Overall sentiment across these reviews is generally positive about the people, atmosphere, and individualized attention at New Perspective Senior Living | Cloquet, with persistent, specific concerns centered on memory care, communication, and cost. The dominant theme is that front-line caregivers are warm, respectful and highly engaged: multiple reviewers describe staff who treat residents like family, know residents’ names, provide warm greetings, and make transitions easier. Families frequently praise smooth move-ins, staff coordination with physicians and rehab, and staff efforts to ensure residents get meals and medications. The small community size and home-like cottages are repeatedly described as a strength that promotes neighborly interaction (morning coffee, shared kitchen tasks) and a safe, comfortable environment.
Care quality and staff engagement are two of the facility’s strongest attributes. Many reviewers highlight that staff are attentive, go out of their way to help residents participate in activities, and maintain a professional, organized environment. Several accounts note positive collaboration with external providers and an ability to support residents through difficult times and end-of-life care. Activities such as a Men’s Club and monthly events are appreciated; reviewers also say that activities are generally accessible and that staff encourage resident participation, which supports socialization and a sense of belonging.
However, there are recurring and substantive concerns about memory care and clinical follow-through. Several reviewers explicitly say that the facility’s approach to Alzheimer’s and later-stage dementia falls short: they want more dementia-specific activities, better-trained staff in de-escalation and dementia care, and clearer evidence that medical needs are being consistently managed. Reports of hospital or ambulance visits and de-escalation calls amplify this worry. Families also raise issues that care plans were not provided or viewable and that some medical needs appear unaddressed — issues that could indicate gaps in documentation, communication, or clinical oversight.
Communication and administrative reliability are mixed. While many praise the responsiveness of front-line staff and their willingness to help, others describe inconsistent communication, a lack of follow-through on paperwork, and difficulty getting responses from the corporate office. Some families reported having to remind staff occasionally about paperwork or to chase answers, and a few noted staff not returning phone calls. These administrative and communication gaps contribute to family stress and have prompted at least a couple of families to consider moving their loved ones.
Facility condition and consistency are variable based on the reviews. Numerous reviewers describe the building as clean, up-to-date, and well kept; others report problems such as a persistent odor, shabby-looking apartments, open doors in hallways, or an institutional/hospital-like feel in certain areas. This split suggests that maintenance and housekeeping quality may vary by unit or over time, and prospective families should inspect specific apartments and common areas in person.
Cost is another clear pattern: multiple reviewers say the community is more expensive than expected. While many felt the quality of staff and environment justified the price, the combination of higher cost with the above concerns (memory care capability, communication, occasional maintenance issues) has led some families to reassess placement.
In summary, New Perspective Senior Living | Cloquet is frequently praised for its compassionate, engaged staff, small and home-like community, and supportive transition experience. These strengths create a secure, social environment for many residents. The primary risks that prospective families should evaluate are the facility’s capacity to meet advanced dementia and complex medical needs, the consistency of communication and administrative follow-through, maintenance/cleanliness variability, and pricing. Recommended due diligence for families: ask specifically about dementia training and staffing ratios, review sample care plans and emergency/incident histories, verify how medical care coordination and documentation are handled, tour available apartments to inspect cleanliness and odors, request a detailed activities calendar (including Alzheimer’s-specific programming), and confirm all costs and billing practices up front. Addressing those items during a visit will help determine whether the facility’s strong interpersonal culture aligns with a family’s clinical and logistic needs.
