Birchwood Cottages sits in North Mankato near a hospital connected to Mayo Clinic Health System, with a zoo, a shopping mall, and the third oldest state park in Minnesota all close by, so folks there can see the wildlife, big old boulders, and even a waterfall through windows that overlook all the greenery. Birchwood Cottages is family-owned and run, with a steady team including an executive director named David Lewis, a clinical nurse supervisor named Samantha Jobe, a memory care coordinator named Alyssa Neumann-Fasching, a life enrichment manager named Jen Sharp, and an environmental services manager named Doug Mehlhaff, while the culinary services manager position is open. The place offers both assisted living and memory care services, with special attention for folks with Alzheimer's disease and other types of memory loss, and there's always someone on hand for help day and night, whether it's about bathing, getting dressed, or managing medicines, and staff keep training in best ways to care for memory issues.
The buildings at Birchwood Cottages have homestyle spaces, thoughtful layouts, and easy access for folks who use wheelchairs, and people remark on the open social kitchen, sunrooms, shaded patios, and yards or gardens where you might see residents sitting or even puttering around on a nice day. Residents get furnished rooms with phones and high-speed Wi-Fi, laundry and dry cleaning done for them, and regular housekeeping, and there are common areas like an arts room, a dining room, and spots set up for activities and movie nights. You'll find meal service with plenty of choices for all kinds of diets, and if someone wants a snack outside of mealtime, that's available too, since they offer all-day dining. There's a community-gathering space and walking paths, plus a barber or salon so residents can keep up with grooming, and transportation and parking if someone wants to get out for a bit.
Birchwood Cottages keeps pets close to heart, welcomes visits from families, and designs programs to help keep minds active, with outreach and special events sometimes tied to groups like the Alzheimer's Association. The staff speaks English and works with individual care plans, making sure each person has what they need, and they pay attention to comfort, safety, and well-being by using emergency alert systems, hosting offsite devotional services, and keeping the surroundings clean, comfortable, and homelike. The community supports people living with dementia, assists with daily needs, provides hospice waivers, and often holds support groups and educational opportunities for families, friends, and anyone involved. Birchwood Cottages keeps a focus on providing compassionate care and meaningful connections so residents and families feel supported, and the staff remains involved in the wider community through outreach and events, all while serving seniors in a space that feels peaceful, safe, and lively.
