Overall sentiment in the reviews is strongly positive, with repeated praise for the quality of care, the warmth and responsiveness of staff, the social atmosphere, and the pleasant setting. Reviewers consistently highlight caring and attentive employees, active programming, good homemade food, and clean, well-kept interiors. Several staff members and leaders are named specifically and praised for their impact—Tonee (Director) and Shannon (warmth and energy) are repeatedly noted for leadership and hospitality, while nurses like Victory, Tina, and Amy receive commendation for timely and compassionate nursing assessments.
Care quality and staffing are central strengths mentioned across the reviews. Families report 24/7 care availability, helpful resident-assist devices (fob system without charge), and staff who greet residents by name and build relationships. Multiple accounts describe the staff as kind, committed, and accommodating, and some reviewers explicitly rate nursing care as excellent. That said, reviewers also mention occasional high turnover and at least one safety concern (a wandering incident), which suggests variability in operational consistency despite generally strong clinical impressions.
The social life and activities program is another frequent positive theme. Meadow Lakes is described as having a varied activity calendar—Bingo, music and singing, Wii and movie days, fishing outings, puzzles, church services, and family-style dinners—fostering camaraderie and a family-like atmosphere among residents. Common areas such as dining rooms, lounges, and private function spaces, along with a piano room, support social engagement. Several reviews emphasize that residents spend time together in common areas and form close relationships, which is a major selling point for prospective residents seeking an active community.
Dining and household services receive consistently favorable comments. Multiple reviewers praise the homemade, nutritious meals and the inviting dining area (music often played in the dining room). Regular housekeeping services—weekly apartment cleaning, laundry, and bedding changes—are also highlighted as convenient and appreciated. Reviewers mention full kitchens in many floor plans and large apartment options, including nicely appreciated two-bedroom units. Some residents, however, are not enthusiastic about food choices (e.g., “mom not big on food”), indicating that individual tastes vary.
Facilities and grounds largely attract positive remarks: clean, fresh-smelling interiors; well-maintained common spaces; and attractive grounds that overlook a pond, farm fields, or woods. The location near the Mayo Clinic and available shuttle service are repeatedly called out as practical advantages. On-site amenities like a salon, guest hotel room for visitors, and private function spaces add to the appeal. Conversely, reviewers raise some physical plant concerns: a number of comments note small unit sizes (particularly in memory care), older furnishings and TVs in some apartments, and exterior landscaping issues—most notably unmaintained apple trees that create a mess.
Memory care and layout specifics are a mixed area. Some reviewers appreciate the transition options and views from memory care units, but multiple comments mention that the memory care wing is small (reported as seven rooms) and the dining room there is very small, raising concerns about potential isolation and limited communal space. A few reviews also describe Meadow Lakes as feeling somewhat like a nursing home or not being ideal for fully independent living, which may reflect layout, staffing model, or the resident mix rather than care quality.
Management and administrative issues show both positives and notable red flags. On the positive side, administration is described as accommodating with placement and open to working with families; complimentary week-long trials and flexible touring are offered; and in several cases billing disputes or refunds were eventually resolved by finance or the director. On the negative side, multiple reviewers report billing problems—refund delays, unexplained charges, and poor phone response—and there are explicit allegations about vendor payment problems (invoices ignored and vendors not being paid). These operational/financial concerns, combined with reports of unorganized move-ins and occasional high turnover, suggest areas where continual improvement is needed and where prospective residents/families should ask direct questions during tours.
In summary, Meadow Lakes Senior Living receives strong praise for its compassionate staff, clinical care, social programming, homestyle dining, and pleasant, convenient setting near Mayo Clinic. The property offers useful amenities (salon, guest room, lounges), apartment-style living with full kitchens in many units, and a community-oriented atmosphere that many families find comforting. Areas to probe further in a visit include unit sizes (especially for memory care), landscaping upkeep, the condition of furnishings, past staffing turnover, safety protocols (in light of a reported wandering incident), and the facility’s billing and vendor payment practices. Those considerations aside, the dominant reviewer impression is of a well-liked community with committed caregivers and an active, welcoming resident life.
