Almost Home sits in Brainerd, MN, on 28th Street SE, and offers a calm setting with a close-knit community feel where people can maintain independence, enjoy privacy, and still get the support they need. The place has two buildings, each with seven apartments meant to house four residents, along with private bedrooms and rooms that come as studios, one-bedrooms, two-bedrooms, or semi-private units, so folks have choices for where and how they live. There are 65 units in the assisted living facility, and people can move in right away. The apartments and common spaces are all wheelchair accessible and they've got wheelchair-accessible showers for convenience and safety, keeping mobility in mind at every turn.
Almost Home helps seniors with different care needs-assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, hospice care, respite care, care homes, rehabilitation, and even home care services for varied stages of life, and they have staff awake on-site 24 hours a day, with an RN on call if anyone needs help, so there's always someone to check on blood pressure, blood sugar, or respond to emergencies. They provide help for things like medication setup, ordering, and reminders, and they manage insulin for diabetics, too. There are services for those who need help getting in and out of bed, grooming, oxygen, incontinence care, bathroom and hygiene support, or even monitoring for special diets.
For meals, the kitchen staff serves breakfast, lunch, and supper every day to take cooking off residents' plates, and there's a full housekeeping and laundry service so nobody has to worry about chores. Residents can relax indoors in cozy shared areas with coffee hours or spend time outside in the common spaces, where seasonal activities happen-outdoor games, fishing trips, campfires, walking, and even live music when the weather's nice. There's a little library to read, a beauty and barber shop for grooming, and transportation to doctor's appointments and shopping runs. Almost Home organizes faith-based devotional services and monthly worship right on site, so those with spiritual practices are welcome to join in.
Social life is encouraged with off-site fun, daily walkabouts, Wii bowling, bingo, weekly arts and crafts, and scheduled community gatherings. Residents play games, do arts, and get together for group activities because the staff believes staying active and connected helps with well-being. The team at Almost Home is friendly and trained, ready to help any time of day, and always tries to promote independence and privacy. People pay using private pay, Social Security, veteran's benefits, or private insurance. The fees depend on the level of care and type of room, plus there are specific fees for respite stays and for a second resident if sharing a room. The assisted living programs operate under license #21680, and the facility must meet safety and health standards, including keeping enough caregivers on staff for the number of residents.
The atmosphere is quiet and homey, intended to help residents feel safe and cared for, whether they're there for short-term stays or planning to stay long. Almost Home isn't fancy but does what's needed to keep folks comfortable, help them stay engaged, and allow them as much freedom as they want, right there in Brainerd, surrounded by people who pay attention to what each person needs day to day.
