Stonebay Senior Living

    2635 Kelley Pkwy, Orono, MN, 55356
    4.7 · 16 reviews
    • Independent living
    • Assisted living
    • Memory care
    AnonymousLoved one of resident
    3.0

    Warm staff, but operational issues

    I moved my parents into a bright, clean, family-like independent living 2-bedroom and the welcoming, caring staff made the transition smooth - beautiful facility, spacious rooms, free underground parking/storage, lovely dining area and many engaging activities that make residents feel at home. Food and presentation are often very good and my mom is comfortable and happy, giving me peace of mind. That said, recent staff and chef turnover has been troubling: the activities director was let go so residents now help organize events, meals sometimes taste reheated and a holiday dinner reportedly caused illness, and there was an abrupt 20% rent increase. I've also heard worrying safety/privacy and staff-misconduct concerns, so while I appreciate the warm, supportive atmosphere, I'd advise weighing the strong positives against these operational issues.

    Pricing

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    Amenities

    4.69 · 16 reviews

    Overall rating

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

      4.4
    • Staff

      4.7
    • Meals

      4.0
    • Amenities

      4.7
    • Value

      1.0

    Pros

    • Beautiful, bright and well-maintained facility
    • Spacious, comfortable apartments (including 2-bedroom options and balconies)
    • Free underground parking and storage
    • Thoughtfully designed interiors and comfortable common areas
    • Caring, friendly and professional staff who build family-like relationships
    • Responsive staff and strong team collaboration
    • Continuum of care on-site (independent living, assisted living, memory care)
    • Varied and engaging activities, social events, outings and happy hours
    • Many reviewers report peace of mind and trust placing loved ones there
    • Good-sized community with a warm, welcoming atmosphere
    • Often praised dining with nice presentation and multiple food options
    • Smooth transitions and positive experiences for many new residents/families

    Cons

    • Significant staff turnover (including activities director and chef)
    • Inconsistent dining quality; some meals taste reheated or frozen
    • Reports of holiday meals causing illness
    • Short-notice and steep rent increases (example: 20%)
    • Allegations/concerns about staff misconduct, extortion and elder abuse
    • Suspected drug use by staff mentioned in reviews
    • Residents reportedly having to coordinate/oversee activities themselves after staff changes
    • Privacy and safety concerns (residents walking in/out of apartments unsupervised)
    • Mixed reports about activity levels for some residents (some become less active)
    • Some reviews conflict (excellent chef vs. chef turnover and poor meals)

    Summary review

    Overall sentiment across the review summaries is predominantly positive, with repeated praise for the physical environment, caring staff, varied activities, and the continuity of care offered at Stonebay Senior Living. Many reviewers highlight the community as bright, clean, and thoughtfully designed, noting spacious apartments (including two-bedroom units and balconies), comfortable common areas, and amenities such as free underground parking and storage. The dining areas and presentation (grand piano in the dining room mentioned) are frequently complimented, and numerous families describe smooth transitions and a strong sense of trust and peace of mind after moving loved ones into the community. Multiple reviewers explicitly recommend the community and emphasize that staff get to know residents, creating a family-like atmosphere.

    Staff quality and relationships with residents are among the strongest themes. Reviewers consistently call the staff kind, cheerful, caring, accommodating, and professional. Names such as Jen and Angie were singled out for being supportive. Many reports note that the care team is exceptional, responsive, collaborative, and goes above and beyond. Activities are regularly described as engaging and abundant — daily activities, social events, outings, holiday celebrations and happy hours are cited, and many residents appear engaged and happy. The presence of independent living alongside assisted and memory care in the same building is also viewed positively by families who appreciate the on-site continuum of services.

    However, there are notable and significant concerns that temper the overall positive picture. Several reviewers report recent staff turnover including the activities director and the chef; the activities director being let go was said to leave residents needing to coordinate and oversee activities themselves. Dining quality appears inconsistent: while many praise the food and presentation, other reviews claim meals sometimes taste like re-warmed frozen food, cite chef turnover, and allege that holiday dinners caused illness. These contradictions suggest variability in food service quality over time, possibly tied to staffing changes.

    More serious issues appear in a subset of reviews and warrant attention. A few reviewers allege staff misconduct including extortion and elder abuse, and one summary mentions suspected drug use among staff. Privacy and safety concerns are raised as well — reports of residents walking in and out of apartments and related safety/privacy worries appear in at least one account. Financial management and communication also emerge as pain points: a reported 20% rent increase on short notice was cited as a major complaint. Taken together, these items represent potentially severe problems that families should investigate further when considering this community.

    Patterns indicate a community that delivers strong day-to-day care and social life for many residents, driven by a caring and involved staff and attractive facilities. At the same time, variability tied to staffing changes and a small number of serious allegations create areas of risk. The most frequent positives relate to environment, staff attitude, activities, and the continuum of care; the most frequent negatives relate to turnover (which affects activities and dining), inconsistency of meal quality, financial transparency (sudden rent hikes), and isolated but serious safety/misconduct concerns.

    For prospective residents and family members: ask management for current staffing stability metrics (turnover rates, background checks, drug screening practices), inquire specifically about dining leadership and menu sourcing (to address reported variability), request written policies on handling allegations of staff misconduct and incident reporting, and seek clarity on fee/rent increase policies and notice periods. Also consider visiting during activity times and mealtimes to observe current conditions and talk with multiple residents and family members about their experiences. Overall, Stonebay Senior Living receives many strong endorsements for its facility, staff, and activities, but the serious complaints noted by some reviewers should be explored and clarified before final placement decisions are made.

    Location

    Map showing location of Stonebay Senior Living

    About Stonebay Senior Living

    Stonebay Senior Living sits at 2635 Kelley Parkway in Long Lake, Minnesota, surrounded by lakeside scenery that helps people feel calm and relaxed, and the building has 24 units, all designed for comfort, including one-bedroom and two-bedroom options, and there's a $500 reservation fee. The community focuses on independent living, assisted living, and memory care, offering care levels that fit many needs, and all units are wheelchair accessible, with handicap access, covered and guest parking, and there's a fitness center, rooftop patio, movie theater, fireplace lounge, and outdoor courtyard available for everyone to enjoy. Stonebay welcomes both small and larger pets after considering each case, and pet policies try to include all types of pets when possible. The staff aims to be friendly and welcoming, earning praise for a warm, supportive environment, and residents get to enjoy chef-prepared meals with Anytime Dining and regular housekeeping. You'll find communal spaces that support social activities, art, music, history programs, and special events that often reflect Minnesota's lake culture, so residents can keep busy and engaged, not only in body but also in mind. There's scheduled transportation, regular rides, a calendar full of activities, access to Wi-Fi and high-speed internet, and a focus on building community with Meaningful Moments programs that try to help people connect and feel understood. Specialized care includes medication management, incontinence support, non-ambulatory and diabetic care, high-acuity care, plus memory care services that help prevent wandering and reduce confusion for those with dementia or Alzheimer's. Home care aides are on hand to help with non-medical care and companionship, and assisted living services cover daily living needs like dressing and bathing. Staff plan special activities, help families with resources, and design wellness plans that encourage healthy and rewarding living. Stonebay's been recognized for its meals, friendly staff, and quality of life, taking Best of Senior Living awards, so people tend to feel satisfied here, and the atmosphere combines a stylish touch with a focus on "life on the lake," always stressing comfort and community values. The community's led by an Executive Director and has a Marketing Director who handles outreach and programs, while the whole place keeps its promise of treating people like family and paying attention to individual care.

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