star Assisted Living directly. There is no cost for this service. We are compensated by the community you select.

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