Brainerd Carefree Living

    2723 E Oak St, Brainerd, MN 56401
    • Assisted Living

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    Reviews

    2.69·(16)

    Overall rating

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

      1.7
    • Staff

      3.1
    • Meals

      1.0
    • Amenities

      4.0
    • Value

      2.7

    Pros

    • Gracious, helpful staff
    • Warm, thorough nursing interactions
    • Clean private studio units
    • Three meals per day included
    • Laundry and housekeeping services included
    • Active social and recreational programming
    • Outdoor gathering space
    • Family-like community atmosphere
    • Accessible staff assistance

    Cons

    • High staff turnover and staffing shortages
    • Inconsistent medication-administration and clinical oversight
    • Poor communication and unclear family point-of-contact
    • Variable cleanliness and sanitation standards, including odor concerns
    • Inconsistent unit amenities and appliance standardization
    • Gaps in personal-care and bathing schedules
    • Weak emergency-response coordination and follow-up
    • Inconsistent care continuity across shifts and units

    Summary of reviews

    Reviews describe a community with notable strengths alongside several operational concerns. On the positive side, many families and visitors describe warm, helpful staff and caring nursing interactions. Residents and families often highlight included services such as three meals per day, laundry and housekeeping, and a range of social activities (cards, games and other programs). Physical features that appealed to some reviewers include clean private studio units and outdoor gathering areas, contributing to a family-like atmosphere for those who have had positive experiences.

    At the same time, a pattern of operational weaknesses appears across the feedback. Staffing instability — described as high turnover and periods of short staffing — is a recurring theme and is associated with delays in care, missed medications, and inconsistent personal-care routines. Several comments indicate gaps in medication-administration and clinical oversight, and reviewers expressed concern about how the facility communicates with families and coordinates follow-up care. These communication issues include unclear points of contact and problems with appointment scheduling and notification.

    Facility conditions and unit consistency are mixed. Some reviewers praised cleanliness and a well-kept appearance, while others reported sanitation concerns and odor issues in common areas. Unit amenities are not uniform: some apartments lack kitchens, and appliance provisions (refrigerators, microwaves) vary between units. Reviewers flagged these inconsistencies as a practical concern for prospective residents who expect a predictable level of in-unit equipment and layout.

    More serious operational patterns mentioned include concerns about emergency-response coordination and care continuity following critical events. There are also reports suggesting variability in bathing and personal-care scheduling. While some families expressed satisfaction and positive outcomes, others recommended caution. Prospective residents and families should schedule an in-person tour, ask for specifics about staffing ratios and turnover, request the facility’s medication-management and emergency-response protocols, clarify the standard amenities for the exact unit being offered, and review recent inspection records and references from current residents or families to form a balanced assessment.

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    Location

    Brainerd Carefree Living is located at 2723 E Oak St, Brainerd, MN, 56401.

    About Brainerd Carefree Living

    Brainerd Carefree Living sits in a quiet residential area close to hospitals, clinics, shopping, and places for fun, which means residents can get to what they need without trouble, and the neighborhood tends to stay calm and peaceful, making it easier for folks to relax. The community has 65 assisted living units with some well-furnished private rooms, all set up with their own bathrooms, cable TV, Wi-Fi, and air conditioning, and there are ground floor units for easier access. Folks here get three nutritious meals each day, plus snacks, all included with their rent, so they don't need to worry much about cooking, and housekeeping and laundry services happen regularly, so the living spaces stay clean and tidy without extra effort. All utilities come included except for the telephone, so there's less to track, and apartment maintenance gets handled by staff. The care community offers different services for seniors who need help with daily tasks-like bathing, dressing, or remembering medication-and there are trained medical staff on site 24/7 to help when needed, whether that's for medication reminders or moving from bed to a wheelchair, and the emergency call system means someone's always there for any urgent need.

    Brainerd Carefree Living supports folks with Alzheimer's and other memory concerns by offering memory care services with special safety features and changes to the environment to help lessen confusion and wandering, while there's also help for people who need non-ambulatory care, incontinence care, or diabetic care. Residents can join many activities, social gatherings, and even religious services, with both planned events and outings regularly on the calendar, giving folks lots of ways to connect and stay active, and there are common spaces like a lounge with cable TV, hobby areas, a library, and places to simply sit and enjoy the garden view or walking path. There are elevators and advanced safety systems, along with nightly security checks, so getting around stays safe. The community's social care platform lets folks tap into a broader support network, and some extra amenities, like a beauty shop or home care facilities, are there for an additional fee, for those who might want them. Brainerd Carefree Living keeps up with the times by staying active on social media, sharing updates and news. The staff aim to help residents remain as independent as they can, with gentle support, community, and comfort, all in a setting that feels like home.

    People often ask...

    Brainerd Carefree Living offers assisted living.

    There are 17 photos of Brainerd Carefree Living on Mirador.

    The full address for this community is 2723 E Oak St, Brainerd, MN 56401.

    No, Brainerd Carefree 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 Minnesota, the Department of Health licenses assisted living facilities, publishing the findings of its surveys and complaint investigations.

    License number20187
    Facility typeAssisted Living

    Inspection Reports

    9

    Reports

    23

    Citations

    7

    Complaints

    3

    Years

    10 Feb 2026Complaint
    Identified sexual abuse of one resident by another and neglect of the other due to inadequate supervision and interventions.
    • 144G.91 Subd. 8Freedom from maltreatment
    05 Dec 2025Inspection
    Identified several state licensing violations affecting resident care, safety, and administrative processes, with fines assessed.
    • 144G.41 Subdivision 1Minimum Requirements
    • 144G.41 Subd. 3Infection Control Program
    • 144G.45 Subd. 2. (a)Fire Protection And Physical Environment
    • 144G.60 Subdivision 1Background Studies Required
    • 144G.91 Subd. 4 (a)Appropriate Care And Services
    • 144G.91 Subd. 14Communication Privacy
    18 Aug 2025Complaint
    Investigated an allegation that staff neglected a resident by not following the plan of care or providing proper transfer equipment; found multiple deficiencies but concluded neglect was not substantiated.
    • 144G.41 Subd. 3Infection control program
    • 144G.43 Subd. 3Contents of resident record
    • 144G.60 Subd. 1Background studies
    • 144G.70 Subd. 2 (c)-(e)Initial reviews, assessments, and monitoring
    30 May 2025Complaint
    Investigated an allegation that a staff member had an inappropriate sexual relationship with a resident; findings were inconclusive.
    • 144G.42 Subd. 6(a) / 626.557 Subd. 3Reporting maltreatment of vulnerable adults
    03 Apr 2025Inspection
    Identified multiple deficiencies in food safety, infection control, staff records, resident records, discharge documentation, medication management, and fire safety.
    • 144G.41 Subd. 1 Subd. 1a (a-b)Minimum SS=F requirements; required food services
    • 144G.41 Subd. 3Infection control program
    • 144G.42 Subd. 8(a)Staff records
    • 144G.43 Subd. 3Contents of resident record
    • 144G.45 Subd. 2Fire protection and physical environment
    • 144G.45 Subd. 2 (b)-(f)Fire safety and evacuation plans
    • 144G.50 Subd. 2(a)Contract information
    • 144G.71 Subd. 8Documentation of administration of medication
    • 144G.71 Subd. 13Prescriptions
    • 144G.91 Subd. 4Appropriate care and SS=D
    10 Feb 2025Complaint
    Investigated an allegation that a staff member did not restart warfarin after a hold, resulting in four days of missed doses; no harm to the resident occurred.
    21 Jan 2025Complaint
    Found that unlicensed staff were delegated to administer medications without documented competency training. Temporary staff then administered medications without RN competency verification.
    • 144G.71 Subd. 7 Delegation of medicationDelegation of medication administration
    21 Jun 2023Complaint
    Investigated an allegation of staff neglect related to skin wounds and incontinence care. Determined no maltreatment occurred.
    10 Jan 2023Complaint
    Investigated the maltreatment allegation and concluded that neglect was inconclusive.

    Disclaimer

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

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