Bethany on the Lake

    1020 Lark St, Alexandria, MN, 56308
    4.5 · 38 reviews
    • Independent living
    • Assisted living
    • Memory care
    • Skilled nursing
    AnonymousLoved one of resident
    5.0

    Compassionate care, clean lakefront community

    I've had a long, positive relationship with this senior living community-my mom received excellent, individualized care (great rehab after hip surgery), the facility is clean and updated with lovely, spacious lakefront apartments, and the social, quiet, safe atmosphere made visiting enjoyable. The staff are professional, compassionate, friendly and responsive, creating a family-like environment that gave me real peace of mind. I highly recommend it, though I suggest visiting first since I've heard rare concerns about follow-through.

    Pricing

    Schedule a Tour

    Amenities

    Healthcare services

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

    Healthcare staffing

    • 24-hour call system
    • 24-hour supervision

    Meals and dining

    • Diabetes diet
    • Meal preparation and service
    • Special dietary restrictions

    Room

    • Cable
    • Fully furnished
    • Housekeeping and linen services
    • Kitchenettes
    • Telephone
    • Wifi

    Transportation

    • Transportation arrangement (medical)
    • Transportation to doctors appointments

    Common areas

    • Beauty salon
    • Dining room
    • Garden
    • Outdoor space

    Community services

    • Move-in coordination

    Activities

    • Community-sponsored activities
    • Scheduled daily activities

    4.47 · 38 reviews

    Overall rating

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

      4.6
    • Staff

      4.6
    • Meals

      4.5
    • Amenities

      4.3
    • Value

      4.5

    Pros

    • Compassionate, caring and responsive staff
    • Individualized and attentive care
    • Respectful and kind treatment of residents
    • Provides peace of mind to families
    • Clean, updated and spacious rooms/apartments
    • Friendly, helpful staff and nursing team
    • Lakefront location with beautiful views
    • Pet-friendly community
    • Accessible building features (elevator)
    • Active social environment with monthly gatherings
    • Strong community involvement and family-like atmosphere
    • Successful short-term rehab and post-surgery care
    • Long-term positive relationships (residents/families with 15+ years)
    • Quiet, safe and pleasant setting
    • Good place to work / positive staff employment experience

    Cons

    • Reports of poor follow-through in some cases
    • Instances of inadequate care noted by some reviewers
    • Recommendation to visit and evaluate in person before deciding

    Summary review

    Overall sentiment across the reviews is strongly positive, with multiple reviewers praising the staff, the setting, and the level of care. The dominant theme is that staff are compassionate, attentive and respectful. Reviewers repeatedly used words such as "compassionate," "responsive," "friendly," and "attentive," and many families reported feeling reassured about their loved ones' well-being. Several comments describe individualized attention and a family-like atmosphere, and there are specific positive references to nursing care — including excellent rehab after hip surgery and good long-term care for mothers — which indicates the facility can meet both short-term rehabilitation and ongoing care needs.

    Facility and environment are also highlighted as major strengths. Multiple reviewers emphasize clean, updated, and spacious apartments or rooms; accessibility features such as an elevator; and amenities like a lakefront location with beautiful views. The community is described as quiet, safe and pleasant, and pet-friendly status is explicitly noted. Several reviewers mention social opportunities and community events (monthly gatherings) that support an active lifestyle and positive social engagement; multiple accounts of residents "making many friends" underscore a socially supportive environment.

    Family and community perceptions are largely favorable. Several reviews reference long-term relationships (one specifically notes a 15-year partnership), positive feedback from family members, and general recommendations for the facility as "the best place for senior care" in the area. Staff employment sentiment is positive too — reviewers described the facility as a great place to work, which can be an indirect indicator of staff stability and morale. These patterns suggest consistent strengths in interpersonal care, community culture, and facility upkeep.

    Notwithstanding the predominately positive feedback, there are a few recurring concerns that prospective residents and families should consider. Some reviewers reported poor follow-through and instances of inadequate care — these comments are less frequent but important because they point to potential inconsistencies in service delivery or communication. One reviewer explicitly advised visitors to "visit first before deciding," which suggests the experience can vary and that an in-person assessment is advisable. These negative notes do not appear to be the majority view, but they are significant enough to recommend due diligence: ask specific questions about care plans, staffing levels, and follow-up procedures during a tour.

    In summary, the reviews portray Bethany on the Lake as a well-maintained, peaceful, and socially active senior living community with a strong emphasis on compassionate, individualized care and positive family relationships. The lakefront setting, clean and spacious accommodations, pet-friendly policy, and successful rehab capabilities are notable advantages. However, prospective residents should verify current care consistency and follow-through when touring the property, since a minority of reviews indicate occasional lapses. Overall, the balance of evidence points to a high-quality facility with an engaged staff and welcoming community, tempered by the usual recommendation to evaluate fit and operations in person before committing.

    Location

    Map showing location of Bethany on the Lake

    About Bethany on the Lake

    Bethany on the Lake sits by the lake with one-bedroom apartments, some looking out over the water, and has large private rooms that let folks bring their own furniture and things to feel more at home, and out back there are gardens and outdoor spaces for residents to enjoy any time the weather's nice, which many folks like to do. There's a full range of care options, so folks find long-term care, short-term rehabilitation after surgery or stroke, assisted living, independent living, outpatient therapy, respite care, memory care for dementia and Alzheimer's, home health care, and Adult Day Services that let seniors keep living at home but come in during the day for meals, exercise, games, socializing, or just a change of scenery.

    The Therapeutic Recreation team gets residents out and about with field trips, hobbies, intergenerational activities, and ways to keep minds and bodies active, and they try to include spiritual, emotional, physical, and social needs right along with everyone's own schedule. Bethany on the Lake has a specialized Memory Care household with 11 private suites in a secure area with staff trained in memory care, who help folks keep as much independence and functionality as they can, and there's attention to making things safe but still with dignity and familiar routines.

    The nursing staff is on site all hours, and nurses are available part-time; there are also aides, many who have gone through the facility's Nursing Assistant in Training Program. Staff builds relationships with everyone and focuses on each person's choices and needs, so care plans change as residents' health or wishes change. Health care covers medication reminders, therapies like physical and occupational therapy, IV therapy, wound care, and certified healing touch therapy, with social services and skilled nursing included. Folks get meals in dining rooms and can choose to eat together or in their own rooms. There are also religious services, games, shopping trips, and transportation for errands or appointments. Housekeeping and maintenance are included, and VoiceCare Medical Alert services are available for safety. The facility takes insurance for payment and aims for a comfortable, secure setting that still feels personal, close to nature, and connected to the community.

    You'll see the Adult Day Services folks coming and going, and outings are a regular thing, so even people who don't live there get some of the same activities, meals, and therapies. They offer tours for people who want to see the place and meet the staff, and the environment tends to support whatever independence or help each resident needs, with outpatient therapy, home health, and both individualized attention and group activities. The goal stays the same for everyone-help people stay as independent as possible for as long as they want, in surroundings that let them enjoy life in their own way.

    About Ecumen

    Bethany on the Lake is managed by Ecumen.

    Founded in 1862 and headquartered in Shoreview, Minnesota, Ecumen is one of America's largest nonprofit senior living organizations. Affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church, they operate over 70 communities across Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Idaho.

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