Overall sentiment across the reviews for Benedictine Living Community - Anoka is strongly positive, with repeated emphasis on the quality, compassion and attentiveness of the staff and nursing team. Reviewers consistently describe staff as warm, welcoming, friendly and professional. Many accounts highlight outstanding nursing, dedicated 24/7 care, prompt responsiveness after falls and attentive daily check-ins. Families and long-term residents report feeling supported, safe and well cared for; staff advocacy and collaboration with families is frequently noted, giving relatives peace of mind.
Care quality and clinical oversight are among the most prominent strengths. Multiple reviews mention personalized care plans, the ability to scale care as needs increase (tiered/continuing care options), and competence in managing Alzheimer’s and other memory issues. The community is credited with implementing suggestions from residents and families and with a leadership team that is engaged and responsive. Several reviewers specifically praised the director of nursing (DON) and nursing staff for clear updates, hands-on help with transfers, medication handling, and compassion during end-of-life situations.
The facility and apartments receive repeated praise: reviewers describe Benedictine Anoka as clean, immaculate, well-maintained, and beautiful. Apartments are often noted for good natural light, views, balconies and accessible layouts; however, some studios were described as small with limited natural light, and one-bathroom configurations were mentioned as a constraint for some. Housekeeping and room-cleaning are provided on a recurring basis, and some packages include linens and utilities. Renovations and upgrades are planned or underway according to several reviews, which reviewers view positively as continued investment in the community.
Dining and kitchen services stand out as consistent positives. The food is repeatedly described as very good to five-star, with many comments about made-from-scratch meals, a welcoming chef who interacts with residents, weekend and live entertainment after lunch, and an on-site public restaurant option. The menu variety and the ability for residents to order from a menu are often highlighted. A few reviews mention extra charges for in-room meals (for example, a $5 in-room fee) and occasional perceived limitations in meal options; nevertheless, the culinary program is a major selling point for most reviewers.
Social life and activities are another recurring strength. The community offers a wide range of activities—movies, bingo, cards, live music, weekly shopping trips and organized outings—that help keep residents engaged and active. Many reviewers cite a strong sense of community and mutual support among residents (residents helping each other at tables, friendly atmosphere). At the same time, there are comments that some residents choose not to participate and a minority of reviewers wished for even more activities or better activity communication.
Notable concerns focus primarily on cost, billing transparency and occasional staffing issues. Multiple reviewers feel the monthly price is high and point to hidden costs, unclear fee scales, add-on charges and billing confusion. While many say the community represents good value for what it provides, others felt pricing inflexibility and lack of transparency were important negatives. Staffing was otherwise praised overall, but a few reviews noted inconsistency, desire for more staff (particularly to improve responsiveness or to provide more one-on-one attention), and some language barriers with certain employees that made communication harder for some families.
In summary, Benedictine Living Community - Anoka is portrayed as a compassionate, well-run assisted living community with strong clinical care, an engaged leadership team, excellent dining and a vibrant activity program. The clean, attractive facilities and the caring culture are repeatedly emphasized. Prospective residents and families should weigh the positive care and community attributes against concerns about cost transparency, occasional staffing consistency and the fit of specific apartment configurations. For families prioritizing warm staff, individualized care, good food, and an active, home-like atmosphere, the community receives many strong recommendations; for those with complex medication/medical needs or strict budget constraints, it may be important to clarify clinical limits and all fees before committing.
