Three Links Care Center

    815 Forest Ave, Northfield, MN, 55057
    4.1 · 17 reviews
    • Independent living
    • Assisted living
    • Memory care
    • Skilled nursing
    AnonymousLoved one of resident
    4.0

    Home-like care with occasional lapses

    I'm very happy with the bright, clean, nicely sized rooms, great food, and compassionate, well-trained staff - it felt like a home away from home and gave us real peace of mind; the dementia unit and cottage homes are especially good and they're Veterans Assistance accredited. That said, a recent buyout and management changes caused staff turnover and weaker communication at times, and the facility doesn't provide transport for dialysis-related rehab so my family had to arrange rides. Overall I'd recommend touring all layouts - we were well cared for, but be aware of occasional service lapses during staffing transitions.

    Pricing

    Schedule a Tour

    Amenities

    Healthcare services

    • Activities of daily living assistance
    • Assistance with bathing
    • Assistance with dressing
    • Assistance with transfers
    • Coordination with health care providers
    • Medication management
    • Mental wellness program

    Healthcare staffing

    • 24-hour call system
    • 24-hour supervision

    Meals and dining

    • Diabetes diet
    • Meal preparation and service
    • Special dietary restrictions

    Room

    • Cable
    • Fully furnished
    • Housekeeping and linen services
    • Kitchenettes
    • Telephone
    • Wifi

    Transportation

    • Transportation arrangement (medical)
    • Transportation to doctors appointments

    Common areas

    • Beauty salon
    • Dining room
    • Garden
    • Outdoor space

    Community services

    • Move-in coordination

    Activities

    • Community-sponsored activities
    • Scheduled daily activities

    4.12 · 17 reviews

    Overall rating

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

      4.8
    • Staff

      4.3
    • Meals

      5.0
    • Amenities

      4.0
    • Value

      4.1

    Pros

    • Caring, compassionate, and well-trained staff
    • Strong communication and regular updates to families
    • Good quality of care and supportive rehab guidance
    • Clean, bright, and nicely sized rooms (corner units available)
    • Pleasant dining/food
    • Cottage homes with good family visibility
    • Veterans Assistance accredited
    • Home-like atmosphere and sense of purpose for residents
    • Resident pet-friendly environment (cat present)
    • Demand/positive reputation indicated by waiting list

    Cons

    • Management concerns and negative sentiment from some families
    • High staff turnover and staff attrition
    • Replacement of experienced employees with poorly performing staff
    • Allegations of hiding information and manipulating reviews
    • Specific criticisms of an individual staff member's expectations (named Angela)
    • Facility does not provide transport for dialysis patients
    • Refusal of rehab placement for residents on dialysis
    • Some residents report decreased involvement in activities
    • Worry about reliability of family-arranged transport and backup plans
    • Limited immediate availability due to waiting list

    Summary review

    Overall impression: The reviews present a mixed but largely positive portrait of Three Links Care Center with notable strengths in direct resident care and some significant concerns around management and operational policies. Many reviewers repeatedly praise the front-line staff as compassionate, well-trained, communicative, and supportive — descriptions include words like wonderful, amazing, and caring. Several families reported feeling well informed, receiving timely updates, and experiencing guided diagnosis and treatment planning that provided peace of mind. These consistently positive remarks about caregivers and clinical support form the strongest theme across the summaries.

    Care quality and staff: The predominant strength is the quality of bedside care and the demeanor of staff. Multiple reviewers said staff were respectful, accommodating, and provided compassionate care that made families feel comfortable and grateful. Several comments emphasize that team members are well-trained and that communication with families is strong. That said, there is a contrasting thread: some reviewers describe a troubling change after a buyout or management transition, reporting high staff attrition and replacement of strong employees with poorer-performing staff. There are also specific critical remarks about management behavior, accusations of hiding information, and even claims of manipulating reviews. One review calls out a particular staff member (Angela) for demanding tasks beyond ability. These critiques suggest unevenness between the experience with front-line caregivers and perceptions of leadership, oversight, and personnel decisions.

    Facilities, rooms, and living options: Physical accommodations are described positively. Rooms are characterized as nice-sized, bright, clean, and comfortable — several details mentioned include twin beds, dressers, large closets, reclining chairs, corner units with two large windows, and one-roommate configurations in dementia units. Cottage homes are repeatedly singled out as attractive, with better visibility for visiting family and a home-like feel; reviewers advise touring all three cottage layouts to compare. A resident cat was noted, indicating a pet-friendly, domestic atmosphere for some households. The facility also holds Veterans Assistance accreditation, which was cited as a positive credential.

    Dining and activities: Dining receives favorable comments — reviewers say the food is great. Activities are less uniformly praised; while some mentions imply residents have purpose and social engagement, at least one reviewer noted that their family member was not able to be involved in activities anymore. This indicates variability in programming or accessibility for certain residents, particularly those with higher needs such as dementia or medical dependencies.

    Clinical limitations and logistical concerns: A prominent operational concern centers on the facility's handling of residents who require dialysis. One reviewer stated the facility refused rehab placement because the resident was on dialysis and that the facility does not provide transport for dialysis appointments. That family had to arrange private transport and expressed anxiety about vehicle reliability and backup plans. These reports highlight an important policy and logistics gap for dialysis-dependent residents and their families — prospective residents who need offsite medical treatments should confirm transport and rehab placement policies before moving in.

    Management, transparency, and reputation: Multiple reviews praise staff and recommend touring the community; the presence of a waiting list was mentioned as evidence of demand and a generally positive reputation. However, the negative reports about management, staff turnover, and accusations of hiding information and manipulating reviews are significant. These patterns suggest that while day-to-day caregiving can be strong, organizational changes or leadership practices may be undermining staff stability and family trust in some cases. Prospective residents and families should ask specific questions about turnover, recent ownership or leadership changes, complaint processes, and how the facility documents and communicates incidents or policy changes.

    Actionable takeaways for families: Based on the themes in these reviews, families should prioritize visiting in person, touring all cottage layouts, meeting front-line caregivers, and observing meals and activities. Confirm the facility's policies on transport, rehab placement criteria (especially for dialysis patients), and how the facility supports residents who require offsite medical care. Ask for specifics about staff turnover rates, staff training programs, and how management addresses complaints. Consider the waiting list as an indicator of reputation but verify current staffing stability. In summary, Three Links Care Center appears to deliver strong, compassionate daily care and comfortable living spaces for many residents, but families should perform targeted due diligence around management practices, staffing stability, and medical transport/rehab policies to ensure alignment with their specific needs.

    Location

    Map showing location of Three Links Care Center

    About Three Links Care Center

    Three Links Care Center sits at 815 Forest Avenue in Northfield and is part of the St. Francis Health Services network, and you'll find a fair-sized campus there with several types of senior housing in three collections of cottages that are all a bit different, with a main care center, independent living apartments, Millstream Common assisted living, and a few locations just for memory care, including specialized Memory Care Suites at the Cottage on Forest. The center has space for up to 92 residents and about 74 people live there most days, with staff available around the clock to help with daily needs, medicine, wound care, and nursing, and the published nurse staffing comes to 4.21 hours per resident each day, though there isn't public information about nurse turnover. Managers include Mari Chambers, Elizabeth Letich, Cami Peterson Devries, and Carol Raw, and there's an infection prevention and control program in place, though inspection reports have noted some issues in the past, like deficiencies in infection control and resident rights.

    There's help for people with Alzheimer's or other dementias through the Encompass Memory Care Program, plus secure spaces and personal care plans focused on cognitive engagement, with trained staff who know how to support those challenges. Memory care residents get help with daily activities, emotional and psychosocial support, and a safe environment. The Reflections suites are set aside for end-of-life care, focusing on comfort, pain management, and symptom control, and the staff provide hospice and respite care when it's needed. Three Links Care Center also gives seniors access to physical, occupational, and speech therapies, both short-term and long-term, with therapy staff offering rehabilitation to help people regain skills or feel better day to day. The campus includes home care services for Northfield and neighboring communities, as well as adult day programs that offer group activities from morning until early afternoon.

    Meals at Three Links have drawn attention for quality and taste, recognized with awards for Best Meals and Dining, and every day there are activities and programs-social, educational, and cultural-to help residents feel like they're part of a community, which has also led to awards for Best Activities and Most Friendly community. The dining rooms, patios, and community spaces allow families and friends to join residents for meals and visits, while the staff are known for being helpful and welcoming. The independent living apartments, such as Park Ridge Apartments and Three Links Apartments, offer HUD-qualified units and options with full kitchens, all utilities included in some, plus pet-friendly policies with certain requirements. Residents have access to laundry, general maintenance, and snow removal, with heating and air conditioning controlled in some units.

    Amenities and personal touches aim to create a comfortable, home-like atmosphere, and the focus on resident self-determination means people can make choices about daily routines and activities. Residents get care that fits their needs, including help with medication, therapy exercises, personal care, and planning for future health needs. Training for staff covers dementia care and the special needs of people with memory problems. Friends, families, and visitors are always welcome, and the staff work with doctors to update and follow each person's care plan.

    Three Links Care Center tries to nurture the mind, body, and spirit of its seniors, offering faith-based support for those who want it, and though there've been some past issues with inspections, many residents and families say the sense of community and variety of services at Three Links help make daily life a little easier and a bit more like being at home.

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