Pricing ranges from
    $2,930 – 3,516/month

    Good Shepherd Home

    709 4th Ave NE, Watford City, ND, 58854
    2.7 · 3 reviews
    • Assisted living
    • Memory care
    • Skilled nursing
    AnonymousStaff member
    2.0

    Great for residents, awful workplace

    I appreciated that the place was clean, residents were well cared for, staff were generally friendly and efficient, and the centralized location with enough outdoor space felt safe. That said, my experience as staff was very negative: cliques, gossip, favoritism, unprofessional management, frequent turnover (I watched coworkers quit), and limited front-entrance staffing made it a toxic place to work. Overall: great for residents, awful as a job.

    Pricing

    $2,930+/moSemi-privateAssisted Living
    $3,516+/mo1 BedroomAssisted Living

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    Amenities

    Healthcare services

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

    Healthcare staffing

    • 24-hour supervision

    Meals and dining

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

    Room

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

    Transportation

    • Transportation arrangement (medical)
    • Transportation to doctors appointments

    Community services

    • Move-in coordination

    Activities

    • Community-sponsored activities
    • Scheduled daily activities

    2.67 · 3 reviews

    Overall rating

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

      4.0
    • Staff

      2.5
    • Meals

      2.7
    • Amenities

      2.7
    • Value

      2.7

    Pros

    • Clean facility
    • Residents well cared for
    • Sufficient staffing levels
    • Friendly and efficient workforce
    • Centralized location
    • Ample outdoor/property space for safe activities
    • Positive overall first impressions

    Cons

    • Toxic work environment
    • Staff cliques and favoritism
    • Threats of termination for interpersonal conflicts
    • Workplace drama and gossip
    • Unprofessional management
    • Documented staff departures (e.g., Don quit)
    • Reported firing of travelers for accepting higher pay
    • Limited staffing at front entrance

    Summary review

    Overall sentiment in the provided reviews is mixed: strong positive comments about the physical environment and resident care are contrasted sharply with repeated and serious criticisms of workplace culture and management practices. Multiple reviewers emphasize that the facility is clean, gives a good first impression, and appears to provide appropriate hands-on care for residents. At the same time, there are recurrent, specific allegations about internal staff dynamics and leadership behavior that create a markedly negative view of the work environment.

    Care quality and facilities: Reviews consistently praise the basic quality of care and the facility's cleanliness. Phrases like "well taken care of patients" and "clean, good impression" indicate that residents' day-to-day needs are being met and that the building and grounds are maintained. The centralized location is noted as a convenience, and reviewers point out there is enough property to support safe outdoor activities for residents, which is a positive for mobility and engagement. There is no specific information in these summaries about dining quality, medical specialties, or therapy services; only the general cleanliness, care, and outdoor space are mentioned.

    Staff and workplace culture: The strongest negative theme is around staff morale and interpersonal dynamics. Reviews repeatedly refer to a "toxic work environment," describing staff cliques, favoritism, gossip, and ongoing drama. Several specific complaints indicate that these dynamics are not isolated incidents but entrenched patterns: mentions of "staff cliques/favorites," "drama among staff," and "gossip" suggest a workplace where collaboration and professional communication are strained. One reviewer notes "Don quit," signaling at least one notable staff departure; another reports punitive action against a traveler who accepted higher pay elsewhere. The presence of such departures and disciplinary claims raises concern about retention and the potential for disruptions in continuity of care.

    Management and leadership: Reviewers characterize management as unprofessional and suggest that leadership contributes to the poor workplace climate. Specific allegations include threats of firing tied to interpersonal relationships ("threat of firing for not getting along") and punitive firings related to pay decisions. These are serious concerns because they reflect management practices that could undermine staff trust, morale, and the ability to recruit and retain qualified personnel. When leadership is perceived as punitive or favoritistic, it can indirectly affect resident care through higher turnover, lower staff engagement, and reduced teamwork.

    Operations, safety, and guest experience: Operationally, the summaries note sufficient staffing for resident care generally, but they also call out a staffing limitation at the front entrance. "Limited front entrance staffing" could affect visitor check-in, security, and first impressions despite the facility otherwise being clean and centrally located. The combination of adequate caregiving staff but strained leadership and interpersonal problems suggests a facility that functions in terms of resident care but may be vulnerable to operational stress if staffing disruptions continue.

    Notable patterns and implications: The consistent split between positive resident-facing attributes (cleanliness, decent staffing, friendly/efficient workforce) and negative internal culture (toxic environment, favoritism, unprofessional management) is the main pattern. This dichotomy implies that while current care standards appear acceptable, the reported workplace issues pose a risk to long-term stability and quality. High-profile departures and allegations of punitive management behavior are red flags that may lead to turnover, which could eventually affect resident experience unless addressed.

    In summary, prospective residents and families can expect a clean, well-kept facility with adequate staffing and safe outdoor space. However, prospective employees and stakeholders should be aware of persistent reports of a toxic culture and problematic management practices. The reviews suggest a need for leadership intervention to address favoritism, gossip, and the handling of interpersonal conflicts so that the positive elements of resident care and facility maintenance can be preserved and strengthened over time.

    Location

    Map showing location of Good Shepherd Home

    About Good Shepherd Home

    Good Shepherd Home opened its doors in Watford City on January 8, 1964, and's been serving local seniors ever since, growing over the years with new additions like the Heritage Senior Apartments from 1987, the Horizon Assisted Living Facility that came along in 2000, and the Basic Care Addition built back in 1994, so there's a little something here for folks needing different types of care, whether that's basic help, assisted living, or full nursing care, and the community itself stands on a faith-based mission inspired by Lutheran Churches in McKenzie County and is part of the bigger McKenzie County Healthcare Systems, giving residents easy access to extra medical services like surgical care, wellness recovery, and special programs like Transitional Care to help people roll from hospital care to daily life more smoothly right in a familiar setting, which a lot of families find comforting. There's a 9-bed basic care unit, a 47-bed skilled nursing facility, and choices for long-term stays or short-term recovery, making it suited for different needs, and community members know that things like Assisted Living, Alzheimer's Care, Day Care, and Respite Care are covered here, along with transportation to local and distant appointments up to 200 miles, something pretty helpful for folks who don't drive anymore but still want to make it to doctors or visits, and meals are planned to be full and balanced three times a day, and snacks are always available no matter the time, and the staff can fix meals for any kind of special diet someone may need. The staff are mostly local, they provide care around the clock, and residents get things like nursing, physical therapy, social services, laundry, housekeeping, beautician help, and regular activity programs right on site, and there's access to specialists, lab work, x-rays, and scans through connected healthcare facilities, which does make handling health needs more convenient. Good Shepherd Home's care style centers on person-centered support, with the staff making sure treatment plans match each person's situation, and the community's dedicated to honoring human dignity and welcoming anyone, no matter their race, creed, color, or status. There's Bible Study, spiritual counseling, a chapel service nearly every day-with an ELCA Synodically Authorized Minister (SAM) leading four times a week-and the facility also opens its doors to families, allowing visits whenever residents like. Activities are a regular thing here, including daily events, birthday parties, outings, musical groups, and the monthly calendar helps folks keep track, plus there're family councils, a dementia support group, and plenty of chances for everyone to get together. Staff like Sarah Skarda help new folks and families with placement and service questions, there's a formal assessment and application process so care levels fit what each person needs, and billing support is provided to address cost and insurance matters. With a focus on healing, faith, and practical comforts, Good Shepherd Home works to provide a safe, supportive setting where seniors can get the mix of independence, medical help, faith support, and daily care they're looking for, right at 709 4th Ave NE in Watford City.

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