Benedictine Living Community-Shakopee St. Gertrude's and the Gardens

Benedictine Living Community-Shakopee St. Gertrude's and the Gardens sits in a quiet neighborhood near parks, shops, and churches, and people often notice the peaceful outdoor courtyard and walking paths where you can see folks enjoying fresh air or just taking a slow walk. The facility offers different types of living for seniors, like studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments, plus assisted living, skilled nursing, independent living, memory care, and even continuing care for when needs change. Each apartment has a full kitchen, living room, and amenities like basic cable, wireless internet, and utilities included, and you can open windows for fresh air. Staff here help with daily tasks, grooming, and medication management, and they offer 24-hour monitoring, prompt responses, and support for mobility, so residents aren't left waiting around when something's needed. The dining program provides daily meals made by a culinary team, but people can also cook for themselves or ask for meals that fit their diet, and you'll always see friendly faces in the dining room-which is a good place to sit and chat or take in some activity. There are fitness trainers, a wellness program, and spaces for exercise or watching entertainment, plus activities like educational sessions, games, books from the Scott County Library, and monthly entertainment for those who like to keep busy or try something new. The community's Catholic roots show in the regular Catholic Mass, but interfaith worship and spiritual care are options too, so all faith backgrounds feel welcome. Throughout the place, it's easy to get around indoors, even to therapy or medical appointments, which are made easier since the campus connects directly to St. Francis Regional Medical Center, and there's transportation if you need to go off-site. Onsite, there's a beauty salon and barber shop, laundry, housekeeping, and plenty of common areas-some people like the activity room, while others sit in the peaceful garden. The Gardens is a comfortable assisted living area, and St. Gertrude's Health and Rehabilitation Center on the same campus offers skilled nursing care, memory care, and award-winning short-term rehabilitation, plus respite, transitional, home, hospice, and palliative care. Personalized care plans let staff adjust help based on what each person needs, and people can take part in volunteering or join excursions if they're interested. Staff are known for being caring, though reports sometimes mention staff shortages and occasional concerns about care quality, which is something families might want to ask about if they're considering the community. The campus serves a broad range of seniors, including those with physical or emotional needs, and there's specialty help for veterans, people with long-term illnesses, and folks living with dementia. Other Benedictine communities-like those in Osseo, Winona, Anoka, Regina, and The Shrine-offer similar living, faith-based support, and memory care services, sometimes on large park-like campuses and sometimes near rivers or wildlife refuges, but here at Shakopee, the mix of support, access to medical care, and the ability to enjoy privacy or join group activities appeals to people who want a range of choices as they age, even if things aren't always perfect.

Benedictine Living Community-Shakopee St. Gertrude's and the Gardens is managed by Benedictine.

Benedictine, established in 1985 by the Benedictine Sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery in Duluth, Minnesota, has grown into one of the largest Catholic senior living organizations in the United States, operating over 35 communities across Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Missouri. With annual revenues reaching billion, approximately 5,000 employees, and over million of senior living assets under management, this faith-based nonprofit organization has experienced significant expansion from a single skilled nursing facility to a multi-state healthcare network through strategic acquisitions, partnerships, sponsorship transitions, and joint ventures.

Under the leadership of President and CEO Jerry Carley, who joined in 2018 bringing over 35 years of senior care experience, Benedictine has maintained its position as an industry leader while preserving its Catholic heritage and mission-driven focus. Carley's leadership has earned significant recognition, including being named to The Minnesota 500 as one of the state's most powerful executives (2018-2020) and designation as one of Minnesota's Most Influential Health Care Leaders by Minnesota Physician Magazine in 2020. His extensive background includes previous roles as president and CEO of CSJ Initiatives and service on LeadingAge Minnesota's board of directors, where he serves as Chair.

Benedictine's innovative memory care program exemplifies their commitment to specialized care through two distinct neighborhoods: Tabitha, named after Sister Tabitha who was the first woman to head a hospital setting, which serves residents with mild to moderate memory loss, and Pauline, honoring Sister Pauline who devoted her life to dementia care, providing specialized support for those with moderate to advanced dementia. These research-based programs employ best practices in dementia care, offering engaging activities, personalized care plans, and family integration support. The organization's comprehensive service continuum extends to Adult Day Programs in Duluth and Winona, providing daytime respite care with trained memory care staff, while facilities like Benedictine Minneapolis specialize in complex medical care including tracheostomy and ventilator support.

The organization's care philosophy centers on nurturing mind, body, and spirit, rooted in Benedictine values of Hospitality, Stewardship, Respect, and Justice. This holistic approach emphasizes listening with the "ear of the heart," creating welcoming environments where unique needs are respected and each person's spirituality is honored. Through comprehensive rehabilitation services, spiritual care programs led by Director of Spiritual Care Rev. J. Scott Cartwright, and purposeful recreation incorporating art, music therapy, and movement, Benedictine continues the healthcare ministry begun by the Benedictine Sisters over a century ago. Recent strategic decisions, including the 2024 transition of Benedictine Living Community-Wausau to The Ensign Group, demonstrate the organization's commitment to ensuring sustainable, high-quality care while adapting to evolving market dynamics and maintaining their mission of empowering older adults to live to their highest potential.