Benedictine Living Community St. Peter sits at 1906 Sunrise Drive in Saint Peter, Minnesota, and covers just about every type of care you might need as you grow older, from independent living and assisted living to memory care, nursing home, and even home care and respite services. Folks there can move in while they're still doing fine on their own and then stay put as their needs change because the campus has a full continuum of care. The campus includes Kingsway Retirement Living with 45 apartments, where staff handle laundry, meals, cleaning, and even offer an interactive kitchen area, plus there's outdoor patios, gardens, secure courtyards, and walking paths, so you won't feel boxed in. Apartments come in different floor plans, like studios, two-bedroom villas, or regular apartments, and they include touches like built-in bookcases, cabinets, fireplaces, washers and dryers, walk-in showers, Cambria countertops, and even pet-friendly rules for cats, dogs, birds, and fish, if those are important to you, though you'll need to talk to them first before moving a pet in. There's a church roots mission, so there are plenty of spiritual opportunities and devotional services, plus a general feeling that everyone's worth something no matter how old or what issues they've got, and the place is always described as clean, comfortable, and neat.
The staff know their jobs and are around 24 hours a day, ready to help with medication, bathing, dressing, and daily living, and there's a pendant monitoring system and regular wellness checks. Memory care is secured so folks with dementia or Alzheimer's stay safe, with special courtyards and an interactive kitchen in that section, and medication is stored safely to avoid any mix-ups. There's a call system in case of emergencies, and the building connects by interior walkways to the River's Edge Hospital, Mayo Clinic Health System St. Peter, and the Live Well Fitness Center, which means you don't have to go outside for doctor appointments, exercise, or urgent care if you don't want to.
Dining gets good marks, with meals that can be tailored for things like diabetes or allergies, and meal preparation is handled daily, even offering to meals and activities for folks who want some extra company or need help getting around. Activities fill the calendar, like art classes, movie nights, outings into the community, walking in nearby parks and gardens, and there are lively programs run by residents, volunteers, and a visiting dog named Chili that plenty of people enjoy. The community accepts folks needing everything from a little help to round-the-clock skilled nursing, and they also help with things like rehab after surgery. If you need someone to help you move in or handle odd jobs around your apartment, there's a handyman on the staff, and they offer help coordinating rides, doctor visits, and even have underground parking for those who drive. People can expect housekeeping, laundry, emergency alert systems, beauty salon, private dining rooms for small gatherings, library with fireplace, and plenty of outdoor seating areas.
The main thing about Benedictine Living Community St. Peter is that people stay as independent as they can, but get help with whatever they need, and there's a lot of freedom to take part in social activities or keep to yourself if you want, with a sense of safety and warmth thanks to the staff and community atmosphere, plus the place runs on faith-based values if that's meaningful, and the environment is well kept without being fancy or over-the-top. The prices start at about $4,140 a month for a shared room and $4,810 for a private one, and they accept both short stays and long-term residents, so people can transition through different levels of care easily as time goes by, staying close to friends, staff, and the familiar layout of the campus.
