St. Anne's Retirement Community

    3952 Columbia Ave, Columbia, PA 17512
    • Independent Living
    • Assisted Living
    • Memory Care
    • Skilled Nursing

    Request a Tour

    Date of Tour
    Time Window
    Tour Type

    You selected in-person tour on in the

    Amenities

    Healthcare services

    • Activities of daily living assistance
    • Assistance with bathing
    • Assistance with dressing
    • Assistance with transfers
    • Medication management

    Healthcare staffing

    • 24-hour call system
    • 24-hour supervision

    Meals and dining

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

    Room

    • Air-conditioning
    • Cable
    • Fully furnished
    • Housekeeping and linen services
    • Kitchenettes
    • Private bathrooms
    • Telephone
    • Wifi

    Transportation

    • Community operated transportation
    • Transportation arrangement
    • Transportation arrangement (non-medical)

    Common areas

    • Beauty salon
    • Computer center
    • Fitness room
    • Gaming room
    • Garden
    • Outdoor space
    • Small library
    • Wellness center

    Community services

    • Concierge services
    • Fitness programs
    • Move-in coordination

    Activities

    • Community-sponsored activities
    • Planned day trips
    • Resident-run activities
    • Scheduled daily activities

    Reviews

    4.38·(106)

    Overall rating

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

      4.0
    • Staff

      3.8
    • Meals

      3.0
    • Amenities

      4.3
    • Value

      2.2

    Pros

    • Well-maintained campus and attractive grounds
    • Varied housing options (cottages, villas, apartments, independent living)
    • Multiple levels of care available (independent to nursing)
    • Friendly, compassionate staff interactions
    • Support for Catholic religious practices and services
    • Animal-assisted therapy and engaging activity programming
    • Clean, tastefully decorated interiors and common areas
    • On-site dining and bistro with enjoyable meal options
    • Onsite primary-care access and medical affiliation
    • Informative community events and educational presentations
    • Responsive maintenance and well-kept facilities
    • Independent-living options with positive owner relationships

    Cons

    • Inconsistent staffing levels and coverage
    • Slow response to call bells and resident requests
    • Inconsistent personal-care scheduling (bathing and bedtime assistance)
    • Gaps in family communication and discharge/return coordination
    • Perceived managerial emphasis on finances and public image
    • High monthly fees and additional ancillary costs
    • Security and personal-property control gaps
    • Inadequate parking and transportation accommodations
    • High staff turnover and compensation concerns
    • Inattentive staff conduct during meals and activities
    • Weak fall-prevention and resident-monitoring practices

    Summary of reviews

    Feedback about the community is mixed and presents a clear contrast between the facility’s physical environment and several operational concerns. The campus and buildings receive consistent praise: reviewers note well-maintained grounds, attractive interiors, a tasteful bistro, and a variety of housing types including cottages, villas, and independent-living apartments. The community offers multiple levels of care and has onsite medical connections, which some families value for continuity of care.

    Care quality and staff performance elicit divergent impressions. Positive comments highlight compassionate, respectful caregivers, strong end-of-life support, helpful maintenance staff, and meaningful programming such as animal-assisted therapy and educational presentations. At the same time, operational patterns raise concern: reviewers describe inconsistent staffing coverage, slow responses to call bells and requests, and irregular personal-care schedules (for example, bathing and bedtime assistance). There are also mentions of inattentive behavior by staff during mealtimes and activity periods, along with questions about fall-prevention and resident monitoring practices. High staff turnover and perceived low staff compensation are cited as potential contributors to variability in care.

    Dining and activities are generally seen as strengths. Meals and the onsite bistro are appreciated by many residents, and the community hosts social events and educational sessions that engage older adults. Pricing for some meals and event items is viewed as high by some families. Popular social events can become crowded at peak times, which may affect seating and accessibility during large gatherings.

    Facility logistics and management draw both praise and criticism. The physical plant is described as clean, comfortable, and well-maintained, and the community supports religious services and onsite medical access. Conversely, reviewers note operational issues such as limited and awkward parking, transportation-van communication problems, and perceived gaps in security and property controls. Administrative concerns include inconsistent communication with families, automated or delayed responses to inquiries, questions about discharge/readmission procedures and ongoing monthly fees, and a perception that management prioritizes financial or public-relations considerations.

    For prospective residents and families: the community offers an attractive campus, varied housing choices, and programs that many residents appreciate. Those considering a move should prioritize asking specific, concrete questions about staffing ratios and schedules, typical call-bell response times, personal-care routines, property-security measures, meal pricing, and the facility’s discharge/readmission and billing practices. Visiting during non-peak hours to evaluate staffing and activity levels in real time is advisable to match expectations with operational performance.

    Reviews written on Mirador

    We have no reviews to show about St. Anne's Retirement Community.

    Help other families by writing a review about your experience with this community.

    Medicare Ratings

    5·/ 5
    • Overall

    • Health Inspection

    • Staffing

    • Quality Measures

    Ratings from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (Care Compare). View on Medicare.gov

    Location

    St. Anne's Retirement Community is located at 3952 Columbia Ave, Columbia, PA, 17512.

    About St. Anne's Retirement Community

    St. Anne's Retirement Community sits on 50 peaceful acres just outside Columbia, Pennsylvania, not far from downtown Lancaster and easily reached by Route 462 or Interstate 30, and this place's got a long Catholic history, founded on love and compassion through the Adorers of the Blood of Christ, and while it honors Catholic traditions, it welcomes all faiths and offers spiritual support as well as care. Folks will find independent living choices like apartments, cottages, and a traditional-style villa, with floorplans ranging from studios to one and two-bedroom units, and buildings like 100 Merlini Drive, finished in 2019 with four options, and newer ones like 200 Merlini Drive, offering open-concept layouts since 2021. The grounds are well-kept, featuring walking paths, murals showing Lancaster County scenes, a chapel for quiet moments or Sunday services, and plenty of spaces for social and recreational time, like a community room, meditation room, computer room, gardens, swimming pool, and even a little café called Café Carmela where folks gather for a bite or a chat.

    Residents can bring their small pets along, and there's covered parking, a fitness center, and amenities like lawn care, laundry, maintenance, snow and trash removal, central air and heating, internet, cable, and on-site ATMs, and the place stays secure with gated facilities and guest accommodations for family visits. St. Anne's serves different needs with a range of care options, offering independent living, personal care (which, in Pennsylvania, is what others might call assisted living), skilled nursing, and two separate levels for memory care, with support for people needing help because of dementia or Alzheimer's, and therapy services of all kinds-physical, occupational, and speech-are available for anyone who needs to keep or regain their abilities. There's fee-for-service living and both lease and buy-in options, so folks can choose what works best, and the staff puts real effort into tailoring care and activities to fit each resident, with a community calendar, transportation for errands or appointments, a membership at Hempfield Recreation Center, and special outings, including luxury day trips and campus-wide events such as block parties or bazaars.

    Safety's a focus, with a gated campus and reliable staff, and people say there's a comfortable, inviting atmosphere, with a right-sized community feel-not too large, so you get to know your neighbors, and it's easier to join in with community programs like Lunch & Learn sessions, commemorative bricks, or sponsor-a-day-of-stay benefits. Living options also include personal care memory support, skilled care, and rehabilitation services for changing needs, and there's always help available when something changes, so folks can stay on the same campus even as care needs become greater. The community welcomes visits and tours, letting families see the spaces and meet the people before making a decision. For those who like to get involved, there are lots of campus events, a video gallery, gift shop, shopping trips, and a chance to be part of a caring, familiar place with a home-like atmosphere and scenic views of the Pennsylvania countryside.

    People often ask...

    St. Anne's Retirement Community offers independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing.

    There are 33 photos of St. Anne's Retirement Community on Mirador.

    Yes, St. Anne's Retirement Community allows residents to age in place and adjust their level of care as needed.

    The full address for this community is 3952 Columbia Ave, Columbia, PA 17512.

    No, St. Anne's Retirement Community does not offer respite care. Respite care in assisted living communities provides temporary, short-term relief for primary caregivers by offering professional care for their loved ones. It allows individuals to stay in an assisted living community for a limited time, giving caregivers a break while ensuring residents receive necessary support and assistance with daily activities.

    Safety & Compliance

    In Pennsylvania, the Department of Human Services licenses personal care homes and assisted living residences and publishes its licensing inspection summaries.

    License number321790
    Facility typeFull
    License classLicensed
    Capacity75 residents
    LicenseeST ANNE'S RETIREMENT COMMUNITY INC
    Care servedPersonal Care Homes
    EffectiveMay 28th, 2026
    ExpiresMay 28th, 2027
    Special certificationSpecial Care Unit (capacity 20)
    View the official license record

    Inspection Reports

    26

    Reports

    3

    Type A Citations

    0

    Type B Citations

    0

    Complaints

    16

    Years

    20 May 2025Inspection
    Found mold on an ice machine in the memory care area and a discrepancy between a blood glucose reading and its MAR entry.
    • 2600.85aSanitary conditions
    • 2600.185aImplement Storage Procedures
    22 May 2024Inspection
    Identified deficiencies in poisonous materials storage, fire drill documentation, and adherence to prescriber's orders for medications.
    • 2600.82.cPoisonous materials kept locked and inaccessible
    • 2600.132.cFire drill records incomplete
    • 2600.187.dFollow prescriber's orders for medication
    20 Sept 2022Inspection
    Identified deficiencies in staff qualifications, egress safety, and medication management; corrective actions were implemented.
    • 2600.Direct Care Staff Qualifications
    • 2600.Unobstructed Egress
    • 2600.Implement Storage Procedures
    • 2600.Medication Record
    27 Apr 2022Inspection
    Found no deficiencies.
    12 Oct 2021Inspection
    Found no deficiencies identified during the licensing activity conducted on 2021-10-12.
    21 Jun 2021Inspection
    Determined that the submitted plan of correction was fully implemented and continued compliance must be maintained.
    14 May 2021Inspection
    Issued a regular license and certificate for a Personal Care Home, effective May 28, 2021 through May 28, 2022.
    04 Feb 2020Inspection
    Issued a regular license renewal and noted an onsite inspection will occur within the next twelve months.
    25 Jul 2019Inspection
    Identified multiple violations involving confidentiality, unsafe medication and poison storage, and inadequate door-locking controls. There were instances of unsecure narcotics logs, unlocked medications, and non-conspicuous locking codes.
    • 2600.17Record Confidentiality
    • 2600.82cPoisonous Materials
    • 2600.181dStoring Medication
    • 2600.233cKey-Locking Devices
    • 2600.185aImplement Storage Procedures
    • 2600.185dStoring Medication Procedures
    08 Feb 2019Inspection
    Issued a license renewal and certificate of compliance; no deficiencies cited.
    13 Aug 2018Inspection
    Identified deficiencies in medication management and documentation, along with unsafe storage of poisonous materials. Several medical evaluations lacked required information.
    • 2600.82(c)Poisonous materials kept locked
    • 2600.141(a)(2)Medical evaluation must include required items
    • 2600.185(a)(2)Medical evaluation; license number missing
    • 2600.187(a)Medication records; required information
    13 Feb 2018Inspection
    Approved renewal and issued a certificate of compliance for the licensed facility.
    24 Aug 2017Inspection
    Investigated a complaint about medication education and found that residents were not educated on the right to refuse medication when there may be a medication error.
    • 55 Pa Code § 2600.181Resident education on right to refuse medication
    15 Feb 2017Inspection
    Renewal license granted and a certificate of compliance issued following renewal application.
    07 Sept 2016Inspection
    Found two violations related to medication management: improper storage and record-keeping, plus glucometer reading discrepancies.
    • 55 Pa.Code §2600.183(e)Prescription medications, OTC medications and CAM shall be stored in an organized manner under proper conditions of sanitization, temperature, moisture and light and in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
    • 55 Pa.Code §2600.187(a)Description of violation – Medication records
    29 Mar 2016Inspection
    Found no deficiencies. Issued a revised license increasing the dementia care unit capacity to 20 and maintaining the expiration date.
    23 Feb 2016Inspection
    Granted a regular license after renewal and issued a certificate of compliance. Found no deficiencies.
    30 Jun 2015Inspection
    Observed compliance with licensing requirements and the license remained in good standing.
    11 Feb 2015Inspection
    Granted a renewal license to operate the personal care home; no deficiencies were cited.
    03 Jun 2014Inspection
    Determined a violation for failing to conduct sleeping-hour fire drills at least every six months; drills occurred on 4/30/14 and 9/24/13, more than six months apart.
    • 55 Pa. Code §2600.132(e)A fire drill shall be held during sleeping hours once every 6 months
    14 Feb 2014Inspection
    Granted a regular license following renewal; no deficiencies were cited.
    13 Jun 2013Inspection
    Found violations related to fire drill record contents, incomplete resident medical evaluations, and outdated medication in stock.
    • Type A2600.132(c)Fire drill records must include required details
    • Type A2600.141(a)(1)Medical evaluations for residents
    • Type A2600.183(d) Prescription and medication in home
    13 Feb 2013Inspection
    Issued a certificate of compliance authorizing ongoing operation to provide Personal Care Homes.
    23 Apr 2012Inspection
    Determined compliance with the 55 Pa.Code Chapter 2600 requirements and issued a regular license.
    20 May 2011Inspection
    Determined the facility to be in compliance with regulations and issued a regular license.
    24 Mar 2010Inspection
    Found two violations: evacuation during fire drills was not properly implemented and there were issues with handling and delivery of residents' clothing and laundry.
    • 55 Pa.Code § 2600Residents evacuation during fire drills
    • 55 Pa.Code § 2600Handling of soiled clothing and delivery of clean clothing

    Disclaimer

    Mirador Living is not affiliated with the owner or operator(s) of St. Anne's Retirement Community. The information above has not been verified or approved by the owner or operator. For exact information, please contact St. Anne's Retirement Community directly. There is no cost for this service. We are compensated by the community you select.

    Are you an owner or operator of St. Anne's Retirement Community?

    Claim this listing to receive messages from prospective customers and manage your community page.

    Nearby Communities

    Assisted Living in Nearby Cities

    1. 40 facilities$5,340/mo
    2. 18 facilities$5,797/mo
    3. 39 facilities$5,457/mo
    4. 56 facilities$5,459/mo
    5. 19 facilities$5,483/mo
    6. 67 facilities$5,778/mo
    7. 22 facilities$5,277/mo
    8. 14 facilities$5,787/mo
    9. 26 facilities$5,277/mo
    10. 83 facilities$5,767/mo
    11. 24 facilities$5,277/mo
    12. 79 facilities$5,593/mo
    © 2026 Mirador Living